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'FUNERAL BLUES' – WH Auden 7.1 The clocks indicate normality and the passing of time - NSC English HL - Question 7 - 2018 - Paper 2
Question 7
'FUNERAL BLUES' – WH Auden 7.1 The clocks indicate normality and the passing of time. By stopping the clocks, he wants other people's normality to cease so that the... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:'FUNERAL BLUES' – WH Auden 7.1 The clocks indicate normality and the passing of time - NSC English HL - Question 7 - 2018 - Paper 2
Step 1
7.1 The clocks indicate normality and the passing of time.
Answer
The speaker uses the metaphor of the clocks to symbolize life continuing normally around him, while he is faced with a profound loss. By stopping the clocks, he seeks to halt the normalcy of life so that others can grasp the magnitude of his grief, highlighting how the death of his loved one is something that should cause a collective pause in society.
Step 2
7.2 The capital letters indicate the importance of the loved one.
Answer
The use of capital letters underscores the significance of the deceased person in the speaker's life. It showcases the weight of his loss and enhances the emotional impact of his grief, reflecting that their bond deserved recognition and respect in the public sphere.
Step 3
7.3 The deceased was like the points on a compass to the speaker.
Answer
In this comparison, the deceased is portrayed as a guiding force in the speaker's life. The compass metaphor illustrates how essential the loved one was for providing direction and purpose, making the speaker's current disorientation all the more poignant now that they are gone.
Step 4
7.4 The speaker is devastated/distraught/despondent because he sees no future.
Answer
This profound sense of loss manifests in the speaker's wish for the universe to end, suggesting that without his loved one, he cannot envision a meaningful life. The hyperbolic expressions of despair signify not only personal grief but also an overwhelming sense of darkness that envelops his existence.