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Questions and Answers
What is a mid-term break?
What is a mid-term break?
A mid-term break is a short holiday in the middle of a long term.
Is this poem really about a mid-term break?
Is this poem really about a mid-term break?
False (B)
If not, what then is the poem about?
If not, what then is the poem about?
The poem is about the poet returning home after the death of his little brother.
What is meant by 'the first person'?
What is meant by 'the first person'?
Why do you think the poet decided to use the first person in this poem?
Why do you think the poet decided to use the first person in this poem?
What two facts mentioned in stanza 1 would probably puzzle the average reader?
What two facts mentioned in stanza 1 would probably puzzle the average reader?
Why is the word 'knelling' more effective than 'ringing' in the context of the poem?
Why is the word 'knelling' more effective than 'ringing' in the context of the poem?
What two facts suggest that something tragic has happened?
What two facts suggest that something tragic has happened?
What is the purpose of the two dashes in lines 4 and 5?
What is the purpose of the two dashes in lines 4 and 5?
Which word in particular is an example of foreshadowing in this stanza?
Which word in particular is an example of foreshadowing in this stanza?
How do the emotions of the baby contrast with those of the people around her?
How do the emotions of the baby contrast with those of the people around her?
Why do you think the poet mentions the baby?
Why do you think the poet mentions the baby?
Explain why the poet would be embarrassed by 'old men standing up to shake my hand.'
Explain why the poet would be embarrassed by 'old men standing up to shake my hand.'
What euphemism from this stanza indicates foreshadowing?
What euphemism from this stanza indicates foreshadowing?
What reasons would the people present whisper?
What reasons would the people present whisper?
Why do you think people found it necessary to state that the poet was 'the eldest'?
Why do you think people found it necessary to state that the poet was 'the eldest'?
What effect does the use of enjambment achieve?
What effect does the use of enjambment achieve?
Contrast the mother's emotional response to that of the father.
Contrast the mother's emotional response to that of the father.
What information does the reader still not have regarding the time reference?
What information does the reader still not have regarding the time reference?
Comment on the use of the word 'corpse.'
Comment on the use of the word 'corpse.'
Why do you think the poet 'went up into the room'?
Why do you think the poet 'went up into the room'?
What is the symbolism of candles?
What is the symbolism of candles?
Comment on the use of the word 'soothed.'
Comment on the use of the word 'soothed.'
What information has this stanza provided the reader?
What information has this stanza provided the reader?
What do you think a 'poppy bruise' would look like?
What do you think a 'poppy bruise' would look like?
Comment on the use of the word 'wearing.'
Comment on the use of the word 'wearing.'
Why are poppies significant in the poem?
Why are poppies significant in the poem?
What is the 'box' to which the poet refers, and what is it being compared to?
What is the 'box' to which the poet refers, and what is it being compared to?
Quote an example of alliteration and assonance in line 20.
Quote an example of alliteration and assonance in line 20.
What further information has this stanza provided the reader?
What further information has this stanza provided the reader?
What impact does the poet achieve with the one-line stanza at the end?
What impact does the poet achieve with the one-line stanza at the end?
What factual information does the reader glean from the final line?
What factual information does the reader glean from the final line?
For what reason was the poet allowed a mid-term break?
For what reason was the poet allowed a mid-term break?
How many siblings were there in the family?
How many siblings were there in the family?
What is particularly sad or tragic about this story?
What is particularly sad or tragic about this story?
Contrast the response of the poet to this tragedy with that of his parents.
Contrast the response of the poet to this tragedy with that of his parents.
What are the themes of this poem?
What are the themes of this poem?
What is the tone in this poem?
What is the tone in this poem?
What is the mood in this poem?
What is the mood in this poem?
What does the title show?
What does the title show?
What does 'sick bay' refer to?
What does 'sick bay' refer to?
What does 'counting' signify?
What does 'counting' signify?
What does 'bells knelling' suggest?
What does 'bells knelling' suggest?
What does the precise time reference signify?
What does the precise time reference signify?
What does 'neighbours drove me home' imply?
What does 'neighbours drove me home' imply?
What does 'I met my father crying' suggest?
What does 'I met my father crying' suggest?
What does 'He had always taken funerals in his stride' signify?
What does 'He had always taken funerals in his stride' signify?
What does 'And Big Jim Evans' evoke?
What does 'And Big Jim Evans' evoke?
What does 'it was a hard blow' imply?
What does 'it was a hard blow' imply?
What does 'The baby cooed and laughed' suggest?
What does 'The baby cooed and laughed' suggest?
What does 'I was embarrassed' convey?
What does 'I was embarrassed' convey?
What does 'old men standing up' signify?
What does 'old men standing up' signify?
What does 'to shake my hand' reflect?
What does 'to shake my hand' reflect?
What does the enjambment in stanza 3 illustrate?
What does the enjambment in stanza 3 illustrate?
'sorry for my trouble' conveys what?
'sorry for my trouble' conveys what?
What does 'Whispers' imply?
What does 'Whispers' imply?
What does 'I was the eldest' communicate?
What does 'I was the eldest' communicate?
What does 'my mother held my hand' suggest?
What does 'my mother held my hand' suggest?
What does 'In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs' imply?
What does 'In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs' imply?
What does 'At ten o'clock the ambulance arrived' signify?
What does 'At ten o'clock the ambulance arrived' signify?
What does 'the corpse' indicate?
What does 'the corpse' indicate?
What does 'stanched and bandaged by the nurses' imply?
What does 'stanched and bandaged by the nurses' imply?
What does 'candles soothed the bedside' imply?
What does 'candles soothed the bedside' imply?
What does 'I saw him' reveal?
What does 'I saw him' reveal?
What does 'Paler now' suggest?
What does 'Paler now' suggest?
What does 'wearing a poppy bruise' symbolize?
What does 'wearing a poppy bruise' symbolize?
What does 'four foot box as in his cot' convey?
What does 'four foot box as in his cot' convey?
What does 'no gaudy scars' suggest?
What does 'no gaudy scars' suggest?
What does 'bumper knocked him clear' highlight?
What does 'bumper knocked him clear' highlight?
What does 'a four foot box, a foot for every year' emphasize?
What does 'a four foot box, a foot for every year' emphasize?
What does 'Morning' represent?
What does 'Morning' represent?
What does 'Knelling' refer to?
What does 'Knelling' refer to?
What does 'Neighbours' mean?
What does 'Neighbours' mean?
What is a 'Porch'?
What is a 'Porch'?
What do 'Funerals' refer to?
What do 'Funerals' refer to?
What does 'Stride' mean?
What does 'Stride' mean?
What does 'Cooed' mean?
What does 'Cooed' mean?
What does 'Laughed' signify?
What does 'Laughed' signify?
What does 'Embarrassed' refer to?
What does 'Embarrassed' refer to?
What do 'Whispers' signify?
What do 'Whispers' signify?
What does 'Informed' mean?
What does 'Informed' mean?
What are 'Strangers'?
What are 'Strangers'?
What does 'Eldest' mean?
What does 'Eldest' mean?
What does 'Coughed' mean?
What does 'Coughed' mean?
What does 'Tearless' imply?
What does 'Tearless' imply?
What do 'Sighs' mean?
What do 'Sighs' mean?
What does 'Ambulance' refer to?
What does 'Ambulance' refer to?
What does 'Arrived' mean?
What does 'Arrived' mean?
What is a 'Corpse'?
What is a 'Corpse'?
What does 'Stanched' mean?
What does 'Stanched' mean?
What does 'Bandaged' refer to?
What does 'Bandaged' refer to?
What do 'Nurses' do?
What do 'Nurses' do?
What do 'Candles' refer to?
What do 'Candles' refer to?
What does 'Soothed' mean?
What does 'Soothed' mean?
What is a 'Poppy'?
What is a 'Poppy'?
What does 'Bruise' mean?
What does 'Bruise' mean?
What is a 'Temple'?
What is a 'Temple'?
What does 'Gaudy' mean?
What does 'Gaudy' mean?
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Study Notes
Background of "Mid-Term Break"
- A mid-term break traditionally refers to a short holiday in the middle of a school term, typically associated with leisure and enjoyment.
- The poem, however, depicts a somber reality, addressing a tragic family situation rather than a typical holiday.
Central Theme
- The poem revolves around the poet's return home following the death of his younger brother, presenting the poignancy of grief and loss.
- The narrative contrasts anticipated joy against the harshness of bereavement, setting a tone of unexpected sorrow.
First-Person Perspective
- The use of the first person (“I”) creates a deeply personal experience, drawing readers into the poet's intimate emotions and experiences surrounding the tragedy.
Initial Stanza Analysis
- The first stanza poses questions raising curiosity, such as the poet's presence in a college sick bay and why neighbors brought him home instead of family, hinting at something amiss.
- The term "knelling," implying funeral bells, foreshadows the death and adds a layer of foreboding.
Emotional Revelations
- The sight of the poet's father crying reveals a breaking of his stoic demeanor, signifying deep emotional pain, which is uncommon for him.
- Big Jim Evans’ mention of a "hard blow" underscores the severity of the tragedy without explicit detail.
Contrasting Emotions
- In stanza three, a baby's joyful reaction to seeing her brother contrasts sharply with the adults’ grief, illustrating innocence amidst tragedy.
- The poet feels embarrassed by the unexpected respect shown by adults, highlighting his youth in a traditionally patriarchal environment.
Building Tension
- A euphemism, “my trouble,” subtly points to the immense loss without detailing it, illustrating societal discomfort around grief and mortality.
- Whispering among attendees indicates a desire to shield the poet from the full weight of the tragedy while maintaining respect for the family.
Escalation of Grief
- Stanza four builds tension as the reader still lacks precise information on what has happened, reflecting the confusion and heaviness of the moment.
- The mother’s stability in grief contrasts with the father’s openly expressed sorrow, showcasing how different individuals process loss.
Final Stages of Grief
- The poignant imagery of snowdrops symbolizes hope and renewal, while candles represent the presence of the divine, offering a sense of comfort amid tragedy.
- The diction choice of "corpse" denotes emotional distance, starkly presenting the reality of death.
Visual Imagery
- The phrase "poppy bruise" evokes the idea of a vivid, painful mark, associating it with themes of death and remembrance.
- The comparison of the coffin to a cot reinforces the brother's youth and reinforces the tragic loss.
Concluding Reflections
- The final line highlights the short life of the brother, encapsulating the loss succinctly yet powerfully.
- The poem ultimately reflects on themes of grief, the brevity of life, and the harsh confrontation with death, particularly through a child's perspective.
Thematic Insights
- Major themes include confronting death, the impact of loss on individuals and families, and the fragility of life that can lead to sudden maturity.
Tonal Elements
- The overall tone conveys sadness and sorrowful reflection, emphasizing the heaviness of the loss while still allowing for a moment of calm amidst chaos.
Mood and Title Significance
- The mood is predominantly sorrowful and tragic, effectively evoking a sense of mourning in readers.
- The title "Mid-Term Break" serves as a bitter irony, juxtaposing the idea of a break with the irrevocable fracture caused by death.
Key Terminology
- "Sick bay," refers to emotional turmoil rather than a physical ailment.
- Words like "knelling," "corpse," and "poppy bruise" contribute significant weight to the poem’s emotional impact, creating vivid imagery tied to loss and remembrance.
Personal Growth
- The poet evolves from a child in crisis to a more mature figure who must now support his grieving parents, highlighting the harsh realities of growing up swiftly in the face of tragedy.
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