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Read the given extract and answer the questions
Extract:
No use to say ‘O there are other balls’:
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went.
(The Ball Poem)
Question (i)
What does the poet mean by "an ultimate shaking grief" in line 2?
- A) A grief that is final and uncontrollable.
- B) A grief that is temporary and mild.
- C) A grief that is shared and comforting.
- D) A grief that is imaginary and silly.
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
A) A grief that is final and uncontrollable.
Step-by-Step Explanation: 😢
- The poet uses the phrase "an ultimate shaking grief" to mean a grief that is final and uncontrollable. This implies that the boy feels a deep and overwhelming sadness that he cannot overcome or escape.😭
- The poet uses this phrase to create sympathy and emotion in the poem. He makes the reader feel the boy's pain and loss as if it were their own. He also shows that losing the ball is a serious and significant event for the boy.😔
- Therefore, the correct answer is A) A grief that is final and uncontrollable.👍
Question (ii)
How does the poet use the imagery in this extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The poet uses imagery in this extract to create vivid and sensory descriptions in the poem.🎨
Step-by-Step Explanation: 🌈
- Imagery is when words or phrases are used to create pictures or sensations in the reader's mind . Imagery can appeal to any of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch.👀
- The poet uses imagery in this extract to create vivid and sensory descriptions of the boy's feelings and actions . For example, he uses words like "shaking", "trembling", "staring", and "harbour" to appeal to the senses of sight and touch. He makes the reader see how the boy shakes and trembles with grief, and how he stares at the harbour where his ball went. He also makes the reader feel
Question (iii)
Fill in the blank:
The poet uses the word "_______" to describe how the boy stands in line 3.
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
Rigid
Step-by-Step Explanation: 🚶♂️
- The poet uses an adjective to describe the boy's posture in line 3. An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or a pronoun.🔠
- The poet uses the word "rigid" to describe how the boy stands. Rigid means stiff or inflexible, which shows that the boy is tense and frozen in his position. 🥶
- The poet uses this word to create contrast and tension in the poem. He contrasts the boy's rigid posture with the ball's merrily bouncing movement in the previous stanza. He also creates tension by showing how the boy is unable to move or react to his loss.😕
- Therefore, the answer is rigid.👍
Question (iv)
What is the theme of the poem and how does the poet convey it through his language and style?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The theme of the poem is loss and growing up. The poet conveys this theme through his language and style by using various poetic devices and techniques.📝
Step-by-Step Explanation: 📚
- The poet uses imagery, contrast, repetition, and tone to convey the theme of loss and growing up. He creates vivid and sensory descriptions of the boy’s feelings and actions as he loses his ball in the water . He contrasts the boy’s sadness and despair with the ball’s happiness and freedom. He repeats words and phrases to emphasize his confusion and concern for the boy. He uses a sympathetic and emotional tone to express his attitude and feelings towards the boy and his situation.🎨
- The poet also uses irony, humor, and symbolism to convey the theme of loss and growing up. He creates irony and humor by showing how losing a ball can be a serious and significant event for a child. He uses symbolism to show that the ball is more than just a toy, but a symbol of the boy’s childhood and innocence. He suggests that losing the ball means losing a part of himself and his identity.🎭
- The poet also uses epistemology, reflection, and perspective to convey the theme of loss and growing up. He uses epistemology to show how the boy learns about loss and responsibility in a world of possessions. He uses reflection to show how he relates to the boy and his experience of loss. He uses perspective to show how he has grown up and changed from being a little boy to being an adult.👀
- Therefore, the theme of the poem is loss and growing up, and the poet conveys it through his language and style.👍
