POEM1.
MY MOTHER AT SIXTY -SIX
1. Simile: A simile is a comparison using "like" or "as."
“Her face ashen like that of a corpse” → the poet compares her mother’s pale face to a dead body, highlighting her frailty
and old age.
“Wan, pale as a late winter’s moon” → a comparison that creates a picture of fading beauty and approaching death.
2. Metaphor: A metaphor is an implicit comparison between two things.
“Children spilling out of their homes” → the children are compared to a gushing liquid, symbolizing their energy and liveliness, in
contrast to the mother’s frailty.
3. Personification: Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.
“Trees sprinting” → the trees appear to be running past the poet’s moving car, creating a contrast between motion and stillness.
4. Contrast (Juxtaposition): The poem contrasts youth and old age to emphasize the inevitable passage of time.
“Young trees sprinting” vs. “wan, pale as a late winter’s moon” → the energetic youthfulness of nature contrasts with the lifeless
image of the mother.
5. Imagery: Imagery uses descriptive language to appeal to the senses.
“Her face ashen like that of a corpse” → a visual image of the mother’s pale and lifeless face.
“Wan, pale as a late winter’s moon” → a comparison that creates a picture of fading beauty and approaching death.
6. Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of objects or elements to represent deeper meanings.
“Late winter’s moon” → Symbolizes old age, fading vitality, and approaching end of life.
“Merry children” → Symbolizes youth, energy, and the cycle of life.
7. Enjambment: Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence beyond a line break without a pause.
The poem flows without full stops in several places, creating a sense of continuity and thoughtfulness, mimicking the poet’s stream
of consciousness.
8. Repetition: Repetition is used for emphasis.
“Smile and smile and smile” → The repetition conveys the poet’s effort to hide her pain and maintain composure.
9. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
“My mother” (repetition of ‘m’ sound)
“Pale as a late winter’s moon” (repetition of ‘p’ sound)
10. Transferred Epithet is a poetic device in which an adjective usually used to describe one thing is transferred to another noun,
creating an indirect or figurative meaning. It often conveys emotions or moods rather than literal descriptions.
“I looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon” → the epithet “wan, pale” is transferred from the speaker’s mother to the
moon, reinforcing the mother’s fading vitality.
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POEM2. Keeping Quiet
1. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
“we will” (repetition of ‘w’ sound)
“sudden strangeness” (repetition of ‘s’ sound)
2. Anaphora: Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines.
“Let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.”
3. Imagery: Imagery uses descriptive language to appeal to the senses.
“Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales” → a visual and sensory image of stillness and non-violence.
“Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire” → a striking image of destruction and violence.
4. Metaphor: A metaphor is an implicit comparison between two things.
“green wars” → Symbolizes environmental destruction caused by human activities.
“a huge silence” → Represents peace, introspection, and unity.
5. Enjambment: Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence beyond a line break without a pause.
“If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing” → This creates a flowing, reflective rhythm.
6. Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of objects or elements to represent deeper meanings.
“Earth can teach us” → Earth symbolizes wisdom, patience, and the cycle of life and renewal.
“Cold sea” → represents the vastness of life and human actions.
7. Repetition: Repetition is used for emphasis.
“wars with gas, wars with fire, victory with no survivors” → Repetition of "wars" reinforces the brutality of human conflicts.
8. Paradox: A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.
“Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.” → Suggests that stillness (which appears
lifeless) can lead to re…can lead to renewal and new beginnings.
9. Personification: Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.
“Earth can teach us” → The Earth is given the human ability to teach and guide.
10. Transferred Epithet is a poetic device in which an adjective usually used to describe one thing is transferred to another noun,
creating an indirect or figurative meaning. It often conveys emotions or moods rather than literal descriptions.
“victory with no survivors” → The word "no" describes survivors, but it actually conveys the futility of war, transferring the emotion
of emptiness to the word "victory."
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POEM 3.A THING OF BEAUTY
1. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
“some shape of beauty moves away” (repetition of ‘s’ sound)
“cooling covert” (repetition of ‘c’ sound)
2. Anaphora: Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines.
“of noble natures,
of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways” → The repetition of "of" emphasizes the qualities of beauty.
3. Imagery: Imagery uses descriptive language to appeal to the senses.
“The sun, the moon, trees old and young” → Visual imagery of nature’s beauty.
“Clear rills that for themselves a cooling covert make” → Sensory image of fresh, flowing water.
4. Metaphor: A metaphor is an implicit comparison between two things.
“A bower quiet for us” → Beauty is compared to a peaceful shelter.
“Endless fountain of immortal drink” → Beauty is compared to a divine, eternal source of joy.
5. Enjambment: Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence beyond a line break without a pause.
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness” → this smooth flow reflects the continuity of beauty.
6. Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of objects or elements to represent deeper meanings.
“Endless fountain” → symbolizes the eternal nature of beauty.
“Gloomy days” → Represents struggles, suffering, and hardships.
7. Repetition: Repetition is used for emphasis.
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever” → The key idea is repeated to highlight its eternal nature.
8. Personification: Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.
“The mid forest brake, rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms” → the forest is described as being "rich," as if it
possesses wealth.
“Simple sheep” → Sheep are described as simple, implying innocence and purity.
9. Contrast (Juxtaposition): The poem contrasts the beauty of nature with human struggles.
“Some shape of beauty moves away the pall from our dark spirits” → Beauty removes sadness and suffering.
10.Transferred Epithet is a poetic device in which an adjective usually used to describe one thing is transferred to another noun,
creating an indirect or figurative meaning. It often conveys emotions or moods rather than literal descriptions.
“Gloomy days” → the word "gloomy" is transferred from the mood of the people to the days themselves, showing how suffering
affects perception.
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POEM4. ROAD SIDE STAND
1Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
“Roadside stand that too pathetically pled” (repetition of ‘p’ sound)
“Greedy good-doers” (repetition of ‘g’ sound)
“Peaceful and perfect” (repetition of ‘p’ sound)
2. Imagery: Imagery uses descriptive language to appeal to the senses.
“The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead” → Visual imagery of fast-moving cars ignoring the roadside stand.
“Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong” → Descriptive image of incorrectly written signs showing the rural
people's struggles.
3. Metaphor: A metaphor is an implicit comparison between two things.
“The hurt to the scenery” → the small roadside stand is compared to an eyesore, as perceived by the wealthy.
Greedy good-doers” → the wealthy are compared to false benefactors who exploit the poor under the pretence of helping
them.
4. Enjambment: Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence beyond a line break without a pause.
“The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped.” → the flow of lines mimics the continuous, thought-provoking narrative.
5. Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of objects or elements to represent deeper meanings.
“Roadside stand” → symbolizes the struggles of rural people trying to make a living.
“Polished traffic” → symbolizes the wealthy class, indifferent to the plight of the poor.
“Galling outcry of the poor” → represents the suffering and helplessness of the underprivileged.
6. Repetition: Repetition is used for emphasis.
“I can’t help owning the great relief it would be to put these people at one stroke out of their pain.” → the repetition of this thought
highlights the poet’s deep empathy and frustration.
7. Personification: Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.
“The roadside stand that too pathetically pled” → the stand is given human emotions, as if pleading for attention.
8. Contrast (Juxtaposition): The poem contrasts the lives of the rich and poor.
“Polished traffic” vs. “pathetic roadside stand” → highlights the economic divide.
“Peaceful and perfect” vs. “galling outcry of the poor” → Shows the false promises made by the wealthy.
9. Irony: Irony is when the expected meaning differs from the actual meaning.
“Greedy good-doers” → The wealthy pretend to help the poor but actually exploit them.
10. Satire: Satire is the use of humour, irony, or exaggeration to criticize society.
The poem mocks the government and the rich for making false promises to uplift the poor but actually neglecting them.
11. Transferred Epithet is a poetic device in which an adjective usually used to describe one thing is transferred to another noun,
creating an indirect or figurative meaning. It often conveys emotions or moods rather than literal descriptions.
“Polished traffic” → the word "polished" is transferred from the wealthy people (who drive the cars) to the traffic,
symbolizing their superficial, materialistic nature.
“Pathetic roadside stand” → the word "pathetic" is transferred from the plight of the poor owners to the stand itself,
highlighting their helplessness.
"Selfish cars": Selfish" is an emotion of the people inside the cars, but it is transferred to the cars themselves, symbolizing
their indifference to the roadside sellers.
"Greedy good-doers : the word "greedy" actually describes the people behind the schemes, but it is transferred to " good
doers , making them appear deceptive.
12. Oxymoron → the words "greedy" and "good-doers" contradict each other. The phrase sarcastically describes wealthy people who
pretend to help the poor but actually exploit them.
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POEM5 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
1. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
“fingers fluttering” (repetition of ‘f’ sound)
“prancing proud” (repetition of ‘p’ sound)
2. Imagery: Imagery uses descriptive language to appeal to the senses.
“Bright topaz denizens of a world of green” → vivid visual imagery of tigers with golden-yellow fur in a lush green forest.
“Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” → a symbolic image of the burden of marriage.
3. Metaphor: A metaphor is an implicit comparison between two things.
“The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” → the wedding band is a metaphor for the heavy burden of marriage and
societal expectations.
“Bright topaz denizens” → the tigers are compared to bright, fearless gemstones.
4. Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of objects to represent deeper meanings.
“Tigers” → Symbolize strength, freedom, and fearlessness—qualities Aunt Jennifer lacks.
“Wedding band” → Represents patriarchal oppression and the burdens of marriage.
“Fingers fluttering through her wool” → symbolizes her nervousness and weakness due to societal constraints.
Embroidery/Art – Represents Aunt Jennifer’s unexpressed desires and an escape from her reality.
5. Enjambment: Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence beyond a line break without a pause.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.” → this smooth flow enhances the contrast between the tigers' eternal energy and Aunt
Jennifer’s suppressed life.
6. Contrast (Juxtaposition): The poem contrasts Aunt Jennifer’s reality with the world of her art.
Aunt Jennifer (weak, oppressed) vs. Tigers (strong, free) → Highlights the gap between her dreams and her life.
7. Repetition: Repetition is used for emphasis.
“Prancing, proud and unafraid” → reinforces the strength and confidence of the tigers.
8. Personification: Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.
“The tigers prance” → the tigers are described as moving joyfully like human beings.
9. Transferred epithet is a literary device in which an adjective that logically describes one noun is transferred to another noun.
"Terrified hands" does not literally mean that Aunt Jennifer's hands are terrified. Instead, it reflects Aunt Jennifer’s fear and
oppression under the burden of patriarchy.
POETS AND AUTHORS
My mother at 66 – Kamala das
Keeping quite – Pablo Neruda
A thing of beauty – john keats
A roadside stand – Robert frost
Aunts Jennifer tiger – Adrienne rich
FORMATS
FORMAL INVITE
INFORMAL INVITE
NOTICE
REPORT
JOB APPLICATION
LETTER TO EDITOR
ARTICLE
