1. Who is the poet of the poem “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind”?
Answer:
William Shakespeare.
2. What is the central theme of the poem?
Answer:
The central theme is man’s ingratitude, which the poet says is harsher and more painful than the winter wind.
3. Why does the poet ask the winter wind to blow?
Answer:
The poet asks the winter wind to blow because, despite its harshness, it is not as cruel as human ingratitude.
4. What does the poet compare the winter wind to?
Answer:
The poet compares the winter wind to human ingratitude, stating that the wind is less painful.
5. What does the poet mean by “Thy tooth is not so keen”?
Answer:
The phrase means that the cold bite of the winter wind is not as sharp as the pain caused by ungratefulness.
6. Why does the poet refer to the winter wind as not being “seen”?
Answer:
The wind is not visible, but its effect can be felt. This mirrors how ingratitude is not always obvious, but its consequences are painful.
7. What is the mood of the poet when he says “Heigh-ho! Sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly”?
Answer:
The poet adopts a cynical yet festive mood, highlighting the irony between the cheerfulness of the song and the sadness of human behavior.
8. What does the green holly symbolize in the poem?
Answer:
The green holly symbolizes cheerfulness and resilience, despite the harshness of winter and human cruelty.
9. What does the poet mean by “Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly”?
Answer:
The poet laments that most friendships are fake, and love is often foolish and insincere.
10. How does the poet describe nature compared to man?
Answer:
The poet describes nature as less cruel than man. The harsh winter is more bearable than human betrayal and ingratitude.
11. Why does the poet say “Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky”?
Answer:
The poet calls upon the bitter sky to freeze because its cruelty is less painful than the forgotten kindness of ungrateful people.
12. What does “benefits forgot” refer to?
Answer:
It refers to people forgetting or ignoring the good deeds done for them, leading to ingratitude.
13. What is the effect of the word “warp” in the second stanza?
Answer:
“Warp” refers to the freezing of water in winter, symbolizing how coldness and ingratitude distort relationships.
14. What comparison does the poet draw between the sting of winter and human behavior?
Answer:
The poet says that the sting of winter is not as sharp as the pain caused by a friend who forgets or betrays you.
15. What kind of friendships does the poet describe in the poem?
Answer:
The poet describes most friendships as insincere, full of pretense and deceit.
16. Why does the poet repeat “Heigh-ho” in the poem?
Answer:
“Heigh-ho” is used to convey a mix of resignation and mock cheerfulness, reflecting the poet’s cynical view of life and relationships.
17. How does the poet express the idea of false love?
Answer:
The poet expresses that most love is foolish and insincere, lacking true depth and meaning.
18. What lesson does the poet convey about life?
Answer:
The poet conveys that life is filled with ingratitude and insincere relationships, but one should still endure, much like the evergreen holly survives the winter.
19. How does the poet describe the effect of the bitter sky and winter wind on people?
Answer:
The bitter sky and winter wind are harsh, but they are less painful than the emotional hurt caused by ungrateful friends and forgotten kindness.
20. What is the overall tone of the poem?
Answer:
The tone of the poem is reflective, melancholic, and cynical, with a touch of irony as the poet contrasts the coldness of nature with the colder behavior of humans.
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