Broad Questions:

1. Discuss The theme of the performance in the three stories that we have read.
2. The theme of loss in at least 4 poem we read.

Short questions:

1. Poem 1: Postcard from Kashmir: The cost of depiction of home homesickness (discuss briefly.
2. Poem 2: London: London presents the dark picture of the colonial center of 19 th century. How
Dhaka reelects such a picture of a dark city. Write in your own words.
3. Poem 3: Because I could not stop for Death: Discuss Emily Dickinson portrayal of death in the
poem.
4. Poem 4: Dui Bigha Jami: Briefly discuss the relationship between the Jamidar and the colonial
subject as presented in the poem.
5. Poem 5: THE SECOND COMING: Discuss the apocalyptic vision of WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS (The
Writer) in the second coming.
6. Poem 6 THE ROAD NOT TAKEN: The writer discusses dilemma, choice, and the story of the
choice that we make. Write your evaluation of it.
7. Shooting and elephant: Outline the personality differences between the young police officer and
the older narrator of the story.
8. Khadok: Describe the character of Moti Mia.
9. What is an angel??? Do you think the very old is an angel or not? Support your position.

(a harsh reality of our society is metaphorically indicated)

 1. The theme of loss in at least 4 poem we read.
Answer:

Four poems that expresses the feelings of loss are the following-

 Postcard from Kashmir

 London
 The Road Not Taken
 My Little Plot of Land (Dui Bigha Jomi)
These four poems evidently hold the sense of loss. Though every poem elicited the feeling of loss
however, each of the poem conveyed the feelings of loss through different tactics & approaches. The
feelings of loss are distinctively articulated in these poems through different viewpoints & perspectives.

 Firstly, the central theme of “Postcard from Kashmir” poem upholds an emotional & nostalgic
feeling of an individual towards his homeland which is illustrated by the poet in reference to a
postcard. In this context, the loss & frustration deals with an unfulfilled desire for an independent
homeland.
 In the second poem “London”, the central theme conspicuously conveyed the inequality & injustice
that prevailed in London city. Social inequality, materialism & child slavery are the central thoughts
of this poem. In this context, the loss is the absence of a virtuous society & culture.
 In third poem “The Road Not Taken” this poem reflects the journey of our life. We often feel
confused about our choices, decisions & selections. We often feel unsecure with our decisions. The
opposite way always seems better when we choose to take one way. In such poem the central
theme is regarding such of our life journeys & decisions. Here, the loss refers to a person’s
indecisiveness or dilemma in taking life-decisions.
 Finally, in the fourth poem “My little Plot of land (Dui bigha Jomi)” this poem portrayed a scenario of
village landlords who oppresses & exploits the poorer society for their benefit. Here “Upen”
character is depicted as a destitute person who only owns a little plot of land yet the village landlord
embezzled to capture such lands too. In fact, this poem articulates how the village landlords
tormented the poor-class individuals in earlier times. In this poem context, the loss refers to a plot
of land being taken from “Upen” who survives from hands to mouth.

Though the context is different in each of these poems nonetheless, all these poems conveyed a
valuable message, a desire of unfulfilled needs which is represented in the theme of loss & frustration.
However, the feelings of loss on these poems are briefly described on below:
The theme of loss in Postcard from Kashmir:
This poem was composed solely for the purpose of identity & the idea for belonging. In the poem, the
poet feels denationalized finds himself deprived of an identity. The poet, an exiled Kashmiri, is seeking
the quest for national identity. Nonetheless, he feels distress due to two reasons.
a) The discomfort of feeling like an outsider in America
b) The regret of leaving his homeland
 Through this poem the poet tries to focus on the sentiment of the people of Kashmir. Through such
writing the poet endeavored to uphold a feeling which pleads of the great loss of his motherland, his
beloved Kashmir. Nostalgia for the motherland is the core theme of the poem. The poet claimed
that- it’s extremely painful to encounter the loss of one’s birthplace perhaps the memory of it.
 We all know that, the territory of Kashmir is the biggest flashpoint between the India and Pakistan,
one that almost brought the two countries on the brink of a nuclear war. Due to the dispute, many
native people of the region migrated from there.
 The poem explicitly exhibited the value & significance of one’s homeland regarding the fact that-
how intensely we actually care for our homeland. Birthplace is something which is superior to us,
sometimes considered as heaven of earth for the respective nations. For instance, as an
independent nation we can feel the taste of freedom however, that feeling was not reflected in the
poet’s emotion which is why the poet aspired for the freedom of his birthland. Here, the loss can be
termed as an unfulfilled desire to acquire an independent homeland.
 Last but not the least, the poem replicates that memories are just pieces of flashbacks and feelings
that tangle together and gradually fade away.
The theme of loss in London:
The poem “London” discloses the feelings of William Blake’s towards the society he belonged. It reveals
the murky & gloomy days of Blake’s, where he tried to portray the difficulties of urban life in London.
 While rambling through the designated roads of London, he was witnessing the sign of sadness,
sorrows & disappointments in each person’s face he passed by. In fact, he could hear the feeling of
pain that subsists within one’s heart. Nonetheless, the most prominent of those sufferers are the
prostitutes. He could hear the pain in every voice, even to the voices of every newborn baby,
everywhere he goes in the city.
 Being a religious individual, Blake observed modern society was confronting a lack of collective
imagination, which forbade the citizens of London to perform the essential religious purpose that
 eventually obstructed people from living a stressed-free peaceful life. He pursued to understand the
city London and its people & viewed such lifestyle of people as unusual and unreal. In this poem,
Blake endeavored to portray such a scenario of London of those days.
 Impacts of industrialization, social discrimination, materialism & urban life oppressions are the
prime message of this poem. Degradation of human values are conspicuously visible in this poem.
 Nevertheless, the fundamental message of this poem holds a productive idea, which is-this world
could be a happier, nicer & kindlier place, yet the darker side of society made it uncertain in London
city.
Therefore, the loss theme in this poem involves the absence of a moral or ethical society which can
implement & foster the ideal & supreme principle in society.
The theme of loss in “The Road Not Taken”:

The poem” The road not taken” symbolizes our life. The poet articulated that- the path we don’t choose
in our life is “the road not taken”. He clarified his feelings about the choices that he had left in the past.
Eventually, the path we chose, decides our future or destination.

 The poem illustrates, someone standing in a road at one junction or in a turning point struggling to
figure which direction he’ll follow. He looks down one road as far as he can see, then decides to
follow the other one after contemplating for a moment, as it looks like no one has been that way
yet, and he’s wondering where that leads. Nonetheless, the poet ended up in a nostalgic note while
connotating that-he’ll be talking about how his decision was final & life-changing.
 The significant message in this poem the poet wants to deliver is- the choice we make has an impact
in forthcoming future. So, if with confusion we make wrong choices we regret afterwards,
nevertheless can’t go back on it. Hence, we should be prudent in making decisions.

Therefore, the loss theme in this poem deals with the dilemma we face in making our life-decisions.

The theme of loss in “My little plot of land (Dui Bigha Jomi)”:

This poem of Rabindranath Tagore describes the story of a destitute man who lost his land to a landlord
of Bengal. The landlord of Bengal is referred as Zamindar. The poem provides a vivid description of a
poor farmer namely “Upen”. The poem depicted the miserable condition of the poor farmer & his love
for his land.

 The “Zamindar Pratha” of Bengal is portrayed here which acquainted us with the scenario of how
the innocent & poor peasants were brutally abused by the inhuman behavior of the capitalists who
 treated the poor peasants as mere animals. The poet himself being a landlord was quite familiar
with such brutal behavior of the other Zamindars which he never accepted. It inspired him to
compose this poem.
 Nonetheless, the valuable message in this poem clarifies us that- want is something that never gets
satisfied. The more we get, the more we want. Such greed of desiring something more always led us
to become unhappy which essentially destroys our internal core values. Hence, we should be
contented & satisfied with what we have. Eventually, that’s the ideal character of a true human.

Therefore, the loss theme in this poem includes the lack of contentment in human behavior & attitude
where the capitalist wants more with what they have. This is where the social stratification upsurges.
The Zamindars character is appropriate example of such capitalist society.