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  1. Athar
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    Athar

    A Grammarian's Funeral written by Robert Browning is a dramatic monologue i.e. a kind of poem in which only a single person speaks while all others remain passive listeners and do not say any word. The story always begins at a critical stage. In the poem, the story begins with the death of the GrammRead more

    A Grammarian’s Funeral written by Robert Browning is a dramatic monologue i.e. a kind of poem in which only a single person speaks while all others remain passive listeners and do not say any word. The story always begins at a critical stage. In the poem, the story begins with the death of the Grammarian whose corpse is being taken to the mountain for burial.

    In the poem, the speaker is a disciple of the grammarian and while moving to the mountains keep telling about his life and how he dedicated himself to studying. He gave up all the joys of life and did not go after short-term money. He believed that he should learn and then enjoy life after death.

    The narrator (disciple) keeps telling how he was a man of high thinking and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. The disciple then compares his master with people having low thinking.

    Though the disciple keeps telling the good things about his master, he reveals how the grammarian ruined his life because of excessive reading. He lost his youth quickly and was attacked by all types of diseases. However, he still did not give up reading and kept acquiring knowledge till his last breath.

    On the way, the disciple keeps giving instructions to his fellows which keeps us in touch with what is happening physically. The funeral finally reached the top of the mountain where they want to bury the grammarian. He utters final words in the praise of grammarian and along with others go back.

    Note that, this poem as a dramatic monologue throws light on the character and thinking of the grammarian as well as that of the disciple himself.

    This poem is quite ironic because though the grammarian is a hero for disciples, the poet seems to be criticizing him for wasting his life. Through the words of the disciple, the poet reveals how the grammarian ruined his life and missed the joys of youth. He could not enjoy the taste of life and the art of God. He did not do anything for society. He learned for himself and died with it.

    It did not yield any fruit. In the end, he was taken by his disciples for burial (again an ironic situation).

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  1. Sweety Akter
    Sweety Akter

    Modern poetry reflects the social picture of the Modern Age through its exploration of themes such as individualism, technology, and urbanization. In this era of rapid industrialization and globalization, poets have used their craft to comment on the societal changes and challenges of the times. TheRead more

    Modern poetry reflects the social picture of the Modern Age through its exploration of themes such as individualism, technology, and urbanization. In this era of rapid industrialization and globalization, poets have used their craft to comment on the societal changes and challenges of the times. They have portrayed the struggles of individuals in navigating an increasingly fragmented and complex world, as well as the impact of advancements in science and technology on human relationships and the natural environment.

    Modern poetry also reflects the growing urbanization of society, with poems often depicting the alienation and anonymity experienced in bustling cities. Through their powerful words, modern poets have painted a vivid social picture of the Modern Age, capturing the essence of the human experience in a rapidly changing world.

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  1. Athar
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    Athar

    The morning scene at Puri is full of noises of crows (which are often considered a sign of death). There is a skull of a human in the so-called holy sand which depicts the hunger and poverty of India.  Many women who are wearing white clothes are waiting to enter the temple. White clothes show thatRead more

    The morning scene at Puri is full of noises of crows (which are often considered a sign of death). There is a skull of a human in the so-called holy sand which depicts the hunger and poverty of India.  Many women who are wearing white clothes are waiting to enter the temple. White clothes show that they all are widows who cannot marry now and are going to the temple for peace. But the poet appears to be critical of this culture where a woman has no life without her husband.

    There is darkness (hopelessness) in their eyes through their belief though the sun is shining. In other words, the promises of religious people seem to be futile as their life is useless without their husbands.

    There are hundreds of beggars around the temple who are nameless i.e. they have no value in society. In addition, there are also Dalits or low castes who are not allowed to enter the temple. The line shows the hollowness of religion and discrimination against a certain section. There are joyless dead bodies burning in fire. Poet’s mother desired to be cremated there

    So, the morning which is usually considered as a symbol of hope is full of despair and hopelessness. The poem is thus ironical in which the poet exposes the hollowness of belief and religious practices.

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  1. Poonam Sharma
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    Poonam Sharma literarian
    This answer was edited.

    Following poetic devices have been used in the poem "The Laburnum Top" written by Ted Hughes - Alliteration :- “(S)eptember s()unlight”, "a (s)uddeness, a (s)tartlement", "the whole (t)ree (t)rembles", "(w)histle-chirrup (w)hispering. Simile: "then sleek as a lizard" Metaphor: “a machine starts up oRead more

    Following poetic devices have been used in the poem “The Laburnum Top” written by Ted Hughes –

    1. Alliteration :- “(S)eptember s()unlight”, “a (s)uddeness, a (s)tartlement”, “the whole (t)ree (t)rembles”, “(w)histle-chirrup (w)hispering.
    2. Simile: “then sleek as a lizard”
    3. Metaphor: “a machine starts up of chitterings”, “the engine of her family”, “Her barred face identity mask”.
    4. Personification: “the whole tree trembles and thrills”.
    5. Transferred epithet: “Her barred face identity mask”.

    Read summary of The Laburnum Top
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