Answer to Question #287350 in English for Sabelo Xulu

Question

Read the poem ‘are you the river or am i’ by Shabbir Banoobhai before answering the questions that follow.

Remember that you can use an example from a poem only once; you cannot use the same example for each of your answers.

5. Refer to the poem as a whole.

5.1 The poet’s use of imagery contributes significantly to this poem’s meaning. What is the 

dominant imagery in this poem? Name the imagery, quote three words (each from a different stanza of your choice), and then describe why this imagery is effective. (5)

5.2 What is the theme of the poem? Give a reason for your answer, and quote from the poem

to support your answer. (2)

Answer 1

The poet is comparing himself to a river in the title

      The poet refers to himself as a river in the title.

The speaker is speaking to someone. The poet is addressing her lover.

The speaker’s relationship with are lover is not good according to these two stanzas. This is because the speaker says “why is it when i try to slake my thirst you disappear” and also when she says “know the loneliness of separation”, this clearly shows that their relationship is not good.

The poet has used assonance which is the repetition of the same consonant sounds in words near each other. An example is whose longing elicited this longing in me and do i flow into the sea or do you flow into me.