Short Questions : 5×2= 10 Md Abir Hossain
1. How does Emily Dickinson portray her fascination towards death and immortality in her
poetry?
Emily Dickinson often explores death and immortality in her poetry with a mix of curiosity and mystery.
She personifies death, like in "Because I could not stop for Death," where it’s a polite guide leading to
eternity. Her poems, like "I heard a Fly buzz—when I died," capture the moment of dying with vivid
details, leaving the afterlife uncertain.
She contrasts life’s limits with the infinite nature of eternity, as in "This World is not Conclusion," where
she acknowledges the afterlife but highlights our inability to fully understand it. Through metaphors and
symbols like journeys, flies, and light, Dickinson makes these themes personal and thought-provoking,
inviting readers to reflect on life, death, and what might come next.
2. How does Robert Frost comment on modern societal divisions in "Mending Wall"
In "Mending Wall," Robert Frost uses a wall as a symbol of the divisions in society. The
speaker questions why the wall is needed, saying, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,”
suggesting that barriers between people may be unnecessary.
The neighbor, however, insists, “Good fences make good neighbors,” showing how clinging to
old traditions keeps people separated. While fixing the wall brings them together, the wall itself
keeps them apart, highlighting the irony of these divisions. Frost’s poem encourages us to rethink
the walls we build and consider the value of connection over separation.
3. Discuss the unconventional stylistic choices of Emily Dickinson in her poetry.
Emily Dickinson's poetry is marked by her unconventional stylistic choices, which set her apart from
other poets of her time. These choices reflect her unique voice and perspective:
1. Use of Dashes
Dickinson frequently uses dashes in place of traditional punctuation, creating pauses and emphasizing
certain ideas or emotions. This gives her poems a fragmented, open-ended feel, allowing readers to
interpret multiple meanings.
2. Capitalization
She often capitalizes words unexpectedly, drawing attention to specific ideas or concepts, such as in
“Because I could not stop for Death,” where words like "Death" and "Immortality" are personified and
given importance.
3. Compressed and Economical Language
Her poems are concise, often omitting conjunctions or unnecessary words. This brevity intensifies the
emotional and intellectual impact of her work.
4. Slant Rhyme
Dickinson frequently employs slant rhyme (words that almost rhyme, like "soul" and "all"), breaking
traditional rhyme schemes. This creates a subtle, less predictable musicality in her poems.
5. Unconventional Themes
She boldly explores topics like death, immortality, and inner turmoil, often defying the expectations of
her era by addressing these themes with candor and complexity.
6. Unstructured Forms
Unlike the strict meter and rhyme of her contemporaries, Dickinson's poetry often lacks a consistent
structure, reflecting her independent and innovative approach.
7. Ambiguity and Paradox
Her work is full of ambiguity and paradox, leaving readers to grapple with conflicting ideas. For example,
in “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” she plays with the tension between individuality and societal
expectations.
These stylistic choices give Dickinson's poetry a timeless, distinct quality, making her work deeply
personal yet universally resonant.
4.Do you think the poem " The Road Not Taken" celebrates individualism?
Yes, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost can be seen as a celebration of individualism, though its
message is open to interpretation. The speaker reflects on choosing a path that was less traveled, saying,
"I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference." This line suggests that making
unique or unconventional choices can shape one’s life in significant ways.
However, the poem also carries a sense of ambiguity. The speaker acknowledges that both paths were
"really about the same," implying the choice may not have been as groundbreaking as it seems. This
duality makes the poem less about the specific choice and more about how we give meaning to our
decisions. If viewed as celebrating individualism, the poem highlights the importance of forging one’s
own path and embracing the consequences of personal choices, even when the impact of those choices
isn’t entirely clear.
5. Discuss the dual role of nature in "Stopping by Woods in a Snowy Evening"
In "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," Robert Frost presents nature in a dual role: as a
source of beauty and peace, but also as a symbol of distraction or temptation from
responsibilities.
1. Nature as a Source of Beauty and Solace
The woods are described as “lovely, dark, and deep,” evoking a sense of calm and wonder. The
serene, snow-filled scene provides the speaker a moment of quiet reflection, highlighting nature's
ability to inspire awe and offer respite from life’s demands.
2. Nature as a Temptation to Escape
At the same time, the woods symbolize a tempting escape from the obligations and duties of life.
The speaker is drawn to their stillness and mystery, but he reminds himself of the promises he
must keep, suggesting that lingering too long in the tranquility of nature could lead to neglecting
important responsibilities.
This dual role makes nature both inviting and challenging, reflecting the tension between the
desire for rest and the need to fulfill life’s commitments. Frost uses this contrast to emphasize the
balance between appreciating life’s beauty and meeting its demands.
Compulsory Questions :
1. Compare and contrast the works of William Wordsworth with those of his contemporary
romantic poets.
William Wordsworth, a central figure of the Romantic movement, shared themes and ideals with his contemporaries
but also distinguished himself in notable ways. Here’s a comparison and contrast of Wordsworth's works with those
of other Romantic poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats:
Similarities
1. Focus on Nature
o Wordsworth: Celebrated nature as a source of inspiration, spiritual renewal, and moral guidance
(“Tintern Abbey,” “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”).
o Others: Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind” depicts nature’s power and transformative energy,
while Keats’ “To Autumn” reverently portrays its beauty and transience.
2. Emotion and Individual Experience
o Wordsworth: Emphasized personal emotion and memory, as seen in “Lines Composed a Few
Miles Above Tintern Abbey.”
o Others: Keats explored intense emotions in “Ode on Melancholy,” and Byron focused on
passionate individualism in “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.”
3. Rejection of Industrialization
o Wordsworth and others lamented the impact of industrialization, valuing nature and rural life over
urban and industrial growth.
Differences
1. Philosophical Depth
o Wordsworth: His poetry is deeply reflective and rooted in personal spiritual growth, as seen in
“The Prelude.”
o Coleridge: More focused on the supernatural and imaginative, as in “The Rime of the Ancient
Mariner.”
2. Tone and Style
o Wordsworth: Simple, direct language to capture the beauty of ordinary life (Lyrical Ballads).
o Byron: Wrote with wit and satire, often exploring dark, rebellious themes (“Don Juan”).
o Shelley: His works, like “Prometheus Unbound,” are more abstract and idealistic, reflecting his
revolutionary ideals.
o Keats: Known for sensual imagery and exploration of beauty and mortality (“Ode to a
Nightingale”).
3. Approach to Nature
o Wordsworth: Saw nature as a moral guide and spiritual teacher.
o Shelley: Viewed nature as a powerful, untamed force representing freedom and change.
o Keats: Focused on the aesthetic beauty of nature without moralizing it.
Conclusion
While Wordsworth’s poetry shares Romantic ideals like reverence for nature, individual emotion, and a rejection of
industrialization, his emphasis on personal reflection and spiritual connection to nature sets him apart. In contrast,
other Romantic poets explored themes like rebellion, imagination, and beauty in ways that were uniquely their own,
enriching the Romantic movement with diverse perspectives.
2.Compare and contrast between behaviorist and innate theory.
The behaviorist theory and the innate theory (also known as the nativist theory) are two different perspectives on
how humans acquire knowledge and language. Here’s a comparison and contrast between the two:
Behaviorist Theory
1. Core Idea:
o Language learning is a result of environmental stimuli and responses. Children learn language
through imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning.
2. Key Proponents:
o B.F. Skinner is a major figure, who argued that language acquisition is based on behavior learned
through interaction with the environment.
3. Learning Process:
o Children acquire language by mimicking what they hear from adults and receiving feedback
(rewards or corrections). Repetition strengthens learning.
4. Focus:
o Emphasizes external factors (such as social interaction and experience) in language development.
5. Criticism:
o Critics argue that this theory doesn't fully explain how children can learn language they’ve never
heard (e.g., grammatical structures they haven't been explicitly taught).
Innate Theory (Nativist Theory)
1. Core Idea:
o Language acquisition is an inborn ability; humans are born with a language-learning device or
"universal grammar" that allows them to learn language naturally.
2. Key Proponents:
o Noam Chomsky is a key figure, who introduced the idea of an innate "Language Acquisition
Device" (LAD) in the brain.
3. Learning Process:
o Children are believed to have an innate capacity to learn language. Exposure to language simply
triggers the activation of this ability, which allows them to acquire complex structures quickly.
4. Focus:
o Emphasizes internal, biological factors, such as innate structures in the brain, in language
development.
5. Criticism:
o Critics argue that this theory underestimates the role of social interaction and experience in
language learning.
Comparison
1. Focus on Nature vs. Nurture:
o Behaviorist: Language is learned through interaction with the environment (nurture).
o Innate: Language is largely determined by biological factors (nature).
2. Learning Mechanism:
o Behaviorist: Learning occurs through imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning.
o Innate: Learning is triggered by exposure to language, relying on an inborn capacity.
3. Role of Environment:
o Behaviorist: The environment plays a crucial role in shaping language.
o Innate: The environment triggers innate abilities but doesn't directly teach language.
Contrast
• Behaviorist theory focuses on external influences, while the innate theory emphasizes the role of internal
biological factors in language development.
