Question

4. Evaluate Are lines 18–19, "the mangrove netted by lianas, the host perishing of its lavishness," an effective ending for the poem? Support your view by explaining both the literal image created by the lines as well as their figurative meaning.

Answer 1

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Read “My Father’s Sadness” by Shirley Geok-lin Lim

Evaluate Are lines 18–19, "the mangrove netted by lianas, the host perishing of its lavishness," an effective ending for the poem? Support your view by explaining both the literal image created by the lines as well as their figurative meaning.

Answer:

It´s an effective ending because it uses a beautiful metaphor deeply connected to the author´s and her father's heritage.

Explanation:

The literal image is that of a decaying mangrove, a kind of tree found mostly in Asia, from where the father of the poem is from. This type of tree is the host to organic content that feeds from the tree´s ecosystem.

The figurative meaning is that of the dying father, who has succumbed to the responsibilities of being the sole provider of the family.