Key Themes and Poetic Devices Explained
Poems are considered the windows that let us look into the mind of the poets. The poems included in the syllabus of the CBSE English are chosen to deliver such bliss to students. One such poem is in the Class 12 syllabus named ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’. This poem is written by Stephen Spender, one of the eminent poets who perfectly described the political, economic and social views about the timeline through his creations.
Detailed Summary of the Poem
This poem reflects the communal disharmony and inequalities in society that existed at that time. Through the poem, the poet wants to direct everybody’s attention to the plight of poor students studying in a slum area.
The poet feels that these kids deserve a fair chance in life with all the basic facilities and amenities such as food, education, and cheerful surroundings to study just like other children. He points out the faulty education and social system that force these kids to follow in their parents’ footsteps. The poet desires to bring a positive change in the lives of these students so that they do not become criminals.
The poet Stephen Spender wrote the poem ‘An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’ and published it in 1964. The lines of the poem describe how deteriorating the condition of a slum school is. His views related to social norms, politics and children of the slums resonate pretty well in the lines of the poem. He witnessed the pain in the eyes of the children visiting the school to study.
The physical appearance of the students is shabby. Their faces are pale with unkempt hair and torn clothes. The poor, innocent kids exhibit unhappy and depressed facial expressions. The inevitable sadness of poverty forces them to hang their heads low.
As per the Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Summary, the poet saw the kids coming from different families living in the slum to study. They had bright eyes but were marred by malnutrition and poverty, just like their parents. They have the eyes to dream but not the platform to make them come true. He saw one kid, sitting in the corner at the end, with bright, beautiful eyes.
The child seems to be a little different from his counterparts as he has a light in his eyes while watching squirrels playing outside. His eager eyes indicate his wish to go outside and gaze at the wonderful world, as seen in the photographs. The poet saw dreams and sparks in those eyes, but they were covered with utter despair.
The classroom was very dirty, and the walls were made of mud. People donated charts for studying. There was a poster of Shakespeare, and his bald head was looking like the rising sun. There was beautiful scenery of Tyrolese Valley hanging from the wall. There was also a world map hanging from the wall. Through these pictures, the poet wants to bring out a stark comparison between two worlds: the rich, beautiful, peaceful and prosperous world outside and the dark, gloomy, poverty-stricken world of slums. It is not the same world the kids live in. Poverty induced obstacles hamper the physical and mental growth of these children.
For these children, the world is different from what they see in these pictures. However, the pictures on the wall paint a completely different picture, where development, growth, and prosperity are evident - concepts that are alien to the deprived children. Their future is hopelessly dim, filled with despair. It seems as if they are far away from the light of knowledge.
The poet uses sour cream to depict the dirty, worn-out yellow colour of classroom walls. The poet has used this poignant expression to describe the pathetic condition of the school, which is not painted for many years. It is also a tool used by the poet to show the bleak future of the children, especially with the word ‘sour’ which leaves a sour taste in the mouth of the readers as well.
The poet expressed his pain that these children will always be stuck in the slums, and will not be able to see the light of hope. Their future is dim, and they have no options but to follow in the footsteps of their parents. He was disappointed with the social system.
The government's construction of larger, shanty settlements has reduced their chances and desires to realise their aspirations. The poet sarcastically draws attention to the fact that instead of improving upon these kids’ lives and people living in slums, it increases the number of such slums.
The poet feels that kids are unwanted and unwelcome by society because they are poor. Lack of love, warmth, acceptance by society has led them further to a life of negativity, despair and utter hopelessness.
Nobody cares about these children. An Elementary Classroom in a Slum Summary tells us that the poet understood that the kids do not even know who Shakespeare is or where that valley is located. They were not loved or cared for. At a very young age, they are forced to work. Most of them end up mingling with the wrong groups. They commit crimes in search of love and attention.
In this Summary of Elementary School Classroom in a Slum, we see that the kids are very thin. They are malnourished, and their bodies are weak. The bones can be seen prominently protruding. The glasses they use to drink water are cheap and very heavy. He feels very sad as there is very little probability that these kids will someday overcome poverty and lead a good life.
In the Summary of the poem An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum, the poet focuses on the government and societal norms that create slums. There are no steps taken by the government to remove the slums and give these people a better life. The government is not willing to bring any change which restricts these innocent lives inside the boundaries of these dark alleys. The poet wants the kids to witness the beauty outside in the real world. He wants them to feel the green nature and play in the fields. They should experience the warm sand of the beach and the sunny atmosphere; it is their right to feel and learn.
Conclusion
According to The Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Summary, the poet wants the children to become successful in their lives by making their dreams come true. He wanted those bright eyes to become capable enough to dream.
This poem teaches us the value and importance of education in everyone’s life. The poet wants society and governments to do their bit in improving upon the pathetic state of these students and slum schools too to help them live an enriched life in all aspects.
FAQs on An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Poem Summary for Students
1. What is a quick summary of the poem 'An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum' for revision?
The poem by Stephen Spender paints a grim picture of children in a slum classroom, whose lives are filled with poverty and hopelessness. Their reality starkly contrasts with the donated pictures of a beautiful, prosperous world on their classroom walls. The poet critiques the social inequality and the failed education system, ending with an urgent plea to society to provide these children with real opportunities and a chance to break free from their bleak existence.
2. What are the central themes to remember from the poem's summary?
The summary of 'An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum' highlights several key themes for quick revision. These include the deep chasm of social injustice and class inequality, the crushing weight of poverty, and the theme of hopelessness versus the dream of a better life. The poem also critiques the failure of governance and education to uplift the marginalised.
3. How does the poet contrast the world on the classroom walls with the children's actual world?
The poet creates a painful and ironic contrast. The classroom walls display:
- A portrait of Shakespeare, representing high culture and knowledge.
- A map of the world, symbolising boundless opportunities and adventure.
- Images of the beautiful Tyrolese valley, representing nature's beauty.
This is set against the children's grim reality of a cramped, foggy slum, malnutrition, and a future sealed with despair. The decorations are cruel reminders of a world they can never reach.
4. Why does the poet call the map on the wall a 'bad example' for the slum children?
The map is a 'bad example' because it represents a beautiful, open world that is completely inaccessible to the children confined within their slum. For them, their world is not the one on the map but the 'narrow street sealed in with a lead sky'. The map thus acts as a false promise, tempting them with a life they are systematically denied, which can breed frustration and lead them towards crime ('steal') to escape their reality.
5. What is the significance of the 'fog' and 'slag heap' imagery in the poem's summary?
This imagery is crucial for understanding the children's bleak environment and future. The 'fog' symbolises the hopelessness and uncertainty that clouds their lives, obscuring any chance of a bright future. The 'slag heap', a pile of industrial waste, metaphorically represents how society views these children—as discarded, unwanted, and living amidst filth and decay.
6. In the summary, who does the poet ultimately blame for the children's miserable condition?
The poet does not blame a single person but holds the entire affluent and educated class, along with the system, responsible. He specifically mentions the 'governor, inspector, visitor' as figures of authority who are complicit through their apathy. Their failure to bridge the gap between the two worlds perpetuates the cycle of poverty and social neglect.
7. How does the poem's summary show a shift from despair to a call for social action?
The poem initially establishes a tone of deep despair by describing the children's pathetic physical and emotional state. However, the final stanza marks a dramatic shift to a powerful call for action. The poet demands that the authorities and society 'break' the barriers that confine these children. He insists they must be given access to nature ('green fields') and true knowledge, so they can create their own history. This transforms the poem from a simple lament into a revolutionary appeal.
