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Questions and Answers
What is the central theme or subject matter of the poem?
What is the significance of the repeated phrase 'Break, break, break'?
Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?
What is the significance of the phrase 'the tender grace of a day that is dead'?
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What is the significance of the line 'And the world spins on with a silent tread'?
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What does the speaker express a longing for?
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What is the contrast in the poem's description of the fisherman's boy and the sailor lad?
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What does 'the tender grace of a day that is dead' refer to metaphorically?
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In the context of the poem, what do the 'stately ships' represent?
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What emotion does the speaker convey through the repetition of 'Break, break, break'?
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Study Notes
Poem's Themes and Imagery
- The poem explores the theme of longing and yearning for something that is lost or unattainable.
- The speaker expresses a sense of desperation and frustration, conveyed through the repetitive phrase "Break, break, break".
- The use of natural imagery, such as the "morning bake", "twilight's wake", and "moonbeams kiss the sea", creates a sense of peacefulness and serenity, contrasting with the speaker's emotional turmoil.
Speaker's Emotions and Desires
- The speaker wants to express the thoughts and feelings that arise in their mind, but struggles to do so.
- They lament the loss of a "day that is dead" and yearn for the "tender grace" of that day to return.
- The speaker feels a sense of isolation and disconnection, as they ponder "words unsaid" and a "voice that is still".
Contrast and Irony
- The poem contrasts the carefree and joyful lives of the "fisherman's boy" and "sailor lad" with the speaker's own sorrow and longing.
- The "stately ships" that "go on to their haven under the hill" serve as a reminder of the speaker's own sense of stagnation and loss.
Symbolism and Imagery
- The sea is a symbol of power, change, and the unknown, and the speaker's address to it ("O Sea!") expresses a sense of reverence and awe.
- The "cold gray stones" of the sea represent a sense of hardness and indifference, highlighting the speaker's feelings of isolation and disconnection.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the poem 'Break, Break, Break' with this quiz. See how much you remember about the emotions and themes expressed in this classic piece of literature.
