Mir Afzal Snow by Louis MacNeice Introduction to the poet Louis MacNeice (1907-1963) was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and attended Oxford University. Under the “Macspanday” umbrella, he has always been associated with Auden, Day-Lewis, and Spender (the contemptuous collective name given to them by Roy Campbell). But he does not deserve the narrow label of a … Read more
The Selfish Giant Study Guide Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant is a story about human compassion for animals and nature. Summary of The Selfish Giant The Giant’s garden was rather lovely. It was a favourite with children. They used to enter the vast magnificent garden with flowers and fruit trees every afternoon on their way … Read more
An Acre of Grass Study Guide The poem “An Acre of Grass” was first published in 1939 in the collection “Last Poems” by the modernist poet “W.B. Yeats.” In this poem, the poet recounts his sentiments and experiences while staying in an old house in Riverdale, Dublin. By that time, his loving wife, Georgiana Hyde … Read more
Questions and Answers of ‘To Sir, With Love’ Describe briefly the scene between the speaker and the listeners in the story ‘To Sir, With Love’. Ans: Edward Ricardo Braithwaite is a novelist, writer, teacher, and diplomat from South America. It is a compelling description of a teacher’s experiences, his own doubts about his own success, … Read more
Introduction The Rivals is a farce of mistaken identity that shares a lot of similarities with Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer, which was released two years prior. A main character impersonates a lower-class person to achieve amorous advantage, the young lovers must overcome the interference of a country bumpkin and an elderly rich aunt, and … Read more
“Daddy” by Sylvia Plath: A Critical Analysis Sylvia Plath writes her poem “Daddy” to communicate her deep feelings about her father’s life and death, as well as her terrible marriage. Sylvia Plath, the speaker in this poem, lost her father when she was 10 years old, at a period when she still adored him unreservedly. … Read more
How the Dog Found Himself a New Master! Summary Dogs used to be their own masters, but one day one decided that he needed to serve someone who was stronger than him and could supply him with food and shelter. He came across a large, aggressive, and powerful wolf. The wolf consented to be the … Read more
Strange Meeting by Wilfred Owen Study Guide Introduction The poem “Strange Meeting” was written by Wilfred Owen. It is about the horrors committed during World War I. The poem was written in 1918 and was published following Owen’s death in 1919. The poem is narrated by a soldier who goes to the underworld to escape … Read more
Work and Play Poem by Ted Hughes Summary of “Work and Play” “Work and Play” is a lovely poem written by Ted Hughes. The poet draws a contrast between the swallow and the human in this poem. The poet extols the beauty of the shallow bird and despises man for his destructive and serpentine character. … Read more
Alexander’s Feast Or, The Power of Music Study Guide Summary of “Alexander’s Feast” “Alexander’s Feast, or the Power of Music” was composed in November 1697 for the London Musical Society on the feast day of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Similar to the poem Dryden penned ten years earlier on the same day, … Read more
Summary of The Map of Love A “Map” is a graphical representation that emphasises the links between pieces of a given thing. The title “the Map of Love” implies that love does not exist in a single location, but rather in numerous parts of the world. Thus, the title refers to love relationships all over … Read more
Poem in October by Dylan Thomas Study Guide Introduction of the Poem Dylan Thomas’ ‘Poem in October’ is a seven-stanza poem divided into ten-line sets. Thomas, as was his custom, did not adopt a specific rhyme pattern. However, there are a few instances where end sounds are unified by the use of half rhyme. In … Read more
