Essay Questions

What is the symbolic meaning of the mirror in the poem ‘Old and Young’?

The mirror is widely mentioned in the poem 'Old and Young' to symbolically represent oneself's proper understanding. When the older man and the young man converge in the dressing room, they look in the mirror and directly see each other. The two characters realize that their age does not matter because what is vital is comprehending who we are. Significantly, the older man and the young man learn that they are the same regardless of their age differences. The reader understands that human beings are all equal and the same; thus, there is no need to look down on others.

How does the reader illustrate that self-acceptance is the best approach to life?

In the poem 'Eating Disorder,' Bidart introduces Ellen West, a woman who does not want to eat because she wants to have a good figure. Ellen is judgmental; most women are shapeless and old because they eat a lot. On the contrary, Ellen is aging and becoming weak because she does not want to eat like others. Ellen is suffering from a self-identity crisis because she does not accept her reality in life. Consequently, Ellen has an eating disorder, and this endangers her life.

What is a father's primary role as brought out in the poem 'The Golden State'?

The most significant responsibility of parents is to provide and show love to their children. In the poem, the son is grieving the death of his loving father. To the son, his father was gold which is the most precious commodity in his life. The father's death leaves an empty hole in the son's heart. Therefore, the reader realizes that a parent is the most crucial possession one has on earth because when he dies, the world becomes empty and meaningless.