note making of all poems

Note- making

MY MOTHER AT 66

1.Background and Theme

            (a) Poet- Kamala Das

            (b) poet’s fear of losing her aging mother

            (c ) daughter’s feelings and concern

            (d) fear of mother’s death and separation

2. Journey to Cochin airport

            (a) pain and anguish felt by poet

            (b) ageing mother sitting in the car

            (c ) mother is dozing with mouth open- ash like, pale and lifeless

           

3. Scenes outside the window

            (a) looks out to escape from the dreadful thought

            (b) young trees sprinting past- reminder of time passing by

            (c ) young and energetic children spilling out of the houses

            (d) both images show life, vitality, energy- all which is lacking in mother

4. After security check-standing few yards away  

            (a) looks at mother’s face- wan like winter moon- foggy, pale

            (b) familiar ache of losing mother and not seeing her again

            (c ) aware of mother’s impeding death

            (d) bids goodbye with a smiling face

            (e) hiding own grief and reassuring herself and her mother that they will meet again

5. Poetic Devices

                (a) Simile

                                (i) like a corpse

                                (ii) wan like a winter moon

                (b) personification

                                (i) trees sprinting past

Note making

AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN A SLUM AREA

1.      Theme and background

(a)   Poet- Stephen Spender

(b)   Poem is about social injustices and class inequality

(c)    Inhuman conditions of children of slum areas and lack of opportunities for a good education

2.      Pathetic condition of slum children

(a)   Rootless weeds- unwanted, withered, malnourished

(b)   Away from gusty waves (life, vigour, happiness)

(c)    Tall girl burdened with poverty

(d)   Paper thin boy with rat eyes(bulging eyes looking for food)

(e)   Boy with twisted bones who had inherited this disease from his father

(f)     A small boy in his own world of dreams thinking of squirrels in tree house.

(g)   Slag heap  (wasted/ undernourished bodies) with broken and mended glasses

3.      Condition of classroom

(a)   Cream, dirty, dim

(b)   Walls decorated with donated materials:

(i)                 Head of Shakespeare (represents high literary standards)

(ii)               Picture of domes of building of a developed city (represents progress)

(iii)             Picture of colourful and beautiful Tyrolese valley (represents natural beauty)

(iv)              Open handed (where boundaries are not clear) world map (represents exploration and experience)

4.      Future of children

(a)   Bleak, dark like fog and night

(b)   Can not aspire to move out of these classrooms

(c)    No exposure to outside world

(d)   Shakespeare and picture of ships etc will only tempt children to resort to unlawful means to escape from this miserable condition

(e)   They are for ever doomed to be in these catacombs (underground graves) here meaning slums

5.      Anger and anguish of the poet

(a)   These slums should not be hidden but shown prominently on maps so that people realize the plight of these children

(b)   Governors, inspectors and visitors should help these children

(c)    Good educational opportunities should be provided to them

(d)   It will open the door to expression, freedom and progress

6.      Poetic devices

(a)   Simile

                                            i.            Like rootless weeds

                                          ii.            Like bottle bits on stones

                                        iii.            Like catacombs

                                         iv.            Slums as big as dooms

(b)   Alliteration

i.                    Far far from

ii.                  Street sealed

iii.                From fog

iv.                 Spectacles of steel

(c)        Metaphor

i.                    Rat’s eyes

Note making

KEEPING QUIET

1.      Theme and background

(a)   Poet- Pablo Neruda

(b)   Poem is about introspection, soul searching

(c)    Need to stop and think how our actions are harming us and nature.

2.      Urgent request

(a)   Keep quiet for 12 moments (seconds)

(b)   Suspend all activity (no movement)

(c)    Total silence

(i)                 No talking in any language

(ii)               No noise of machines/ engines

(d)   No arguments/ fights

(e)   No wars or raising of arms (weapons)

3.      Result of this inactivity

(a)   Rare moment will unite us all.

(b)   We will introspect about our actions and see how we are harming ourselves

(c)    Fishermen will stop killing whales (harming nature)

(d)   Salt gatherers will get time to heal their bruised hands (self destruction)

(e)   All kinds of wars will be stopped

(i)                 Green wars (against nature like deforestation, mining)

(ii)               Wars with gas (biological)

(iii)             Conventional wars (weapons and ammunition)

(f)     Universal brotherhood will be achieved with harmony, peace; old dirty thoughts will be replaced by new ones.

4.      Present scenario

(a)   Mad rush in pursuit of goals leading to sadness

(b)   No time to understand our feelings and those of others

(c)    Leading to depression and suicides

5.      Advice of poet

(a)   Silence and inactivity for 12 beautiful moments.

(b)   Take lessons from earth where life stops during winters and then sprouts out in spring with new vigour and energy.

(c)    This inactivity is for sometime only, it is not equal to death.

6.      Poetic devices

(a)   Alliteration- sudden strangeness;             hurt, hands;    

(b)   Paradox     - everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.

A THING OF BEAUTY

Note-making

1.      Theme

(a)Things of beauty have an embalming effect.

(b)They help us cope with negativity.

(c)They make life more meaningful.

(d)God has blessed us with objects of beauty.

(e)We need to bond with them.

(f)In sad moments things of beauty come to our rescue, remove the gloom from our lives.

2.      List of things of beauty

(a)Sun, moon, deep forests

(b)Sheep grazing in open pastures

(c)Daffodils, rivulets, musk roses

(d)Tombs built to honour heroes.

(e)Legends, tales from classics and scriptures

(f)These things of beauty are like blessings from heaven, they sweeten our bitter lives.

3.   Qualities of a thing of beauty

(a) Gives everlasting joy.

(b)Ageless.

(c)Never goes waste

(d)Shelters and protects like a bower.

(e)Relaxes, comforts, invigorates us.

4.      Things that cause pain

(a)Ill health

(b) gloomy days

(c) depression

(b)Lack of goodness in human beings

Note making

A ROADSIDE STAND

1.      Background of poem

(a)   Poet- Robert frost

(b)   Theme- plight of villagers who expect financial help from the city dwellers

(c)    Disparity in the living conditions of the village poor and rich city folk.

(d)   Unfulfilled promises by the government, politicians and bureaucrats.

2.      Roadside stand

(a)   Location- on the road leading to the city.

(b)   Appearance- extended from the main house to reach the road, pathetic, discoloured, unattractive

(c)    Purpose- sell things to city dwellers to earn some money

(i)                 Wild berries

(ii)               Twisted squash with warts

(iii)             Paintings of mountain scenes

3.      Reaction of city dwellers

(a)   Irritation at having the beautiful scenery marred/ spoiled

(b)   Insensitive to the needs of the poor

(c)    Angry at the illiteracy as even the signs are mis- spelled.

(d)   Greedy, selfish and self- centred about their own purpose and prosperity.

(e)   Reasons for stopping

(i)                 To turn/ back the car

(ii)               To ask for directions to the place they want to go.

(iii)             To ask for gas/ fuel

4.      Expectations of the villagers

(a)   City dwellers will buy their stuff

(b)   Welfare schemes promised by government and politicians will be implemented.

(c)    Their wretched life full of poverty will be alleviated and they will develop and prosper like shown in movies.

5.      Promises made

(a)   Relocation to villages near cities.

(b)   Theatres and markets near by

(c)    Better living conditions

(d)   Govt. officials to take care of them

6.      Reality check

(a)   Only false promises and hope to fool them

(b)   Corrupt officials only thinking about their own benefit.

(c)    Will fill their own coffers with the welfare money meant for the upliftment of the poor.

7.      Poet’s reaction

(a)   Saddened and disappointed, has deepest sympathy and humanity.

(b)   Can’t find a way to help

(c)    Wishes that somehow he could take away their pain and worries.

(d)   Asks all readers to contribute and do their part in helping the poet to relieve the pain by actually helping these roadside vendors.

NOTE MAKING

AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS

1.      Background of poem

(a)Poet – Adrienne Rich

(b)Feminist writer, writes abt. female exploitation and oppression

(c)Oppressive marriage and its effects

(d)Expression of inner feelings of Aunt Jennifer

2.      Appearance of tigers

(a)Embroidered with wool on wall panel

(b) Topaz coloured

(c) Chivalric- confident, proud, powerful, free and fearless

(d) Graceful, elegant and bright residents of green forest

3.      Appearance of Aunt Jennifer

(a)Timid and frightened- finds it hard to pull ivory needle

(b) Burdened by her marital duties

(c) Oppressed by her dominating husband

(d) Wedding ring- reminder of oppressive marriage

4.      Contrast b/w Aunt Jennifer and her tigers

(a)Tigers are free, proud and confident; Aunt Jennifer is timid, meek and tied becoz. of her marital             duties

(b)Tiger will prance in the forest; Aunt Jennifer will be dominated by her husband till she dies.

(c) innermost desire to be free and strong finds expression in creativity by embroidery of tigers

5.      Poetic devices

(a) Symbolism

(i)         Wedding band- oppressive marital duties/ obligations of marriage

(ii)        Tigers- freedom, confidence, strength and pride

(iii)       ringed with ordeal- trapped in the difficulties of married life

(b) Metaphor

(i)         Topaz coloured

(ii)        denizens of green

(c)Alliteration

(i)         fluttering fingers

(ii)        prancing proud

The Poem depicts:

1.      Aunt Jennifer’s desire and her dreams

2.      The real picture of Aunt Jennifer’s life.

Symbols in the poem:

1.      Aunt Jennifer- women all over the world wedged under the tyrannical rule of a patriarchal society.

2.      Aunt jennifer’s tigers- her dreams and desires of being powerful, fearless, decisive, liberated.

3.      The wedding band- the patriarchal society where the command is defined as masculine.

4.      Uncle denotes the oppressor.

5.      Aunt Jennifer’s hands represent the reality of her life.