From the poem "Funeral Blues by W H Auden"
1. How does WH. Auden establish and maintain a specific tone and mood thoughout "funeral blues"? Provide examples from the poem to support your analysis
2. Quote two words in stanza 1 that symbolises death
3. Explore the use of inagery and symbolism in "funeral blues". What do elements like "silence", "candles", and "stars" represent in the poem, and how do they contribute to its overall meaning?
4. Stanza 2 line 2 explain the meaning of "scribbling on sky the message he is dead"
5. The tone in stanza 3 is a tone of closeness, showing the lack of something. What is the writer trying to us by discussing the following:
5.1. He was my north, my south, my east and South
5.2. My working week and my Sunday rest.
5.3. I thought that love will last forever i was wrong.
6. Discuss the narrative perspective in the poem. Is the speaker addressing a specific person or a broader audience ? How does the choice of petspective impact the reader's understanding of the poem? (5)
1. Throughout "Funeral Blues," W.H. Auden establishes and maintains a specific tone of grief and a somber mood. This is achieved through the poet's use of language, imagery, and repetition. For example, the repetition of the phrase "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone" creates a sense of urgency and desperation. The poet's use of strong words like "sorrow," "moan," and "muffled" further emphasizes the mournful tone. The consistent use of negative and dark imagery contributes to the gloomy mood, such as "white necks of the public doves," "shrieking flights of the white gulls," and "muted, unmourned flowers."
2. Two words in stanza 1 that symbolize death are "coffin" and "corpses."
3. The use of imagery and symbolism in "Funeral Blues" enhances the poem's overall meaning. The element of "silence" represents the absence and emptiness caused by the loss of a loved one. It emphasizes the profound impact that death has and the silence left behind in its wake. "Candles" symbolize mourning and remembrance, as they are often lit in memorial services or vigils. Their flickering light also creates a sense of fragility and transience. In the poem, the "stars" represent the vastness and eternity of the universe, highlighting the contrast between the insignificance of human life and the enduring nature of the cosmos. These elements contribute to the overarching theme of loss, grief, and the insignificance of personal tragedies in the grand scheme of things.
4. In stanza 2, line 2, the phrase "scribbling on sky the message he is dead" means that the speaker wants to announce the death of their loved one on a grand scale, as if writing it across the sky for everyone to see. It reflects the speaker's desire for the entire world to be aware of the loss and join in their mourning.
5. In stanza 3, the writer's discussion signifies a sense of profound loss and devastation.
5.1. "He was my north, my south, my east, and west" emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of the relationship. The writer is conveying that their loved one occupied every direction of their life, and without them, they feel completely lost and directionless.
5.2. "My working week and my Sunday rest" implies that the loved one was not only present in the writer's personal life but also a significant part of their daily routine and even their moments of leisure. Their absence leaves a void in every aspect of the writer's existence.
5.3. "I thought that love will last forever, I was wrong" expresses the writer's realization that their belief in love's enduring nature was shattered by the death of their loved one. The tone of closeness emphasizes the deep bond they shared and the devastation caused by its sudden end.
6. The poem's narrative perspective is that of a grieving individual who is addressing a specific person. The speaker is not addressing a broader audience but rather mourning the loss of a loved one. This choice of perspective intensifies the personal and emotional impact of the poem, as it allows the reader to witness and connect with the speaker's profound grief and anguish. The use of the first-person narrative draws the reader into the deeply intimate experience of loss, making the poem more relatable and emotionally resonant.
1. WH Auden establishes and maintains a specific tone and mood throughout "Funeral Blues" through his use of language and imagery. The tone of the poem is somber, mournful, and despairing, which is reflected in the choice of words and the way they are arranged. The repetition of phrases such as "Stop all the clocks" and "Cut off the telephone" adds to the sense of urgency and finality. Auden also uses vivid and powerful imagery to evoke a sense of loss and grief, such as "white neckcloth" symbolizing mourning, "pigeons" representing sadness, and "muffled drum" indicating the funeral procession.
2. Two words in stanza 1 that symbolize death are "coffin" and "crepe." The word "coffin" represents the physical vessel in which a dead body is placed, symbolizing the end of life. "Crepe" refers to the black fabric traditionally used for mourning clothes, symbolizing the darkness and sadness associated with death.
3. In "Funeral Blues," imagery and symbolism play a significant role in conveying the poem's meaning. The elements of "silence," "candles," and "stars" represent different aspects of the mourning process. Silence symbolizes the absence of the deceased person's voice and the profound loss that follows. Candles are often used during funerals as a symbol of remembrance or hope, suggesting the speaker's desire to keep the memory of the deceased alive. Stars can represent a sense of eternity or the transcendent nature of death, highlighting the vastness of loss and the enduring impact it has on the speaker.
Overall, these elements contribute to the poem's themes of grief, absence, and the profound impact death can have on individuals.
4. In stanza 2, line 2, the phrase "scribbling on sky the message he is dead" refers to the desire of the speaker to announce the death of their loved one on a grand scale. It suggests a longing for the whole world to acknowledge and mourn the loss. The choice of words, "scribbling" and "message," conveys a sense of urgency and desperation to communicate the news of the death to the entire world.
5. In stanza 3, the tone of closeness and the absence of something reflect the speaker's deep sense of personal loss.
5.1. The line "He was my north, my south, my east, and my west" demonstrates that the deceased person was the speaker's entire world, encompassing all directions and providing a sense of purpose and stability. The absence of this person leaves the speaker feeling lost and directionless.
5.2. The line "My working week and my Sunday rest" suggests that the deceased person gave meaning and purpose to the speaker's life. They were the source of both their work and their leisure, emphasizing the deep emotional connection between the two individuals.
5.3. The line "I thought that love would last forever; I was wrong" conveys the speaker's belief in the eternal nature of love and how this belief has been shattered by the death of their loved one. It highlights the devastating realization that love is not immune to the inevitability of death.
6. The narrative perspective in "Funeral Blues" is that of a speaker addressing a specific person, specifically their deceased loved one. The use of the first-person pronouns "he" and "my" throughout the poem suggests a personal and intimate relationship between the speaker and the deceased.
By using this specific perspective, the poem creates a sense of raw emotion and personal grief. The reader is invited to share in the speaker's intense loss and sense of despair, deepening their understanding of the impact of death on an individual's life. This perspective also adds to the universality of the poem's themes, as the reader can empathize with the speaker's pain and reflect on their own experiences of loss and grief.
1. In "Funeral Blues," W.H. Auden establishes and maintains a specific tone and mood through the use of language, structure, and imagery. The poem has a melancholic and sorrowful tone, which is maintained consistently throughout. The speaker's grief and despair are evident in the choice of words and the overall atmosphere created by the poem. For example, phrases such as "Stop all the clocks" and "Pack up the moon" convey a sense of loss and finality. The repetition of phrases like "silence the pianos" and "cut off the telephone" also adds to the solemn mood. Additionally, the use of powerful metaphors like "pour away the ocean" and "disband the ocean" intensifies the emotional impact of the poem.
2. In stanza 1, two words that symbolize death are "stop" and "cut off." These words imply the cessation or ending of something, which reflects the finality and emptiness associated with death.
3. Auden utilizes imagery and symbolism to enhance the meaning of "Funeral Blues." The element of "silence" represents the absence and stillness caused by death. It emphasizes the void left behind and highlights the profound impact of loss. "Candles" signify the flickering of life, and their extinguishing evokes the idea of a life being snuffed out. The image of "stars" represents something distant and celestial, reflecting the vastness and incomprehensibility of death. These elements contribute to the overall meaning of the poem by conveying the depth of grief and the overwhelming emptiness that follows a loss.
4. In stanza 2, line 2, the phrase "scribbling on sky the message he is dead" suggests the expression of grief in a grand and universal manner. The idea of "scribbling on the sky" implies a desperate attempt to communicate the news to the entire world. It signifies the depth of sorrow and the desire for everyone to acknowledge and recognize the loss.
5. In stanza 3, the writer uses a tone of closeness to emphasize the profound personal connection with the deceased.
- The line "He was my north, my south, my east, and west" implies that the deceased was everything to the speaker, symbolizing the loss of guidance and direction in life.
- "My working week and my Sunday rest" depicts how the deceased played a vital role in every aspect of the speaker's life, both in work and leisure, emphasizing the deep void and sense of absence.
- The line "I thought that love would last forever; I was wrong" expresses the shattered belief in eternal love, revealing the pain and disillusionment caused by the loss.
6. The narrative perspective in the poem is personal and addresses a specific person, presumed to be the deceased. The use of "He" throughout the poem implies a direct address to the person who has passed away. This choice of perspective deepens the emotional impact and allows the reader to glimpse into the speaker's grief-stricken mind. It enhances the reader's understanding by emphasizing the personal loss rather than presenting a broad commentary on death. The specific addressee creates a more intimate connection between the reader and the speaker, evoking empathy and a sense of shared mourning.