Detailed Summary
The poet, Stephen Spender, wrote the poem 'An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum' in 1964, which sheds light on the communal disharmony and inequalities prevalent in society at that time. Through the poem, the poet aims to draw attention to the plight of poor students studying in a slum area who lack basic facilities and amenities such as food, education, and a cheerful environment to study.
The poet believes that these children deserve a fair chance in life and highlights the faulty education and social system that perpetuates their cycle of poverty. The poet desires to bring a positive change in the lives of these students so that they do not resort to a life of crime.
The physical appearance of the students is shabby, and they exhibit unhappy and depressed expressions due to the sadness of poverty. The poet saw dreams and sparks in their eyes, but they were covered with despair, which indicates a bleak future for these children.
The classroom was dirty and in poor condition, with charts and posters donated for studying. The poet uses the pictures on the wall to draw a comparison between the rich, beautiful, and prosperous world outside and the poverty-stricken world of slums in which the children live.
The poet expresses his pain and disappointment with the social system, which does not provide these children with a chance to improve their lives. The government's construction of larger shanty settlements has only increased the number of slums instead of improving the lives of those living in them. Society's lack of love, warmth, and acceptance has led these children towards negativity, despair, and utter hopelessness.
The poet desires that these children should experience the beauty outside, feel nature, and play in the fields. They have a right to feel and learn, but unfortunately, the societal norms and government policies restrict their innocent lives within the boundaries of these dark alleys. The poet wishes to bring a positive change in the lives of these children and improve their future prospects.
THINK IT OUT
Tick the item which best answers the following.
The tall girl with her head weighed down means
The girl
is ill and exhausted (✔)
has her head bent with shame
has untidy hair
The paper-seeming boy with rat’s eyes means
Tick the item which best answers the following.
The tall girl with her head weighed down means
The girlis ill and exhausted (✔)
has her head bent with shame
has untidy hair
The paper-seeming boy with rat’s eyes means
The boy is
sly and secretive
thin, hungry and weak (✔)
unpleasant looking
The stunted, unlucky heir of twisted bones means
The boy
has an inherited disability (✔)
was short and bony
His eyes live in a dream, A squirrel’s game, in the tree room other than this means
The boy is
full of hope in the future
mentally ill
distracted from the lesson (✔)
The children’s faces are compared to ‘rootless weeds’ This means they
are insecure
are ill-fed (✔)
are wasters
What do you think is the colour of ‘sour cream’? Why do you think the poet has used this expression to describe the classroom walls?
ANSWER:
The expression "sour cream" is used by the poet to describe the color of the classroom walls. The color white is often associated with purity, innocence, and cleanliness. However, in the context of the poem, the white color of the classroom walls is described as sour cream. This suggests that the white color has lost its brightness and purity and has become dull and unappealing.
The use of the expression "sour cream" to describe the color of the walls can be seen as a metaphor for the decaying state of the slums and the education system in the poem. The walls are supposed to be white, clean, and inviting, but they are dull and unappealing. This suggests that the educational environment in the slums is not conducive to learning and growth.
Overall, the use of the expression "sour cream" can be seen as a device to create a contrast between the ideal environment for learning and the reality of the slum classroom.The walls of the classroom are decorated with the pictures of ‘Shakespeare’, ‘buildings with domes’, ‘world maps’ and beautiful valleys. How do these contrast with the world of these children?
ANSWER:
The pictures of Shakespeare, buildings with domes, world maps, and beautiful valleys on the walls of the classroom present an idealized world that is far removed from the reality of the children who inhabit the slums. The children are living in poverty and squalor, with little access to education or resources. They are surrounded by the harshness of their environment, which is a stark contrast to the beauty and luxury depicted in the pictures on the walls. These images serve to highlight the vast disparities between the world of the children and the world that is being presented to them in the classroom. The children are not only excluded from the opportunities that the world beyond the slums have to offer, but they are also denied the chance to fully engage with their own realities and experiences.
What does the poet want for the children of the slums? How can their lives be made to change ?
ANSWER:
The poet wants the children of the slums to have a better life with equal opportunities and access to education. He wants them to be free from the cycle of poverty and social injustice. He envisions a world where these children are not confined to the narrow limits of their social and economic backgrounds, but have the freedom to dream, explore and achieve their full potential.
To bring about this change, the poet emphasizes the need for a compassionate and caring education system that is sensitive to the needs and aspirations of these children. He stresses on the importance of providing them with a nurturing environment, quality education, and access to resources and opportunities that can help them break free from the shackles of poverty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the poet disappointed?
ANWER:
The poet was disappointed with the social system that failed to provide basic facilities and amenities such as food, education, and cheerful surroundings to poor students studying in slum areas. He also saw the faulty education and social system that forced these kids to follow in their parents' footsteps and saw the bleak future of these children, especially with the lack of opportunities and support from society. Additionally, he felt that the government was not doing enough to remove slums and improve the lives of the people living there. The poet's disappointment stemmed from the inequalities and communal disharmony he observed in society.
What did he Want for the Slum Kids?
ANSWER:
The poet wanted a fair chance for the slum kids in life, with access to basic facilities and amenities such as food, education, and cheerful surroundings to study just like other children. He desired to bring a positive change in their lives so that they do not become criminals. He also wanted the children to witness the beauty of the outside world, experience the warm sand of the beach, the green nature, and play in the fields. He believed that they have the right to feel and learn.
Whom did the Poet Blame?
ANSWER:
The poet blamed the faulty education and social system, as well as the government and societal norms that create and maintain slums, for the plight of the slum kids. He was disappointed with the social system and the lack of effort made by the government to improve the lives of the people living in slums. He also pointed out the lack of love, warmth, and acceptance from society, which led to further negativity, despair, and hopelessness for the children.
How is the world in pictures different from the world of slums?
ANSWER:
The world in pictures is often idealized and sanitized, with images of clean and prosperous cities, happy families, and beautiful landscapes. On the other hand, the world of slums is characterized by poverty, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. While pictures may present a romanticized version of the world, the reality of slums is harsh and difficult.
How is the world in pictures different from the world of slums?
ANSWER:
The world in pictures is often idealized and sanitized, with images of clean and prosperous cities, happy families, and beautiful landscapes. On the other hand, the world of slums is characterized by poverty, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. While pictures may present a romanticized version of the world, the reality of slums is harsh and difficult.
What does the poet want for these children?
ANSWER:
The poet wants a better life for the children living in the slums. He wants them to have access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clean water. He also wants them to have opportunities for education and a chance to fulfill their potential. Overall, he wants the children to have a brighter future and not be held back by the harsh realities of poverty and deprivation.
What are the major themes of the poem “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum”?
ANSWER:
The major themes of the poem "An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" are poverty, social inequality, education, powerlessness, and hopelessness. The poem focuses on the contrast between the world of the slum and the world of the privileged, highlighting the struggles of children who live in poverty and attend underfunded schools. The poem also explores the powerlessness of the children and the lack of agency they have to change their situation. The theme of hopelessness is also present, as the poet suggests that the children's future is predetermined by their circumstances, and they are unlikely to break free from the cycle of poverty. Finally, the poem also emphasizes the importance of education as a means to empower children and provide them with the tools to improve their lives.
Why was the poet disappointed?
ANWER:
The poet was disappointed with the social system that failed to provide basic facilities and amenities such as food, education, and cheerful surroundings to poor students studying in slum areas. He also saw the faulty education and social system that forced these kids to follow in their parents' footsteps and saw the bleak future of these children, especially with the lack of opportunities and support from society. Additionally, he felt that the government was not doing enough to remove slums and improve the lives of the people living there. The poet's disappointment stemmed from the inequalities and communal disharmony he observed in society.
What did he Want for the Slum Kids?
ANSWER:
The poet wanted a fair chance for the slum kids in life, with access to basic facilities and amenities such as food, education, and cheerful surroundings to study just like other children. He desired to bring a positive change in their lives so that they do not become criminals. He also wanted the children to witness the beauty of the outside world, experience the warm sand of the beach, the green nature, and play in the fields. He believed that they have the right to feel and learn.
Whom did the Poet Blame?
ANSWER:
The poet blamed the faulty education and social system, as well as the government and societal norms that create and maintain slums, for the plight of the slum kids. He was disappointed with the social system and the lack of effort made by the government to improve the lives of the people living in slums. He also pointed out the lack of love, warmth, and acceptance from society, which led to further negativity, despair, and hopelessness for the children.
How is the world in pictures different from the world of slums?
ANSWER:
The world in pictures is often idealized and sanitized, with images of clean and prosperous cities, happy families, and beautiful landscapes. On the other hand, the world of slums is characterized by poverty, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. While pictures may present a romanticized version of the world, the reality of slums is harsh and difficult.
How is the world in pictures different from the world of slums?
ANSWER:
The world in pictures is often idealized and sanitized, with images of clean and prosperous cities, happy families, and beautiful landscapes. On the other hand, the world of slums is characterized by poverty, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. While pictures may present a romanticized version of the world, the reality of slums is harsh and difficult.
What does the poet want for these children?
ANSWER:
The poet wants a better life for the children living in the slums. He wants them to have access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clean water. He also wants them to have opportunities for education and a chance to fulfill their potential. Overall, he wants the children to have a brighter future and not be held back by the harsh realities of poverty and deprivation.
What are the major themes of the poem “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum”?
ANSWER:
The major themes of the poem "An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" are poverty, social inequality, education, powerlessness, and hopelessness. The poem focuses on the contrast between the world of the slum and the world of the privileged, highlighting the struggles of children who live in poverty and attend underfunded schools. The poem also explores the powerlessness of the children and the lack of agency they have to change their situation. The theme of hopelessness is also present, as the poet suggests that the children's future is predetermined by their circumstances, and they are unlikely to break free from the cycle of poverty. Finally, the poem also emphasizes the importance of education as a means to empower children and provide them with the tools to improve their lives.
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