Beaming Notes
Your Guide to Literature

This poem summary focuses on ‘The Forsaken Merman’ by the English poet Matthew Arnold. Matthew Arnold (24 December 1822 – 15 April 1888) was an English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom… Continue reading The Forsaken Merman: Summary: 2022

This poem analysis of ‘East London’ by Arnold is divided into three parts – rhyme scheme and use of language, Christian imagery, and context. Rhyme Scheme in East London and Use of Language: This poem explanation would be incomplete without a discussion of the rhyme scheme of ‘East London’, for this rhyme scheme contributes significantly… Continue reading East London by Matthew Arnold Analysis: 2022

This poem summary focuses on the poem ‘East London’ by the eminent Victorian poet Matthew Arnold. Arnold was a keen observer of his times, and the people he saw around him. This is reflected in most of his poetry. ‘East London’ is no exception. ‘East London’ is written in the form of a sonnet. Therefore,… Continue reading East London Summary by Matthew Arnold: 2022

This poem summary focuses on the poem ‘On the Pulse of Morning’ by the African-American woman poet Maya Angelou, who despite being African-American, speaks for all citizens of America, no matter what colour they are or what creed they belong to. The poem itself is divided into twenty-eight identifiable stanzas, with single lines occurring between… Continue reading Summary of On the Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelou

This poem analysis is divided into four parts – context, rhyme scheme and rhetorical devices, themes, and deeper meanings – all of which are essential to a complete and well-rounded understanding of this profound poem. Context: This poem explanation depends critically on the context in which the poem was written. It was written by Maya… Continue reading On the Pulse of Morning Analysis by Maya Angelou

The rhyme scheme throughout ‘Woman Work’ is not constant. The first stanza consists of seven pairs of rhymed lines in the pattern AABB and so on. Since these lines are short and quick in nature, they create an impression of breathlessness in the reader’s mind, as if the woman has no time to pause between… Continue reading Woman Work Analysis by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) is an African-American woman poet. Her poetry most often deals with women of her own community. ‘Woman Work’ is such a poem. It describes the plight of a single mother, who must take care of her household all by herself, with no support from anybody. ‘Woman Work’ was first published in the… Continue reading Woman Work Summary by Maya Angelou

‘Touched by an Angel’ has no set rhyme scheme, but is written in rhythmically-flowing free verse. What are noticeable in the poem are the multiple end rhymes, such as “delight” and “sight” in the second and fifth lines, or “see”, “be”, and “free” in the seventeenth, nineteenth, and twenty-first lines. Throughout the poem, Angelou uses… Continue reading Touched by an Angel Analysis by Maya Angelou

‘Touched by An Angel’ consists of three stanzas. The first stanza contains six lines, and therefore, it is a sestet. The second stanza contains an extra line, bringing the total to seven, and is therefore a septet. The third and final stanza similarly adds another extra line, bringing the total to eight, and is therefore… Continue reading Touched by an Angel Summary by Maya Angelou

‘Still I Rise’ is a typical Maya Angelou poem in terms of its subject matter, but what really sets it apart is the kind of visual stimulation it provides to readers. We shall find evidence of this time and time again in our analysis of the poem. The first seven stanzas of the poem show… Continue reading Still I Rise Analysis by Maya Angelou