What is the tone of the poet? Why do you say so?
The tone of the poet is nostalgic and melancholic.
I say so because the poet repeatedly uses the refrain, "I cannot remember my mother," which expresses a deep sense of loss and a fading direct memory. However, the tone is not entirely sorrowful; it is also peaceful and reflective, as he still feels her lingering presence.
The poet relies on symbolism and sensory experiences to recall her, such as a tune hovering over his playthings, the smell of shiuli flowers, and the stillness of her gaze spreading over the sky. These memories triggered by nature show that his emotional connection remains strong, making the tone deeply yearning.
Explanation
The question asks for the poet's tone and its justification based on the poem. The context provides the poem's lines, the use of 'refrain', 'symbolism', and sensory details (tune, shiuli flowers, stillness of gaze). The tone is inferred from the contrast between the inability to remember directly ('I cannot remember') and the powerful emotional presence felt through nature and senses. The student answer combines these contextual facts to determine the nostalgic and melancholic tone.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the tone based on the poet's expressions of memory and loss (nostalgic, melancholic).
Step 2: Justify the tone by referencing the refrain 'I cannot remember my mother' which indicates a sense of loss.
Step 3: Further justify by referencing the symbolism and sensory memories (tune, shiuli flowers, stillness of gaze) that show a lingering, peaceful connection.