Mir Afzal A Prayer for My Daughter Summary The poet is full of worries about the newborn child in the world of anarchy. The daughter sleeps in a cradle comfortably, while the storm rages outside. There is a storm within the poet himself, who is full of gloomy forebodings about the future of humanity. The stormy sea … Read more
What I Believe by E. M Forster Introduction to What I Believe E. M. Forster is an individualist and liberal thinker. He is an artist, finds difficult to adjust with the changing world. He does not believe any organized religion or social or political creed. He is a democrat. He is not a hero – … Read more
A Broken Appointment by Hardy Summary The poem ‘A Broken Appointment’ is a love poem. It is a lyrical poem in which Hardy expresses his tragic experience of love. In the poem, we see a frustrated lover. He is in the mood of despondency or nervousness. He is separated from his beloved. Tryphena sparks, with … Read more
Pygmalion Pygmalion is the most successful play of Shaw both on stage and screen. It was first produced at the Halfburg Theatre in Vienna on 16th Oct. 1913. It had achieved wide popularity in all English speaking world. The film based on the play was produced in 1938. It had met a grand success. A … Read more
“Old Ironsides†by Oliver Wendell Holmes 1. What was the poet’s purpose in writing this poem? The poet wrote this poem in protest of the dismantling of a ship, hoping to move others to his cause. 2. Locate two metaphors Holmes uses for the ship in the body of the poem. Holmes refers to the … Read more
The Destruction of Sennacherib by George Gordon, Lord Byron 1. With garments described as “gleaming in purple and gold,†the “cohorts†are most likely tomembers of what class? Purple and gold are symbols of royalty and power, so one may infer that the cohorts were members of the ruling class. 2. What does the speaker … Read more
So We’ll Go No More a Roving by George Gordon, Lord Byron Vocabulary roving – traveling about in search of adventure Questions and Answers 1. Why does the speaker pledge to not go roving during the night? The speaker’s pledge is based on his observations that “the sword outwears it sheath, †“the heart must … Read more
Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant Vocabulary blight – something that impairs one’s growth and deflates one’s spirit patriarchs – males in power hoary – grown gray with age; ancient sepulchre – tomb pensive – thoughtful venerable – honorable; honored scourged – severely punished 1. What does the poem’s title mean? Answer: “Thanatopsis†means “Meditation on … Read more
“The Good Morrow†by John Donne Vocabulary troth – word of honour fancies – whims slacken – loosen Introduction: The Good-Morrow is an aubade. This is a poem written in the morning, a song of the morning. The poet is addressing a young lady that he has just spent the night with, and whatever has … Read more
“Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss†by Thomas Nashe Vocabulary physic – health devour – consume quickly vain – hopeless heritage – birthright, destiny Questions and Answers 1. This poem is classified as a lyric. What qualities make it this type of poem? A lyric is a type of poetry in which the voice of the poem … Read more
On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer by John Keats Vocabulary fealty – oath of loyalty demesne – territory, domain ken – view, sight 1. At the start of this poem, how does the speaker establish himself as well cultured? The speaker tells the reader that he has “much travell’d,†and “many goodly states and kingdoms … Read more
“When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be†by John Keats Vocabulary glean’d – gathered teeming – crowded 1. What type of sonnet is this poem an example of? The poem is an example of a Shakespearean or Elizabethan sonnet. 2. What is the tone of the poem? The poem has an overwhelming … Read more