POETRY

1. DUST OF SNOW
About the Poet
Robert Frost was an American poet who wrote simply yet insightfully about his
ordinary experiences. Nature had been a common theme in his poems, and he used
images and lessons to talk about human life. He had won a record four Pulitzer
prizes.
Poetic Devices
(1) Alliteration: Alliteration is the occurrence of same sounding words placed close
to each other.
➢ Has given my heart
➢ And saved some part
(2) Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas by giving them
symbolic meaning that is different from their literal meaning.
➢ The 'crow’, 'dust of snow' and 'hemlock tree’.
The poet has used these as a symbol to show emotions like dejection, gloom and
depression. Also, he has used these as symbols to show that these 'inauspicious'
things of nature can also change a person's mood for the better.
(3) Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is 'abab'.
Significant Morals
(1) Nature has the power to turn negativity into positivity.
(2) It has the power to transform the mood of a person.
(3) A person should always be optimistic in life like nature.
Tone of the Poem:
Serene and Uplifting : The tone of the poem "A Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost can
be described as serene and uplifting. The poem describes a simple moment in
nature where a crow shakes off snow onto the poet, causing a change in his
mood.

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2. FIRE AND ICE

About the Poet
Robert Frost was an American poet who wrote simply yet insightfully about his
ordinary experiences. Nature had been a common theme in his poems, and he used
images and lessons to talk about human life. He had won a record four Pulitzer
prizes.
Poetic Devices
(1) Alliteration: Alliteration is repetition of same sounding words that are placed
closely together.
➢ some say the world will end in fire
➢ I hold with those who favour fire
(2) Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas by giving them
symbolic meaning different from their literal meaning.
The term 'fire' symbolizes the violent human emotions like anger, cruelty, brutality,
etc., while the term 'ice' symbolizes the cold feelings of humans such as hatred,
jealousy, indifference, etc., that might end the world.
(3) Imagery: Imagery refers to the mental pictures or imaginary view that the poet
creates in the mind of the reader to convey his views or thoughts. It makes the
poem picturesque.
The poet has used fire and ice as imagery to create a picture in the mind of the
reader that the world will either engulf in fire or freeze to death.
(4) Metaphor: Metaphor is a literary device that is used to make direct comparison
without using the words 'like' or 'as'.
Here, the poet has used the words fire and ice as metaphors to signify the violent
and cold emotions of humans.
(5) Rhyme scheme: The rhyme scheme for stanza 1 is abaa while for stanza 2 it is
ababa.
Significant Morals
(1) Human emotions such as anger, frustration, lust, brutality, hatred, etc., have
the power to destroy the world.
(2) Both fiery and cold feelings of humans should be kept in control for the world
to survive.
(3) Mankind should stay alert of letting lose negative emotions and maintain love
for each other.
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Tone of the poem

Sarcastic, formal, and didactic:
The tone of the poet in Fire and Ice is sarcastic, formal, and didactic. He uses a
terse and pithy language to convey a general or philosophical truth about the
destructive potential of human passions. He adopts the persona of a flinty,
laconic New Englander who is not prone to exaggeration or emotive outburst. He
also creates a sense of irony and detachment by suggesting that both fire and ice
are equally capable of ending the world.

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3. A TIGER IN THE ZOO

About the Poet
Leslie Norris was an award-winning Welsh poet and short story writer who wrote
during the period after World War 2. He was also a professor in academic
institutions in Britain and the United States.
Poetic Devices
(1) Alliteration: Alliteration is the occurrence of words that begin with the same
sound placed close together to create a rythmic effect.
➢ stalks in his vivid stripes
➢ locked in a concrete cell
➢ His strength behind bars
(2) Repetition: Repetition is a poetic device that is used to create a musical effect
by repealing single words, phrases or even stanzas at intervals to make the poem
more appealing.
➢ velvet quiet, quiet rage
➢ Brilliant eyes, brilliant stars
(3) Metaphor: Metaphor is a literary device used to make a comparison without
using the words 'like' or 'as'.
➢ Pads of velvet
(4) Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is 'abcb'.
Significant Morals
(1) Wild animals are born to live free. They must only be kept in their natural
habitat.
(2) Enslaving a wild animal in a zoo or otherwise not only takes away their freedom
to move in their natural habitat, but also their original self.
(3) It is cruel to cage wild animals, depriving them of their freedom.
Tone of the poem:
The tone of the poem "The Tiger in the Zoo" is one of sadness and sympathy for
the tiger in captivity. The poet's tone is one of regret when he describes the
setting of the zoo because he believes that this is not the kind of life that a tiger
should be living. However, there is also a tone of suppressed anger, of the same
kind that the tiger feels at being caged. The poem uses the tiger’s captivity as a
metaphor for the broader theme of the natural world’s subjugation by human
civilization, evoking a tone of melancholy and a silent plea for the dignity of wild
creatures.

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4. HOW TO TELL WILD ANIMALS

About the Poet
Carolyn Wells was an American poet, writer, and humorist who wrote over 170
books. In the first decade of her writing, she focused on poetry, humour and
children's books. Later, she began writing novels, especially of the mystery genre.
Poetic Devices
(1) Alliteration: Alliteration is repetition of words that begin with the same sound
placed close to each other to create a rhythmic effect.
➢ Or if some time when roaming round
➢ If when you're walking round your yard
(2) Repetition: Repetition is a poetic device that is used to repeat the sounds of
the single words, phrases or even stanzas at intervals, to create a musical effect
and make the poem more appealing.
➢ He'll only lep and lep again.
➢ Who hugs you very, very hard.
(3) Irony: Irony is a poetic device that is used by the poet to bring humor or satire
on somebody or something.
It is done by giving two meanings to a word or a phrase, i.e., surface meaning and
underlying meaning.
➢ A noble wild beast greets you. (paradox – contradiction)
➢ He'll give you just one more caress.
(4) Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is 'ababcc'.
Significant Morals
(1) All the animals in nature have distinctive features and behavioural traits.
(2) All of them have their own unique characteristics which makes it easy to identify
them.
(3) It is dangerous for a person to be in close proximity to wild animals.
Tone of the Poem:
The poem "How to Tell Wild Animals" by Carolyn Wells humorously explores how
to identify wild animals through their traits and behaviours. Using exaggeration
and a playful tone, it offers funny advice on spotting these creatures.

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5. THE BALL POEM

About the Poet
John Berryman was an American poet who rose to prominence in the second half
of the twentieth century. He was a scholar as well. His most popular work is The
Dream Songs.
Poetic Devices
(1) Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound that is used in the
beginning of the closely placed words.
➢ Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
➢ And no. one buys a ball back. Money is external.
(2) Symbolism: Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify the ideas by giving them
symbolic meaning that are different from their literal meaning.
The term 'ball' is used as a symbol for the boy's past childhood days that are now
gone. It is also a symbol of the boy's lost innocence that has turned him into a
mature person.
(3) Repetition: Repetition is a poetic device that is used to create a musical effect
by repeating the sounds of single words, phrases or stanzas at intervals, in order
to make the poem more appealing.
• What, what is he to do? I saw it go
• Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
• The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
• Knowing what every man must one day know
• And most know many days, how to stand up.
(4) Rhyme scheme: There is no rhyme scheme of the poem as it is written in 'free-
verse'.
Significant Morals
(1) Loss of someone or something is inevitable in life.
(2) A person needs to bravely accept the truth of the loss of his beloved possession.
(3) Life never stops for a person at the loss of a thing. It goes on.
The tone of the poem:
Somber, sad, and reflective:
The tone of the poem "The Ball" is somber, sad, and reflective.
The poet uses imagery, contrast, repetition to convey the theme of loss and
growing up. He creates vivid and sensory descriptions of the boy’s feelings and
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actions as he loses his ball in the water. He contrasts the boy’s sadness and
despair with the ball’s happiness and freedom.

6. AMANDA
About the Poet

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Robin Klein is an Australian author who writes primarily for children. She has
authored many books in the genre of children's and young adult literature. She
has won several awards for her work and is popular among children.
Poetic Devices
(1) Alliteration: Alliteration is repetition of the same sound at the beginning of the
closely placed words.
• Stop that slouching and sit up straight,
• Stop that sulking at once, Amanda!
(2) Repetition: Repetition is a poetic device used to create a musical effect by
repeating single words, phrases or even stanzas at intervals in order to make the
poem more appealing.
• In the poem, the word 'Amanda' has been used several times by the poet.
(3) Metaphor: Metaphor is a literary device that is used to represent a comparison
without using the words "like" or "as".
The poet had used metaphor in the stanzas 2, 4 and 6 where he had compared
Amanda to a 'mermaid', and 'Rapunzel'.
(4) Allusion: Allusion is a poetic device that is used to make a reference to any
person, statement or thing from historical, mythological, cultural, literary or
political backgrounds.
• Mermaid: It is a mythological character that has a body of half girl and half fish.
• Rapunzel: She was a princess in a German fairytale who had bright long hair
using which a prince climbed up the tower she was locked in and rescued her. She
was enslaved in a tower by an evil witch.
(5) Rhyme scheme: The rhyme scheme for stanzas 1, 3, 5 and 7 is 'aaba' while the
rhyme scheme for stanzas 2, 4, and 6 is aaa.

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Significant Morals
(1) Children should be given their share of privacy and freedom by their parents.
(2) Excessive nagging turns children defiant and they start escaping reality through
their imagination as they do not like their parents snatching away their freedom.
(3) Parents should develop a friendly and healthy relationship with their children.
The Tone of the Poem:
The tone of this poem is amusing on the whole. However, the tones used
by Amanda’s mother and by Amanda herself are vastly different. Amanda’s
mother is authoritative and strict. On the other hand, Amanda is dreamy and
childish. The clash between them is what provides amusement for readers.

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7. THE TREES
About the Poet
Adrienne Rich was an American poet, scholar and feminist. She was one of the
most widely read feminist poets in the second half of the twentieth century. She
had won various awards and wrote mostly about the challenges faced by women.
Poetic Devices
(1) Metaphor: Metaphor is a literary device used to represent a comparison without
using the words "like" or as".
• The poet had used 'trees' metaphorically to represent helplessness of women
in patriarchal society.
• The struggles of the nature or trees to be freed from the confinements of man
is compared to that of women.
(2) Imagery: Imagery refers to the mental pictures or imaginary views that the poet
creates in the mind of the readers to convey views or thoughts clearly. It makes a
poem picturesque.
• The trees inside are moving out into the forest.
the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
• Like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
(3) Simile: Simile is a poetic device that is used by the poet to draw a clear
comparison between two or more things or people having same qualities using
words 'like' and 'as'.
• Like newly discharged patients.
• Still reaches like a voice into the rooms.
• The moon is broken like a mirror.
(4) Personification: Personification is a poetic device which is used to portray an
object or a non-living thing as something alive. It makes the non-living thing alive
to convey its ideas, aims and meanings.
• The trees inside are moving out into the forest.
• No sun bury its feet in shadow.

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• All night the roots work.

• Winds rush to meet them.
(5) Rhyme scheme: There is no rhyme scheme in the poem. It's written in 'free
verse'.
Significant Morals
(1) No object or human in this world can be suppressed for long. People may restrict
other's freedom, growth and development, but the oppressed breaks free from the
confines one day eventually.
(2) Trees are essential for environment while women are essential for the survival
of humanity.
(3) Both trees and women sustain the environment and generations so, instead of
enslaving them one should help them grow.
The Tone of the Poem:
Sarcastic and criticising
The tone of the poem is sarcastic and criticising as the poet criticises the male
dominated society to be unfair, unjust and inhuman to a section which has been
suppressed, downtrodden and illtreated for ages.

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8. FOG
About the Poet
Carl Sandburg was an American poet, biographer and journalist. His poems were
widely read and won two Pulitzer prizes. He had also won a third Pulitzer prize for
his biography of Abraham Lincoln.
Poetic Devices
(1) Imagery: Imagery refers to the mental pictures or imaginary views that the poet
creates in the mind of the readers to convey his views or thoughts. It makes a poem
picturesque.
The poet has used imagery to create a view in the mind of the readers how fog came
over the harbour and the city and how it retreated like a cat.
(2) Metaphor: Metaphor is a literary device which is used to represent a comparison
without using the words "like" or "as".
Here, the poet has used the phrases 'on little cat feed, 'It sits looking', 'on silent
haunches' as a metaphor to compare it to the movements of a cat.
(3) Rhyme scheme: There is no rhyme scheme in the poem. It's a 'free-verse'.
Significant Morals
(1) Nature has beautiful similarities.
(2) Things happen for a short period of time and come to an end.
The Tone of the Poem:
Introspective and thoughtful
The tone of "Fog" is introspective and thoughtful, with a reflective quality that
encourages contemplation. Sandburg's use of simple language, short lines, and
vivid imagery contribute to this tone, making the poem accessible and relatable.

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9. THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DARGON

About the Poet
Ogden Nash was an American poet who became popular for his humorous poetry.
He wrote over 500 such pieces of light verse. Due to his unconventional rhyming
schemes, he was called the county's best producer of humorous poetry by The New
York Times.
Poetic Devices
(1) Alliteration: It is a rhythmic effect created by placing words that begin with the
same sound close together.
• Belinda lived in a little white house.
• Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears.
• And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright.
• With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm.
• And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon.
(2) Repetition: It is a poetic device used to create a musical effect by repeating
single words, phrases or even stanzas at intervals in order to make the poem more
appealing.
• Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful.
• Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound.
• Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right.
(3) Metaphor: It is a literary device used to represent a comparison without using
the words "like" or "as".
• chimney for a nose
• And realio, trulio daggers on his toes
(4) Simile: It is a poetic device used by the poet to draw a clear comparison between
two or more things or people with the help of words 'like' and 'as'.
• Mouth like a fireplace
• Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears.
• Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage.
(5) Onomatopoeia: This poetic device is used by the poet to describe sounds with
the help of words. It uses sound-descriptive words like 'splash', etc.
• And Blink said Weeck!
• Meowch! cried Ink, and ooh! cried Belinda.
• With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm.
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(6) Rhyme scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is 'aabb'. However, for stanza
13, the rhyme scheme is aabbcc.
Significant Morals
(1) One must not judge people from their appearances or claims.
(2) Appearances might be deceptive while claims may prove false.
Tone of The Poem :
The tone of this poem is humorous for the most part. A tone of suspense comes
in when the pirate enters Belinda’s house, but that is soon replaced by joy when
Custard saves the day. It could be argued that the thought of a man being eaten
alive is quite scary and inappropriate for children, but the way in which Nash
tells us the story is bound to make us laugh.

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10. FOR ANNE GREGORY

About the Poet
William Butler Yeats was a twentieth century Irish poet, dramatist and senator. He
is considered one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. He also became
a senator of the Irish Free State twice..
Poetic Devices
(1) Alliteration: Alliteration is a rhythmic effect created by placing words that begin
with the same sound close together.
• Love you for yourself alone.
• And not your yellow hair.
(2) Metaphor: Metaphor is a literary device used to represent a comparison without
using the words "like" or as".
• By those great honey-coloured
• Ramparts at your ear.
(3) Anaphora: Anaphora refers to repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of
successive phrases, sentences or stanzas.
• And not your yellow hair.
Significant Morals
(1) True love is never based on physical attributes alone.
(2) True love is only based on the inner beauty of heart, mind and soul.
(3) It is only God who loves His people selflessly.
Tone of the Poem:
Conversational tone:
The poem 'For Anne Gregory' is written by William Butler Yeats in
a conversational tone. The poem is a conversation between Anne Gregory and
the poet. The poem talks about how different people perceive beauty. Human
beings age, and slowly beauty fades away.

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