Question

Give summary of the poem 'No' by Thomas Hood.Class 7. New Oxford Modern English Book.​

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

This poem by Thomas Hood associates the month of November with a lack of positivity. (The poem does not exactly associate the month with negativity, not explicitly, but instead only implies that November can be seen as a negative or dark period because it lacks certain positive elements of humanity, sunshine, growth and the like.)  

The poem's central themes are social isolation and a sort of disorientation that results from a lack of reference points.

       No indications where the Crescents go—

       No top to any steeple—

No recognitions of familiar people—

Of the many things that are stated to be absent or lacking, we can argue that the idea communication connects many of them. The poem presents an idea of being cut off from humanity and from nature too.  

       No mail—no post—

       No news from any foreign coast—

      [...]

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,

No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds

Formally, the poem is constructed as a series of negations. Almost all the phrases that make up the poem are noun phrases without a verb. (The verbs all appear as gerunds, essentially transformed into nouns, as in the phrase "No traveling at all.")  

These negations are grouped by theme and move from broad statements of "No sun - no moon!" to more idiosyncratic or colloquial statements like "no 't’other side the way'" and back again to observations on people, movement/travel and nature.  

The poem's twist, as it is, comes in the final one-word line, "November," completing the poem with a conflation of all its negations with the winter month. Too playful to be regarded as a serious dirge or a real lament, "No!" stands instead as a somewhat light-hearted expression of the isolation one might feel when winter sets in.  

The free-form layout of the poem contributes to its (surprisingly) contemporary feel and indicates a sensibility that strives to entertain as it engages the reader, creating an open invitation to the reader to enjoy the poem and to fully understand it (as opposed to being dense or obscure or puzzling.) Thus, the poem may be superficial in its playfulness but satisfying as a verbal/literary performance.  

Answer 2

• In this poetry by Thomas Hood, the month of November is equated with negativity. (The poem just suggests that November can be perceived as a negative or dark period since it lacks certain positive characteristics of humanity, sunshine, growth, and the like; it does not expressly equate the month with negativity).
• Social exclusion and a kind of disorientation brought on by a lack of reference points are the poem's main themes.

No indications where the Crescents go.

No top to any steeple.

No recognitions of familiar people.

• We might contend that a lot of the elements that are said to be lacking or missing are connected by the concept of communication.
• The poem expresses the notion of being cut off from both people and environment.

No mail no post.

No news from any foreign coast.

[...]

Without any shade, light, butterflies, or bees, Fruits, flowers, foliage, and birds are absent.

• The poem is organised formally as a succession of negations. The poem is composed almost entirely of verbless noun phrases. (The verbs all show up as gerunds, which are just verbs that have been changed into nouns, such in the sentence "No travelling at all.
• These negations are organised thematically and range from generalisations like "No sun, no moon!" to more peculiar or colloquial phrases like "No 't'other side the path,'" before returning to general observations about people, movement/travel, and environment.
• The final one-word line of the poem, "November," which conflates all of its negations with the winter month, is where the poem's twist appears as it stands.
• "No!" is instead a somewhat humorous depiction of the loneliness one could experience as winter sets in since it is too fun to be taken seriously as a dirge or true grief.
• The poem's (surprise) modern tone is aided by the free-form arrangement, which also conveys a sensibility that aims to entertain while also engaging the reader.
• This layout extends an invitation to the reader to appreciate the poem and fully comprehend it (as opposed to being dense or obscure or puzzling.) Therefore, despite the poem's fun nature being superficial, it succeeds as a linguistic and literary performance.

What is the poem no about?

• The poem presents an idea of being cut off from humanity and from nature too.
• Formally, the poem is constructed as a series of negations.
• Almost all the phrases that make up the poem are noun phrases without a verb.

Why has the poet used the word NO repeatedly?

• The phrase no time is repeated throughout the poem.
• This is to emphasize how important it is to find time to enjoy the beauty around us.
• The poem encourages us to put aside our worries and busy schedules for a while and to take a break.

Why do you think the poet finds snake's bare fangs in the mirror?

• The poet has learnt to behave with pretended gladness.
• He tells his son that he wants to get rid of this false laugh showing only the teeth.
• The comparison of his laugh in the mirror to a snake's bare fangs brings out the fact that the smile is artificial and might be dangerous.

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