When will the bell ring,and end this weariness? What is the main metaphor in the poem?
Answers
The main metaphor in the poem is ‘My pack of unruly hounds!’. He compares his students to a pack of savage and wild dogs.
The poem 'The Last Lesson of the Afternoon' by D.H Lawrence begins with the teacher who is waiting for the bell to ring so that his last lesson in the class would end. As stated in the line,
"When will the bell ring, and end this weariness?"
The reader through this line can infer that the everything is not well. The teacher feels that the students have no motivation to learn anything and that they are akin to "Pack of unruly hounds" he doesn't want to dispense his knowledge who don't have interest in pursuing any kind of knowledge. The teacher feels that he can better dispense the knowledge at a better place and to those who have a better interest in gaining knowledge.
The teacher believes that her efforts and futile and that he will no more endure their abuses. In the fifth stanza the question is asked by the teacher that "What is the point?" and that its pointless wasting energy on the students. The teacher feels that it easier to wait for the bell to ring rather than making students teach.