Poem ; An elementary school classroom in a slum....
Explain the main zist of the poem bringing I go light the use of poetic devices and symbolism . I
It's a 5 mark q . answer accordingly
Answers
It's a very famous poem written by Stephen Spender. The poem highlights the social oppression and injustice that people living in slums are condemned to. The poet , via use of various poetic devices brings into light , how the children living in the dingy slums are forced to restrain their lives within the four walls of the slums!
→ Children living in the slums are very far from the jubilation and joys of life. Their faces are pale , with their hair scattered around their faces like the rootless weeds. Describing the physical appearances of a girl with weighed down head and a paper seeming boy , the poet reflects how poor nourishment has kept them stunted !
→ Further , the poet describes the appearance of the classroom . Painted in sour cream color using the donated money , adds to the monotonous environment of the class . The portrait of Shakespeare and World map put in the class holds no importance for the children as the value of education is minimal there. For them , their world is what they see through the foggy slum windows.
→ According to the poet, the future of these children is confined within the dark , dingy slums and sealed with a lead sky. They would never be able to enjoy the beauty of the world! There lifes shall perish in the crumpled walls of the slum.
→ At last , signifying a bit hope the poet adds that their lives can only change with the attempts of those in power. "Break o Break till they break the town!" signifying that there's a dire need of action. They need to be allowed their basic right of a descent life and a good education which is well reflected in the quote "History theirs whose language is the sun"
Here are some of the important symbolism and poetic devices
★ Like rootless weeds : the unkempt hair of the children are compared to the unwanted rootless weeds that lay scattered all over.
★Paper Seeming Boy : the malnourished boy is compared to a paper.
★Sour cream walls : symbolise the dull and monotonous life of the slum class.
★Foggy windows : symbolise that their future is bleak .
★lead sky : symbolise that the sky is full of pollution and there's no hope of a brighter tomorrow .
The poem highlights disparities and struggles of skin people .
Poetic devices are :
Paper Seeming Boy
Fathers gnarled disease
Lead sky
Like bottle bits on stones