Compare and contrast the youth and old age of the 'folks
asdiscussed in the poem. Do you think old age has its
advantages? Discuss with reference to the poem old folks laugh
Answers
Answer:
When old folks laugh, they free the world. But while they do not hide growing older, they also wish that people wouldn't define them based on their age. The poem "On Aging" says that while young people try to be helpful and offer old people assistance, it might not always be the best idea: Hold!
Answer:
The poet's intention is to convey the value of certain characteristics of old people, for example the wisdom, knowledge and experiences that they carry with them. The poet's intention is also to comment on the idea of death and to explore the way that the old people in her poem feel about death. This means that ageing and death are major themes in this poem.
The variation between short, medium an long lines can be said to mirror visually the rising and falling sounds of laughter, with high peaks and low troughs. In addition the “if” is a contrast between long and short sentences. The tempo speeds up in some sentences or parts of sentences, and slows down in other parts. This changing tempo and rhythm can be said to mimic the irregular sound of laughter. It also has an effect on the tone of the poem, moderating a playful tone in certain parts and enlivening a serious tone elsewhere.
On a deeper level, however, the poem is also intended to comment on life and the way people deal with it. A major theme in this poem is people's ability to be joyful and to be human, in spite of a life filled with hardships and suffering.
The poem is written in free verse. There is no rhyme or fixed structure. Punctuation is used as in normal prose, and the poem is written in a few, simple full sentences. There is considerable variation in line length. Large parts of the poem are written in short lines using enjambment.
Explanation: