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Read the given extract and answer the questions
Extract:
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know
(Childhood)
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Question (i)
What is the rhyme scheme of the extract?
Answer:
As written by the student:
The rhyme scheme of the extract is ABAB.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- 📝 A rhyme scheme is the pattern of sounds that repeats at the end of a line or stanza in a poem.
- 🎵 To identify the rhyme scheme, we assign a letter to each word that rhymes at the end of a line. For example, if two lines end with the words "go" and "know", we give them both the letter A. If the next line ends with a word that does not rhyme with them, such as "place", we give it a different letter, such as B. We continue this process until we have labeled all the lines in the extract.
- 🔤 In this extract, the first and third lines end with the words "go" and "know", which rhyme with each other. Therefore, we give them both the letter A. The second and fourth lines end with the words "place" and "face", which rhyme with each other. Therefore, we give them both the letter B. The rhyme scheme of the extract is ABAB.
Question (ii)
What does the use of the word "forgotten" suggest?
Answer:
As written by the student:
The use of the word "forgotten" suggests that the poet has lost his connection with his childhood and cannot remember it clearly.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- 📚 Analysis is the process of examining how the language, structure, and form of a text create meaning and effect.
- 🧐 To analyze the use of a word, we need to consider its denotation (literal meaning) and connotation (implied meaning) in the context of the text.
- 🗣 The word "forgotten" means that something is no longer remembered or thought of. However, it also implies that something is neglected, abandoned, or unimportant. In the context of the poem, the poet uses this word to show that he has lost his connection with his childhood and cannot remember it clearly. He also suggests that he feels sad and regretful about this loss.
Question (iii)
How does the poet relate his childhood to an infant's face?
Answer:
As written by the student:
The poet relates his childhood to an infant's face because an infant represents innocence, purity, and joy, which are the qualities that he associates with his childhood.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- 🕵️♂️ Inference is the process of making logical deductions based on evidence and reasoning.
- 🧩 To infer how the poet relates his childhood to an infant's face, we need to look for clues in the text and use our background knowledge and common sense.
- 👶 An infant is a very young child who has not learned to speak or walk. An infant represents innocence, purity, and joy, which are the qualities that the poet associates with his childhood. He contrasts these qualities with the complexity, corruption, and sorrow of adulthood. He also implies that his childhood is hidden in an infant's face, meaning that he can only see glimpses of it in other children.
Question (iv)
What is the tone of the extract?
Answer:
As written by the student:
The tone of the extract is melancholic and nostalgic.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- 🎨 Interpretation is the process of explaining the meaning and significance of a text from a personal perspective.
- 🎭 To interpret the tone of the extract, we need to consider the mood, attitude, and emotion that the poet conveys through his words and images.
- 😢 The tone of the extract is melancholic and nostalgic.
- Melancholic means sad and gloomy, while nostalgic means longing for the past. The poet expresses his sorrow and regret for losing his childhood and his desire to recapture it.
- He uses words such as "forgotten", "hidden", and "all I know" to show his sadness and confusion.
Question (v)
Do you think childhood can be regained or restored? Why or why not?
Answer:
As written by the student:
I think childhood cannot be regained or restored because it is a stage of life that is unique and irreplaceable. Childhood is defined by innocence, curiosity, and wonder, which are gradually lost as one grows up and faces the realities of the world. Childhood is also influenced by the time and place in which one lives, which are constantly changing and evolving. Therefore, childhood can only be remembered and cherished, but not relived or recreated.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- 🏆 Evaluation is the process of making a judgment or expressing an opinion about a text based on criteria and evidence.
- 🤔 To evaluate whether childhood can be regained or restored, we need to consider the definition, characteristics, and factors of childhood, as well as our own experiences and values.
- 🚫 I think childhood cannot be regained or restored because it is a stage of life that is unique and irreplaceable. Childhood is defined by innocence, curiosity, and wonder, which are gradually lost as one grows up and faces the realities of the world. Childhood is also influenced by the time and place in which one lives, which are constantly changing and evolving. Therefore, childhood can only be remembered and cherished, but not relived or recreated. This is my opinion based on my understanding of the poem and my own life.
Question (vi)
Which of the following is NOT true about the use of repetition in the first and second lines of the extract?
- (a) It emphasizes the poet's longing for his childhood
- (b) It creates a contrast between the past and the present
- (c) It shows that the poet is confused and uncertain
- (d) It reflects that the poet is hopeful and optimistic
Answer:
As written by the student:
The correct option is (d) It reflects that the poet is hopeful and optimistic.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- 📝 A multiple choice question is a type of question that has several options, but only one of them is correct. To answer a multiple choice question, we need to eliminate the wrong options and choose the right one.
- 🙋♂️ To answer this question, we need to understand how repetition is used in the extract and what effect it has on the meaning and tone of the poem.
- 🚫 The use of repetition in the first and second lines of the extract is NOT true about reflecting that the poet is hopeful and optimistic. This option is wrong because the poet does not show any positive or cheerful attitude towards his childhood or his present situation. He is rather sad and regretful about losing his childhood and not being able to find it again. Therefore, this option does not match the use of repetition in the extract.
