Or
4 How does Fairburn make Rhyme of the Dead Self such a memorable poem?

Rhyme of the Dead Self

Tonight I have taken all that I was
and strangled him that pale lily-white lad
I have choked him with these my hands these claws
catching him as he lay a-dreaming in his bed.

Then chuckling I dragged out his foolish brains
that were full of pretty love-tales heighho the holly
and emptied them holus bolus to the drains
those dreams of love oh what ruinous folly.
5
He is dead pale youth and he shall not rise
on the third day or any other day
sloughed like a snakeskin there he lies
and he shall not trouble me again for aye.
10

(A R D Fairburn)

Q: What topic does this question test?

This question tests Poetry in O-Level Literature in English (syllabus code 2010). It is worth 25 marks.

Q: Which exam paper is this question from?

This question appeared in the Cambridge O-Level Literature in English May/June 2023 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2 (2010_s23_qp_12.pdf).

Question

Or
4 How does Fairburn make Rhyme of the Dead Self such a memorable poem?

Rhyme of the Dead Self

Tonight I have taken all that I was
and strangled him that pale lily-white lad
I have choked him with these my hands these claws
catching him as he lay a-dreaming in his bed.

Then chuckling I dragged out his foolish brains
that were full of pretty love-tales heighho the holly
and emptied them holus bolus to the drains
those dreams of love oh what ruinous folly.
5
He is dead pale youth and he shall not rise
on the third day or any other day
sloughed like a snakeskin there he lies
and he shall not trouble me again for aye.
10

(A R D Fairburn)

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