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O-LevelLiterature in EnglishPoetryOct/Nov 2021Paper 1 Q325 Marks

Either 3 Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it: The Caged Skylark As a dare-gale skylark scanted in a dull cage, Man's mounting spirit in his bone-house, mean house, dwells - That bird beyond the remembering his free fells; This in drudgery, day-labouring-out life's age. Though aloft on turf or perch or poor low stage Both sing sometimes the sweetest, sweetest spells, Yet both droop deadly sómetimes in their cells Or wring their barriers in bursts of fear or rage. Not that the sweet-fowl, song-fowl, needs no rest – Why, hear him, hear him babble and drop down to his nest, But his own nest, wild nest, no prison. Man's spirit will be flesh-bound when found at best, But uncumberèd: meadow-down is not distressed For a rainbow footing it nor he for his bónes rísen. (Gerard Manley Hopkins)

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About This O-Level Literature in English Question

This structured question appeared in the Cambridge O-Level Literature in English (2010) Oct/Nov 2021 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2. It tests the topic of Poetry and is worth 25 marks.

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