Brief Overview of the WASSCE 2026-2030 Literature-In-English Texts

 Introduction 

This post aims at a brief overview of 2026 - 2030 WAEC, NECO, UTME Recommended Literature in English Texts; by reveal quite briefly the genres, types, contexts and themes, etc. 

It must be noted that a click can take you to the Comprehensive 15000 Words of Analyzed 2026 - 2030 Literature in English available online. 

This post will be useful to teachers, parents, students or online people searching for 2026 - 2030 literature in english syllabus, Waec 2026 - 2030 literature in english syllabus, 2026 new scheme of work – literature-in-english sss classes, WASSCE Literature syllabus pdf, Recommended Literature text for SS1 PDF free, etc. 

The Brief Overview

Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare is recommended in the 2026 - 2030 O-level Literature-In-English syllabus to be part of the excerpt literary appreciation within the objective questions (Paper 1). 

"Antony and Cleopatra" is a tragic drama about the relationship between Mark Antony (a Roman general) and Cleopatra (the Queen of Egypt) against a backdrop of politics and power struggles with the theme of detrayal, clash of culture, etc.

So the Path Does Not Die by Pede Hollist is a fictive prose to be categorized under bildunroman because it narrated the growth of a certain main character named Finaba Marah while pointing at some vital subjects such as cultural clash, gender relevance, female circumcision, etc. 

Redemption Road by Elma Shaw is under the Africa Prose section of the syllabus. The prose is about the recovery process gone through by Liberians to escape the post war traumatic experience they found themselves. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores issues of racial injustice, tolerance, and the loss of innocence in a small Alabama town during the 1930s. The story is told through the eyes of Scout Finch, whose father, Atticus, defended a wrongly accused Black man in a deeply prejudiced community.

[READ ALSO 50 Vital Points About To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee]

Pact of Lucas: the Journey he Endured by Susanne Bellefeuille is a non-fictive biographical narration of a family trauma, trials and tribulations. 

Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua is placed under the African Drama section of the syllabus. It is a tragic drama about greed and hunger for power. 

[ READ: Analysis of Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua ]

The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland is a play by Efua Sutherland that draws on Ghanaian folklore and the trickster character Ananse.The play exposed the themes of love, tradition, and social commentary within a Ghanaian cultural context.

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley is a play that critiques social responsibility and class distinctions in a post-World War II British setting. The story revolves around the Birling family, whose secrets are revealed by a mysterious inspector, leading to a deeper exploration of morality and accountability.

A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt is a play about Sir Thomas More, who opposes King Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church. The play explores themes of integrity, loyalty, and the conflict between personal conscience and political power.

Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara is a poem sectioned under the African poetry in the WAEC syllabus. It used the instrument of juxtaposition to reflect on the complexities of identity, nostalgia, and the beauty of innocence or naivety. 

The poem's themes are authenticity and the search for one's true self amidst cultural shifts.

New Tongue by Elizabeth L.A. Kamara is about the abandonment of the true African culture and ways of life for modern western civilization.

[ READ: Analysis of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara ] 

Night by Wole Soyinka is one of the recommended 2026 WASSCE Literature-in-English syllabus. It's under the genre of poetry which could be categorized under nature and ode. 

"Night" could be referred to as a poetic work of art reflecting on the superiority of night time over human existence and its fearful effects on the poem's speaker.

Not My Business by Niyi Osundare is a poem that critiques societal indifference to injustice and oppression.The poem emphasizes the importance of taking a stand against injustices affecting others.

[READ: Analysis of Not My Business by Niyi Osundare ].

Hearty Garlands by Soh Afriye-Vidza is a poem that celebrates old age and what lies ahead. The poet used the 85th birthday as the yardstick to embodied all that had happened in terms of toils, achievement, health, etc 

A Breast of the Sea by Syl Cheney Coker is Poem that employed the use of allusion to speak about experience of slavery and sea pollution as a result of such occurrence. 

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron is recommended by the O-level examination board as one of the Non African poetry to by studied by candidates. 

"She Walks in Beauty" is a poem by Lord Byron that describes a woman's beauty in a serene and admiring tone by exploring the themes such as beauty, contrast.

[READ: Analysis of She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron ].

 

The Nun's Priest's Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the Canterbury Tales in the 1390s. It's an epic poem based on the lengthy number of over 600 lines written in form of fable to teach a moral lesson urging the reader to be careful of flattery. 

Digging by Seamus Heaney is a poem about how a sudden feeling of reminiscing struck the poet to recollect his family legacy of farming which he didn't follow. 

It explored the themes of identity, heritage, and the connection to land through the act of digging.

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is one of the Non African poetry recommended by WAEC. It focuses on triumphant and resilience admist oppression. 

The voice of the poem exhorts his or her ability to rise above adversity, embodying themes of strength and empowerment.

The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock; this poem is a 6 stanza dramatic monologue. It examined the matters relating to the emotional feeling attached with receiving news of a sudden fortune. 

The Stone by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson is 89 lines narrative poem about a lady who died few days after the death of her lover due to the emotional pain and shock she suffered for receiving the quary work accident that happened to her lover. 

Conclusion

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Analysis of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara

Introduction 

Based on those messages sent to me through the Tutor-Me link, inquiring about the poem titled "New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", this post will discuss the poem, the background, the theme, the settings, the structure, the poetic devices, the mood, the tone, etc. 

This post will be very useful for students, teachers, and anyone who seek following questions such as "what are the themes of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara", "summary of New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", "lesson note for New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", "can I get the pdf review of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara", etc. 

Elizabeth L. A. Kamara

She is an author, poet and teacher of English language literature. Born and bred in Sierra Leone. 

New Tongue 

The poem titled "New Tongue" by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara is poem that indirectly decried Africans foolishness for neglecting their own culture and norms for borrowed modernisation; the poem also examined few of the flaws associated with the new culture or lifestyle adopted. 

Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is worrisome and lamentation in order to create the mood for awareness and reflection.

Diction

The choice of words by the poet, aligns with a layman's understanding. Therefore, making the message easy to comprehend.

Third Person Point of View 

New Tongue by Elizabeth LA kamara has a third person plural narrative technique. By employing words, "they", "their", "family", "bonds", "minds"; it gave the readers a sense of general phenomenon in term of the change accepted. 

Stanza

The poem is of 5 stanza of uneven count of lines per stanza. (Stanza 1) they have adopted a new culture and language they so much cherished to the extent that the old is now a mere dream_ which has affected the ties that used to exist between family and friends. (Stanza 2) the new generation doesn't give a damn about the bond that comes from sticking to the norms of family, traditions, and heritage. (Stanza 3) they are now against gerontocracy_ or simply the principle of elders first. (Stanza 4) they glorify their new way of life which prioritizes the boring self-centered attitude. (Stanza 5) they hung on to the borrowed culture and decided to never look back. 

Lines

New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara is poem with the total of 46 lines void of planned rythmns_ which makes poem a free verse. 

Flow

The poet hit on her concern in the first stanza, then expressed the negative impacts or effects of her concern in stanza two, three, four while she noted in the final stanza that there might never be any solution to the damage already done. In a nutshell, New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara possessed a downward or climactic flow. 

Change

The theme of change is obvious if we consider the title of the poem and the context of the poem as well. "New Tongue" denotes transformation or change while the repetition of the word "new" and "borrowed" tell the readers that were once old and unborrowed lifestyle. 

Clash of Culture

Let's quickly shed a floodlight on  the theme of cultural clash in the poem. Besides the fact that the poem gave the readers literal and societal sense of the clash between African culture and westernisation or perhaps modernisation or synonymously called civilisation , the poet sends a message of clash between the old and the new; the past, the present and the future, not excluding the clash between the heritage and the borrowed, the loss and the found, 

Take a look at line 1 - 7 quoted below and you see the evidence of cultural clash I have explained: 

"They speak in a new tongue 

And dance new dances 

Minds battered into new modes and shapes 

Their eyes revel in the wonder of the new 

Embraced and bound to hearts with impregnable chains 

The old songs as disregarded dreams 

Remnants of a past."

Disunity and Disrespect 

The theme of disunity and disrespect exposed in the poem are addressed as part of the negative effects of the borrowed culture as opposed to the African culture and beliefs. All over the poem, there are complaints about how the new generation now lack family unity because they have disunited or disconnected with their tradition and their cultural heritage. An instance is shown below from stanza 2 of the poem:

"A new generation 

Careless of bonds 

Of family 

Of tradition 

Of heritage 

They care not 

Nor revere the old 

Their minds turn inwards 

Only inwards 

Like the insides of clothes 

That marry the bodies of mankind" 

Even the stanza 3 further complained about the disrespect the new generation bestow elders and the position that should be reserved for elders in their scheme of activities. 

Allusion 

In line 43 of the poem, there is a biblical allusion "their borrowed minds parted the red sea long time ago", which alluded to the fact that among the borrowed culture in terms of religion is Christianity. The allusion reminds the readers of the Moses and the Israelite's captivity story in the Bible. 

Symbolism 

Let's point out some symbolism in the poem are "minds" in line 3 and 43 which symbolizes a belief system or lifestyle. "dances" in line 2 and "shoes" in line 42 both symbolize mode of entertainment. "tongue" in line 1 and 30 symbolizes language. 

Alliteration 

Some glaring alliteration in the poem are "and dance new dances" [line 2], "last lock"[line 44], "coldness descending like snow covered mountain"[line 35], "bathing at the back of the house"[line 36], etc. 

Simile

Elizabeth injected like three similes in the Poem, as seen in line 6 [the old songs as disregarded dreams], seen in line 35 [a strange coldness descending like snow covered mountain], and also in line 36 [or like bathing at the back of the house]. 

Imagery 

Here are some imageries in the poem_ "new tongue", "new dances", "new modes and shapes", "impreganable chains", "the old songs as disregarded dreams", "a strange coldness descending like snow covered mountain", "on a rainy July day", "last lock on their culture", "without a backward glance", etc. 

Metaphor 

Few metaphor existed in line 25 "Not even on the edge of their minds" and "Ties of family and friendship/ Loosened, broken, burnt/ The ashes strewn into the bottomless sea" seen in lines 8 and 9 is a metaphor or maybe an extented metaphor at that.

Closing the Curtain 

I feel like drawing the post to a close at this juncture. Hopefully, you should find it easier to comprehend the poem as regards the connotation, denotation and the figuratives.

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Ode To A Poet's Curtain

Ode to a Poets curtain

Eh,what a screen with a heavenly picture !
Picturing an artistic fixture.
Turning my bedroom to a museum of culture
That handsomely showcases the native of passion
With the exhibition of heavenly creatures;

Hi,you scattered lightening of illumination!
I embarrassingly cherish your illustration;          
What a great explanation!
For illuminating heaven's innovation;

Ho,you banana shaped fluorescence of harmony!
Harmonizing damsels as the heavenly legacy                
I marvel at such melody
Because he speak from memory ;

Hello,you specially carved image of passion!
Sitting on the harmonious banana fluorescence
With a crownlike beret of assertion ,
Wearing an angelic gown of emergence
Ribbonly embellished  for fashion ;
Miss passion,your comely face of continence
That never conceals emotion
By reproducing an alluring smile,
Romanticizing my soul with affection
From this curtain-screen.

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I Still See Your Eyes

 

I STILL SEE YOUR EYES

I still see your eyes

Through teddies, through birdies, through butterflies

I still see your eyes

Through thirteen ladies that said to me hi!

I still your eyes

Through their eyes that wish me wooed them and then be their guy

I still see your eyes

Through the streamings of many streams so nigh

I still see your eyes

Like night and the break of a daylight

I still see your eyes

Through the stars of the sky of your eyes

I still see your eyes

Through the seed of love you sowed in me's why

I still see your eyes

Through our peace and our tears we cry,

I still see your eyes

Through the towns we've passed by

I still see your eyes

I still see your eyes every night I lie

And your seed of love growing in me's why

I still see your eyes.

               Copyright ©  Samuel C. Enunwa Oct. 14, 2011.

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Cervical Cancer Prevention

EARLY CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION

Of all the things of my interest

Women I take to be the first

Women are gifts, women are pets

Women are still fragile elements

It pains when pains and sudden death

Cajole cancer to take their breaths

It is very important that

Women keep taking the Pap test

For all cervical cancer that leads to death

Destroy women with irregular Pap test

So if you can see this poem Mr Japhet

Take the message to all women on earth

And if you can see this poem lady Janet

Take the message to all women on earth

Health is wealth, don't ever forget

To maintain medical checkup and treatment

I love you all with all my breadths

And wish you sound health on earth.

Copyright © Samuel Enunwa aka samueldpoetry (05-01-2013)

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Raphael Beniitez

 Raphael Beniitez is a man of magic

Human within his practices

Sometimes strong and sometimes weak

Raphael Beniitez is a coach of coaches

Lives within the bricks

Of humility

Maturity

And vast experiences

And placards of hate

Don't make him.freak

And haters don't make him sick

Glories have been his

As well as match loses

Raphael Beniitez authenticity

Is seen in who he is

Football to Wenger is economics

Management of little resources

Football to Mourinho is mathematics

Four plus two is equal to six

Football to Beniitez is metaphysics

Theories and myths are mixed

With tactical analysis

As the gimmicks for making magic

No matter what you think

I'm here to stick to the fact that

Other coaching managers

Do not better Raphael Beniitez.

Copyright © Samuel Enunwa aka samueldpoetry (01-03-2013)

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The Remains of Raymond Hoe (Part 1)

THE REMAINS OF RAYMOND HOE

Fellow friends and fellow foes

Wait, let me tell this tale of woe

The way I know they wait below

Below my belly where they grow

For woe is me! My friends and foes

When I heard of Raymond Hoe

I screamed, I shouted no!

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

I've known Mr. Raymond Hoe

For ten and a year below

When we met at fashion show

He was nice, you should know

He was kind, and gently goes

He rhymingly uses o

Whenever he says hello

When I say to him also

“Good evening Mr. Hoe”

He says, “Hello, Mr. Sam o

How dey go dey go dey go?

How your wife and family o?

I hope they are all fine o.”

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

He was a one man Mopo

And used to wear polo

And loved to wear chino

And used to live solo

A divorcé, you should know

With no child no, no, no

With no kin no, no, no

With no pal no, no, no

But I thought with no foe

When I heard in my bungalow

When I heard this tale of woe

When I heard of Raymond Hoe

I screamed, I shouted no!

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

The very young Raymond Hoe

Who only had seven years to

Clock forty, you should know

You should know Mr. Hoe

He was an average fellow

He wasn't a rich fellow

He wasn't a poor fellow

He lived a room not a bungalow

To hide his head from mosquitoes

And the chills that always blow

Through the night to and fro

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

Two o'clock remained ten to

And the sun was in full glow

When they entered the room of Hoe

And found him lying solo

With his head on his pillow

Listening to music of Mario

 Through his ipodlike radio

Waiting beside his pillow

The earpiece hung above his lobe

Where he lay like log solo

Through his throat blood flow

Soaking Hoe from head to toe

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

Like goat, someone slaughtered Hoe

In his bed, on his pillow

But the murderer, I believe so

Sooner or later, you shall all know.

     Copyright ©  Samuel C. Enunwa July 21, 2011.

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Analysis of A Description of A City Shower by Jonathan Swift

Introduction:

At the moment, what comes to mind is to examine the poem "A Description of a City Shower" by Jonathan Swift. 

We'll observe the message of the poem and the structure employed by the poet. 

The Analysis:

Here at this platform (mynaijapoets.blogspot.com), we have examined some poems relating to London and the poem "A Descrition of A City Shower" by Jonathan Swift is another instance of classic poems written about London. 

The poet described the messy state of his city during the rainy season. The mental images painted in the poem might not match the present day London but it gave the readers a clear view of what London was in the year 1710 when the poem was crafted by the poet, Jonathan Swift.

The poem divided into multi-stanzas has its summary shown that when its about to rain, their would be a heavy cloud, a thicker odious environment and the cats will be seen so moody, and the poet's advice to stay at with wine than attempt to go for a diner (according to the first stanza of the poem which has a total of twelve lines). 

What follows is the effect of the rain on the people around_ running here and there to hide from the rain: 
"To Shops in Crouds the daggled Females fly (which is metaphor)
Pretending to cheapen Goods, but nothing buy
The Templer spruce, while ev'ry Spout's a-broach (the templer: law student from Temple, London)
Stays till 'tis fair, yet seems to call a Coach. (alliteration found in the line)
The tuck'd-up Semptstress walks with hasty Strides
While Streams run down her oil'd Umbrella's Sides
Here various Kinds by various Fortunes led (various is repeated, Kind = people, Fortunes = ambitions)
Commence Acquaintance underneath a Shed."

From the above quote, the rain changed the course of humans intentions which led to most of them acting wierd and fake; many who wouldn't have been friendly force started friendly conversations with other fellows camped by the sudden rain under a tiny roof, ladies run into shops are seen making enquiries about products they wouldn't buy, the students kept calling the cabs but not with the intention of leaving unless the rain stops, the dressmaker was working hasty under her umbrella as if she would be late for a certain appointment (according to the third stanza of the poem). The fourth stanza is an end-rhyming lines of eleven in total. 

It gave a detailed description of the flood; its smelly nature, how it navigated its ways through the city (They, as each Torrent drives, with rapid Force/ From Smithfield, or St Pulchre's shape their Course/ And in huge Confluent join at Snow-Hill Ridge/ Fall from the Conduit prone to Holborn-Bridge), and how the flood swiftly travel with any helpless things that fall into its path (examples seen in the poem are "Drown'd Puppies", "stinking Sprats", "Dead Cats", "Turnip-Tops").

Other important knowledge can also be acquired from the few bullet points below:

• Audio Analysis of A Description of A City Shower
• Description of a City Shower: Summary & Analysis - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com 
• PDF format of "A Description of A City Shower by Jonathan Swift 
• To view the whole poem: A Description of A City Shower by Jonathan Swift

About the Author:

The author of Gullivers Travels, Jonathan Swift lived between 30th November, 1667 and 19th October, 1745. He was born in Republic of Ireland and did attend University of Oxford. 

Swift, during his lifetime was known as a poet and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin among other things. 

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Enunwa Chukwudinma S aks samueldpoetry
(the Leo with wings flying)

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Is This The Life You Wish For

 

Is This The Life You Wish For?

"Good things will come to you in ways you could never anticipate or expect. Yet if you're constantly placing judgment, conditions and restrictions on your life, you'll miss out on most of those good things."_ Ralph Marston.

Imagine if the bell refuses to suffer the pain
To be caused by its dangling scrotum
How will it ring for ritual to start?

Is this the life you wish for or not?
Reschedule your life
The life of muteness you must quit
And start making your desire show
To grow out of your hole
And quit lay low
For success is yours if you do so

The crickets are singing always by day
Do you notice?
The crickets knew they were not heard by day
They rescheduled it
So to be sang aloud and heard at night
And the tick tock of the wall clock
Is always a sweet song at night

So if still
You're still not living the life you wish for
You need still
To start reschedule your life adventure.

Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry

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Gone Are The Days

 Gone are the days when you were kids.

Gone are the days when you were schooling.

Gone are the days when you were single.

Gone are the days when you were ruling.

Gone are the days when you were rocking the parties.

Gone are the days when you were loving and dating.

Gone are the days when you were living your best life, high class, in Greece.

Gone are the days when you were nursing your babies, craving their bright future, caged in parenthood dealing.

Gone are the days when you were a married infidel, nailing every Dick and Harry with hole to poke with endurance pills.

Gone are the days when you were still living on earth (walking with staff or not, rich or poor, healthy or frail, known or hard to be noticed you existed among the living).

So do the right things today,

For sooner or later

Everything you have done shall become

"Gone-Are-The-Days".

Samuel C. Enunwa

http://twitter.com/Naija345

is where I Follow Back and retweet my followers.

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The Secrets Known To Two Eyes

I know you have ears
listen attentively
I'm revealing
the secret known to
two eyes
two legs
two ears
one mouth
one mind
one head
one me and myself
and at the end
you'll applaud this verse
with thy mind
what is it? Cunning is
what I brought to thy hearing

Many men say: tortoise is most cunning

What about hare?

Let me weave you this yarn,
in the days of yore
animal land was famine
hunger and thinning
all animals were bony
tortoise in company of birds
went to feast in heaven
only hare was fresh
fresher than the skin of kings
eating and wining daily
has been selling fellow animals
in exchange for food

"My food reserve is down.
Only few food left,
what am I to do?"

The hare journeyed
40 days and 40 nights
visited goddess of vegetables.

"O! Goddess!
Here I come to strike you a deal.
Give me bag of food and
I shall give you a fellow animal
with whom melody in his roar
will make you swerve and swing all day"

While the goddess waited by the border land
Mr. Hare visited Mr. Leopard
and said:

"Hello! My good friend.
You are cannibal
I am not but
at the border of the land
I found seven motherless puppies
crying with no care
kindly make this a secret"

The leopard followed the hare
whistling as they went
while he whistled through the path
other leopard followed quietly
through the bush
suddenly at the target spot
ropes of vegetables entwined
Mr. Leopard to make him a slave

At the rescue of other Leopards
there was a battle of rage
Mr. Hare took to race
32 leopards behind
he was angrily chased
ran under a rock and
digged into the soil
till this moment
there he lives.

Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry 

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Analysis of The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift

 Introduction

This post is intended to examine the analysis of The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift; looking at what the lyric is all about, the structure of the lyric, the biography of the writers, background of the lyric, etc. 

The Background of the Lyric

The lyric "the fate of Ophelia" alludes to a certain feminine character called Ophelia in the tragic drama titled Hamlet by William Shakespeare_ who is often seen as a symbol of tragic love and madness. The speaker in the lyric seemed to be drawing parallels between their own experience and Ophelia's, suggesting a deep emotional resonance.   

About The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift

The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift is a 3minutes 46seconds music released under the label called Republic Records on October 3rd, 2025. It's  is one of the songs in the music album titled "the Life of a Showgirl". 

Based on the fact that every music is born out of a lyrical poem. The lyric of "the Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift" revealed that it's about a complex, tumultuous relationship where the speaker has undergone a significant transformation. 

Overall, the lyric paints a picture of a relationship that has been both intense and transformative, with the speaker undergoing a journey of self-discovery and rediscovery.

About Taylor Swift

Taylor Alison Swift is a 14 times Grammy Award winner born 13-12-1989 in Pennsylvania, United States of America. She grew up to be known globally as an American pop singer and songwriter. Her 2025 music studio album has "The Fate of Ophelia" which happened to be written and produced with Max Martin and Shellback in the MXM studio. 

 About Max Martin

Karl Martin Sandberg who co-produced "the Fate of Ophephelia" with Swift and Shellback was born 26-02-1971 to a Swedish family. He has so many awards to prove his height of success as a producer and songwriter.

Structure of the Lyric

The lyrical composition is a 12 stanza arrangement with two simultaneous stanzas are repeated three times to serve as the refrain of the lyrical composition.  

Figuratives in lyrics are allusion, refrain, imagery, irony, etc.  

Besides the titIe serving as a literary classic allusion to on of the William Shakespeare's work of art_ the fifth stanza of the Lyric is also an instance of allusion:

"The eldest daughter of a nobleman Ophelia lived in fantasy But love was a cold bed full of scorpions The venom stole her sanity"

Looking further at the figuratives in the lyric, there is the employment of the following refrain to build a more melodic flow in the lyric:

"All that time

I sat alone in my tower You were just honing your powers Now I can see it all (see it all) Late one night You dug me out of my grave and Saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia Keep it one hundred On the land, the sea, the sky Pledge allegiance to your hands Your team, your vibes Don't care where the hell you been 'Cause now you're mine It's 'bout to be the sleepless night You've been dreaming of The fate of Ophelia"

Other figuratives are metaphor (love was a cold bed full of scorpions), consonance (match to watch), assonance (all alone), synecdoche (You saved my heart from the fate of Ophephelia), symbolism (grave symbolised loneliness), irony (fire was a place of peace and safety in "pulling me into the fire"), etc.

About Hamlet

It is a vengeful tragic drama written by William Shakespeare. The resolved around Prince of Denmark (Hamlet) and his plot recovery the throne or power stolen from his father.

About William Shakespeare 

He was and still considered the greatest English playwright that had ever lived. Shakespeare was famous for being a poet, an actor, and a playwright who lived from 1564 to 1616.

The Themes of the Lyric

The theme of Discovery

Discovery is present in the lyrics of "the Fate of Ophelia". ,  The speaker reflects on their past experiences and how they've been shaped by this relationship.

The lyrics mention "All that time I sat alone in my tower / You were just honing your powers," which suggests that the speaker was unaware of the other person's intentions or growth. The line "Now I can see it all" implies a new found understanding or perspective.

The theme of Rescue or Redemption

The repetition of "You saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia" could be seen as a theme of rescue or redemption, where the speaker feels they've been saved from a potentially destructive path by this person.

Other themes are love, death, loneliness, etc. 

The lyric was motivated by the feeling of true sincere love, after a lengthy dungeon of loneliness which might have even ended in suicidal death by the speaker.

The Song Rating

Fans and listeners review is quite positive. The song got 100 million streams of Spotify within three days of release. A certain website named AOTY noted that the song scored 73% of the entire album "the Life of a Showgirl".

If you're interested in listening to "the Fate of Ophelia", you can check Spotify and the official Taylor Swift YouTube channel. 

Other places for further insights are other music streaming websites, audiomack, SoundCloud website, naijaloaded website, etc.

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Analysis Of Weigh Your Words By Crispin George

Introduction

This is a poetic analysis about a classic african poem titled "weigh your words" written by Crispin George. A motivational poem that speaks about the flexibility of utterance.

The Poet

Cispinin George was a Sierra Leonean born in 1902. He published his own poetry anthology Precious Gems Unearthed by an African and nearly all his poems were non-political but strongly religious; the poem "Weigh Your Words" is quite no exception.

The Poem

"Weigh Your Words" is a poem describing the goods and dangers words can cause then the poet warns that words can live forever so people must be mindful of their usage.

The Structure

The poem contains alliteration "words may wound" (line 1) "furious air will scatter foliage" (line 7) "their passage-way be paved" (line 28). Similes are "like v
iands on the table" (line 11) "like atom-bombs" (line 13). Metaphor, imageries, parallelism, etc.

The following words existed in the movie and deserve explanation: Verbiage; the use of many words when a few would be sufficient. Viands; articles of food. Heinous; hateful. Harbinger; messengers sent beforehand to give advance notice or warning. Light the fuse of carnage; carnage means great destruction of life. The poet means that words are like the fuse used to explode gunpowder. Strike the oil of peace; when oil is poured on rough water it makes the waves smooth. If a match is struck, the oil will burst into flame. Scales of justice; justice is often represented as a figure holding a pair of scales.

The poem was seven stanzas of four lines per stanza. It had a tone of admonition, end rhyme scheme, simple dictions.

The Themes

The good and evil of word usage is one of the themes of the poem. "Simple words may wound or soothen/ Much depending on their use" in line one and two of the poem, he further explained that the wrongly used word "will scatter foliage/ Thoughtless words good friends disperse" in line seven and eight while well used word was compared to "viands on the table/ They revive the hungry soul" according to line thirteen and fourteen.

Prudence is also a theme of the poem since words are two-way outcome, the poet employed the users to add wisdom and carefulness when dishing out words:
"Words, like atom-bombs, are heinous,
When they hurt both friend and foe;
Dangerous, cowardly and callous,
These are harbingers of woe." (stanza 4)

"Weigh them in the scales of justice
And be sure of their control;
Do not wing your words at random,
They may fly beyond their goal." (stanza 6)

Immortality is a theme where the poet considered words undying and evergreen, even when they are in a state of unuse; they lurk "at the portal/ Till their passage-way be paved" (line 27 and 28).

Conclusion

You have got the grasp of what the poem is about, the background of the poet and few of the themes.

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Examine "snug as a gun" in Digging by Seamus Heaney

Introduction

Fellow friends and readers, this post intends to examine "snug as a gun" in Digging by Seamus Heaney and probably explain the whole of the line 2 of the poem.

This post will be useful to students, teachers and and literature fan who wants to gain a better understanding of the line 2 of the poem, and those who seek for the poetic devices in the poem "Digging by Seamus Heaney", etc.

About the Poet

Seamus Justin Heaney is an Irish poet and writer who lived between 1939 and 2013. According to Wikipedia, "He attended Anahorish Primary School, and won a scholarship to St. Columb's College, a Roman Catholic boarding school in Derry; when he was twelve years old." For the appreciation of his contribution to literature, he was awarded with Nobel Prize for literature in 1995.

About the Poem

The poem "Digging" by Seamus Heaney is about heritage, legacy, and the connection to one's roots_ while the poet made himself the case study. 

The focus is on the poet's relationship with his family's background, their traditions, and the passing down of skills or legacies.

In a nutshell, the poem explored    themes of identity, craftsmanship, and the power of writing.

In this context, the comparison "snug as a gun" takes on a more nuanced meaning, emphasizing the poet's comfort and familiarity with the pen as a tool, much like his ancestors were with their physical labor tools.

The poem explores themes of identity, family, and the poet's role in carrying on the legacy of his family's traditions.

Snug as a Gun

The expression is a simile creating direct comparison between comfort and a gun, in order to ascertain the befitting relationship that exists between the voice of the poem and his pen_ which he chose as a tool for maintaining his family legacy instead of choosing any of his forefathers farming tools to become a farmer.       

 

It must be noted that I'm against the notion that the use of the word "gun" in line 2, does weaponize the poet's pen. The context of the poem is not in any form violent, and never suggested the pen as a weapon of war but the comparison was created to imply fitness and security of the pen in the poet's hand_ the way anyone in possession of a gun will do.

The Squat Pen Rests; Snug as a Gun

With the full line "the squat pen rests; snug as a gun," we get a better sense of the poet's intention and the poetic devices at play.

Besides, the obvious simile in the line 2 of the poem, there are also imagery, pseudo-palindrome, sibilance, personification, etc.

Assonance: In complement to the simile in the line, the repetition of the vowel sounds in "snug" and "gun" gave the line an assonance.

Pseudo-palindrome: "Snug as a gun" is an example of a pseudo-palindrome or reversible phrase, similar to "I scream for ice cream". The phrase "snug as a gun" reads similarly when reversed, which makes it a clever play on words.

Sibilance: In the same line 2 of the poem "Digging" by Seamus Heaney_ there is also the repeated "s" sound in "squat" and "snug" to create a soft hissing effect, adding to the poem's musicality.

Personification: The word "pen" in the line 2, is described as "resting" to give it a human-like quality. Such personification subtly emphasized the pen as a tool that is capable to maintain comfort or snuggy state in the hand of the poet.

Imagery: "squat pen" created a vivid description of the pen and its resting condition.

Conclusion

Line 2 of the poem "Digging" by Seamus Heaney is a line filled with figuratives. Besides the simile, there is imagery, sibilance, assonance, personification, etc.

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Structure of Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza

Introduction

This is written to examine the structure of the poem "Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza" and few other things necessary.

The Structure of the Poem

Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie-Vidza is a 7 stanza free verse with each stanza a quintain that is beautified with epistrophe. 

The Stanza

(Stanza 1) Life is now a very beautiful experience that history of failures cannot dampen for someone who has lived long and achieved as you. 

(Stanza 2) But our envious hearts grace the felicitation arranged for you because we can't afford to be left behind and must present you a sincere birthday garlands.

(Stanza 3) Receive our blessings today, you wondrous mentor of rogues_ attaining eighty-five years is a gainful twilight or dawn of dreams and life's journey. 

(Stanza 4) Without reasons to quarrel with you anymore, hope is now in agreement with all your attained desires but while you dwell in this celebration, your heart battles with health matters.

About the Poem

Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza is a Poem written to celebrate a certain birthday while buttressing the privilege of attaining old age graced with worthy achievement. The poem also touched on challenge of ill health which might be associated with old age.

About the Poet

S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza is a Ghanaian author, poet, and teacher. The poet has crafted many insightful works of art and among them is Hearty Garlands which is on our table of discussion.

In Conclusion

I have tried my little best to view the structure of the poem "Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza" based on my understanding.

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Analysis of She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

Introduction

I'm writing to discuss the poem titled "She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron" for easy understanding_ this post will touch on the background of the poem, the structure, the themes, the poetic devices, etc.

I believe students and teachers of literature would find this post very resourceful, most especially those searching or asking "what is the moral of the story She Walks in Beauty?", "what is the summary of She Walks in Beauty?", "what is the theme in the poem She Walks in Beauty?", etc.

Background of the Poem 

In accordance with the information gathered from Wikipedia website, I have discovered that the poem titled "She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron" is a lyrical love poem inspired by the beautiful outlook and personality of a woman named Anne Beatrix Wilmot-Horton, a lady the botanist community named a plant (Hortonia) after her.

Wikipedia revealed to me that Lord Byron became inspired to craft the poem after attending a certain party on the 11th of June, 1814 in London_ the party which also had in attendance the wife of Sir Robert Wilmot (Anne Beatrix Wilmot-Horton), a woman with unusual mesmerizing beauty. It was also noted that Sir Robert Wilmot and Lord Byron were cousins. 

About the Poem 

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron is a love poem about the voice of the poem praising the beauty of a certain feminine figure which he might possibly be in love with or merely crushing upon. The poem shares similarities with "Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare. 

The beautiful nature of the feminine gender in question was compared to a cloudless night. The writer also described his fondness by taking into cognizance her beautiful face, her eyes, her smiles, and other behavioral attributes such as her innocence. 

The Stanzas

(Stanza 1) She walks in beauty like night without a cloudy sky; with the mixture of darkness and light in every part of her eyes, creating an extravagant brightness of a daylight. (Stanza 2) The shades of light over her face are namelessly gracious enough to portray sweet thoughts of love and purity. (Stanza 3) Her cheek, her brow are so soft, and calm, and eloquent with smiles that reveal  her glowing face is full of endless happiness, peaceful humility and innocence of heart.

The Structure 

Structurally, the poem titled She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron is a 3 stanza lyrical poem in form of iambic tetrametre_ though the poem can also be considered an ode for its eulogizing context. 

It has a third person point of view, with an end rhythm scheme of ABABAB CDCDCD EFEFEF to create a melodies flow. The diction is simple, the arrangement is climactic and the descriptive tone conveys affection and fondness strong enough to put one in the mood for appreciation, acceptance and delight. 

The Themes

Few of the themes embedded in the poem are human beauty, innocence and humility, beauty of nature, contrast between light and darkness, etc.

The theme of human beauty is expressed by the passionate speaker in the Poem. The woman's beauty was likened to a cloudless night between line 1 and 2. 

Besides the beautiful description of the lady's eyes and smiles, the stanza 2 of the poem quoted below further epitomized the facial beauty of the lady the was compose for:

 "One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o’er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place." 

The theme of innocence and humility. The concluding stanza of the poem "She Walks in Beauty" pointed out the lady's humility and innocence through the smiles on the lady's face_ (the smiles that win, the tints that glow/ but tell of days in goodness spent/ a mind at peace with all below/ a heart whose love is innocent).

The theme of nature's beauty. Through a symbolic lens, the poet examined the beauty in nighttime, sky, heaven, day, etc. The readers could see how such soft and calm time could influence the beauty of someone_ the ray, the shade, all influenced the beauty of the lady based on the poet's opinion. 

Poetic Devices

Few of the poetic devices in the poem are simile, imagery, alliteration, antithesis, synedoche, repetition, oxymoron, enjambement, etc. 

There is a simile in line 1 "she walks in beauty like night" likewise the use of so many imageries such as "cloudless climes and starry skies" in line 2, "tender light" in line 5, "half impaired the nameless grace" in line 8, "dwelling-place" in line 12, etc. 

There are instances of other figure of speech such as alliteration in line 2 (cloudless climes and starry skies), in line 6 (gaudy day denies), in line 8 (had half impaired), in line 11 (serenely sweet). Antithesis is found in line 7 (one shade the more, one ray the less). Synecdoche in lines 17 and 18 (a mind at peace with all below/ a heart whose love is innocent). 

Repetition in the Poem are "how pure, how dear" seen in line 12 and "so soft, so calm" seen in line 14. "of dark and bright" in line 3 seems oxymoron. Enjambements also existed in the poem. 

About the Poet

Lord Byron with full name Lord George Gordon Byron, the 6th Baron is an English poet born in London, England who lived between 1788 and 1824.

In Conclusion 

The poem was influenced by the beauty of Anne Beatrix Wilmot and therefore "She Walks in Beauty" is a love poem with lyrical rhyming and stanza. The theme has been discussed as well as the poetic devices.

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