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Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch, Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall. For all That struck the earth, No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble, Went surely to the cider-apple heap As of no worth.i. Why is the poet careful to see that his apples don’t fall to the ground?ii. What is the poet trying to express by using the symbol of an apple that is ‘spiked’ or ‘bruised’?iii. What does he really mean by using the imagery of apples being ‘cherished’? |
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Answer» i. The speaker had to worry about not letting the apples drop. Even if the apples were in perfect condition otherwise, without ‘bruises’ or ‘stubble’, they would be considered worthless if they touched the ground. They would have to be thrown in the heap of apples that will just be used to make cider. ii. The apple that is spiked or bruised makes us think of the Biblical story of the Fall of Adam and Eve, and their forbidden fruit. So, the spiked or bruised apple is a metaphor for all that is evil. iii. The speaker implies that each apple should be cherished, which means, carefully handled and picked. No apple should be allowed to fall. |
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