THE DARK
- James Carter
Word Meanings:
1. for a lark – for a joke that is not intended to cause serious harm or damage
2. privacy – a state in which one is not disturbed by other people
3. beastly – unpleasant
4. cosy – that which makes you feel comfortable and relaxed
5. loft – a space at the top of a building under the roof used for storing things
6. lurking – waiting and moving in a secret way
Answer the following:
1. In the first stanza, the speaker compares our fear of the dark to a dangerous dog.
Pick out the phrases that bring out this comparison.
Ans – The phrases that bring out the comparison of our fear of the dark to a dangerous dog
are‘does not bite, does not bark and chase old ladies’.
2. What, according to the speaker, are the good points about the dark?
Ans – The dark lets us have privacy and time to sleep. It is cosy and calm.
3. In what ways can the dark be a friend?
Ans –The dark can give us rest and time to sleep. It can give us privacy, so we can do what
we want. It can provide us time to think. In this way the dark can be a friend.
Think and write:
1. Do you think the speaker likes the dark? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans –Yes, the speaker seems to like the dark because of its comforting nature. It makes the
child aware of the positive aspects of the dark, like sleep, privacy, cosiness and calmness.
E.R.C.
1. “And though it might not let you see
It lets you have some privacy
And gives you time to go to sleep
Provides a place to hide or weep”
a. Identify the poem and the poet in the given extract.
Ans – The above given extract is from the poem ‘The Dark’ written by James Carter.
b. Who is referred to as ‘it’ in the given extract?
Ans – ‘It’ refers to the dark in the given extract.
c. What does ‘it’ lets the speaker do?
Ans – ‘It’ lets the speaker have some privacy, time to sleep and provides a place to hide or
weep.
d. Find the rhyming scheme of the given stanza.
Ans – The rhyming scheme of the given stanza is AABB.
Summary of the poem: (Only for reference. Not to be written in notebook)
"The Dark" by James Carter is a poem that explores the theme of darkness and how it can be
both comforting and unsettling. The poem refers to the plight of the darkness itself while
people emphasize on what they feel within themselves while being in it. It emphasizes the
fact that it’s not the fault of the darkness if people are scared of it out of the mere fear of the
unknown that may exist within. The speaker of the poem describes the darkness as a place of
refuge where they can escape from the harsh realities of the world, but also acknowledges
that the darkness can be a source of fear and uncertainty. The speaker also reflects on the idea
that the darkness is not just a physical state, but also a state of mind. The poem ultimately
suggests that the darkness is a necessary part of life and should be embraced, rather than
feared.
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