Solving the unseen

The aove question has been taken from a CIE question paper

Solving the unseen poem

I first read the question carefully and marked key words. In the question above, for example, I underlined “fascination”, “imagine”, “change”, “develop” and “overall impact”.

Then I read the poem once to know what the poem is.

I read the poem the second time keeping the word “imagine” in my mind. As I was reading it the second time I noticed the words “but into my head” – this showed me that from this point onwards the poetess had started imagining.

So then I carefully looked at where were the “real” and “imaginary” parts. The words “the truth” clearly” focus on reality. Therefore, in the first paragraph itself the first point gets answered, at least to a certain extent.

As I continued reading I keep the second bullet point in mind which is “change” and “develop”. Here I reminded myself that the poet may be talking about changes directly and indirectly. I had to look for the metaphor of the poem to show what the poem was talking about indirectly.

While reading I see “destroyed” and “grow” which are a hint towards the second bullet point.

Hmm.. I was wondering what can be destroyed and yet grow. Our own personalities? The poet had already mentioned “different”. The point now develops in my head.

People who are “different” are “destroyed” be their own kind. While directly the poet is talking about a species of bird which is kind of different from its own kind of species indirectly it is referring to people who are different or “rare” – they may have special qualities. These “rare” people are not allowed to be or survive by human kind. These could be about race or specially-abled people.

The bird “speeds out of the distance” shows that these people grow to higher heights. They achieve. The use of the words “gathers weight” takes this theory forward and shows that the person has acquired skills or qualities to equip itself to do better. The word “darkens” is not negative but positive to show its impact and that it has emboldened.

Now the poem starts showing deeper meaning to me.

It is about people who are different. They have their own qualities and are different from the regular run of the mill people. They have at first “white absence” – they are part of us, part of the crowd. Not visible “in the snow” they are part of it. It could include prejudice, discrimination and racism. It could also be about the poet herself who is restricted by family or society.

In my essay I would explore words such as “lustre”, “gold” which reflect royalty and grandeur. I would look at sight and sound evoking words.

This was to guide students to a start. The rest will depend on how you interpret and the direction you take in finding deeper meaning.

Some thoughts on Ming's Little Prey

Ming’s Biggest Prey

A cat can be the laziest and deadliest smooth operator. Ming, the protagonist for me, is self-assured and confident. He loves his luxury and enjoys it completely. “Ming was resting comfortably”, “Ming half dozed”, “liked best lying in the sun”, “the heat of the sun sink into his fur” are examples of the languid and unhurried life that Ming leads. The author’s use of the words “aeroplanes”, “siesta”, “fish”, “perfume” shows the luxury that he lived in. Clearly Elaine loved and pampered him a lot. She picked him “gently”, “wiped” his face shows how she took care of him.

Right at the start the author establishes the hatred that Ming and Teddy have for each other. Teddy picks him up by the “neck” and “stuck” him out. This brings out aggression in the relationship. Ming’s intense hatred for Teddy is shown with words such as “Especially this man called Teddy”, the authors use of inversion in a sentence emphasis the feeling for Teddy.

Ming’s can sense animosity emanating from Teddy. He did not like the way Teddy “looked at him” in Elaine’s absence. Teddy also “muttered a threat” to Ming. Ming’s animal instincts are visible to the reader in more than one way. And yet a cool cat that Ming was took it “calmly”. This shows that he kept his cards close to himself. Ming is aware of threat coming his way when the hair on his neck “prickled” and his ear “twitch involuntarily”.

Ming and Teddy play a game with each other. How to outsmart one another. Teddy tries to make the most of the opportunity to throw Ming out of the scene. Ming being cool and self-assured weighs his pros and cons and makes a move like a seasoned chess player. The author uses many words to highlight Ming’s confidence. “Ming relaxed completely”, “Ming began to feel better”, Ming sensed” makes it evident that Ming understand human ways and responds accordingly.

At many instances they come face-to-face yet Teddy is unable to remove Ming from Elaine’s life.  Right at the start Teddy “stuck” him out. His frustration at not being able to get rid of Ming comes through when instead of grabbing Ming by the towel he merely “threw the towel in to the sink”. Time and again he mutters a “threat” to Ming. Sounds and images appear while reading the text. The speed with which things happen come through with short sentences that Patricia uses like “Ming understood.”

The author prepares the reader about change in tone with “Then the phone rang”. The reader knows there is major action now to happen. Very smartly Patricia makes Elaine exit the scene on the pretext of a phone “call”. Saved by the bell!

Teddy’s struggle and his disadvantageous position has been set with “tried”, “was drunk”, “moving slowly” and “clumsily”. On the other hand Ming’s advantageous and ease are established with “merely”, “plain to Ming”, “nothing easier than to elude him”. The author further adds to Ming’s advantage, to the awareness of the reader “Ming knew” “ the man hadn’t seen him”. Ming “recovers” and “recollects himself” prepares the readers that he is going to take a treacherous step.

The intensity of the relationship is brought out by showing “hatred ran in his veins”, “hatred burned his eyes”. That the hatred was all consuming for Ming is clear. Yet the contrast of his being super cool and in control of the situation is visible with “listened to the man climb up. Clearly Ming is prepared for the fight he is preparing and knows is going to be victorious of.

Ming’s superiority is highlighted when the author says he “glided” and “arrived” almost as if he were a royal person.

The author’s craft of moving from the time “The man was not moving” to “the man’s blood” add to Ming’s appeasement of having qualified the victory. The reader notices that Teddy has become “the man” and is not a person anymore, it is almost as Ming has been personified and Teddy un-personified.

Only Ming and the reader who know about the real killer.

The Lost Woman, Patricia Beer

The “lost woman” is not lost. Her daughter is.

Patricia starts the poem on a very personal note talking about “my” mother. It startles the reader to know that the mother “went with no more warning”, the reader is scared to know that the death of the mother was sudden. Enjambment used to highlight the contrast and tension at death of a person with a “bright voice”.

The reader imagines a usual happy day for the girl returning from school when reading “school” and “brook goes under a lane”. The next line highlights brevity of life with “shocking white” as if messenger of death has come to take the mother away in the “ambulance”.

The poetess uses enjambment again to bring out break in the relationship in the beginning of the second stanza. The reader is shocked with the daughter that the mother did not come back from the hospital and the daughter did not even attend the funeral. The words “a romance began” take the reader into the world of fantasy, the imagination of the daughter into another realm. It clearly charts out a sojourn into the extraordinary. The author uses the word “ivy” to show that her mother was clingy, dependent, insecure person. “Turn” has been used by Patricia to show a change, a transition, from reality to fantasy. “into a tree” shows the mother’s transition into a solid, confident and dependent person. Patricia has created a muse here words like “began” and “turned into”. The muse clearly exists till date “still” and is illusory hence is a “rainbow”. The words “I approach” show that the poet is now seeking the strength of the mother. It is the daughter now who is dependent, for she is the one that “clutch”es.

                                                                                                                                

The words “I made” show that the poetess has created an imaginative life for the mother. “Frustrated no more”… in her imagination the daughter has created an exciting life for the mother, she is a hero for she runs a “canteen”. She romanticizes the mother’s existence here, makes her a hero. She mother does not have a “frustrated” marriage any more. In her attempt to remove the “dull” part the daughter in her own way gives the mother “wit”, a “summer school”. The mother’s life “over the years” was rewritten by the daughter with “made.

Every artist has a muse, an inspiration to spark the creative piece of work. In this case for Patricia it is her mother. She has “acquired” a woman to “haunt the home”. The muse is something to yearn for and “desired”. It seems like she is hiding a “corpse” a person or secret so that no one gets to “know”. The poet wants to keep a secret, something that will not “grow”, no one will get to know about it.

The poetess feels that her muse, her “mother” is “nearly always benign” leaving a hint that there are times she is not so benevolent, kind. The author creates an image of a person who does not scare you in the “dead” of the night yet dawns on you during the “soft” light. The mother does not “chide”. The poet is talking about a perfect muse here. A person who has been long forgotten yet remains soft and comes to almost protect you being “soft”. The dead mother is being idolized since she does not scare but is “soft”. Perhaps the daughter wanted a soft and a not a hard mother in her growing up years that is why the muse is “rabbit-light”

Patricia prepares the reader for a transition with “But”. Her “lost woman” is unlike the perfect use who does not scare people. Her “lost woman” is someone who “snaps”. The last stanza brings out the angst of the mother against the daughter. The daughter for whom she “sacrificed” for the mother wanted the daughter to go beyond the mother and “rise”. The reader can imagine that the daughter took the opportunity to “rise”. The vision created is that of a soul which has emanated from a body and become a “ghost”.

The mother thus accused the daughter of being “lost” of being a “ghost”.

Love 3 George Herbert

George Herbert explores the relationship between himself and “love” which is God in the poem “Love 3”. “Love” which has been personified as God greets the poet and bids him “welcome”. The poet uses the word “yet” which suggests that despite the being made to feel welcome, the poet himself from deep within his “soul” takes a step back. The phrase “Guilty of dust and sin”  implies that the poet, being human is mortal and has been evil in being so. These lines show that his mere being human makes him feel “guilty” owing to the deeds he commits and his mortal nature.

The use of the word “But” is not about however. The word “But” has been used to bring about a contrast. God being “quick-eyed” can clearly see that the man “grows slack”. God may be quick to respond and can feel the poet being hesitant.

Throughout the poem the poet feels inferior in his avatar of being human. Hence he does not feel that he deserves to be in the presence of “Love” which is god. The poem has a biblical reference in the lines  “I the unkind, ungrateful?” which could imply not being gratitude to god for what he has provided. The poet feels that he has disfigured, dismembered his “eyes” with the use of the words “marred”. The reader gets a feeling that the poet has looked at things he should not have, again being biblical in nature as if looking a tempting objects. The words “let my shame” hints again at the poet feeling inferior of having done deeds he should be ashamed of. The words “guilty of dust and sin” could further imply that the nature of man is such that he is tempted by food and riches of life  and giving in to temptation is sinful. In his being a human the poet thinks he is undeserving of even looking at  “thee” which is god. The poet considers himself so little, mere that he condemns his own self to be worthy of only “hell”.

God, on the other hand, is very understanding and filled with “love”. God is warm and kind throughout the poem. The words “bade me welcome” could mean that God was generous and benevolent. The term “quick-eyed” implies that God can perceive everything around him and even though the poet does not say anything God can feel that deep within the poet has withdrawn. God’s hospitality and assuring nature comes through with “sweetly questioning”. God made human, imperfect and that he does not expect them to be perfect is implied with “Who made the eyes but I?”

There is a reference to Jesus and his acceptance of his being crucified to take the “blame” for imperfections of humans in the line “who bore the blame?” God invites him to take the communion in the last line when God says “sit down” and “taste my meat”.

The imagery is that of a host and guest around dinner table having a conversation. The host is “welcoming” and asks the guest to have “meat”. The reader gets a feeling that he is watching two people have a conversation over dinner. The picture of the “guest” being hesitant and undeserving of a meal with a superior being comes through in the poem.

The tone keeps changing in the poem. It moves from being mild and gentle to feeling “guilty”. The poet’s tone of self-hatred comes through in “let my shame” to being firm and assertive “you shall be he”. The poet’s tone is submissive in the words “So I did sit and eat”. God’s tone is dignified and respectful when he “bade me welcome”. From being fearful the poet’s tone becomes accepting of god’s forgiveness. 

Heart and Mind 

Edith Sitwell

That the heart and the mind can not be one has been brought out in “Heart and Mind” by Edith Sitwell.

She brings the Lion and Lioness to life and blood of a human being and makes them converse. “Raging fire” brings out animal power and passion – focuses on the primitive and raw nature of creatures in the jungle.

The first two lines are about acceptance of death as the Lion and  Lioness will then be “dust” bereft of “heat” which is passion of the youth.

The lion asks lioness to “remember” their union in “blood and bone”  and makes the colors of red and white come alive against “amber” and “dust”. The use of the colors contrasts feelings and emotions of life in “red” and death  in “dust”.  The lion wants the lioness to “remember” that their union will remain till after death and is immortal. The color of “amber” against “dust” contrast beauty against death.

The strength, vitality and energy of youth comes to the fore in the “rippling of bright muscles”. Since the lion is talking about their death they will “mate no more” which is to say that their union will not be possible till such time that the “fire” which is heart and the “moon” which is the “mind” are “one”. The poet also refers to objectivity of the “mind” which is “cold” and the subjectivity of the “heart” which is “fire” becoming one in death that is “dust”. Despite their strength and power all will become “dust” and what will remain is in memories only thus the author uses the word “remember”.

Death personified in “Skeleton” transcends “Time”. The “heat” of the “Sun” is “mourning” – this refers to power of passion which is an overwhelming emotion and can kill – thus the use of the word. “Time” is ultimate, nobody can defeat it.

The poet refers to the “Samson” and “Hercules”, known for their strength and heroism. Yet, “flames of heart” were responsible for their downfall and “consumed” them. “The mind is a but a foolish wind” portrays the image of person who has fallen in love and the “mind” too gives in and becomes “foolish”. That heart and love can take over and destroy intellect become clear here. The is powerful yet destroys the strongest of men, makes their mind weak and feeble.

The “sun” representative of the heart and emotion says to the “moon” representative of cold logic that only when “time is done” will the passion and emotion of the “heart” and the “mind” be unified. The phrase “a lonely white crone” creates the image of an old cranky thin woman. The “king” conjures the image of power and passion which is now “in a dark wood” – that is hell after death. The words “golden armor” suggests a royal protective shield  which now is in a coffin “dark wood”. Words like “wood’ can be interpreted by the reader at many levels, one death and that too beyond death in hell.

Their love is “hopeless” as the union of the heart and mind is impossible, which is the theme of the poem.

Coming Home

Coming Home

Owen Sheers

“Coming Home” is not a warm welcome but a cold start to a regular relationship. Owen Sheers writes about a man who left home a “child” and has returned a “man”. His mother let go of a “child” and wants this baby to comeback. At the arrival of a “man” her “hug” is “awkward”. The discomfort of the mom and the son is equally felt. The son can empathize with his mom wanting the child back. Owen tricks the reader from “open arms” almost waiting to hug the son yet there is a twist to realize that son is all grown up now and is a “man”. The words “this body of a man” create the image of a son who is a stranger in front of the mother. “Open arms” being reserved for a “child” and not “this” person uses enjambment beautifully to show that the return of this adult instead of a child is not what the mother expected.

The first stanza continues creating the image of a mother who is “flipping” and “patting” to show that her regular routine life continues. It brings alive the image of a woman for whom her make up is the “flour” that “makes her over”. It brings to the reader’s mind the drudgery of routine life of a woman and that her place remains in the kitchen. She has “wrinkles” and thus is old herself. The word “dusting” once again leads the reader on yet only to the “cheeks” being covered by them. Clearly, the mother has not lead a comfortable life either. The word "pat" has perhaps been used to "pat" the dough directly and the man indirectly. 

The father’s life is no bed of roses. Various words and phrases in the second stanza dedicated to the “Dad” show that. The words “still”, “reappear” and “again” focus on the acts he has no other choice, but to pursue again and again. Alliteration in the words “Winter”, “works” and “with wet wool” bring out the hardships that he continues to face come hail or snow.  His relentless pursuit is depicted in the words “he works on a hole” and nature takes him to task as the hole “reappears every Winter”. That is hair is “wild” creates the image of a man who is used to rough life of a farm and hence his pockets too are “filled with fillings of hay”. The alliterative use of the “f” sound in these words emphasize on the routine and mundane in the father’s life.

While the mother and father are engaged in action, the grandfather is “all seated”. His retired image is painted by the use of these words. The mother in the kitchen, the father in the wild and the grandfather in the seat. The transition of relationships is very clear. That the grandfather is growing old and at an increasing pace every year is brought out in the last stanza. That is life is short is brought home by the use of only four lines here against seven lines in the previous two stanzas. The grandfather’s old age and its shakes are brought out clearly in “unsteady” and “shiver”.

The common thread in the three stanzas is the theme of aging and life of routine. The mother made of by “flour” look, the father breath being “snagged” and the grandfather’s shiver’s becoming faster each year are silent witness to that process.

The tone of the poem is harsh. It makes the reader face the reality of life when a man returns home after many years. Things remain the same, the perspective of the one who comes “home” changes and becomes more mature.

“Coming home” is to many harsh discomforting realities of debilitating life.

Rohini Rode

August 11, 2015

Passion by Kathleen Raine

Contrasts

The first thing that strikes the reader is the use of contrasts in the poem.
Words like “speak” and “mute” emphasize on someone to speak who remains mute. “Flower” and “tiger” are elements of nature that have been brought up to show the contrast that nature has to offer. The poem being about universal energies mentions “mortal” and “immortal” another contrasts that exists. Raine waits for the “war” to end and what appears is “love” offering the “tranquility” that she longed for in the beginning. The images of “death” and “eternity” offer a paradox to the reader. At first “mortal death” focuses on the weakness for love that makes her almost die yet “love” and “eternity” prevail in the end. "Love" eludes the poetess. 

Transition

The poem begins with the anguish at the hands of lover who is “wounding” her. She feels abandoned by all – the “cloud”, “ship”, her own “speech” – is bereft of her lover and feels ignored. Nature in the form of “Sky” reinforces her belief in herself telling her she has what she “desires”.  She only has to feel confident, believe in herself and live without “fear”. The reality of her own strength then dawns on her. The reader feels her liberation in the war ending leading her feeling “love” and “eternity”

Theme

The poem is about love not returned, not reciprocated, which remains unrequited. Kathleen is at a loss for her soul “lacked”. Her anguished and turbulent thoughts come alive with her body growing “weak” – with her feeling that she lacked “tranquility”. The poet has created the image of a woman who feels rejected, abandoned by her lover. Yet, she regains strength and feels the change in her environs. She see nature “turn” around. There is hope again for “every cell” us new born. From “death” she moves to a state where “love” is the winner.

Poetic Devices – Enjambment

Enjambment breaks thought patterns and carries a contrasting idea to the next line in this poem. The reader feels “each tree” will lead to strength, yet this line leads to what her soul “lacked”. Raine’s “human speech” leaves the reader asking for her to say something, however it “forsakes” her. The penultimate stanza brings about a transition to the positive when every new cell “born burned” with fire. Raine creates a thought in one line and takes it to another level in the next one.

Sky has been personified – is it her friend? First it “wounds” her then it “speaks” to her. Elements of nature come alive when the “sky” talks to her and tell her to “believe” in herself. Telling her that she is complete in herself, she has what she “desires”. With the sky she discovers the energy of the universe and realizes that every was “new born”. She experienced “passion” in these energies and elements of nature.

The poem transits from a presence of “lack” to “love”. It takes the reader to journey where there is complete “light” and “love and eternity”. The universe energizes here.