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.