Blow Blow thou winter wind

By William Shakespears

Rhyme Scheme:
The poem follows an ABABCC rhyme scheme in each stanza. This means that the
first and third lines rhyme with each other, the second and fourth lines rhyme with
each other, and the fifth and sixth lines rhyme with each other.

Imagery and Figurative Devices:

- Winter Wind: Symbolizes harshness, bitterness, and cruelty. It's depicted as
unkind and rude, with a biting, unseen presence.
- Man's Ingratitude: Represents the ungratefulness of humans, emphasizing the
sharp contrast between nature's elements and human behavior.
- Green Holly: Symbolizes life and vitality amidst the harshness of winter. It
contrasts with the bleakness of the season, suggesting resilience and joy.
- Bitter Sky: Depicts the coldness and indifference of the environment,
emphasizing the theme of forgotten kindness.

Summary:
The poem contrasts the harshness of winter with the ingratitude of humans.
Despite the biting cold and bitterness of the season, the speaker finds that
human ingratitude is even more hurtful. The poem emphasizes the resilience
found in nature and suggests that joy can still be found amidst adversity.

Main Idea:
The main idea of the poem is to highlight the contrast between the harshness of
winter and the cruelty of human ingratitude. It underscores the idea that while
nature's elements can be harsh, human behavior, particularly ingratitude, can be
even more hurtful. The poem suggests finding resilience and joy amidst adversity,
symbolized by the green holly.

Paraphrasing:
The speaker reflects on the cruelty of the winter wind, noting that it's not as
unkind as human ingratitude. Although the wind's bite is sharp, it's not as hurtful
as the forgotten kindness of friends. Despite these challenges, the speaker finds
solace in the vitality of life symbolized by the green holly, emphasizing that joy
can still be found amidst harsh circumstances.
Fire and Ice
By Robert Frost

Rhyme Scheme:
The poem "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost follows a simple rhyme scheme of
ABAABCBC.

Imagery and Figurative Devices:

Fire: Symbolizes desire, passion, and the destructive nature of human emotions. It
evokes images of heat, intensity, and consuming flames.
Ice: Represents hatred, coldness, and indifference. It conjures images of freezing
temperatures, hardness, and a lack of warmth or emotion.
End of the World: Serves as a metaphor for destruction or the downfall of
humanity. The two elements, fire and ice, are used to illustrate different paths to
this potential end, either through passionate desire or through cold, unfeeling
hate.
Tasting of Desire: A metaphorical expression suggesting personal experience with
desire, implying that the speaker has felt its consuming intensity firsthand.
Perishing Twice: A hypothetical scenario reflecting on the potential for
destruction occurring more than once, implying the cyclical nature of human
behavior and its consequences.
Hate Sufficient for Destruction: Implies that hate, represented by ice, is just as
capable of bringing about destruction as desire, represented by fire, highlighting
the potency of negative emotions in shaping the fate of the world.

Summary:
The speaker considers two contrasting possibilities for how the world might end:
fire or ice. Some people believe the world will end in fire, while others believe it will
end in ice. The speaker personally aligns more with the idea of fire, perhaps
because of the passionate and consuming nature of desire. However, the speaker
acknowledges that if the world were to end a second time, they believe that the
cold, destructive force of ice, representing hate, would be just as effective.

Main Idea:
The main idea of the poem revolves around the destructive forces of desire (fire)
and hate (ice). It explores the human capacity for causing destruction and
considers the potential ways in which the world could meet its end. The poem
suggests that both desire and hate have the power to bring about destruction,
albeit in different ways.

Paraphrasing:
Some people believe the world will end in fire, while others believe it will end in ice.
Based on the speaker's own experiences with desire, they lean towards the idea of
fire. However, they also acknowledge that hate, represented by ice, is a potent
force that could bring about destruction just as effectively.
This poem is often interpreted as a commentary on human nature and the
destructive tendencies found within it, whether through passionate desire or
cold-hearted hate.
Fear
By Khalil Gibran

Imagery:
River: Represents the individual or life's journey, with its twists and turns,
challenges, and uncertainties.
Mountains, Forests, and Villages: Symbolize the varied experiences and
landscapes encountered along life's path.
Ocean: Signifies the vast unknown, the ultimate destination or transformation
that awaits at the end of the journey.

Figurative Devices:
Personification: The river is portrayed as experiencing human emotions like fear
and hesitation, adding depth to its character and journey.
Metaphor: The river's journey serves as a metaphor for the human experience of
facing uncertainty and embracing change, particularly the fear of the unknown.

Main Idea:
The main idea of the passage is the metaphorical journey of a river as it
approaches the sea, symbolizing the human experience of facing fear, embracing
change, and achieving transformation. It emphasizes the inevitability of change,
the need to confront fear, and the potential for growth and unity with the
universe.

Summary:
The passage describes how a river trembles with fear as it nears the vast ocean.
Reflecting on its journey through mountains, forests, and villages, the river is
hesitant to enter the ocean, fearing it will disappear forever. However, it realizes
that there is no turning back and that entering the ocean is necessary for its
transformation. Ultimately, the river understands that merging with the ocean
doesn't mean disappearing but becoming part of something greater.

Rhyme Scheme:
The passage does not follow a traditional rhyme scheme. Instead, it uses
prose-like language to convey its message, focusing more on imagery, metaphor,
and philosophical reflection than on rhyme and meter.

Paraphrasing:
The passage depicts the journey of a river as it approaches the sea, likening it to
the human experience of confronting fear and embracing change. The river
hesitates as it gazes upon the vast ocean, fearing the unknown. However, it
acknowledges that there is no going back and understands that entering the
ocean is necessary for its growth. Ultimately, the river realizes that merging with
the ocean is not about disappearing but about becoming part of something
greater.
I know why the caged bird sings
By Maya Angelou

**Rhyme Scheme:** The poem's rhyme scheme is irregular, but it follows a loose
pattern in some stanzas, such as AABB or ABCB.

**Imagery:**
- "A free bird leaps on the back of the wind" paints a picture of freedom and
movement.
- "The orange sun rays" evoke warmth and brightness.
- "The fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn" creates a vivid image of nature's
abundance.
- "The caged bird stands on the grave of dreams" conveys a sense of
hopelessness and despair.

**Figurative Devices:**
- **Metaphor:** The birds represent freedom and oppression, with the free bird
symbolizing liberty and the caged bird representing confinement.
- **Personification:** The birds are given human-like qualities, such as daring to
claim the sky or opening their throats to sing.
- **Symbolism:** The cage represents captivity and restriction, while the sky
symbolizes limitless freedom.

**Summary:**
The poem contrasts the experiences of a free bird and a caged bird. The free bird
enjoys the boundless freedom of the sky, while the caged bird is trapped in a life
of confinement. Despite their differing circumstances, both birds express their
longing for freedom through song.

**Main Idea:**
The main idea of the poem is the exploration of freedom and oppression.
Through the imagery of birds, the poem highlights the stark contrast between
liberty and confinement, and the enduring desire for freedom, even in the face of
adversity.

**Paraphrasing:**
One bird soars freely with the wind and basks in the warmth of the sun, claiming
the vast sky as its own. In contrast, another bird is trapped within the confines of
a cage, unable to see beyond its bars, singing a song tinged with longing for the
freedom it has never known. Despite their different circumstances, both birds
express a yearning for liberty through their melodies.