English Notes Latest Questions

  1. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me”, “When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them” and “When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lecturedRead more

    1. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me”, “When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them” and “When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room.”
    2. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line. For example, the sound of /ea/ in “When I heard the learn’d astronomer” and the sound of /i/ in “Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself”.
    3. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line. For example, the sound of /r/ in “When I heard the learn’d astronomer” and the sound of /s/ in “When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them”.
    4. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession. For example, the sounds of /m/ and /t/ in “In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time”.
    5. Hyperbole: Hyperbole is a device used to exaggerate any statement for the sake of emphasis. For example, “Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself”. The poet cannot actually glide out of the lecture hall.

    When I Heard The Learn’d Astronomer Summary

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  1. The poem draws a clear distinction between cosmic reality and scientific understanding. The speaker is watching while an astronomer uses tables, graphs, and columns to demonstrate mathematical concepts while describing data about stars. His expertise and explaining techniques are well received by thRead more

    The poem draws a clear distinction between cosmic reality and scientific understanding. The speaker is watching while an astronomer uses tables, graphs, and columns to demonstrate mathematical concepts while describing data about stars. His expertise and explaining techniques are well received by the audience. Due to the boring and repetitive talk, the speaker gets fatigued. He finally exits the lecture classroom and stands outside in quiet while gazing up at the sky. He seemed to be more enthralled by the stunning stars than by the proofs and evidence about stars. The poem makes the point that knowledge is independent of mathematical interpretations created by humans. To fully comprehend nature’s mysteries, one must venture into its embrace.

    When I Heard The Learn’d Astronomer Summary

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  1. Three important themes of "Eldorado" are the search for paradise, bravery in the face of difficulty, and hope. Poe gives vent to his emotions about a utopia even though he maintains his mystery aspect in the poem from the first to the last stanza, such as the anonymous speaker, the nameless knight,Read more

    Three important themes of “Eldorado” are the search for paradise, bravery in the face of difficulty, and hope. Poe gives vent to his emotions about a utopia even though he maintains his mystery aspect in the poem from the first to the last stanza, such as the anonymous speaker, the nameless knight, and the anonymous country. Even if he is aware that such a place does not exist, the hunt must go on. The search for such a utopia must continue. Because, as the Shadow counsels the knight about the same, it is what makes a person courageous and bold. Because of this, a person maintains their optimism till the very end of their lives; otherwise, there would be nothing to rejoice or be glad about. The knight must ride bravely when the Shadow gives him advice. Although getting there is impossible due to the moon’s mountains, he intends to give the man encouragement.

    Eldorado Summary

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  1. Allusion: It means to use references from society, history, or culture to stress the main idea. The poet has used the allusion to El Dorado, a mythical city of fabulous riches, or the Moon, an astronomical body. Alliteration: It means to use initial consonants in successive words. The poet shows theRead more

    1. Allusion: It means to use references from society, history, or culture to stress the main idea. The poet has used the allusion to El Dorado, a mythical city of fabulous riches, or the Moon, an astronomical body.
    2. Alliteration: It means to use initial consonants in successive words. The poet shows the use of consonant sounds in successive words, such as /h/ in “his heart.”
    3. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /o/ in “That looked like Eldorado” and the sound of /i/ in “Failed him at length.”
    4. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /sh/ and /d/ in “In sunshine and in shadow” and the sound of /h/ in “And o’er his heart a shadow.”
    5. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Edgar Allan Poe used imagery in this poem, such as “In sunshine and in shadow”, “Singing a song” and “And o’er his heart a shadow.”
    6. Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects that are different in nature. The poet used the metaphor of a journey for a person’s quest for riches or utopia.
    7. Personification: It means to attribute human emotions to inanimate objects. The poet has used the personification of the Shadow as if it has life and emotions of its own.
    8. Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. The poem shows symbols, such as song, knight, bedight, and shadow, to create a mysterious situation.

    Eldorado Summary

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  1. The poem's anonymous speaker claims to have seen a gallant knight seeking Eldorado who is magnificently attired. Regardless of the weather, he is singing a song about his search. He keeps looking but is unsuccessful until he encounters a Shadow, to whom he requests the land. When he first encountereRead more

    The poem’s anonymous speaker claims to have seen a gallant knight seeking Eldorado who is magnificently attired. Regardless of the weather, he is singing a song about his search. He keeps looking but is unsuccessful until he encounters a Shadow, to whom he requests the land. When he first encountered the Shadow, he was almost at the point of despair. He inquires about the Shadow about that region, and the Shadow informs him that it is beyond the Moon’s mountains. However, the advice comes with the warning that he must keep riding recklessly.

    Eldorado Summary

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