SYNOPSIS

This poem is written in London, May 4, 1995. It talks about

issues regarding different lifestyles and values of two generations. It
also talks about the generation gap that exists between grandparents
and their grandchildren. This poem is like a dialogue between them. In
the first stanza, the grandchild asks his grandfather if he could breathe
without air conditioner and how people manage to survive without

Progress comes with a pride

Modern man has more needs and wants compared to the older
generation. Mans ability to invent and create has led to an era
of advanced technology. On the surface, man seems to have
progressed but in reality, is it worth it? Man has to pay a price
for progress. Too much development has lead to pollution,
stress, traffic jams, destruction of forests, streams and hills.
These backlashes of development are problems that greatly
affect the quality of life.

modern devices such as air conditioners, fans, faxes and telephones.

The child asks his grandmother if she was uncomfortable fanning
herself with paper fans. He inquisitively questions how they could
communicate without todays modern media of communication which
he cannot do without.
In the second stanza, the grandparents answer sets the two
generations apart. Though they lived void of the basic necessities,
they lived contentedly and respected nature. Also, they were Godfearing people. The grandparents warn the younger generations that
they have inherited much technological advancement and it has led to
a separation from his spiritual well-being. God has been replaced by
money and nature has begun to fear man. Natural surroundings are

Differences between two generations

The different views of two generations are presented through
the dialogue between a grandchild and his grandparents. Life
for the grandparents then was definitely much simpler and
easier. They had fewer needs and wants. The old folks were
contented with the basic needs and they were free from stress
and pollution. The younger generation is more materialistic
and more advanced in technology. The grandchild is living in a
world that is dependent on modern gadgets which the
younger generation cannot do without. Life is more
complicated and expensive. More and more money has to be
made to finance this modern lifestyle. As a result, man has no
respect for nature. Nature is destroyed unscrupulously in the
name of development and modern society is plagued by
emotional and environmental problems.

being taken over by rapid development and that has led to pollution,
deforestation and destruction of natural habitats that now threatens
man.

ELEMENTS
TITLE
The title implies the transfer of a generation and highlights the gap that
existed and apparent in societies today. This gap existed due to he
results of the conditioning affect that took place in the name of
development and modern times.
THEMES

Challenges in life
The challenges of the modern man are:

To minimize dependence on modern gadgets like

handphones, computers, fax machines and air
conditioners

To preserve the environment

The challenges of the older generation are:

living in a world without modern inventions

coping with progress

accepting the younger generations craving for material

wealth and comforts

Example:
Line 1- 9
Line 10- 18
Line 18- 20

Literary devices

Here the poet emphasize the word you, focusing all attention to the
grandparents. Also signify blaming; you as pinpointing.

Alliteration
Alliteration is used to reflect the sound of the wind from her grandmothers
paper fans
The repetition of similar consonants at the beginning of words put close to
each other.
Example:

Style
The style use is simple but rich in contrast.
Example:
The lines in the poem are presented in a non standard tradition of
style.
The poem is presented in 9 lines in the first stanza.
The second stanza contains 10 lines.

Consonant: /f/
Grandma werent you flustered
As you fluttered with paper fans?

Rhyme Scheme
Contemporary. Followed no rhyme scheme.
This poem is a good introduction for contemporary poem.

Tone
This poem has a rather serious and sarcastic tone. This is because the use of
all these technological appliances that are supposed to make our lives more
comfortable is actually destroying the world we live in.
The tone of the grandchild (line 1-9) poses question. The tone is
puzzle. The grandchild saw nothing good of those times. The tone
here is ignorant, and looking down. Blatant with a series of stupid
questions. The tone is anticipation of trivial answers.

Pun
Pun is used as an irony as the usage of air-conditioner is causing harm to the
nature as we enjoy the cool air.
Example:

The tone of the Grandparents (line 10-18) reflect a more experienced

that the grandchild did not have the privilege and contrarily should not
look down towards.

Heir conditioning and air-conditioning

Heir
An heir is a person who will legally receive money, property or a title
from another person, especially an older member of the same family,
when that other person dies; someone who now has the responsibility
for dealing with a problem or situation that existed or was created
earlier.
Condition/ Conditioning (INFLUENCE)
It is to train or influence a person or animal mentally so that they do or
expect a particular thing without thinking about it.

Repetition
Words or ideas that are emphasized to show the importance of a certain
concept

: You
: We
: You & We.

The tone argues that despite the grandchilds backwards view

towards them, wonderful experience is evident at the time. The tone
here also suggests wisdom, as a sharp contrast to the ignorance.
The tone here suggests their perception of wrongful ideas followed by
youngsters today.

Irony
An expression of meaning often humorous or sarcastic, by the use of language
of a different or opposite tendency
Example:

In this poem, the poet highlights the comforts of modernization

(telephones, air-conditioner and modern transportation), and the
consequences (stress, consequences of traffic jams and pollution)
they have brought unto us.