I'm finding it difficult to paraphrase (word by word) the poem "The Cruellest Month" by Eliot. I'll include it here in the hope you can have a look at it and help me rephrase it.
1) April is described as the cruellest month since it breeds (stirs/awakens) lilacs (shall I use "flowers and trees") out of their winter sleep.
2) Furthermore, it mixes memories of the past winter, when the vegetation was covered by forgetful snow, with the desire for a new life.
3) A parallel can be drawn with Chaucer's description of the gentle spring rain which ends the draught of March and brings about the rebirth of nature.
4) Eliot, however, prefers the winter because it lets men leave in peace forgetting the past. He associates the winter with warmth and cosiness though it feeds the land with dried tubers, symbol of spiritual sterility.
5) The poem is written in free verse. He uses alliteration, repetition of the sound "ing". Being a symbolist writer Eliot gives importance to the sound quality of words.
APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
April is a harsh month, bringing growth out of the frozen land, reminding us remember what the land looked like before winter and wanting it to be like that again. The rain in springtime is waking up those sleepy roots.
In winter, the dormant plants were kept warm by the blanket of snow on the earth, and the melting snow kept everything from completely dying.
Try again -- and realize you don't have to have a complete sentence per line of poetry.
Well, THIS didn't turn out well, did it??!!
...reminding us remember ...
The word "remember" should be deleted!
To paraphrase the poem "The Cruellest Month" by Eliot, you can follow these steps:
1) Understand the meaning of each line: Read the original lines and try to understand the message they convey. In this case, April is described as the cruelest month because it brings new life (lilacs) out of the dormant winter season.
Paraphrase: April is the most cruel month because it awakens flowers and trees from their winter sleep.
2) Simplify the language: Use simpler and more straightforward words to explain the original lines. For example, instead of "vegetation," you can use "plants."
Paraphrase: Additionally, it combines memories of the previous winter, when the plants were covered in forgetful snow, with the longing for a new beginning.
3) Connect with other works: Identify any references or comparisons made to other works, such as Chaucer's description of gentle spring rain, to understand their significance.
Paraphrase: It can be compared to Chaucer's portrayal of the refreshing spring rain that ends March's dry spell and triggers the rejuvenation of nature.
4) Understand the author's preference: Grasp the author's attitude or preference towards certain themes. In this case, Eliot prefers winter over April because it allows people to leave the past behind and associate it with warmth and comfort, despite being spiritually barren.
Paraphrase: However, Eliot favors winter as it provides a peaceful escape, allowing people to forget the past. Even though it symbolizes spiritual sterility, he connects winter with warmth and coziness.
5) Analyze poetic devices: Identify any literary devices used in the poem, such as free verse, alliteration, and repetition of the sound "ing." Understand their importance and how they contribute to the poem's overall meaning.
Paraphrase: The poem is written in free verse, employing alliteration and repetition of the "ing" sound. As a symbolist writer, Eliot emphasizes the auditory quality of words.
By following these steps, you can paraphrase the poem "The Cruellest Month" by Eliot while retaining its essence and meaning.