Father to Son
Think it out
1. Does the poem talk of an exclusively personal experience or is it fairly universal?
Answer:
The poem discusses a fairly universal experience concerning the relationship between parents and children. The poem discusses the communication gap and how neither of them understands what the other is thinking.
2. How is the father’s helplessness brought out in the poem?
Answer:
The father’s helplessness is emphasised by the depiction of his emotional struggle. He is aware of the issue and wants to solve it, but he is unable to do so. He bemoans the fact that his son has become a stranger to him. He regrets the lack of a strong emotional bond and proper communication with his estranged son and wishes to start over and rebuild their relationship.
3. Identify the phrases and lines that indicate distance between father and son.
Answer:
Lines and phrases that show the distance between father and son are:
“land is his and none of mine”
“Him prodigal, returning to his father’s house”
“see him make and move his world”
“put out an empty hand”
4. Does the poem have a consistent rhyme scheme?
Answer:
The poem has a rhyme scheme, but it is inconsistent. The rhyme scheme varies slightly between stanzas.