Question

THE COLD WITHIN
Q-1
Who are the people referred to in the poem? Why do they need logs?

Q-2
What does the first women hold back and why?

Q-3
State how the following line is connected with the theme of the poem: Their dying fire in need of logs.

Q-4
What is meant by "tattered clothes"? What does this expression symboliz the "third one" give his coat a hitch?

Q-5
Explain the phrase "forlorn group." Which figure of speech is used here?

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Answer 1

Explanation:

1. The poet has referred here not a group but six humans who are caught by chance in bitter cold, facing unfavourable climatic conditions. The people need logs to keep the fire burning and keep them warm but unfortunately none of them uses his log and saves himself from death.
2. The first-one perhaps is a white lady who holds back her log because she is guided by her racist attitude towards the black skinned person. She prefers not to use her log of wood as she never wants the black man to get the warmth in burning her log of wood. She herself prefers to suffer from cold.
3. The dying fire literally means the fire which is burning to reduce the effect of bitter cold. The fire need more fuel or wood to keep it burning. The symbolical meaning of dying fire implies the reducing of basic spirit of compassion and warmth in the hearts of people.The word ‘dying’ suggests the sorry state of social relationship in present world where it is decreasing rapidly.The word ‘Logs’ here refers to the negative attitudes or prejudices of people who are present there. They are so obsessed with their prejudices that they forget that their basic survival is at risk if they do not use their log. Still due to malice , jealousy and prejudices, they refrain themselves from using the logs to save their own life.
4. It tells us that he is a poor man and as such, the target of his prejudice is the rich man. He feels that it is unjust to give what little he had to help him (the rich man) who had more than he. It is because of this prejudice that he is not willing to offer his log.
5. The group of six men that the poet talks about are completely cut-off from the outside world and are forced to put up with an extremely inclement weather conditions. The chances of their survival are minimum. They know this showing sadness in their gestures. However, they are not ready to give up their prejudiced views and cooperate for survival. Thus, they are not making any attempt to avoid death, which seems to be almost certain. That is why the poet refers to them as a forlorn group.