Literature and Life
Shel Silverstein Poems

The Little Boy and the Old Man

1. What is the underlying message that is being conveyed in this poem?
Ans: The child is like the past of the adults who neglected the child while the old man is like the future of the adults. The adults does not seem to understand that the child is actually feeling sad and although they had experienced the same thing when they were young, they became selfish as they grew up. They also does not understand that they would be the same when they grew up, like the old man. This shows that they are very self-centered.

2. Has Shel Silverstein used any particular poetic technique that brings out this message more clearly?
Ans: He used dialogues in the poem. The old man also repeated with similar answers, showing that he share the same experience with the little boy.

Messy Room

1. Can you say that the poem is humerous? If so how?
Ans: The poem is exaggerated. As clothes are suppose to be in the closet, the poet's clothes are hung all around the room. His socks are also very sticky as they can stick onto the wall. This shows that his socks are very dirty.

2. What aspect of the human character has been highlighted in this poem?
Ans: We are often quick to find others faults and errors but not in ourselves.

Cloony The Clown

1. Explain the irony in this poem.
Ans: When Cloony tried to be funny, people feel sad for him. When he tried to make people empathise with him and tell them his sorrows, people laughed their heads off.

2. Does Shel Silverstein manage to convey some harsh realities in this poem?
Ans: People in this world are sadistic and tend to laugh at others misfortune.

3. What poetic devices has the poet used to effectively convey his message?
Ans: He used the poetic device of irony to convey the message that people in the world are sadistic.

Which of the above poems can you identify with the most? Write down your thoughts on your blog.
Ans: Messy Room. I always tend to point my finger at others first without looking at myself but came to realise that I am the exact duplicate of him. I would try to change myself as I feel that this is not a good habit. I feel that one must always reflect about themselves before they start accusing others of their wrongs.