Sympathy by Paul Dunbar Question Answer BA RTMNU University

 

Sympathy by Paul Dunbar Question Answer - RTMNU Nagpur University

Sympathy Poem Question Answer - B A English

Information to Rastrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University B A  Semester 1 students of Compulsory English

The poem Sympathy by Paul Dunbar is from RTMNU BA English  Semester 2 Syllabus 2023, Students of RTMNU BA Compulsory English students have to answer questions in RTMN University BA English Exam. Thus students need to know the question and answers correctly. Writing answers needs to be done meticulously and Bulbul study helps students to prepare and revise answers by sharing short summary, notes, question and answers for BA RTMNU  Compulsory English  semester 2 students.

The answers to the question are provided in a simple manner and the language used is also very simple and easy. Bulbul Study helps RTMNU BA students by providing short summaries, notes, explanation.

Sympathy Question Answer BA RTMNU University

For RTMNU New BA Syllabus Click below:

 BA  English Syllabus  Semester 1 2023 - 2024

 BA English Syllabus Semester 2 2023-202

 About the Poet :

 Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the most influential Black poets in American         literature. Paul's parents were formerly enslaved people from Kentucky. He was widely     acclaimed for his portrayal of black Americans during the late nineteenth and early   twentieth centuries. Paul Dunbar many short stories and novels the most   important is Folks from Dixie and the Uncalled.

Dunbar's famous collection of poems are the 'Oak and Ivy', 'Majors and Minors''. 'Poems of Cabin and Fields' and 'Lyrics of the Hearthside'. The present poem Sympathy is from the poet's collection of poem Lyrics of the Hearthside.

 About the Poem:

Sympathy poem on the surface level speaks about a caged bird's feeling and sorrow and how the caged bird longs for freedom. The caged bird is restricted in the cage and he longs for freedom. He struggles to free and beats his wings against the bars of the cage and wounds his own body. His wounds are so deep that he is bleeding and bruised. 

The poet uses caged bird as a metaphor to represent the feeling of oppressed black American who feels sorrowful, oppressed, suppressed by the treatment given to them in the society. The poem 'Sympathy' focuses on slavery and social discrimination against the African - American society.

SYMPATHY Poem Question and Answers for RTMNU BA Compulsory English Semester 2

1. How does the poet describe the feelings of the caged bird to bring out the significance of the theme?

The theme of the poem ‘Sympathy is lack of freedom, especially in the situation when you have wings but cannot fly like a bird constraint in the caged and forced to stay inside it. The bird wants to fly in the sky but unfortunately is forced to stay in the cage. The bird feels extremely sad for not having freedom to fly and enjoy the sky. The poet expresses the feelings of the sorrowful bird and empathetically describes the emotions of the caged bird. The poet says the world outside is so colourful, the Sun is bright, winds stir the springing grass and rivers flow like a stream of glass. The bird is missing all these beauties of nature, the first song of the bird, the opening of the bud all these natural sights are seen by the bird who is free to fly anywhere in the sky. But here the caged bird is unfortunate and is captured in a cage.

The poet presents the feelings of an oppressed black American who feels frustrated, dejected and bound by the restriction placed on the black community by the society. The poet uses the metaphor for comparing black people oppressed in America to a caged bird to highlight the significance of freedom.

       2. Write the comparative study of the scene outside the cage and the conditions the bird is subjected too?

 The conditions inside the cage and outside the cage are very different and contrast. Outside the cage there is freedom, movement, free will and the world is full of life, pleasantness and nature is full of its beauty. The poet says the world outside is so colorful, the sun is bright, winds stir the springing grass and rivers flow like a stream of glass. The bird is missing all these beauties of nature, the first song of the bird, the opening of the bud all these natural sights are seen by the bird who is free to fly anywhere in the sky.

Whereas inside the cage the condition is terrible and pathetic. The birds wants freedom is protesting by beating its wings against the bars till its blood is red on the bars. He is beating his wings, his body is full of blood, the pain is excruciating and he is full of sorrow, pain and frustrations. The bird is experiencing physical pain in his body as well as mental agony as the bird is captured and has no freedom.

3.    Discuss the appropriateness of the title of the poem ‘Sympathy’?

Throughout the poem the poet is comparing himself to the caged bird who is captured and lives in captivity. The bird is meant to be free and fly with its wings in the sky. The captivity of the bird the feelings of suppression, the need for freedom is portrayed in the poem. The poet Paul Dunbar empathizes with the bird and is able to understand the feeling as he himself as a oppressed black American feels frustrated, dejected, and bound by the restriction placed on the black people in America. The helpless bird resembles helpless black people oppressed in America.  Thus the poet has sympathy towards the bird who longs for freedom outside the cage. Thus we can say that the title of the poem is appropriate for the poem.

4. Describe the condition of caged bird when he beats his wings against the bars?

     The caged bird longs for freedom and wants to live a life of his own. So in frustration he beats his wings against the bars of the cage  till his blood comes from his body. He wounds himself is in utter pain because he wants to fky back to his perch and cling and hold on to the bough and swing. He wants to enjoy life and nature and so he wounds himself as he is all alone. At last he looks to God for help to get freedom from the caged prison.

5. How does the caged bird ask for help to God?

The caged bird full of wounds, blood flowing through wounds is tired beating his wings against the bars. He can not free himself. So he looks to God for help. He does not sing a carol of joy or glee but a prayer that he speaks from his sad heart. His crying heart makes a plea/request upward to Heaven he flings his prayer in force so that it may reach Heaven quickly and he may get help soon.

6. What is the poet focusing in the poem in relation to African American community?

  The poem focuses on brutal slavery, racial discrimination and social inequality practiced against the African American community .The caged bird is used as a metaphor to represent the feelings of sorrowful African- American facing discrimination. 

FAQs of Sympathy poem for RTMNU BA

1. Who is the poet of the poem 'Sympathy'?

Paul Lawrence Dunbar is the poet of the poem Sympathy'.

2. The poem Sympathy appeared in which book of the poet?

The poem Sympathy appeared in the poet's collection of poems Lyrics of the Heart side.

3. To whom does the frustrated caged bird send his plea?

The frustrated caged bird sends his plea to Heaven.