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2023 Prescribed literature

Grade 12

Poem 1: Crisis – Elisabeth Eybers

Excuse for First Additional Language,
page 32-34
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Poem 1. Crisis – Elisabeth Eybers

1. Poem form
2. Analysis

3. Theme and message

4. Imagery and figures of
speech 5. Tone and mood
Activity 1
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1. Poem form

The poem is characterized as an Italian sonnet.

In the octave the emotions of

discuss the heart, but the mind

(think) feel that the speaker is
"impetuous" and like a "coward"

perform. In line 8 there is a feeling of

bitterness because the heart as

described as "sick" and a "burden".

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Poem form (continued)

In the sestet, the "you" represents different
roles namely the "guest" and "host" and also
the "master of ceremonies" and "clown".

There is a feeling of bitterness in line 11 (just like in line

8) viz. that the speaker feels "the fair is over," because
the speaker has unpleasant experiences and
that the "aimless life" must come to an end.

The last two lines connect

at the first two lines where it is clear that

the emotions and
reason must separate.

This binds the poem into a close unity.

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2. Analysis

r. 1: The function of the

attention line is to emphasize the two
1. This is what separates the two of us - you, Hart, and I, people in question.
The use of commas indicates the

2. both to farewell so unprepared. different persons involved in the poem

namely "you" (the heart) and "I" (the
mind).
3. The way was lovely along which you led

4. but it's over, even if you stare back. Now stretch r. 2: "Both" (you and I) are not
prepared to say goodbye.

r. 3: Elision is used to join rhyme scheme.

It must have led .

r. 4: "but" indicates a turning point

because her heart led her well, but
it is over now.
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5. the road along ravines, precipice and swamp.r. 5: Enjambment - line 4 goes
into line 5 without the use of
6. Impetuous and a coward as always punctuation to make the thought a unit.

7. and never capable of any decision The separation will be difficult.

r. 6-7: "Haste" refers to doing

8. and sick on top of that, you're just a burden now.
something in a hurry without
thinking about it. The heart is
compared to a "coward"

r. 8 is full of bitterness, because the

heart is now just a burden.
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r. 9-10: Contradiction: "guest" and

9. You were the guest and host at the festival,
"host" as well as "master
of ceremonies" and the
10. the master of ceremonies and the clown:
"clown" refers to the emotions.
The function of the
11. your foolish advice can only confuse the Chief
colon is that an explanation
follows.
12. where every step may be the last step.
r. 11-12: The enjambment connects
13. Look, it is getting late, the fair is over, the thought as a whole, namely that
the heart (emotion)
14. can't you understand it? Here we must part. 's advice will confuse the
head (thinking/reason).

r. 13: The use of commas slows down

r. 14: This is an example of a rhetorical question.
the tempo of the verse.
The last two lines emphasize the speaker's final decision.

Here is the realization that

The last two lines of verse join the first two lines of verse
the mind/reason and
and thus form a unit.
emotions/heart must separate.
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Summary
• Crisis (title) indicates the struggle between the "Heart"
which refers to the speaker's emotions and the "Head"
which refers to the speaker's mind/reason.

• An image in the poem is a metaphor which is sustained

throughout the poem, namely the heart which is
compared to emotion and the head which is compared to
the mind.
This image indicates the inner struggle/crisis of
the speaker.
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3. Message and theme

The theme is the deeper message of the poem. The theme refers to
the inner crisis that the speaker experiences between the heart and
the mind (reason/head).

The message is closely intertwined with the theme. It is the universal

truth that one must make decisions with one's mind or one's heart.

mind OR heart
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4. Imagery and figures of speech (figurative language)

REGULAR FIGURES OF SPEECH AND FIGURES OF STYLE STATEMENT
1. This is what separates the two of us - you, Hart, and I, ÿ Personification: "Hart" is
written with a capital

letter.
It is therefore
a proper name. The heart

is personified
(humanized).
2 both to farewell so unprepared. ÿ An example of assonance
–

repetition of the a-
sound as well as the
ei-sound.
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REGULAR FIGURES OF SPEECH AND FIGURES OF STYLE STATEMENT

3
The way was lovely along which you led' ÿ Repetition of the w-
sound refers to
alliteration.
ÿ Elision: "led" should be led ,
but elision was used for the
sake of the rhyming
pattern and
rhythm.
9
You were the guest and host at the festival, ÿ Repetition of the g sound
is an example of alliteration.
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5. Tone and mood

Tone: The tone is gloomy/dark because separation
between reason and emotion is addressed.

Mood: The mood indicates the initial confusion the

speaker experiences with decisions she made with her heart
instead of her mind. Then the speaker makes a firm decision
and chooses her mind (reason) over her emotions (heart).
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Activity 1

Complete activity 1 in the Study Guide: Foundation for Afrikaans First

Additional Language, Grade 12 EAT Prescribed text.
Read the poem again and then answer the questions:

for This poem is an example of an Italian sonnet. 1.1 Give TWO proofs
this. (2)
1.2 Why does the poet use elision in line 3? (1)
1.3 What is the first stanza, which consists of eight lines, called ? (1)

1.4 What is the function of the attention line in line 1? (1)

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Activity 1
1.5 Explain the contrast that occurs in the poem following lines 1, 6 and 8.
(2)

1.6 What do you think the theme is? (2)

1.7 Choose the correct answer. Write only the correct letter (AD) next to the
question number (1.7).

"You were the guest and host at the feast,

the master of ceremonies and the clown:” (Lines 9 and 10) is an example of...

A inversion.

B metaphor.

C equation.

D enjambment.
(1)
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Activity 1

1.8 What is the main idea of the sestet? (1)

1.9 Name the rhyme scheme in stanza 1. (1)

1.10 "Here we must part." (Rule 14)

What does this line mean? (1)

1.11 Give an example of the following from the poem:

(a) Alliteration
(1)
(b) Assonance
(1)
(c) Comparison (1)

1.12 What truth of life did you get from the poem? (1)

[17]
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Source references for photographs and images

• Slide 3 and 5: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/heart-vs-brain-

concept-mind-600w-609203768.jpg
• Slide 4: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/happy-seniors-couple-
enjoying-conversation-600w-1057429946.jpg
• Slide 5: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/another-alley-adjoins-wide-
path-600w-2172116969.jpg

• Slide 8: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/human-anatomy-heart-internal-
organ-600w-1228230376.jpg
• Slide 8: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/psychological-problem-mental-
disease-health-600w-1871119837.jpg
• Slide 9: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/brain-versus-heart-icon-concept-
600w-1447006100.jpg
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