Interpreting Simple Stories

A Foolish Customer

One day, Mr. Juha sat in a hotel drinking some coffee. A boy came to him selling afternoon papers.

"Which papers do you have?" Juha asked.

"I have the Daily News and The Guardian," the boy replied.

"Well, give me both. How much do they cost?" Mr. Juha asked.

"One thousand two hundred for both. The Guardian sells at seven hundred," the boy said.

"Oh, that is very expensive; just give me the Daily News." Mr. Juha handed the boy a ten thousand shilling note.

"I have no change," the boy said.

"Let me go for the change, sir."

"No! No! No! You will run away with my money! Leave your papers here with me," Mr. Juha insisted.

The boy left, happily leaving Juha with the papers.

After two hours, Mr. Juha counted the papers the boy had left. They were only three!

Mr. Juha laughed, "Kwe! Kwe! Kwe!"

Of course, the boy never came back.

Poetry

Definition

Poetry is an art form that uses imaginative language in a pattern of lines and sounds to express deep thoughts, feelings, or human experiences.

• Poems are meant to be sung.

Although there are different definitions of poetry depending on the author, it can generally be defined as the art of composing or writing poems.

Poetry Analysis

When analyzing a poem, we focus on the following elements:

1. Content

   • This refers to what the poem is about or what it describes. It tells the reader what the poem focuses on or the subject matter.

2. Themes/Message

   • These are the lessons we learn from the poem or the message the poem conveys. Common themes include things like ignorance, exploitation, and friendship.

3. Form

   • This refers to how the poem is arranged—the stanza (groups of lines) and verses (individual lines within a stanza).

4. Mood

   • This is the attitude of the poet expressed in the poem. It can convey different emotions such as happiness, anger, seriousness, etc.

5. Symbolism

   • This involves using a person, object, or animal to represent something else. In symbolism, these entities are treated as though they were people, often to convey a deeper meaning.

Example Poem

Eat More Grass by Joe Corrie

"Eat more grass" the slogan says,
More fish, more beef, more bread,
But I'm on unemployment pay,
My third year now, and weed.