ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The tone of this poem is very somber and sad. The way in which the poet describes the boy’s feelings upon losing the ball makes us feel great sympathy for the boy. Even more than that, we can all relate to the experience that the boy is going through.

Detailed explanation-2: -Apostrophe-It is a literary device in which a physically absent person is addressed. The poet addresses the boy who was not physically present with him-“Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy."

Detailed explanation-3: -The poet suggests that from the loss of the ball, the boy is learning how to stand up in a world of possessions where he will lose things, will buy some more to replace the ones lost, but would never be able to buy back the thing that he had lost. He is sensing his first responsibility as he has lost the ball.

Detailed explanation-4: -The boy was upset on losing his ball because sentiments of his childhood were attached to it. As the boy stands watching his ball in the harbour, he realizes that his young days have gone away with the ball and he can never get them back. Was this answer helpful?