UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF SOCIAL STUDIES & HUMANITIES

SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS

MAY/JUNE 2003

COURSE/YEAR BA (HONS) ENGLISH – LEVEL II - RESIT

BA (JOINT HONS) HUMANITIES – LEVEL II -
RESIT

PAPER TITLE APPROACHES TO POETRY (RESIT PAPER)

Monday
DATE MODULE ENG 1213
19 May 2003
th
CODE

TIME 09.30 – 11.30 DURATION 2 HOURS +

10 mins
Reading Time

Instructions to candidates

Number of Questions set : TWO (2)

Number of Questions to be attempted : TWO (2) - ONE question

from Section A
and the question from
Section B.
 APPROACHES TO POETRY
(ENG 1213)
( RESIT PAPER)
Candidates MUST NOT use the same theory as for assignment.
Failure to do so will lead to a total loss of marks.

SECTION A: POETRY AND LITERARY THEORY.

1. Analyse the following poem in the light of one of the following:

a.Classical literary theory.

b.Defamiliarisation.
c.The Sublime and The Beautiful.

Warming her Pearls

Next to my own skin, her pearls. My mistress

bids me wear them, warm them, until evening
when I`ll brush her hair. At six, I place them
round her cool white throat. All day I think of
her,

resting in the Yellow Room, contemplating silk

or taffeta, which gown tonight? She fans herself
whilst I work willingly, my slow heat entering
each pearl. Slack on my neck, her rope.

She`s beautiful. I dream about her

in my attic bed; picture her dancing
with tall men, puzzled by my faint persistent scent
beneath her French perfume, her milky stones.

I dust her shoulders with a rabbit`s foot,

watch the soft blush seep through her skin
like an indolent sigh. In her looking-glass
my red lips part as though I want to speak.

Full moon. Her carriage brings her home. I see

her every movement in my head…Undressing,
taking off her jewels, her slim hand reaching
for the case, slipping naked into bed, the way

she always does…And I lie here awake,

knowing the pearls are cooling even now
in the room where my mistress sleeps. All night
I feel their absence and I burn. (Carol Ann Duffy)
2
SECTION B: FREE INTERPRETATION

2. Make a critical commentary of the following poem, with clear

indication of the stylistic devices used.

HEARING THE WIND AT NIGHT

I heard the wind coming,

transferred from tree to tree.
I heard the leaves
swish, wanting to be free

to come with the wind, yet wanting to stay

with the boughs like sleeves.
The wind was a green ghost.
Possessed of tearing breath

the body of each tree

whined, a whipping post,
then straightened and resumed
its vegetable oath.

I heard the wind going,

and it went wild.
Somewhere the forest threw itself
into tantrum like a child.

I heard the trees tossing

in punishment or grief,
then sighing, and soughing,
soothing themselves to sleep.
(May Swenson)

--- END OF QUESTION PAPER ---