Mind Map of A Photograph.pptxjajshshsjsk

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1. A Photograph Shirley Toulson Prepared by Sushma Singh Hornbill –Class 11

2. Introductory note “ A Photograph” is a reflective and nostalgic poem that explores the power of photograph to preserve memories and evoke emotions. The photograph serves as a portal to the past ,triggering a flood of memories for the poet . In this poem the poet recalls memories of her deceased mother and the entire poem runs through the lament of loss of someone near and dear. The nostalgic feeling is presented prominently here as this poem is set in the memories of two women- the poet and her mother. Both express a sense of loss and longing ,realizing that the moments captured in the photograph can never be relived. The poem concludes with the poet acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the photograph. Although it brings back cherished memories, it also serves as a reminder of the impermanence of life.

3. Tone & Style Of the poem   Tone - The tone of this poem undergoes a great change from the beginning of the poem to its end. At first , the tone is both nostalgic and joyful as the poet looks at an old photograph of her mother in her girlhood. The tone of sadness creeps in when the poet compares the unchanging sea with the brevity of human life. Style - The entire poem is written in free-verse. There is no rhyme scheme in this poem.

4. theme Pain of Separation and Loss is highlighted in this poem. Death of near and dear ones leaves us speechless. We are helpless to stop anyone from dying . Change is the law of nature ,this fact is also one of the underlying themes. Everything changes with time.The poet wants that this bitter fact needs to be recognized and accepted. Brevity of human life is the major theme of this poem . The idea conveyed is that life is ever-changing and short-lived. No person or thing stays with us forever, no matter how close we are. Hence , it is important to cherish every moment of life . We must live our lives to the fullest and never let sorrow conquer our lives.

5. Poetic Devices Alliteration-(repetition of same consonant sound in the beginning of a word in the same line) e.g. s tood s till to s mile , m y m other’s hands , t hrough t heir & s ilence s ilences Transferred Epithet( when an adjective usually used to describe one thing is transferred to another) e.g. Transient feet - this refers to human feet but it is used to describe the lack of permanence of human life. Personification( human traits are given to animal , object or abstraction) e.g. Its silence silences ( silence has been personified) Oxymoron( two opposite words are joined to create an effect) e.g. Laboured ease

6. Comprehension Check 1 . How did the three girls face the camera? 2. The words ‘ laboured ’ and ‘ease’ are opposite to each other, but describe the same entity, loss. Comment? 3. What does the changelessness of sea remind us? 4. What does’ this circumstance’ refer to? 5. How has the poet expressed her sense of loss? 6. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What did this laugh indicate?