from Languages

Question

There are no handles upon a language Whereby men take hold of it And mark it with signs for its remembrance.

It is a river, this language. Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course Changing its way to the ocean.

It is mountain effluvia Moving to valleys And from nation to nation Crossing borders and mixing. Languages die like rivers. 1

10

Words wrapped round your tongue today And broken to shape of thought Between your teeth and lips speaking Now and today

15

2 Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now.

What is a theme of the poem/

1. All languages will disappear over time.

2. Languages bring people closer together.

3. Languages allow people to express ideas.

4. All languages must adjust to cultural change.

Part B

Select two excerpts from the poem that best support the correct answer from Part A.

1. There are no handles upon a language Whereby men take hold of it And mark it with signs for its remembrance." (Lines 1-3)

2. "Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course" (Lines 5-6)

3. "Moving to valleys And from nation to nation Crossing borders and mixing." (Lines 9-11)

4. "Words wrapped round your tongue today And broken to shape of thought" (Lines 13-14)

5. "Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now." (Lines 17-18)

Answer 1

The theme of the poem is best captured by the statement:

1. All languages will disappear over time.

This theme is supported by the following two excerpts:

5. "Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now." (Lines 17-18) - This line directly indicates that the language we use today will eventually become obsolete and may be forgotten entirely over time.

2. "Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course" (Lines 5-6) - This excerpt suggests that the nature of language is constantly evolving and changing, reinforcing the idea that languages are not permanent and will eventually change or disappear.