An Elementary School in a Slum by Stephen Spender ( Analysis of the poem by Baljit Singh)

 An Elementary School in a Slum

Summary of the poem:-

*It is a short poem written by Stephen Spender. It explains the pathetic state of an elementary school situated in a slum. The poem also explains the class discrimination, political indifference and hollow educational ideology. The poet uses many images to highlight the pathetic life of the children grown up in slum. These children are berieved of basic amenities of life such as food, clothing and homes. The poet bitterly attacks  the teachers , governors, bureaucrats and political parties who are responsible for their plight. The poet calls upon the slum dwellers to break open the chains of slavery and move freely in the vast sky.

Q.1. How does the poet describe the faces of the children in the classroom?

Ans The faces of the children in the classroom are like rootless weeds. They lack vitality and vigour.

Q2. What is there on the walls of the classroom?

Ans There are some objects of donation on the walls . There is a picture of Shakespeare's bust. There are also pictures of cloudless dawn, Tyrolese valley and a cathedral domes These pictures only temt them to steal.

Q3.What does the poet say about the ' open-handed' map?

Ans. Open-handed' map has no significance in the life of poor children. It shows all the seas and lands in the world . Contrary to this , their world is limited to the slums.

Q4. Why does the poet say " Shakespeare is wicked-?
Ans The head of Shakespeare displayed on the walls of the school is worthless for the slum dwellers. It has no significance in their lives. It only temts them to steal. That's why the Shakespeare is wicked- for them

Q5.  Why has map been said to be a bad example

The world 's map does not show the slum dwellers their real world. It does not match their real world which is blotted with innumerable slums. That is why the map has been described as a bad example.

Q6. What does the poet want for the children of slums? How can their lives be improved?

Ans. The poet wants that the slum children should be taken out to green fields where they can play on gold sand under the blue sky. Their lives can be improved only If they come out of their cramped homes.

Q7.How does the poet describe some children in the classroom?
Ans The children in the classroom are under nourished .There is tall girl with her head weighed down, a paper seeming boy with rat's eyes, a boy with twisted bones.  There is also a sweet unnoted boy with dreamy eyes.