Q.1: Identify an example of
personification in the poem. How does it enhance your understanding of the
bird?
‘And rowed him softer Home’ carries a vivid example of
personification in which the poetess has attributed the bird with human
like action of ‘rowing’ in the poem. It enhances the readers’ understanding
of how the birds clap and fling their wings during flight.
Q.2: Discuss the metaphor
in the final stanza, where the bird's flight is compared to "Oars divide
the Ocean." What effect does this comparison create?
The metaphorical comparison between bird’s
wings and the oars, and between the horizon (where birds
float free in the air) and the ocean creates an effect of smooth and
graceful movement. Through this comparison, the reader feels the true
experience of actual flight of the bird.
Q.3: Find a simile in the
poem and explain its significance in the overall imagery.
The poetess has created an amazing simile
with the use of ‘Like’ by comparing the bird’s eyes with
the beads. This comparison generates a true picture of real
beauty juxtaposed with fear that mirrors through the bird’s eyes.
Q.4: How does Dickinson use
visual imagery to describe the bird's actions? Provide examples.
The verses like ‘He glanced
with rapid eyes’, ‘They looked like frightened Beads,
‘Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon’ are fantastic examples of
visual imagery created by Dickinson in her famous poem.
Q.5: What is the effect of
the tactile imagery in the phrase "He stirred his Velvet Head"? How
does it contribute to the tone of the poem?
The imagery of ‘Velvet Head’
generates a feeling of softness and silky gentleness in the
readers’ mind. With this phrase, the tone of the poem suddenly shifts
from brutality, of eating a worm, to tenderness and delicacy.
Q.6: How does the mood
shift from the beginning to the end of the poem? What words or phrases help
create this shift?
The mood of the poem shifts from brutality
to peace to fear and finally to the beauty of peaceful
flight of the bird. The words like ‘ate and raw’ mark brutality, ‘sidewise
and let pass’ signify peace, ‘rapid eyes and frightened beads’
show fear whereas ‘rowed softer and butterflies’ indicate beauty
to highlight the gradual shift in the mood of the poem.
Q.7: What do you think
Dickinson is trying to convey about the relationship between humans and nature?
Support your answer with evidence from the poem.
According to Dickinson, nature never
trusts the human beings even when they express sympathy and love to
it. For instance, in the poem, the bird preferred to fly away when the
poetess tried to get closer to offer it a piece of bread.
Q.8: How does the bird's
decision to fly away rather than accept the crumb reflect broader themes of
freedom and independence?
In fact, bird’s decision to
fly away and his rejection of crumb reflects his choice of
freedom through his distrust on humans and negation to
subjection.
Q.9: How does the poem
explore the concept of natural beauty versus natural brutality? Give specific
examples from the text.
The
poem explores the concept of natural brutality and beauty through
bird’s predatory actions and his costumes respectively. The
poetess has used wonderful phrases like ‘ate raw, velvet head’ in
this context.
Q.10: What is the
significance of the speaker observing the bird without the bird's knowledge?
How does this affect the tone of the poem?
In fact, the poetess wanted to depict the bird’s instinctive actions in the natural setting. It creates a rare tone of respect for nature.
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