Telephone Conversation


UNDERSTANDING THE POEM

1. State the central issue in the poem.

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2. There are intervals of silence in the interaction between the landlady

and the prospective tenant. What are the reasons for this?

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3. How is colour highlighted in the poem and why? List all the

words in the poem that suggest colour.

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4. Which are the lines in the poem that impressed you the most

and why?

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5. You know what ‘hide-and-seek’ is. What would ‘hide-and-speak’

mean?

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6. Certain words in the poem are in capital letters—why?

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7. Why do you think that the poet has chosen the title ‘Telephone

Conversation’? If you were to suggest another title for the poem,

what would it be?

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8. The power of poetry lies in suggestion and understatement.

Discuss this with reference to the poem.

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TRY THIS OUT

1. Enact the conversation bits with your partner.

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2. Attempt a description of

a. the place from which the call was made

b. the lady at the other end

c. the speaker in the poem.


3. The poem evokes a mental picture of the scene. Draw a rough

sketch to illustrate the episode.


4. The poem ends with ‘Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?’.

Imagine a personal encounter between the two people in the

poem and write down the dialogue they might have had.