In stanza 1, what does the phrase, the two pools of lies refer to?

The mans eyes

2.
Explain the meaning of the last line of stanza 1 And to render him
paradise
To give the man happiness / joy / pleasure
3.

Which line in stanza 3 shows that the person had made a mistake?

If only shed been wise.

4.

In your words, explain the main theme of the poem.

The theme is about exploration of human feelings in a relationship

whereby the persona has gone through a bad experience of betrayal
and advises others to be careful when starting a relationship.

5.
Why do you think the writer says that the mans eyes are layered with the
thinnest ice?
To show deception as the man disguises his true intention because eyes
usually mirrors ones feelings and innermost thoughts
6.
i.

Explain the advice given in this line:

Be sure that nice really means nice

It means that when you befriend someone, the person must be trustful,
sincere, kind and pleasant.
ii.
Never to compromise. In your own words, what do you think the
persona means by the statement.
Not to give up ones principles
7.

What should she have listened to?

To the advice by her elders and family

8.

Why should she not have compromised?

The she would not have been betrayed / cheated / deceived

9.

Be sure that nice really means nice

What do you think this phrase means?

It means that when you befriend someone, the person must be trustful,
sincere, kind and pleasant.
10. What is the advice that is given in the second stanza?
Never to give up ones principles / values / beliefs to men who like to
flirt and are only looking for pleasure
11. What happened when she did not listen to the advice?

She was betrayed / hurt / let down / deceived.

12. Which line tells you not to take chances?
Then youll never be losing at dice.
13. In your own words,
i.

What do you think about the advice given in the last stanza?

It is a good advice for young girls so that they will not be taken
advantage and are able to differentiate between sincerity and
falsehood.
ii.

What can happen if girls do not listen to the advice?

They would be played out / cheated / deceived / betrayed / hurt.

14. From stanza 2, what should the woman have done?
She should have listened to the advice given to her that is not to give
up her principles /values / beliefs.
15. What does the poet mean when he says, Shed be free of the hows
and whys?
She would not be asking herself why she had been cheated / betrayed /
hurt.
16. What can you say about the womans character from the stanza 2 and 3?
She is regretful and is helpful as she advises other girls from falling
into the same boat.
17. What is the personas advice in the last stanza?
She wants the other young girls to be careful when starting a
relationship and the relationship must be based on true love.
18. Which line in stanza 2 tells you that the persona may have been deceived?
If only shed been wise.
19. Why does the persona not realise she has been deceived?
She is nave and gullible to believe the mans lies as true love.
20. Which word in the poem is similar to pleading?
Imploring
21. What message do you get from reading the poem?
To be careful when starting a relationship and not gamble with
affections to avoid serious consequences.
22. How does the man try to persuade the woman to be nice?
Using his eyes to make her feel compelled her to be nice to him
23. From stanza 2,

i.

What advice does the woman ignore?

Never to compromise with pleasure seeking guys.

ii.

Describe the poets tone in this stanza?

Sympathetic towards the girls situation.

24. Suggest a theme of the poem.

Exploration of human feelings in a relationship / Betrayal of love /
Deception
25. Why did the poet describe the mans eyes as two pools of lies?
He eyes were showing signs of love but those eyes were actually
disguising his actual intentions of deception.

26. What do you think the phrase, lose your heart means?
Falling in love.
27. What kind of image does the word paradise give?
Happiness
28. What is the advice given to young girls in stanza 3? Explain using your own
words?
Young girls should be careful when starting a relationship and their
relationship should be based on true love and not merely physical
attraction.
31

How does the man appear to the woman?

Sincere and loving

32

From stanza 2, how could the woman be wise?

She should have listened to the advice given by the elders and her
family.
33

From stanza 2, what is the advice given?

Never to give up ones principles / values / beliefs to men who like to

flirt and are only looking for pleasure
34

What is your opinion on the advice given in the poem?

It is a good advice to help / save other young girls from falling into the
trap of deception and get hurt.
35

What did the girl not realise about the mans eyes?

They were full of lies

36

Why do think the eyes are described as two pools?

To show the severity / seriousness / of deceit in both eyes

37

How was the man making use of his eyes?

Using his eyes to deceive her into thinking that he needed someone to
love.
38
In your own words, do you think the girl was charmed by the man? Give a
reason.
Yes, she was because she believed that his quiet eyes were signalling
love.
39

What is the main theme in the poem?

Exploration of human feelings in a relationship / Betrayal of love /

Deception
40
Why do you think the poet uses the words, be sure that nice really
means nice in her advice? In your own words, give a reason to support your
answer.
It means that when you befriend someone, the person must be trustful,
sincere, kind and pleasant so that the relationship is based on true love
and not on physical attraction.
41

What are the mans eyes compared to?

Two pools
42

Write two words that are related to feelings of happiness.

Nice & paradise

43
How do you think the man managed to charm the girl into accepting him?
In your own words, give a reason to support your answer.
Using his sincere looking eyes which disguised his insincerity to make
her think that he truly loves her.
44
In stanza 1, what did the persona think the mans quiet eyes were
conveying to her?
He was longing for love and companionship.
45

What truth did the persona finally learn about the mans quiet eyes?

His quiet eyes were actually filled with deceit as she was left heartbroken.
46
Which line in stanza 3 suggests that we will not lose out or get hurt if we
are cautious?
Then youll never be losing at dice.
47
What do you think happened to the persona when she allowed herself to be
compromised?

She was cheated and hurt.

48

What advice would you give a friend who had met a stranger?

I would advise her / him to be very careful make sure that the person is
thoroughly sincere and innocent.
49

Why does the girl believe the man cares for her?

He shows her that he is in love with her through his sincere-looking

quiet eyes.
50

Write two words related to happiness?

Nice & paradise

51
What do you think the man said to convince the girl to accept him? In your
own words, give a reason to support your answer.
He must have said that he truly love her because she believed in him
and had willing given up her principles to show her love to him.
52

What does the poet mean by the following lines?

i.

He had such quiet eyes?

His eyes were sincere-looking and were sign of love.

ii.

Shed free from the hows and whys

She would not be asking herself why she had been cheated / betrayed /
hurt.

53
What is the poets tone of voice when she criticises the man for using
trickery to charm the woman?
The tone was serious but at the same time understanding and
sympathetic towards the girl.
54
Do you think this kind of human relationship is difficult to handle? Give a
reason for your answer.
No, if the person involved, is not easily influenced by sweet nothings
and is more careful when going into a relationship.
55
What does the title of the poem suggest about the poets feelings
concerning the pair of eyes?
The man concerned has insincere and deceit eyes.
56

Give two reasons why the persona thinks the eyes are so irresistible?

i.
signs

He was using the eyes to breath desolate / sad / unhappy

ii.

Imploring / pleading / begging her to be nice.

57
Do you think the woman charmed by the man has been foolish?
reason for your answer.

Give a

Yes, because she too nave to realise that the man was a cheater and
finally she was ditched / betrayed / hurt.
58

What does the expression quiet eyes suggest the nature of the man?

He was not a trustworthy / sincere / loving person.

59

Give two reasons those quiet eyes made the woman give in to his woes.

He was using the eyes to breath desolate / sad / unhappy signs

Imploring / pleading / begging her to be nice.
60
If you met a man and fell in love with him, would you believe him by
looking at the expression in his eyes? Why?
No, not really, as eyes can be deceiving and do not reveal the true
identity or character of a person.
61

What does the first stanza imply?

The girl is unaware that the man she is in relationship with only wants
pleasure from her and he plays with her feelings using his sincere
looking eyes.
62
Give a word from the poem which means giving up something to reach
an agreement.
Compromise
63

Explain what the expression hows and whys means?

It is an idiom that refers to confusion where the person is asking herself

why and how she allowed herself to be betrayed..
64

What lesson can you learn from the last stanza?

When starting a relationship, one has to be extra careful in recognising

the partners true intention, differentiate between sincerity and
falsehood and may only meet the right person after losing their hearts
a few times .