Question 1: Briefly summarize the main themes presented in 'Tissue'.

Answer: The poem explores themes of fragility, memory, power, and the impermanence of human constructs.

Question 2: What is the significance of the metaphor of tissue as fragile yet powerful?

Answer: It highlights how delicate materials can hold significance and power, symbolizing human life and societal structures.

Question 1: In the line 'Paper thins to be blown away,' what does the word 'thins' suggest about the material and its symbolism?

Answer: It emphasizes the fragility and impermanence of paper, symbolizing how human creations are transient and easily destroyed.

Question 2: How does Dharker use the imagery of 'light and shade' to enhance the theme of memory?

Answer: The imagery suggests that memory is fleeting and dependent on perception, highlighting its fragile and elusive nature.

Question 1: Find a metaphor in the poem that conveys the idea of human life being fleeting. Explain its impact.

Answer: The metaphor 'turns to dust' emphasizes the inevitable decay of all things, evoking a sense of impermanence and mortality.

Question 2: Identify a simile used in the poem and discuss how it contributes to the overall message.

Answer: An example is 'like the sun,' which underscores the transient nature of life and the fleeting influence of human power.

Question 3: Quote explosion: Analyze the significance of the phrase 'structure never meant to last.'

Answer: This phrase highlights the temporary nature of human constructions, suggesting that everything built by humans is inherently fragile and transient, reinforcing the poem's theme of impermanence.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of power is portrayed in 'Tissue' and its effect on the reader.

Answer: The poem suggests that power is fragile and transient, prompting the reader to consider the fleeting nature of human authority and achievements.

Question 2: How does the poem explore the relationship between nature and human creations?

Answer: It shows that nature is ultimately more enduring than human structures, emphasizing the vulnerability of human efforts against natural forces.

Question 1: Identify two similarities and one difference in how the two poems portray the theme of human power.

Answer: Both poems depict human power as fleeting—'Ozymandias' shows a ruined statue, while 'Tissue' depicts fragile paper structures. A key difference is that 'Ozymandias' emphasizes the arrogance of power, whereas 'Tissue' suggests all human achievements are ephemeral and delicate.

Question 1: Outline your response, including key points on structure, language devices, and their effects.

Answer: The essay should discuss how the free verse structure reflects the unpredictability of life, with recurring metaphors emphasizing fragility. Language devices like metaphors ('turns to dust') and imagery ('light and shade') reinforce the transient nature of human constructs, urging the reader to reflect on the delicate balance between permanence and impermanence.