what is the tone in the poem "Home for the Aged" by Elizabeth Brewster? NEED HELP
The old men sit, five of them on a bench,
Half sleeping, half awake, dazed by the sun,
In the muted afternoon, between one broadcast ball game and the next
Their thoughts are leaves that drift across a sky perpetually autumn.
Their hand are folded: they have done with the Sunday papers.
Decorously shabby, decently combed and clean,
They watch with half-closed eyes the passers-by,
The loitering lovers, the boys on bikes, the cars
Rushing eagerly to some scene of active life.
Their lives are folded up like the papers, and who can know
Whether their years passed sober and discreet,
With the measured, dutiful, regular click of a clock,
Or whether some old violence lingers still
In faded headlines on their dusty brains?
What boyhood do they wander in, what middle age forget?
And do they watch their dwindling stock of time
With hope, or resignation, or despair?
What do you think the tone is? I don't think your teacher wants to have MY opinion, yours is requested. If their lives are folded like the newspaper...and they watch their dwindling stock of time... What tone does that suggest?
And, please, tell us the name of the work and the author, as you did here but not in your earlier post so we can help you better.
If you aren't clear on what tone is, as a literary term, study this webpage -- both the definition and the examples:
http://literarydevices.net/tone/
To determine the tone in a poem like "Home for the Aged" by Elizabeth Brewster, you need to closely analyze the poet's choice of words, imagery, and overall mood throughout the poem. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you identify the tone:
1. Read the poem: Begin by reading the entire poem attentively. Pay close attention to any recurring themes, specific words, and the overall ambiance the poem creates.
2. Identify the speaker's attitude: Consider the speaker's attitude towards the subject matter. Are they enthusiastic, critical, sympathetic, detached, or something else? This will give you a sense of the initial tone.
3. Analyze word choice: Look for specific words or phrases that convey emotion or paint a particular picture. Pay attention to positive or negative connotations associated with these words.
4. Observe imagery: Analyze the imagery used throughout the poem. Is it vivid and positive, suggesting a positive tone, or does it evoke negative emotions, indicating a more negative tone?
5. Consider the pacing: Take note of the poem's pace and rhythm. A fast-paced poem with a lot of punctuation and short lines might suggest excitement or agitation, whereas a slower pace might indicate a more introspective or somber tone.
6. Examine the overall mood: Consider the emotional atmosphere created by the poem as a whole. Does it feel happy, sad, nostalgic, critical, or neutral? This will help you determine the overall tone.
By combining all these elements and your personal interpretation, you should be able to identify the tone of the poem "Home for the Aged" by Elizabeth Brewster. Remember, interpretations may vary, so trust your own analysis and provide supporting evidence from the poem when discussing the tone.