Summary
Summary The Tenant Notes (IEB Poem)
- Course
- English Home Language
- Institution
- 12
A detailed line by line summary and analysis of the poem The Tenant. This poem is assessed as part of the grade 12 IEB syllabus.
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By: meaganweber • 2 year ago
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The Tenant – Na Ngube·Structure: free verse, no formal rhythm/rhyme, loose structure because of personal and
reflectiveness of the poem
· Tone: melancholic, reflective, pensive (diction: “left” “hoping” “old memories” “afraid”)
· Theme: past hurts and memories can impact our decisions negatively as they influence us to be
afraid of the possible consequences of our actions
· Speaker is heartbroken
· Extended Metaphor: heart as a physical space
· Declaration – the speaker is unwilling to move on
· Idiomatic expression – “room in heart”
1 There is no room for you · You – speaking to someone who is interested in
him, thinks that no one else could ever live up to
his first love
· Tenant – a person who lives in a place on a
temporary basis, has no intention to stay
2 in my heart. The only tenant permanently
· Only – the speaker has only ever loved one
person this much
· Alliteration (L) - soothing sound, produces an
3 who ever lived there left effect of lightness and introspective mood
· Speaker opened up completely, but she just left
· Luggage – memories, hurt, frustration, conflict,
4 some luggage behind. regret = psychological baggage
· Speaker is hurt and wants closure
·
· Pronoun placement – foregrounds the speaker
5 I didn’t evict her. She = emphasises that the decision was not mutual,
and that it was her fault
6 simply left without a word. · No explanation = no closure
·
· Continuous tense (keep hoping) – speaker is
7 I keep hoping she will come hopeful for either closure or a second chance at
the relationship
· If she doesn’t want a relationship or to reconcile,
8 back and collect the luggage
she must just give him adequate closure
· Ambiguity – emphasises how the speaker is
9 or at least arrange for disposal
confused as she gave no reason for leaving him
10 clean out the place, throw out · He doesn’t want her to consume his life anymore
11 old memories. ·
·
· The speaker could deal with the emotional scars
12 I could possibly live with
she has left, as long as he gets closure
· Marks on the wall – she has permanently altered
13 the marks on the wall. Some the state of the room = she made a lasting impact
on his heart/life
· Indelible – marks that cannot be removed
14 are completely indelible
· She is a permanent part of his life
· He still remembers parts of their relationship as
15 some I even like. good OR he has bad memories which have
taught him a good lesson
·
16 But you see I am afraid · But – change, hesitation
· As much as the speaker desperately wants
17 if it all goes, what will I do closer, he is scared, because there will be no
more hope for reconciliation
· He is afraid – of loneliness / a life without purpose
18 with all that empty space? / being hurt again by someone else
· Will ever be another tenant for him?
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