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An Elementary School Classroom in A Slum Analysis 1
An Elementary School Classroom in A Slum Analysis 1
Theme: In this poem, Stephen Spender deals with the theme of social injustice and class
inequalities. He presents the theme by talking of two different and incompatible
worlds. The world of the rich and the civilized has nothing to do with the world of
narrow lanes and cramped holes. The gap between these two worlds highlights
social disparities and class inequalities.
Rhyme Scheme: The poem has been written in free verse. It does not have rhyme scheme.
Stanza 1: Stephen Spender shows us that the condition of the children in a slum school is
pathetic. Their world is far from our healthy, fresh environment. They are like
rootless weeds, unwanted and cast out. Their hairs are unkempt and untidy, and their
faces clearly show the plight of their existence. A particular tall girl is described by
the poet. She has a bowed down head which shows the burden of the stressed life
she leads. Another boy who is as thin as a paper too has the same under nourished
look on his face. He has a scared expression in his eyes.
These unlucky children have only acquired diseases and bad luck from their parents.
One of them is even not able to get up from his desk to read out the lesson.
However, the poet says there is one particular boy who is a little younger than the
rest has still his hopes and dreams with him. He waits for the time when he can go
out in the open to play. The environment of gloom has not yet engulfed his dreams
and hopes.
Stanza 2: In the second stanza, the poet describes the classroom which is also dirty and
neglected like its inhabitants. The classroom too exhibits an atmosphere of
depression and glum. The walls are cream in colour and on them the names of the
donors are engraved. A bust of the great poet Shakespeare with a background of a
sky is put on. The walls have pictures of splendid Tyrolese valley which is a sharp
contrast to the atmosphere of the classroom. There are maps on the walls which
show them the harsh world from their classroom windows. Their world presents a
future to them which is dark and cruel. The poet brings out a harsh reality of these
children. These children are trapped in a hopeless situation and their world is far
from the beautiful nature such as rivers, valleys and seas.
Stanza 3: Stephen Spender suddenly attacks Shakespeare and calls him ‘wicked.’ He says so
because he feels Shakespeare has poisoned the children’s mind by misleading them
that their world is beautiful; it has corrupted the young minds which in turn had
made them to steal and escape from their confinements. The poet feels deep rooted
sadness for the condition of the slum children. The children are so skinny that they
seem to be wearing skins. The glasses of the spectacles seem to have been mended
several times. The total appearance of the children shows their deprivation and under
nourished conditions. The poet feels that the classroom should have pictures of huge
slums instead of those scenic graphics.
Stanza 4:
In the final stanza of “An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum” the poet uses a
pacifying tone and appeals to the governor, inspector and the visitors to do
something about the condition of these slum schools. The map showing the beautiful
world can be their reality too if a little will and effort are put together. The poet
hopes for a better future of these children. He wants the authorities to realize their
responsibilities and free the children from such grave-like confinements. He wants
the barriers to be pulled down. The children must break away from the school
boundaries and enjoy the world beyond. Only that way they can enjoy the nature-
the green fields and the golden sands. The poet wants them to sail, explore and
discover the world so that someday their names are found in history books.
Tone of The Poem: The tone of the poem is sombre and philosophical. The theme revolves around the
profound problem that affects our society at large. The universal gap between rich
and the poor is highlighted. It also highlights the irony of the life in the twenty-first
century where the world has made so many advancements, yet an atmosphere of
gloominess prevails.
Theme of The Poem The poem deals with themes of poverty and alienation among children living in a
slum. The poet uses the setting of an elementary school classroom located in a slum
to explore these themes and concludes with a rallying cry for improvement in the
lives of the slum children.
In the first stanza, the poet introduces us to the students in the classroom and
describes some of them. The main underlying theme here is their extreme poverty
and the consequent lack of any sort of enthusiasm with the sole exception of a little
boy, who still retains some of his innocence. In the second stanza, the poet describes
the various items in the classroom. However, at the end of the stanza, he comments
on the hopelessness in the children’s lives.
In the third stanza, the poet reflects that the temptations provided by the various
items in the classroom such as maps, might tempt the children to steal. He goes on to
describe in detail, the pathetic conditions in the day to day lives of these children. In
the fourth and final stanza, the poet raises a rallying cry for change. He urges the
powers that be and perhaps the reader too, to remove the metaphorical walls that
hold back these children condemning them to a life of abject poverty. He imagines a
future where these children will lead happy, free and knowledgeable lives. The
theme in this paragraph is that of change and optimism.