‘Advise to my son’ Poem

Read the poem below and answer the questions below.

Advise to my son

Advise to my son
The trick is, to live your days
as if each one may be your last
(for they go fast, and young men lose their lives
in strange and unimaginable ways)
but at the same time, plan long range
(for they go slow : if you survive
the shattered windshield and burning shell
you will arrive
at our approximation here below
or heaven or hell)

To be specific, between the poeny and the rose
plant squash and spinach, turnips and tomatoes;
beauty in nectar
and nectar, in desert saves
but the stomach craves stronger sustenance
than the homed vine.
therefore, marry a pretty girl
after seeing her mother;
speak truth to one man,
work with another;
and always, serve bread with your wine.

But son,
Always serve wine
(Peter Meinke)

Questions

a)    Who is the speaker in the poem. Illustrate your answer.        2marks
b)    In what circumstances do many young people die? Illustrate your answer from the poem. 4marks
c)    What do heaven and hell symbolize?  2marks
d)    Identify items in the poem that represent life’s necessities on one hand and life’s luxuries on the other.  2marks
e)    Identify and illustrate the use of the paradox in the poem. 3marks
f)    What does the persona mean by ‘marry a pretty girl after seeing the mother”? 2marks
g)    The stomach craves stronger sustenance.(Rewrite using (What”) 1mark
h)    Give two meanings of each of the following words. 2marks
        -Last
        -Fast
i)    Give the meaning of the last two lines 2marks

Advise to my son ANSWERS

a)    A parent √1- says ‘but son.’√1
b)    –motor accidents√1- allude to windshield √1 (belongs to a car)                            -war√ 1 – bursting shell √ 1 (after explosion of bombs)
c)    Heaven- good/ positive experiences in life                                    hell- horrible things we may encounter.
d)    Spinach √ ½  turnips ½ desert√ ½  tomatoes√ ½ squash√ ½ and bread√ ½ – necessities                 Peony√ ½ nectar√ ½ wine√ ½ and rose√ ½ -luxuries
e)    He advises the son on one hand to live each day to the fullest as if were his last and on the other hand he advises him to plan for future .
f)    Don’t be deceived by the appearances, later on thiongs could change. Know her (pretty girl) background before marrying her.
g)    What the stomach craves is stronger sustenance
h)    Last- endure/ stay for long time                                            past  or previously                                            fast- to forgo food                                            to move quickly
i)    The son is advised to have fun/ luxurious life