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.
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)
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