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Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

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Telephone Conversation  by Wole Soyinka PROSE PARAPHRASE – TELEPHONE CONVERSATION The speaker telephones a landlady to enquire about renting a house. The rent seems reasonable and the location is acceptable. The landlady tells him that she does not live on the premises, so there should be no problem. Everything appears to be settled. Before going to see the house, the speaker honestly informs her that he is African because he does not want to waste his time or hers by making an unnecessary journey. After hearing this, the landlady suddenly becomes silent. This silence is awkward and full of tension. It shows her hidden prejudice, though she pretends to be polite. When she finally speaks, her voice sounds artificial and affected, as if she is a fashionable woman holding a cigarette. Then she shockingly asks, “How dark are you? Are you light or very dark?” The speaker is stunned and offended. He realizes that he has been trapped by her racism. The red telephone booth, the red postbox...
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Tithonus by Alfred Lord Tennyson

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Tithonus  By Alfred Lord Tennyson The woods decay, the woods decay and fall, The vapours weep their burthen to the ground, Man comes and tills the field and lies beneath, And after many a summer dies the swan. Me only cruel immortality Consumes: I wither slowly in thine arms, Here at the quiet limit of the world, A white-hair'd shadow roaming like a dream The ever-silent spaces of the East, Far-folded mists, and gleaming halls of morn.          Alas! for this gray shadow, once a man— So glorious in his beauty and thy choice, Who madest him thy chosen, that he seem'd To his great heart none other than a God! I ask'd thee, 'Give me immortality.' Then didst thou grant mine asking with a smile, Like wealthy men, who care not how they give. But thy strong Hours indignant work'd their wills, And beat me down and marr'd and wasted me, And tho' they could not end me, left me maim'd To dwell in presence of immortal youth, Immortal age beside immortal youth, A...
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Location: Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Beethoven by Shane Koyczan

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Beethoven  by Shane Koyczan Section 1: Abusive Childhood and Forced Genius (“Listen. / His father made a habit out of hitting him… Beethoven.”) Paraphrase: The poet begins by asking the reader to listen carefully. Beethoven’s father was violent and abusive. Like some men who drink, shout, or beat their children, he did all three. His cruelty came from a desire to make his son a genius. Beethoven grew up in a home where his name had no value and kindness had to be earned. Only flawless music could win approval. Each perfect note had to rise heavenward, as if pleasing angels, yet even that was not enough. Beethoven, a child who already had hearing problems, poured immense passion into his music but received no mercy. Section 2: Relentless Practice and Constant Rejection (“Who heard his father’s anthem… it was NOT GOOD ENOUGH.”) Paraphrase: Whenever Beethoven touched the piano keys, he heard his father’s harsh judgment telling him he was inadequate. He tried playing slowly, softl...
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Location: Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
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