Question 11
Comment on Birches as a descriptive poem
Observation
This was not a popular question. The few candidates who attempted this question were unable to show Birches as a descriptive poem but rather narrated the entire poem.
The following were expected from the candidates:
* The poem as a descriptive poem.
* The agents of birch bending: nature and the country boy.
* The sun’s warm light and its effect on the icy weight on the birch.
* The comparison of the drooping leaves of the birch to the hanging hair of crawling girls.
* The poet’s wish to leave the earth awhile by swinging a birch and return to earth.
Candidates’ performance was poor.