Essay Questions

What unique themes does the poem "Snow" present?

"Snow" addresses the themes of variety and simplicity. Though the roses and snow are quite different, they still coexist quite nicely. This can apply to the real world, where different people of all sorts can coexist; if they wish to, of course. A snowy day is a simple event, occurring semi frequently. However, the author takes this simple happening, and turns it into a meaningful poem, proving even the simplest of occurrences can be turned into something interesting. In "Snow", MacNeice includes the themes of variation and "making something out of next-to-nothing".

Repetition is used quite often in "Prayer Before Birth"; for example, the phrase "I am not yet born" is repeated at the beginning of each stanza except for the last. What effect does MacNeice achieve in using this device?

By repeating certain phrases, MacNeice is like a composer. In a piece of music, a composer usually repeats a theme or phrase, to give the listener something to become familiar with, to attach on to, for an easier listen. MacNeice achieves something similar through this repetition; he gives the reader/listener something to "hang" onto, so to speak. The poem sticks in the reader's mind more easily due to the repetition, and makes the poem a more captivating read. Through the use of repetition, MacNeice hooks readers and listeners onto his poem, using easy- to- remember phrases to deeply insert the poem in a reader's/listener's mind.

Do you believe "Sunlight on the Garden" serve as a cold wake-up call to the world around us or as a message of retaining hope through despair?

"Sunlight on the Garden" sends the message of seeing the good in the darkest of times. The first half of the poem is a view of the dreary present, and is narrated with strong pessimism. However, if one looks closely, there are hints of light in the dark; for example, "Our freedom as free lances" (MacNeice 2). This means at the current time, the narrator(s) is/are free; it's only later that they are going to lose it. In the second half of the poem, the optimism of the narrator is made more clear, with fond memories of sunlight on the garden and flying. The author clearly chose to end the poem on a hopeful note to emphasize the theme of keeping optimism and hope. Overall, "Sunlight on the Garden" is of a poem of faith in the past, rather than a fatalistic view of the present and future.