02: The Cold Within By James Patrick Kinney : Icse-x-english

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Qstn #1
What does this stanza suggest about the source of the poem?
Ans : As the last line indicates, the poem is based on a story that the poet has heard from someone. Thus, it is obvious that the poem is not a first-hand account of something he has seen or experienced himself. However, the exact source from which the poet might have received the first-hand information is not stated anywhere. The poet's main objective, as it appears, has been to express the content of the story in a poetic form for the readers who may not have been familiar with the story or the moral it conveys. Thus, irrespective of the source from which its theme may have been imported, the poet can be cred4ited with having re-created the story as a poetic piece while retaining its moral spirit and the message it conveys.

Qstn #2
Give some examples of assonance from this stanza, explaining why this poetic device is used.
Ans : As we know, assonance is a poetic device that involves the use of the identical vowel sounds in two non-rhyming words in a sentence or line. Assonance is one of the most important poetic devices employed in verses. It is used for internal rhyming in a poetic piece. In this stanza, the first line has words such as 'trapped' and 'happenstance' which share the same 'a' sound. Similarly, 'so', 'story' and told' in the last line have the same 'o' sound.

Qstn #3
What does the use of words like "bleak and bitter cold," "dying" and "forlorn" suggest?
Ans : Their use suggests a depressing and desperate mood that the poet wants to set up for the entire poem. This essentially indicates that the poem deals with an uncomfortable situation in the life of people it talks about. Symbolically, it refers to a deep social crisis reflecting the decay of certain moral values due to which the peaceful co-existence of people with different mindsets and identities becomes endangered.

Qstn #4
How does this stanza suggest that destiny occasionally plays a significant role in determining the conditions of a person's existence?
Ans : In this stanza, the poet says that six men are together experiencing extremely unfavorable climatic conditions. These conditions, characterized by 'bleak and bitter cold', are not suitable for their survival. As we know, nobody would ever like to experience such conditions. This essentially implies that they are compelled to be there by some invisible force of nature that is beyond their own control. It's this force that we usually call 'destiny'. The phrase "trapped by happenstance' in the first line only reinforces this point.

Qstn #5
Each of the six men possesses 'a stick of wood'. In your opinion, what does this suggest here?
Ans : This phrase is relevant here both in its literal and symbolic meanings. Literally, it means something that is capable of producing fire in the extremely cold conditions, in which the six men find themselves. Thus, it is an object that can save their lives. Symbolically, it means some attribute or trait that is deeply rooted in their character or individuality. This is suggested by the use of the word 'possessed', implying ownership with a deep sense of attachment.

Qstn #1
What kind of prejudice does this stanza refer to?
Ans : As the stanza reveals, the first one holds back her log just because she doesn't want to share the fire and its warmth with one of them who is black. Thus, the kind of prejudice that the behavior of 'the first person' speaks of is racial in nature.

Qstn #2
What is the symbolic significance of the phrase 'dying fire'?
Ans : The word 'fire' basically symbolises the basic spirit of humanity and harmony underlying the social-cultural milieus of existence. The adjective 'dying may be interpreted as the poor state of social relationships, due to the prevalence of negative values and feelings.

Qstn #3
What does the word 'logs' imply here?
Ans : The word 'logs' here implies the 'prejudices' that the six men referred to in the poem have against one another. Each of them knows that if he throws his log into the fire, he will give himself as well as others a chance to stay alive. However, their minds are so much preoccupied with a deep sense of hatred that they fail to understand this.

Qstn #4
The attitude of people to one another speaks of the social system to which they belong. How does this stanza imply this?
Ans : This stanza depicts an extremely pathetic state of existence where the survival of everyone exposed to it depends on his inner strength to offer what he possesses, i.e. the stick of wood that he holds. The person referred to as the first one' is too narrow and biased in his perception to share her 'possession' with others for the common good of all. Her attitude clearly reflects that negativity prevails in the behaviour pattern of everyone and positive values are on a decline. In a social system also, the predominance of counterproductive values and feelings such as mutual hatred, opportunism and bias suggest the declining state of existence for everyone.

Qstn #5
Do you think it is natural for a person to hate some other person if they have differences in their physical features or appearance?
Ans : No. Hating someone for being different in physical features or appearance cannot be accepted as a sign of natural or normal behaviour. It only indicates a mindset dominated by negative and regressive values that go against humanity and hamper the growth of positive values and feelings such as mutual harmony and brotherhood among people in a social system, irrespective of their difference. A social system progresses in the right direction only by overlooking such difference and motivating all its members to cooperate for their collective growth.

Qstn #1
Mention the kind of prejudice that this stanza talks about. How is it implied?
Ans : The kind of prejudice that this stanza speaks of is religious. This is evident from the use of the word 'church'. Usually, religion serves as a binding force that brings people together. However, as this stanza indicates, there may be inherent differences in a faith that comes in critical situations when a sense of selfless cooperation is required. Here, the difference is so pronounced that it prevents a man from offering his stick to fire, as he thinks this will benefit another man who is of a different church.

Qstn #2
What does the attitude of the 'next man' suggest here?
Ans : His attitude suggests that prejudices are sometimes so narrow that even the followers of the same religion become hostile to each other. They may be insensitive to each other's needs just because their churches are different. What is even more shocking is the fact that people who have such prejudices are insensitive to their own needs as well.