Read the following line from "Not Waving but Drowning."
"Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he's dead"
a. detached
b. pleased
c. objective
d. critical
NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING
Stevie Smith
Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.
Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he’s dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.
Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.
I've been struggling with this question for two days now. I ruled out b. but I'm stuck. If you read it with different tones, it can sometimes seem critical, and sometimes it seems objective and sometimes it seems detatched!
"Poor chap" seems sympathetic but "And now he's dead" seems cold. So it's kind of detatched, but kind of not.
Objective is 'he loved to frollick and now he's dead. Shame.'
You could also say that larking isn't very noteworthy or a good way to spend one's time, so the speaker could be saying "he deserved it for always goofing off, the poor fool."
Basically, I'm all over and I need help getting to the real answer because I tend to come at questions with multiple answers.
I agree that your question and answer choices are confusing. I'll vote for c. objective.
However, please check back here to see if another tutor has a different interpretation.
I agree with Ms. Sue. The choices are confusing. C does seem the most likely answer.
Based on the information given, the tone of the line "Poor chap, he always loved larking / And now he's dead" from the poem "Not Waving but Drowning" by Stevie Smith can be interpreted as both detaching and critical.
The use of the word "poor" indicates a certain level of sympathy and compassion for the person who has died. However, the following statement "And now he's dead" can be perceived as somewhat detached or matter-of-fact, lacking emotional depth.
Furthermore, the phrase "he always loved larking" suggests that the person who died had a tendency to engage in playful or frivolous activities. The use of the word "always" implies a recurring pattern. This could be interpreted in a critical way, suggesting that the person brought their fate upon themselves due to their constant engagement in such activities.
Ultimately, the tone of the line can be seen as a combination of sympathy and detachment, with a potential underlying critique of the person's behavior.
In order to determine the tone of the line from "Not Waving but Drowning," let's break it down and analyze the context more closely.
First of all, let's consider the overall tone of the poem. "Not Waving but Drowning" is a melancholic and introspective poem that deals with themes of loneliness, isolation, and misunderstanding. The persona in the poem is expressing the idea that although the man appeared to be waving (potentially asking for help), he was, in fact, drowning (suffering internally) and nobody understood his true struggle.
Now, let's focus on the specific line you mentioned: "Poor chap, he always loved larking and now he's dead."
This line displays a mix of emotions, which is what has been causing your confusion. On one hand, the speaker says "poor chap," indicating some level of sympathy or empathy towards the person who passed away. The use of the word "chap" also suggests a somewhat affectionate or informal tone.
However, the phrase "he always loved larking," refers to the person's inclination for playing, joking, or fooling around. This phrase could be interpreted in different ways. It could be seen as the speaker acknowledging that the person enjoyed life and had a playful nature, or it could be interpreted in a more critical or judgmental way, suggesting that the person did not take things seriously enough and possibly brought about their own demise.
The line concludes with "and now he's dead," which, as you mentioned, can come across as cold or detached. The objective interpretation would be to simply state the fact that the person has died.
Given the melancholic tone of the poem and the conflicting emotions expressed in this line, the most appropriate answer among the options provided would be:
a. detached
The line seems to present a somewhat detached perspective, offering an observation of the person's fondness for playfulness while acknowledging their passing without significant emotional attachment. However, it's important to note that poetry can be open to different interpretations, so it's normal to see elements of other tones as well.
When analyzing poetry or literature, it's crucial to consider the larger context of the work, the overall tone, and the poet's intention. Additionally, exploring different interpretations and taking into account your own feelings and observations is a valuable part of analyzing a literary piece.