Class 12 English Lesson 8: Poem: A Day Refeence to Context & Reference beyond Text Literature Section

 

Reference to the Context

a.      What, according to the speaker, is a day?

According to the speaker, a day is a perfect blend of various changes in nature. For him/her, a day consists of all the things within it that appear from wonderful sunrise to mysterious sunset. The duration of the daytime from sunrise to sunset presents various literal and symbolic meanings regarding tremendous changes in nature and different stages of life from birth to death.

b.     What purpose does the hyphen in the first line service in the poem?

A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that is used to join words or parts of words. Here in this poem, the poet has used a hyphen in the very first line to create a more pronounced pause in reading. By using a hyphen, she has allowed her greater control in the first line of the poem’s pace. The purpose behind this unique technique of using a hyphen is to present the speaker's deep emotions regarding sunrise being innocent. The speaker seems to emphasize her description of sunrise by pausing at the end of the first line.

c.      What makes this poem lyrical and sonorous? Discuss.

The poem "A Day" by Emily Dickinson is a wonderful creation that is full of both literal and symbolic meanings. This poem has tremendously presented a description of two beautiful aspects: The sunrise and the sunset. These two natural aspects have provided us with deeper meanings related to life and death. Following are some of the factors that make this poem lyrical and sonorous:

i.       Description of Imageries: The description of imageries with the use of literary comparisons sounds so lyrical and sonorous.

ii.     Symbolic meaning: The deep symbolic meaning of the poem regarding life and death makes this poem so sonorous.

iii.  Usage of sound devices: This poem is packed with special sound tools which the poet has used to create certain effects in the poem. We find the perfect use of the four most common sound devices as repetition, rhyme, alliteration, and assonance in the poem that has made this poem so lyrical and sonorous.

d.     Who is the target audience of the speaker? Why?

Here, the speaker of the poem is an innocent child who describes a day along with two beautiful aspects (sunrise and sunset) of this natural world through his/her perspectives. He / She may be telling all these natural processes of sunrise and sunset of a day to all his/her friends. Here, we find the description of children in the poem by him/her. This poem seems quite close to the children on one level. But at the next level, the literal and symbolic meanings which the readers get from this poem are so deep and useful for all the human beings on this planet. Thus, the target audience of the speaker is both children and adults.

e.      The poem seems to describe a day for children. How would adult people respond to this poem? Discuss this poem with your parents/guardians and write the answer based on their responses.

This poem "A Day" is a poem of a wonderful description of a day. The speaker of this poem is an innocent child who seems to describe a day for children. The speaker has used the perfect description of sunrise and sunset through his/her perspectives. The beautiful description of sunrise and sunset seems quite applicable and interesting for the children. They get various beautiful images one after another with the direct meaning of the poem. The speaker keeps on portraying various beautiful changes in the natural world in his/her description.

The next aspect of this poem is its literal and symbolic meanings. These meanings are not suitable for kids. After reading this poem, the adults would try to analyse this poem with its meanings on a deeper level. They would try to get the deep meanings of the poem regarding sunrise and sunset. Their way of reading and grasping ideas is far different from the children's. The adults, as well as elderly people, would focus their attention on its literal and symbolic meanings. They would analyse the poem with the tremendous concepts of life and death. The speaker simply describes the poem with two natural processes portraying different changes in this natural world but the meanings behind this simple presentation are so deep and are related to the wonderful concepts of human life and death.

Reference beyond the text

a.      Observe your surroundings on one fine morning and write a poem based on your own experience.

My Surroundings

I look at my surroundings, The paintings and pictures, Some are good some are bad, Some are happy and some are sad, They are doing sports or dancing,

Others are kissing or singing, I wish I could be one of those happy people again, Singing and dancing every day, But I find myself depressed and deceived, I long to have a perfect life.

 

b.     Write a personal essay on ‘A Day in the School’.

A Day in the School

Everyone loves school life and mostly the beautiful events that one experiences in a school. People develop a sense of emotional and social connection with the school. The school teaches us so many life lessons and values. But there comes a day when we all need to part away from our school and our friends. It is difficult for anyone to leave school one day and forever. When I recall my last day at school, I become very emotional. It was a moment of painful separation. That day it felt like we had a really short journey together that passed so fast. Some of my friends became too emotional that tears started rolling down their cheeks. There was a small gathering arranged in our school hall.

Our juniors welcomed us to the hall which was decorated for us. Everyone gathered to bid us goodbye and wish us a better future. Our juniors gave speeches. Some of them sang and danced for us. They also asked us to give speeches. Some of my friends and I went to the stage and performed a group song. I also gave a speech on how we spent our school days there. Our teachers came to us and started consoling us. They tried to inspire us with motivational words. Our headmaster praised us for being disciplined and honest in school. She also advised us to maintain the same wherever we go. All the other teachers encouraged us and told us to do hard work in life because it would help us to be successful in life. The day was a mixture of sadness and happiness.

I felt happy I was going to a new school. I was sad because I was leaving my teachers and was parting with our dearest friends. It was a hard day for every one of us. This is how I experienced my last day at school. 

 

Click for Personal Essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDqB7EJ5_yE

 

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