The phrase "human river" metaphorically portrays the flow of people in the street. This imagery suggests the movement of individuals as if they were water flowing in a river, emphasizing the collective experience of the crowd and the impersonal nature of urban life. It evokes the idea of humanity in motion, with people rushing and moving along with a certain rhythm, while also hinting at the struggles they face within the city.
7. Read the excerpt from the poem "Faces in the Street" by Henry Lawson. Answer the question that follows.
The human river dwindles when 'tis past the hour of eight,
Its waves go flowing faster in the fear of being late;
But slowly drag the moments, whilst beneath the dust and heat
The city grinds the owners of the faces in the street—
Grinding body, grinding soul,
Yielding scarce enough to eat—
Oh! I sorrow for the owners of the faces in the street.
In the line "The human river dwindles when 'tis past the hour of eight," how does the poet use the phrase "human river" to create a layer of meaning?
The phrase refers to a real river near the city.
The phrase metaphorically portrays the flow of people in the street.
The phrase highlights the beauty of the city.
The phrase emphasizes how happy the people are.
1 answer