Question

Answer all the questions.
Read the following poem carefully and answer the following questions.
When will the bell ring, and end this weariness?
How long have they tugged the leash, and strained apart,
My pack of unruly hounds! I cannot start
Them again on a quarry of knowledge they hate to hunt,
I can haul them and urge them no more.
…….
I will not waste my soul and my strength for this.
What do I care for all that they do amiss!
What is the point of this teaching of mine, and of this
Learning of theirs? It all goes down the same abyss.
What does it matter to me, if they can write
A description of a dog, or if they can’t?
What is the point? To us both, it is all my aunt!
And yet I’m supposed to care, with all my might.
I do not, and will not; they won’t and they don’t; and that’s all!
I shall keep my strength for myself; they can keep theirs as well.
Why should we beat our heads against the wall
Of each other? I shall sit and wait for the bell.

1a What do you think is the poet’s profession? 1 marks

1b Who is he talking about? 1marks

1c Pick the words which describe the attitude of the poet: 3marks

irritable contemplative bored
frustrated inflexible defiant
Say why you have picked these words:
1d Why do you think the poet has this attitude? 2 marks

1e What does the poet mean by the following lines “I cannot start…no more.” 2marks

1f Which is the main metaphor in the poem? 1marks

Answer 1

→ANSWERS←
1a. Teacher
1b. His students
1c. The lines "I shall keep my strength for myself","What does it matter to me,        if they can write; A description of a dog, or if they can’t?" and "I will not           waste my soul and my strength for this"
1d. Because he is fed up of teaching students everything but the students not       being able to understand his teachings
1e. The poet means that he cannot teach the students anymore or have any          discussions with them
1f. I don't think this poem have any main metaphors but but the continuous        description of dogs can get some of those

Answer 2

1a Teacher.
1b His students.
1c I can haul----------------------------- no more
I will not waste----------------------strength for this.
what do I care-------------------------learning for theirs.
1d becoz he is fed up of teaching students
1f no.