the biographer

Question 1

summary

Answer 1

• to start with, the speaker discusses the distance between himself and his subject.
• the speaker admires the work the deceased did in his life and struggles to contend with his own feelings of unworthiness.
• the poem depicts the biographer’s struggle to capture his subject’s life and voice while navigating the distance between them.
• the poem ends with the biographer looking into the subject’s mirror and seeing his less-than-ideal reflection.
• tries to get as close to him as they can despite it harming and changing their life.

Question 2

what is the poetic voice?

Answer 2

• a first-person male, a biographer, who is deeply invested in the life and work of the famous author he is writing about, seemingly Charles Dickens.

Question 3

how is the poetic voice created?

Answer 3

• first person -> establishes a personal and immediate connection between the reader and the biographers perspective.
• imagery-> paints a picture of the authors and biographers feelings, enhancing the poetic voice.
• focus shift->the poem shifts from focusing on the famous author to examining the biographer’s own life and aspirations.

Question 4

themes

Answer 4

• identity
• obsession
• loss
• loneliness
• disappointment
• admiration/ love