Question
What is the tone (the author’s attitude toward the subject matter) in the poem? What words or phrases helped you identify the tone?“Lost Generation”
by Jonathan Reed
I am part of a lost generation.
And I refuse to believe that
I can change the world.
I realize this may be a shock, but
“Happiness comes from within”
Is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy”
So in thirty years, I will tell my children
They are not the most important thing in my life.
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
Work
Is more important than
Family
I tell you this:
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
But this will not be true in my era.
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
Thirty years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making.
In the future,
Environmental destruction will be the norm.
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this Earth.
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic.
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.
(Now read the poem from the bottom line up to the top.)
by Jonathan Reed
I am part of a lost generation.
And I refuse to believe that
I can change the world.
I realize this may be a shock, but
“Happiness comes from within”
Is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy”
So in thirty years, I will tell my children
They are not the most important thing in my life.
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
Work
Is more important than
Family
I tell you this:
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
But this will not be true in my era.
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
Thirty years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making.
In the future,
Environmental destruction will be the norm.
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this Earth.
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic.
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.
(Now read the poem from the bottom line up to the top.)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The tone of Jonathan Reed's poem "Lost Generation" is predominantly pessimistic and critical, reflecting disillusionment and concern about the future. The speaker expresses a sense of resignation and a bleak outlook on the values and priorities of their generation.
Several words and phrases contribute to identifying this tone:
1. **"I refuse to believe that / I can change the world"** - This line indicates a significant lack of hope and motivation, suggesting defeatism.
2. **"Happiness comes from within / Is a lie" and "Money will make me happy"** - These phrases critique commonly held beliefs about happiness and material wealth, implying a disillusionment with societal values.
3. **"Work / Is more important than / Family"** - This stark prioritization reveals a troubling sentiment about the fragility of personal relationships and family bonds.
4. **"This is a quick fix society"** - This phrase suggests a critique of superficial solutions to complex problems, highlighting impatience and a lack of depth in societal values.
5. **"I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce"** - This line presents a bleak projection of personal failure and relational instability, contributing to the overall pessimistic tone.
6. **"Environmental destruction will be the norm"** and **"My generation is apathetic and lethargic"** - These statements indicate a serious concern for the future of the planet and a sense of collective failure among the youth.
7. **"It is foolish to presume that / There is hope."** - This concluding sentiment encapsulates the overarching tone of disillusionment and despair.
When reading the poem in reverse, the tone shifts dramatically, transforming from one of hopelessness to one of potential optimism, but the original interpretation highlights the author's critical and cynical stance toward the sociocultural landscape being described.
Several words and phrases contribute to identifying this tone:
1. **"I refuse to believe that / I can change the world"** - This line indicates a significant lack of hope and motivation, suggesting defeatism.
2. **"Happiness comes from within / Is a lie" and "Money will make me happy"** - These phrases critique commonly held beliefs about happiness and material wealth, implying a disillusionment with societal values.
3. **"Work / Is more important than / Family"** - This stark prioritization reveals a troubling sentiment about the fragility of personal relationships and family bonds.
4. **"This is a quick fix society"** - This phrase suggests a critique of superficial solutions to complex problems, highlighting impatience and a lack of depth in societal values.
5. **"I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce"** - This line presents a bleak projection of personal failure and relational instability, contributing to the overall pessimistic tone.
6. **"Environmental destruction will be the norm"** and **"My generation is apathetic and lethargic"** - These statements indicate a serious concern for the future of the planet and a sense of collective failure among the youth.
7. **"It is foolish to presume that / There is hope."** - This concluding sentiment encapsulates the overarching tone of disillusionment and despair.
When reading the poem in reverse, the tone shifts dramatically, transforming from one of hopelessness to one of potential optimism, but the original interpretation highlights the author's critical and cynical stance toward the sociocultural landscape being described.