Poetry

Suma Subramaniam's poem "A Smile Always Heals" explores the theme that a smile can mend relationships, illustrated through a school conflict between Surya and her friend. The resolution comes after...

The poem "Father Returning Home" by Dilip Chitre depicts old age leading to isolation through the father's withdrawal from his surroundings, symbolized by his tired, silent demeanor and "unseeing...

In "Barn Owl," Gwen Harwood uses opposing language to highlight the complexities of human experience, such as the juxtaposition of "slept" and "rose" to depict coming-of-age. Key themes include the...

Allegory is a narrative technique where characters and events symbolize broader concepts, while symbolism uses specific objects or actions to represent ideas on a smaller scale. Allusion refers to...

To annotate poetic lines, engage with the text by adding notes that highlight key elements. Begin by circling ambiguous words like "swing" and "innocent," noting their multiple meanings. Research...

The Pre-Raphaelite School of Poetry emerged from the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, founded in 1849. It sought to transform art by rejecting conventional techniques in favor of vivid colors, symbolism,...

The poem uses symbols, paradox, and multiple meanings to present a metaphor of the potential unity of the world.

Romantic poets often featured birds like the albatross, skylark, and nightingale as symbols bridging the natural and supernatural realms and representing art. In "To a Skylark," Shelley sees the bird...

To critically appreciate a poem's subject and theme, consider its social or historical context, the author's intent, and the literary devices used. Understanding context, like Yeats' "Easter, 1916"...