Essay Questions

Is the purpose of life the main theme in the poem?

The primary theme in this poem is the purpose of life. The speaker does not directly define the purpose of life, but she challenges readers to think and come up with answers that best fit their curiosity. The speaker explores nature and looks at the life of a grasshopper. The speaker looks at the grasshopper's survival tactics, starts to reflect on her life, and, more specifically, questions the meaning of prayer. Therefore, the poem is about life's purpose, and the answer lies in the readers' interpretation.

Does the poem “The Summer Day” celebrate the beauty of nature?

The speaker starts by asking who created the world and everything in because it is a wonderful place to live. The speaker looks at the beauty of the grasshopper, and she acknowledges the beauty of nature. According to the speaker, the world is mysterious because no man can understand the work of creation. The scope of nature is beyond human interpretation, and what the speaker can do is only appreciate its beauty and complexity.

Why does the Speaker ask, “Doesn’t everything dies at last, and too soon?”

One thing the speaker acknowledges is that everything we own is in vain. No matter how beautiful the world is, no one will live forever. Therefore, the speaker asks readers to do good deeds and, more importantly, serve humanity because everything else is vanity. Since no one will live forever, there is no need to destroy the beauty of nature.