Love Poem For My Country Flashcards
(10 cards)
Account for the use of the word ‘Love’ in the title of the poem. Why has the poet not used the word ‘praise’ instead
He might want to get away from the traditional praise poem so that you seem appeal to a younger, more modern audience. A love poem also suggests a more emotional attachment than a praise poem might
Refer to stanza 1. How are the rivers described as being? What does this word mean?
“ancient” – older than the very old, even before humans walked on earth.
What does ‘the full circle of life’ refer to? How does this fit in with the rest of the stanza?
Cycle of life – from the very beginning to the present. Life comes from sunshine and water and the rivers supply water.
Does the speaker feel pride for his country? What else has pride
The poet speaks throughout of pride for his country. All creatures are said to be part of this pride. The birds are produced at the same time part of this beauty.
Refer to stanza 2. How does the image of the mountains compare to us citizens?
The mountains and peaks are so big, awesome and majestic, God is speaking through them – quiet message of eternity and tranquility. By contrast, humans appear so small and our lives brief.
Explain the double meaning of “jewels of fish” in the context of stanza 4.
This refers to the glittering jewel-like fish, which is the treasure of the sea, and also the precious stones that miners dig out of the earth. These are examples of wealth mentioned earlier in the stanza. It suggests that living things are as valuable as precious stones / minerals.
Explain the double meaning of “the golden voice” in the context of stanza 4
The miner’s voice is golden suggests he has a beautiful voice. It also refers to the mineral – gold – that the miner is mining. It refers to the value of the praise song he is singing.
Qoute three words that align with five senses
“hear” (line 26), “feel” (line 32) and “see” (line 33)
Explain what the use of the word “shall” suggests
The use of “shall” – the future tense of will – suggests that the exploration is still to come. It suggests that this is something we can look forward to.
What is the overall tone of the poem?
The tone is joyful.
