Literature-In-English Paper 3 WASSCE (PC), 2016

Question 12

    Discuss the persona’s view of death in Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar”.


Observation

A good number of candidates attempted this question. Although many of them wrote on the personal biography of the poet while some wrote on death generally without any reference to the poem.

The required answer should include the following points:

  • His observance of nature in the ebb and flow of the tide.
  • The certainty of the journey, he is embarking in death.
  • The hope and expectation of life after his demise- the mourning of those left behind to mourn him.

 

Candidates’ performance was fair.