In fact, for ever. Solitary enzyme,
Though the night yield no glimmer there will glow,
At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime.
He takes leave of the earthly pantomime
Quietly, knowing it is time to go.
I am just going outside and may be some time.’
At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime.
Background Information:
Captain Lawrence Edward Grace "Titus" Oates (17 March 1880 – 17
March 1912) was a British army officer, and later an Antarctic explorer, who
died during the Terra Nova Expedition when he walked from his tent into a
blizzard. His death is seen as an act of self-sacrifice when, aware that the
gangrene and frostbite from which he was suffering was compromising his
three companions' chances of survival, he chose certain death for himself in
order to relieve them of the burden of caring for him.
Questions:
1. Annotate the poem.
2. What is the main theme present in the poem?
3. Discuss two images that appealed to you in the poem.
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