TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

About the poet:

Wole Soyinka (pronounced as Woye Soyinka) is a well-known Nigerian Poet, playwright, and essayist.
Born in 1934, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, making him the first African Laureate.
His poetry is a powerful reflection of his life and experiences as he explores the themes of oppression and
resistance in a society that has borne the brunt of colonialism, identity, and culture.

Many of his poems are deeply personal experiences as they are shaped by his time spent in jail or in exile,
His Nobel acceptance speech was in fact, titled, ‘This Past must address it Present’ as he focused on his
criticism of apartheid.

His writing is powerful as he blends sharp wit with critique of political injustice in his homeland. He also
blends Western literary form with Yoruba mythology that draws on gods and stories and the texture of
African oral storytelling techniques.

About the poem:

Written in 1963, it satires racism and addresses the discrimination experienced by Africans. The poem is
about a phone call between landlady and the speaker who is Black, about renting an apartment. Till such
time the landlady realises the speaker is ‘African’, she is pleasant. But then she wants to know how light
or dark the speakers skin is, suggesting deep racial prejudice. The speaker responds by mocking her
prejudice, in order to highlight that if you characterise people by the colour of their skin, it dehumanises
them.

Soyinka uses humour and irony to expose the absurdity of such narrow thinking and makes the poem a
powerful critique of racism in modern society. The themes explored are the struggle for equality in a word
that is impacted by racism.

The significance of the setting of the poem inside a phone booth:

The Telephone booth Symbolizes confinement in a limited space. But the confinement is both physical
and emotional in this case. As this speaker’s identity is questioned and closely scrutinized by the lady on
the other end of the line, The booth that creates a sense of isolation. He is physically separated from the
landlady, impersonal nature of their interaction, as the subject will discuss, is their rent agreement. Being
confined, also highlights the possibility of rejection. A phone booth also restricts the speaker's ability to
react physically. You cannot do anything but listen to the landlady's questions and suffer her biases. The
controllers clearly not in his hands.

A phone is a means of communication. However, here it becomes an instrument of prejudice.

Literary devices:
1. Alliteration: Button B, Button A
2. Repetition: of the word DARK, RED- to emphasise the focus on the colour in the poem.
3. Imagery: Lipstick coated, long gold-rolled cigarette holder. (both, visual and tactile
imagery)
4. Metaphor: red-double decker bus, black tar surfacing- metaphorically represents the
dominance of the white community over the people of colour.
5. Irony: she makes her inquiries politely, but they are only a mask for her underlying
prejudice.
6. Enjambment: Lines run over into the next. That is used to convey the anxiety of the
speaker to get the apartment on rent as well as his frustration.
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Q1) What is the speaker's confession and why does he make such a confession? How
is it received by the landlady?
Ans) The speaker in Wole Soyinka's telephone conversation refuses identity and ethnicity to
a white landlady. I am African. He warns her that he is an African. This is his self-confession.
The words, I hate a wasted journey, is the reason for his self-confession. He wants to avoid
future discrimination and confrontation. This shows that he is aware of the double standards
prevalent in the society. He wants to confirm if the room is truly available to a black man.
Perhaps he has had bitter experiences of discrimination in the past. The reaction of the
landlady to this confession is silence. Silence transmission of pressurized good breathing.
She does not reveal her dislike or disapproval for black people openly, but she harbours
racial prejudice against the blacks. She asks about his skin colour, taken aback by the
confession. This ironically smacks of hypocrisy and prejudice.

Q2) Why is there a silence after the speaker's confession that he is an African? What
is suggested by silence transmission?
Ans) The immediate response of the white landlady to the speaker's self-confession, 'I am
African', is 'silence'. This exposes her reservation towards the blacks. Taken aback, she
does not openly express her dislike or disapproval for the black-skinned speaker she
harbours racial prejudice based on colourism. The silence is thus a conscious suppression
of her disgust owing to the double standards of assumed decency and sophistication of the
whites prevalent in society. The expression silence transmission suggests lack of genuine
and open communication between the speaker and the landlady. There is no honest
dialogue and the inability to express oneself freely highlights the communication gap of a
telephone conversation. The telephone involves transmission of electrical signals to both
ends, hence mechanical. The speaker understands the indifference of the landlady over the
phone, perhaps, because of his prior bitter experiences of racism. Herein lies the irony she
seems to be under pressure on how to deal with the African speaker.

Q3.) When the lady finally speaks after a pause, what does the speaker make out
about the woman? Was he correct in his assessment?

Ans) When the landlady finally speaks after a pause, the black speaker imagines that her
lips must be painted with 'lipstick' and she must be using 'a long gold-rolled cigarette holder',
voice when it came pipped. This is the mental image made by the African speaker by
listening to her voice on the phone. His attitude towards her is that she is socially superior to
him and comes from a higher social strata. Her voice is depicted as upper-class, rather
haughty, condescending. Here, the black man stereotypes the landlady and his opinion and
assessment are based on his prior experiences of racism. He is correct in this. Indeed, the
landlady harbours racial prejudice and makes simplistic categorization based on colourism.
She is unable to express her disgust openly due to her good breathing, but the speaker can
sense her reservation towards him. She asks him about his skin colour, avoiding the taboo
word "black".

Q4) What is similar between the two words 'self-confession' and 'caught'? What do
they suggest?

Ans) The words self-confession and caught are both ironical. The African speaker seems
sorry for his skin colour and lack of confidence in his own skin colour upon which he does
not have any control. His prior bitter experience of racism has resulted in his submissiveness
initially. He is aware of the misguided civility of the white and their double standards
prevalent in the society. A person guilty of committing a crime 'confesses' or is 'caught',
here, the speaker has to confess about his identity, ethnicity to the white lady and finds
himself in an unpleasant situation.
Wole Soyinka uses irony here to highlight the impacts of racial discrimination in the micro-
structure of the society. He satirizes it through clever wordplay. These words expose the
uneasiness that arises with racial prejudice showcasing the emotional impact of such
encounters, the unfairness of the situation, and the violation of the speaker's personal
boundaries are suggestive.

Q5) How do the words, "How Dark", reflect the theme of the poem?

Ans) The landlady's question, "HOW DARK?", reflects the theme of racial discrimination and
prejudice in Telephone conversation. Though the white lady does not use the taboo word,
"Black", she inquires about the speaker's skin colour, the degree of its darkness. The use of
capital letters speaks not so much about the volume of her voice, but it exposes the insult of
her discriminatory questions, revealing the hypocrisy of the whites in society. She wants to
categorize the speaker's skin colour into light or very dark, reducing his identity to superficial
characteristic. This shows her adherence to social stereotypes, limited understanding of the
diversity of racial identities, deep-rooted prejudices based on racial bias. Her variation in
emphasis on the words light and very dark indicates her attempt to fit the speaker into
predefined racial categories. She persistently does so and hangs up the phone, which is her
choice. Wole Soyinka's speaker mocks the lady to attack such mindset, making a societal
commentary against colonialism.

Q6) Why does the speaker feel ashamed? What does it indicate about the speaker?

Ans) The African speaker feels humiliated when the white landlady hurls insulting and
discriminatory questions regarding the degree of darkness of his skin colour. He has to
choose whether he is light or very dark because the lady has offered him a stark and
unforgiving choice. He will not be able to give a reply without acquiescing to her racist binary.
He is too shocked at her hypocrisy to speak, yet he is shamed by his "ill-mannered silence".
He feels that the question, “How Dark?", is offensive, but he begs simplification. This shows
the impact of racial prejudice on an individual's self-worth. He feels oppressed and defines
his act of remaining silent as surrender. Racial prejudice and discrimination is real and is
ashamed of his inability to respond. He still tries to consider her considerate. Her insensitivity
and persistent attempts to categorize him solely on his skin colour, however, will make the
speaker challenge her true mockery, humour, and clever wordplay giving her a befitting
response in the end.

Q7) Why does the speaker feel that the lady is considerate? What does this indicate
about the lady?

Ans) The speaker, the African speaker, feels that the white lady is considerate because she
does not use the taboo word "black". She asks about the degree of darkness of his
complexion. Though the words light and very dark smack of her racist binary, she does not
openly disapprove of him. She hurls insults, yet it is concealed by her "good breeding".
Having had such prior, bitter experiences of racial discrimination, the speaker perhaps does
not denounce her mindset outright. Her persistent fixation on colourism and her insensitivity
gradually make him challenge the oppression. Wole Soyinka uses "considerate" ironically to
expose her hypocrisy as a racist.
The landlady's ignorance and limited understanding of the diversity of racial identities are
revealed. She is not considerate. She intensifies her racist attacks on the speaker. Her
words appear generous, but her action is full of hatred. She represents white supremacy and
domination over the blacks and is hence haughty and condescending. Through her, Soyinka
blasts the so-called social equality created by the whites.
 THE COOKIE LADY
About the writer:
America Writer Philip K Dick (known by his initials PKD) Was known for his highly imaginative
and thought-provoking Stories. He was up prophetic science fiction writer and is believed to
have written 40 novels and 121 short stories. His stories are often categorized as speculative
fiction or ‘philosophical’ science fiction. That is because of the philosophical and metaphysical
themes explored in his works.

PKD’s writing often blurs the lines between reality and illusion and ‘The Cookie Lady’ is a fine
example of this. His narratives are characterised by intricate plots and psychological depth.
That is probably many of his stories have been adapted into films and television series,
establishing him as one of the foremost writers of 20th century science fiction literature.

This story was published in June 1953 issue of “The Fantasy Fiction” Magazine.

About the story:

In the story, the protagonist- a young boy called Bubber- keeps visiting a mysterious woman,
Mrs. Drew who makes cookies for him. But there is something she is able to do with the help of
those cookies. What happens in the end takes the reader by complete surprise.

Themes of the story:

1. Mrs. Drew steals Bubber’s youth through her cookies. It highlights the human desire to
recapture lost vitality and the potential darkness of that yearning.
The story thus explores the theme of youth and yearning to rewind the clock back. Mrs.
Drew wants to recapture the vitality of youth, to feel young skin minus the wrinkles all
over again. Her interaction and physical contact with one way of doing it. The story thus
reflects on the effects of ageing on a person’s psyche.

2. The story portrays an exploitative relationship and the innocence of the trust that
Bubber has in Mrs. Drew. But she uses Bubber for her own gain, raising questions about
manipulation and also the vulnerability of innocence (as shown by Bubber’s Character)
Mrs Drew draws this vitality from Bubber and these interactions at frequent intervals
eventually destroy Bubber. This unnatural transformation is a horrifying and disturbing
theme of this story.

3. The cookies are an important element. It seems initially that both Bubber and Mrs Drew
crave for companionship. But it is not really so. Bubber will go anywhere he can find
something to eat, and Mrs Drew notices this weakness and uses the cookies as bait to
trap him also, Mrs Drew leads a life devoid of human interaction and people in the
neighbourhood (the Suries) too do not seem bey keen on their children interacting with
her.
4. The story makes one think if Mrs. drew was an evil person. The story this belongs to the
horror genre. There is an air of something abnormal going to happen all the time.
5. Linked to this is the theme of temptation. While Bubber is tempted by the prospect of
turning young again.
About the characters:
1. Bubber (full name being Bernard Surie) is who regularly visits Mrs Drew’s House, enticed
by the prospect of eating cookies made by her. He reads out from different books
whenever she asked him to.
2. Mrs Drew elderly woman in this by herself in a dilapidated house. She seems to be
leading a lonely existence and therefore looks forward to meeting Bubber. The real
reason, however, is that she possesses the ability to become younger by physically
changing herself by touching the boy and his presence. This takes a rather sinister turn
towards the end of the story.
3. May Surie and Ralph Surie are Bubber’s parents who do not approve of his visits to Mrs
Drew’s house. Ernie Mill is a minor character who teases Bubber about his visits to Mrs.
Drew’s house.

Setting of the story also adds to the feeling of something sinister going to happen. Mrs Drew’s
house is described as located at the end of Elm Street. The front of the house is overgrown with
weeds and the house itself was shabby and unpainted, giving it a dilapidated feel as the porch
steps were also sagging. The old weather-beaten rocking chair on the porch and the torn piece
of cloth added to the feel.

But the fact that all this did not matter to Bubber showed that he was really enticed by the taste
of cookies and the time he spent with the old lady.

Significance of the Title

The title captures the innocent and domestic Imagery of childhood which is cookies. However,
when it is added to the word "Lady', it is juxtaposed with a figure of enigmatic allure and
potential danger represented by Mrs Drew. This contrast sets the tone for the story, hinting at
themes of Innocence, temptation, and the ambiguity of appearances. Do not judge a book by Its
cover.

Since in the story, Mrs Drew represents a negative and evil force that eventually destroys the
protagonist, the title injects an element of mystery and uncertainty. The title therefore draws
attention to her role in pushing the young boy into a world of uncertainty.

Cookies initially are innocent delicacies, but they acquire a sinister hue as the story progresses
because they are part of the dark temptation that Mrs Drew holds.
 THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS
What happens in the story?
The story which was published in 1950 is set in a futuristic world of 2026. The setting is of a
neighbourhood that has been destroyed in Allendale in California. But despite the destruction, an
automated house belonging to the McClellan family continues its pre-programmed routines even though
the inhabitants are not there. The story unfolds through these routines and the chilling clues they offer.
During the story, we learn that a nuclear bomb has devastated the city, leaving the house strangely
untouched.

The house cares for itself, cooking meals, setting the table for a family that no longer exists, and playing
music for an empty room. A robotic dog, injured and malfunctioning, returns to the house to die. A poem
about the beauty and indifference of nature after humanity's demise underscores the story's bleakness.

The automated routines eventually turn destructive. The mechanical hound malfunctions, causing a fire
that engulfs the house. As the fire rages, the nursery plays a recording of a bedtime story, offering a final,
unsettling glimpse into the lost family life. The story ends with the house burning down, consumed by the
very technology designed to serve its inhabitants.

Message: Nuclear War and Technology will in the end, not protect us.

The significance of the title

The title is taken from a poem by Sara Teasdale which she wrote in 1918, just at the end of the
first World War. In the poem, Teasdale had spoken about an ideal post-apocalyptic world in
which nature continues beautifully and peacefully even after humankind is extinct.

Bradbury chose the title when he wrote the story in 1950, five years after the atom bomb was
dropped on Japan in 1945. Bradbury projects a dystopian world where robots and machines
have taken over and very weirdly enough, there is no sign of human beings. So, the characters in
the story who are survivors are robotic cleaning mice, aluminium cockroaches, and iron
crickets.

What is Dystopian? It is the opposite of Utopian (which describes an ideal, perfect society).
Dystopian refers to an imaginary society that is undesirable or frightening. So, elements like
environmental disasters, collapse of societal orders are depicted.

Themes of the story

1. Life versus Technology: The story presents a chilling contrast between the automated house
which is a marvel of technology and the absence of human life that it was designed to serve. The
technology continues its routines mindlessly. highlighting the absurdity as well as the dangers
of overreliance on technology.

2. Death: The story is filled with a pervasive sense of death. The dog's death and the burned
silhouettes on the house are constant reminders of death. The automated routines ticking by
every hour emphasize the relentless march of time and the loss of human control over their fate.

3. War and devastation: The aftermath of war.

4. Nature versus Technology: Nature, symbolized by the gentle rain and the poem about
enduring beauty, continues its cycle even after the technological marvel of the house is
destroyed. This suggests the ultimate power of nature over human creations and the possibility
of the Earth healing after human destruction.
 TITHONUS

Lord Alfred Tennyson was one of the most celebrated Victorian poets of English in the 19th
century. Served as Poet Laureate of England for over 40 years. His poetry is known to explore
different aspects of the human condition and themes of mortality, love, nature.

Who was Tithonus?

In Greek mythology, Tithonus was a handsome Trojan prince, the son of King Laomedon and a lover of the
goddess Eos (or Aurora in Roman mythology), the goddess of the dawn. Eos fell in love with Tithonus and
abducted him from Troy to live with her in the east. Eos wanted Tithonus to stay with her forever, so she
pleaded with Zeus, the king of gods, to grant him immortality.

But it turned out to be a flawed wish because she forgot to ask for eternal youth as well. So, the gift
became a curse. Tithonus did indeed live forever but as time passed, he grew older and feebler, his body
withering away. Tithonus' myth serves as a cautionary tale about the double-edged sword of wishes and
the importance of considering all aspects of a desired outcome.

Twist in the tale –

Tennyson slightly altered the mythological story. In the poem, it is Tithonus (and not Aurora) who asks for
immortality. And it is Aurora (and not Zeus) who confers this gift upon him. Also, the source of the
suffering in the poem is not Aurora's error in the way she formulates her request to Zeus but the other
Goddesses (called Strong Hours') who feel jealous of and resent Tithonus's immortality and subject him
to the ravages of time.

What is the poem about?

1. The poem deals with the concept of aging and death. Tennyson explores the fear of growing
old and the longing for a natural life cycle, thereby touching upon the subject of human
mortality.

2. By portraying Tithonus' predicament, Tennyson challenges the traditional romanticization of

immortality. He highlights the despair and isolation that can come with endless life.

3. In terms of content, the poem uses a Greek myth to explore this subject and it shows
Tennyson's interest in using mythical figures to illuminate universal experiences.

4. In terms of style, the poem uses vivid imagery to depict Tithonus' decline and the beauty he
can no longer fully experience. This showcases Tennyson's skill in creating strong visual
language.

5. From a human emotion point of view, the poem explores the complexities of human desires.
It highlights the potential downsides of wishes granted without careful consideration.

Note: ‘Tithonus' can be seen as a companion piece to Tennyson's poem 'Ulysses', which is
about celebration of experiences in life.
Themes of the poem
1. Mortality and Immortality Classroom

2. Time and Decay

3. Yearning to be rid of his state

4. Larger theme of the human existence and effect on the mind

Form of the poem –

The poem is a dramatic monologue where the entire text is spoken by a single character.
Through his words, we come to know more about his mind. Written in blank verse.

It was initially written in 1833 under the title ‘Tithon'. But it was not appreciated. It was then re-
published in 1859-60 edition of the Cornhill magazine under the title of 'Tithonus' when it found
takers. In this version, there were many additions to the original poem. Later it was again
published in his book Enoch Arden in 1864.

Poetic Devices
1. Personification - Vapours weep their burthen. Woods decay.

2. Imagery: The poem is rich in sensory details that bring the scene to life. We see the "rosy
shadows" of dawn, feel the "dewy-warm" kisses, / Of and smell the "balmier than half-opening
buds / Of April."

3. Simile: A white-hair'd shadow roaming like a dream.

4. Metaphor: "Portals" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's lover's physical
beauty or a more intimate connection. Cruel immortality consumes this too is a metaphor as
immortality is metaphorically portrayed as a consuming force that finally destroys Tithonus.

5. Repetition: The wood decay, the woods decay - to emphasise the theme of withering away.
Similarly, Ay me, Ay me.

6. Hyperbole: While llion like a mist rose into towers - to convey the grandeur with exaggeration

7. Transferred epithet - "The vapours weep their burthen to the ground" is also an example of a
transferred epithet.

Epithet: "Weep" is the adjective (or epithet) describing the action.

Transferred: It is not literally the vapours that are weeping. Weeping is an action humans do, so
it's being "transferred" to describe a non-human thing (vapours).

True subject: The true subject that is actually weeping (raining) is implied but not directly
mentioned.

The transferred epithet "weep" gives the vapours human-like qualities, creating a more vivid
image of the rain falling.

The poem begins with the poet’s speaker, Tithonus, son of Laomedon, a King of Troy,
bemoaning his immortality as he looks around the woods.
 Around him, he can see the “woods decay.” He repeats the phrase twice for emphasis as
this simple act of life moving on to death is beyond the realm of his understanding. After
decaying the woods, “fall,” and a “vapour” or mist covers the ground. This vapor is part of the
process of reincarnation through which every living thing participates. “The vapours weep
their burthen to the ground,” and the men come along and till the field and all that lies within
it. The earth is reused and reborn, every living thing goes through this except for Tithonus.
Tithonus is alone in the world. He is isolated by immortality and he despises it. Many
members of mankind have desired the ability to live forever. Tithonus was no exception and
his story, and how he came to hate his own eternal life will be described by the speaker
throughout the poem.
He is being “consumed” by his own immortality and is “slowly” withering within his own arms.
There is no one there to soothe him who can understand what he is going through, so he
must take comfort in his own presence. In the next lines, he describes himself as a “white-
hair’d shadow” that is traveling the world in a dream. He has seen and done everything, he
is at the “limit of the world” trapped in the East with Eos. The speaker has seen all the
beauty the planet has to offer and is now completely alone and miserable.

In the second stanza of this piece, the speaker explains how he came to be in this sorry
state. He is now a “gray shadow,” but was once, “So glorious in his beauty” that he was
chosen by “thy” to be granted immortality. It is understood from the original myth, as
summarized above, that the “thy” is a reference in this poem to Eos or Aurora, the
personification of the dawn. After she fell in love with Tithonus he begged her, as many a
mortal would, to 'Give me immortality.’

In this version of the story, Eos granted Tithonus’ wish like a “wealthy [man]” who can give
away things at will without being concerned about their own wellbeing. The immortality was
not what Tithonus was expecting though. Eos granted him eternal life but not eternal youth.
Since he was made immortal Tithonus has been aging as would any normal man. At this
point in the story the “Hours have worked “their wills,” they have “beat [him] down” and
“wasted” him until he was a shell of his former self.

Although time was unable to force him towards a final death it did continue the aging
process. Now, Tithonus is forced to “dwell in the presence of immortal youth,” referring to
Eos, while he is “in ashes.” His never-ending age is made worse by the fact that Eos is
completely untouched by time.
In the next lines of the poem, the speaker is pleading with Eos to please, “take back thy gift.”
He hopes to convince her that he is, at this point, better off dead. She has tears in her
“tremulous eyes” as she listens to his plea. He tells her that no man would “desire” to diverge
so far from normal mankind and that no one, if they knew what misery this was, would wish
to hide from death. As was demonstrated in the first stanza, he now understands the
importance of the cycle of life, he would never make this mistake again.

In the third stanza, the speaker is watching the sky right before the dawning of the sun and
the coming of Eos. The sky is like that “dark world” that all of humankind came from before
they were born. It holds a mystery to Tithonus that he believes he will never now know the
answer to.
In the following lines, he describes what Eos looks like as she is cresting the horizon. He can
see her “pure brows and…shoulders.” Her cheeks light up red and her eyes find his. Her
team of horses, “the wild team / Which love thee” then shake off the “darkness from
their…manes.” The horses plow forward and hoist Eos into the sky.

The speaker concludes this section of the poem by saying that whenever he makes his new
request of her, that she takes back his immortality, she “Departest.” He is wretched and
unable to even receive a yes or no answer from the god that used to be his beloved.
In the fourth stanza, he asks Eos if she will ever give him an answer, even if it is one shown
in tears. He knows if he were to see her crying he would know that “The Gods themselves
cannot recall their gifts.” The speaker is afraid that there is no way for Eos to take back what
she has given.
In the next lines of the poem, the speaker is reminiscing on the better days of his life when
“with…another heart” he laid down beside another lover. He is remembering happier times in
his life before he even became involved with Eos. Perhaps, he is thinking, if this had been
his chosen path he would have lived a better, fuller life. He remembers the curls of this
lover’s hair in the light and her “outline” pressed against the light of the sun. He was the
most alive then. Tithonus could feel his “blood / Glow with glow” as he lay with her. Together
they pressed their “Mouth[s], forehead[s], and eyelids and kissed balmy kisses.
Tithonus is dreaming of this better time in which this unknown lover whispered “that strange
song I heard Apollo sing” while the city of Troy, or Ilion, was being built. While this is a past
life that he thinking of it is wrapped up in his thoughts of Eos. He cannot even see this past
lover without her being present as the light behind the lover’s body.

In the final stanza of the poem, Tithonus is asking Eos to no longer hold him “in thine East”
where the sun always rises. His “nature” is unable to mix with her own. Even though they
may both be immortal, his visage and constitution are no longer what they were. Tithonus
does not feel for Eos the same way as he used to. Her light feels to him like a cold bath that
“wrinkle[s]” his feet. This he experiences every morning when the sun is rising and setting
“steam” floating up off the fields around him.
He pleads with her to “Release” him and let him return to the “ground.” If she was to release
him as he so deeply desires, she will still be able to “renew” her beauty every morning and
see his grave within the earth. He will die and “earth in earth forget these empty courts,” or
the empty days in which he has been living.
 BEETOVEN
About Shane Koyczan, the poet
He is a Canadian poet and writer, born in 1976. He is a spoken word poet which means his
poems are meant to be performed aloud and they also focus on rhythm, rhyme, meter, and
theatricality. His poems are on social issues like cancer, death, bullying, eating disorders. In
fact, his anti-bullying poem to this Day' has over 26 million views on YouTube.

How to pronounce: Shane (as in rain) Koy (as in coy) Zan. (rhymes with pan - C is silent)

About this poem :

Koyczan writes about the life and struggles of Ludwin van Beethoven, a famous composer. The
poem explores Beethoven's struggles with deafness and his transformation of his pain into
powerful music. So, Beethoven is presented as a symbol of determination and steadfast pursuit
of excellence despite the hurdles. He highlights the abusive childhood he endures and how he
converts his weakness of deafness into a strength.

What Koyczan does through his energetic way of writing and use of imagery is to enhance the
experience of the listener, making them feel the music and Beethoven's creative spirit and
dedication to music apart from his determination.

Themes of the poem

1. Power of Music: This is the central theme of the poem. Koyczan portrays music as a force
that can transform emotions, transcend limitations, and create a deep connection between the
artist and the listener.

2. Obsession and Dedication: The poem depicts Beethoven's relationship with music as all-
consuming, bordering on obsession. He is completely devoted to his craft, willing to go to
extraordinary lengths to create and experience music.

3. Childhood trauma and its impact: The poem explores how Beethoven's childhood abuse by
his father impacted his life and his music. The "broken record" metaphor represents the
lingering influence of his father's disapproval, driving him to constantly strive for perfection.

4. Deafness and his relationship with silence: The poem sheds light on how Beethoven's
deafness shapes his experience of music. He has a unique intimacy with silence and creates
music within that silence.

5. Genius and Madness: The poem explores the thin line between genius and madness.
Beethoven's intense behaviour and dedication are questioned by the musicians, who struggle to
understand him.

Poetic Devices
1. Metaphor:

Notes as track marks: This metaphor portrays the intense and all-consuming nature of
Beethoven's relationship with music.

Broken record: This metaphor captures the constant, critical voice of Beethoven's father and its
impact on his work.
Solar systems as cymbals and comets as colliding objects: These metaphors convey grandeur
and depict the immense emotional power of Beethoven's music. (This is also a hyperbole)

Joy as a tangible thing: This beautiful metaphor emphasizes how Beethoven's music makes
emotions feel real and concrete.

Love and hate in a waltz: This metaphor portrays the complex interplay of emotions in
Beethoven's music.

2. Simile: Similar to metaphors, similes use comparisons but with "like" or "as."

Conducting like calculating the distance between madness and genius: This simile highlights
the musicians' struggle to understand Beethoven’s intensity.

3. Imagery: The poem uses vivid imagery to create a strong emotional connection with the
reader. Descriptions of Beethoven's physical actions, the orchestra, and the impact of the
music all contribute to a strong visual experience.

4. Repetition: Koyczan repeats certain phrases for emphasis, such as "It was not good enough"
and "Listen." This repetition drives home the key points of the poem. Also, use of his name
Beethoven.

5. Personification: The poem gives human qualities to non-human things. For example, "silence"
is described as having "an intimacy" which suggests a personal connection.
 INDIGO
About the author :
Satyajit Ray was one of India's finest film directors, composers and writers especially in the
horror and mystery genre.

His horror stories revolved around supernatural phenomena, spirits, ghosts and paranormal
activity. The stories weave together normal day to day activities with something that cannot be
explained. The story was originally written in Bengali in 1968.

It is a first-person account. Ray was known for his strange plot twists and surprise endings. He
would write about perfectly normal events and then take you by surprise. This would make it
seem as if something like this could actually happen.

Main themes of Indigo are paranormal activity, unsettled pasts, shapeshifting (transformation
of form or shape) and loss of control.

Points to note
1. Main themes of paranormal activity, an unsettled past and loss of control. Bose has no
control over what happens to him that night - neither his looks, voice nor belongings.

2. The direct address by Bose makes it more credible. Use of imagery by Bose (clear blue sky
free from chimney smoke ironic the use of a chimney later).

3. Theme of foreshadowing (used as a tool) - Delayed by unexpected (important element) guest

and Bhola Babu's warning.

4. Story written in past tense means he is recollecting the experience.

5. Thunderstorms often are used in literature as warning signs. Plus missing a turn and two flat
tyres prepare the reader for something bad going to happen.

6. Time and Date are Important elements in the story - He keeps referring to how much time he
would travel - the details. The watch goes missing as if to tell him that the present is gone, he
has been transported to the past.

7. What does the watch symbolise? The connection with the past.

8. The mind is conscious but there is no control over the body. It is a paranormal activity (means
outside the scope of scientific reasoning, very unnatural occurrence). He could not control his
actions as his mind was in the body of another person. He is helpless, surprised. He was also
reliving the last moments of the Englishman. He did not possess the body entirely because the
mind was his. But events of 100 years ago were being replayed.

9. The Element of Indigo in the story. Represents greed for the English planter. Was lured by
money. Mistreated the indigo plantation workers.

10. Even though the mind is that of Bose, he cannot control what the Englishman does - to shoot
Rex and then himself. His mind cannot control his body. He is mentally conscious as Bose, but
his actions are determined by the Englishman. Shows an unrested soul and unsettled past.
11. Ray is able to tell us not just about Bose's plight but also understand the last moments of
the Englishman. He loves his hound, and he does not want it to be killed by the villagers. He
thinks death at his hands is preferable to death at their hands. Twisted logic.

12. The guilt of killing his beloved dog may have caused him to be an unsettled soul after death.
That is why perhaps on the 100th year death day, he is still in a disturbed state, taking over the
body of a guest.

13. The date 28th being mentioned is significant because it shows the 100th year date has
passed. Now things will no longer be disrupted. He can proceed smoothly.

14. Surprise ending - to say it was the 100th day.

15. The only thing he could do successfully was to send a telegram. Writing therefore is an
important theme of the story ... the Englishman's letter + Telegram, both conveying bad news.

16. Colonial rule is another important element of the story. Interesting that his elder brother
worked and settled in England.