What is the meaning of the poem fifteen?
“Fifteen” is generally considered one of the finest poems in the collection, and typifies Stafford’s sparse and simple narrative style, his friendly and conversational tone, his theme of self-reconciliation and regeneration through self-questioning and the process of discovery.
Why did William Stafford write the poem fifteen?
As an adult, William Stafford wrote this poem about a vivid memory of something that occurred when he was fifteen. The whole experience took place in less than 10 minutes, yet it embodied so many things for Stafford— at first excitement and adventure, then realization of his own youth and inexperience.
What is the conflict of the poem fifteen?
Situation: An eager 15 year old boy wants to ride a motorcycle and live the freedom of adults. There is an internal conflict in the poem, and this is symbolically shown with a motorcycle. The boy is conflicted by this chose of freedom. He has to decide whether or not to have freedom or wait for freedom.
What is the overall theme of the poem?
The theme of a poem is the message an author wants to communicate through the piece. The theme differs from the main idea because the main idea describes what the text is mostly about. Supporting details in a text can help lead a reader to the main idea.
What figurative language is used in the poem fifteen?
This is personification because the headlights are dim and it looks as if the motorcycle is acting shy. This is an example of a metaphor in which the poet compares the motorcycle to a friend. “I was fifteen.” This is an example of repetition since it’s at the end of stanzas 1-3.
How is sadness signified in the poem Tonight I can write the saddest lines?
He is now at some distance from the relationship and so acknowledges, “tonight I can write the saddest lines,” suggesting that the pain he suffered after losing his lover had previously prevented any reminiscences or descriptions of it.
What impact is created by the repetition of Tonight I can write the saddest lines?
One example of repetition is the title phrase (“Tonight I can write the saddest lines”), which repeats three times throughout, creating a cadence and circular movement to the poem, almost like a beating drum. This suggests the way the poet is coming back to the same thoughts of his lost love again and again.
What is the mood of the poem?
In poetry, the mood describes how word choice, subject matter, and the author’s tone convey an overall feeling that characterizes the emotional landscape of a poem for readers.
How do you identify the message of a poem?
Four Questions for Identifying Themes in Poetry
- What are the explicit themes? In other words, what themes or topics do you see in the poem on the first read-through?
- What is the poem’s overall tone? What thoughts or emotions does the poet convey? …
- What is the poem’s overall mood? …
- What are the implicit themes?
How does the poet describe reason?
The poet in ‘Where The Mind Is Without Fear’ has described ‘reason’ or logical thinking as a ‘clear stream’ that can wash away the stagnant heap of superstitions and ‘dead habits’. Indeed, good rational thinking is what can clear our mind of all evils of prejudice and can lead to the nation’s progress.
What kind of feeling does the poem create?
The poem creates a mystical, lonely, strange and eerie feeling.
Who is the speaker in the poem?
Just like fiction has a narrator, poetry has a speaker–someone who is the voice of the poem. Often times, the speaker is the poet. Other times, the speaker can take on the voice of a persona–the voice of someone else including animals and inanimate objects.
What is the imagery of the poem?
poetic imagery, the sensory and figurative language used in poetry. The object or experience that a poet is contemplating is usually perceived by that poet in a relationship to some second object or event, person, or thing.
What does the poet call as butter?
The poet figuratively uses the word buttercup for flowers and buds. The poet calls them so because they offer a lot of sweet nectar to the butterflies to sip.
Why are desert sands vs dead habits?
Dead habits are compared to desert sands because these superstitious beliefs block the way of progressive thoughts, just as a desert can block the way of a clear stream. Dead habits are as choking as the desert for something fresh and progressive.
What does the poet mean by where knowledge is free?
By the phrase ‘where knowledge is free’ the poet means that he wants a country where knowledge is accessible to all. He wants the knowledge to be free for all. Everyone should be able to study, read and write as per their own wish.
What is the meaning of narrow domestic walls?
Narrow domestic walls refer to barriers that prevent the people to unite. e.g. caste, creed, religion, sect, language, area etc. The poet is of the view that these barriers have been created by the people as they believe in superstitions and blind faiths.
What is meant by head is held high?
Behave proudly; maintain one’s dignity. For example, After the bankruptcy Mr. Jones still held his head high, or Grandma told Brian he could hold his head up because he’d tried extremely hard, or After that newspaper article, I’m not sure I’ll ever hold up my head again.
What is meant by the experience and knowledge is free?
Answer: Firstly, in ‘Where Knowledge is Free’ the poet means to say that in a truly independent and free country knowledge should be open to all. Everyone should have free access to knowledge. It should not be restricted to some portion of the society based on their class, caste, gender or any other barrier.
What does the poet mean by dead habit?
‘Dead habit’ refers to mindless practicing of obsolete customs and traditions, old beliefs, superstitions and a narrow-minded attitudes. This habit corrodes the mind and renders it useless.
What is meant by mind is without fear?
The theme of “Where the Mind is Without Fear” by Rabindranath Tagore is freedom from colonization and what it takes to achieve that. Tagore lived in India during British Crown rule of the country. According to the BBC, Britain ruled India from 1858 until 1947.
What is reason compared to in the poem Where the Mind is Without Fear ‘?
In the poem Where the Mind is Without Fear, the poet compares ‘reason’ to a clear stream and ‘dead habits’ to a dry desert. Reason or logical thinking is the thing that makes a nation progressive.
Why does the compare dead habit to dreary desert land?
Why does the poet compare “dead habit” to “dreary sand”? … Dead habits are compared to desert sands because these superstitious beliefs block the way of progressive thoughts, just as a desert can block the way of a clear stream. Dead habits are as choking as the desert for something fresh and progressive.
Why does the poet compare the reason with stream?
Why does the poet compare reason with stream? The poet compared reason with stream because just as a stream is crystal clear and always on move, reason is also true source of knowledge.
Why are habits described as dead?
The superstitions and prejudices curb the progressive thoughts and make a nation stagnant. These are not at all relevant to the present situations, but people still like to cling to them. That is why the poet has called them ‘dead habits’.
What does the poet mean by Let my country awake?
The poet requests god to awake his country into a place where people don’t follow outdated customs in the names of traditions. The mind should be free but in a positive way. A free mind can be beautiful and harmless. Dead habits are not useful for individuals or society.
How does the poet describe heaven of freedom?
According to the poet, to make our country a heaven of freedom, the people should be fearless, knowledgeable, truthful, rational, hard-working and broad-minded. They should possess the good human virtues to avoid any harm done to themselves and to other.