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Consider the poem below and then answer the questions that follow - NSC English HL - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 2
Question 5
Consider the poem below and then answer the questions that follow. THE ABANDONED MINE – Charles Claybrook Wollacott 1 A heap of rock marks the abandoned mine. 2 ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Consider the poem below and then answer the questions that follow - NSC English HL - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 2
Step 1
5.1 Account for the use of the word, 'abandoned' in the title and line 1 of the poem.
Answer
The word 'abandoned' indicates that the mine is no longer productive. It suggests a state of neglect, where the mine has been left vacant and is devoid of activity. This emphasizes the loss associated with the site, marking it as a remnant of what once was.
Step 2
5.2 Refer to lines 5-8: 'Here is the ... more come back!'
Answer
The tone in these lines is nostalgic and mournful. The poet reflects on the sorrowful reality of the workers who once traversed the mine and will no longer return. It conveys a sense of loss, highlighting the emptiness left in the wake of their absence.
Step 3
5.3 Refer to lines 9-12: 'Time, with slow hands ... of men's toil.'
Answer
The use of personification in these lines illustrates the concept of time as an active force. By giving time human-like qualities, the poet emphasizes its inevitable nature. Additionally, the imagery conveys a hopeful restoration, suggesting that the land will eventually heal, despite the lingering traces of human efforts.
Step 4
5.4 Refer to lines 13-14: 'And this ... hopes buried lie.'
Answer
The poem's central idea suggests that nature eventually endures, despite human endeavors. The 'grave' symbolizes not only the remnants of labor but also the lost ambitions and hopes of the workers. The notion of burial emphasizes the finality of these aspirations, portraying a disheartening reality that contrasts with initial optimism.