Poetry Chapter 2 - An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

An Elementary School Classroom In A Slum is a poem written by Stephen Spender. In this article, you will find a summary which explains this poem thoroughly. Through this poem, the poet tries to bring forward the difficulties that the children living in slums face. An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum showcases the social injustice that was prevalent in the World.

Summary

Class 12 Chapter 2- An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum by Stephen Spender paints a clear picture of the condition of a school classroom in a slum and the children in the class. Faces of students in school look dull and gloomy, as if something, such as the joy of life has been sucked out of them. Their hair was dirty and untidy. They hung their head low with sadness because of the poor conditions. The bodies of children were unhealthy, just like their parents as they all were victims of poverty. At the end of the class, a child with sparkling bright eyes was sitting. The child’s eyes seemed to be dreaming about playing with squirrels. This child stood out from the rest in the dim classroom.

Several people donated images and charts to the school that were stuck on the boards of the classroom. One of them was an image of Shakespeare, who was and still is the master of plays and poetry. There was a poster of the Tyrolese Valley. It was full of churches surrounded by flowers that expressed the beautiful works of nature. There is also a chart with a map of the world. However, to children living in the slum, the world lies outside the windows of their classroom. They felt trapped between the four walls of the slum with a bleak and hopeless future.

The children cannot comprehend the meaning that lies behind these images. They perceived Shakespeare as a wicked man and hated everyone since no one loved them. The children were fragile and resembled a skeleton. Their clothes looked like skin over their body due to lack of proper nourishment. The dreams of these children to move out from the slums were crushed due to the construction of more slums; the only way they could fulfil their aspirations was by leaving their place of residence.

The government which helps to create these slums is the reason why people choose to live in them. They do not have any rights to dream big and get the proper education to move out.  In the end, the poet appeals to the government to allow children to discover the world outside the slums. They should be given the freedom to leave behind this poverty and walk on green fields.

Theme 

The central theme of the poem revolves around the ambiguousness of teaching children in an elementary school in a slum. The poet believed that the children wouldn’t be able to receive a good education in such poor conditions. A feeling of hopelessness, along with a dull future, only suggests that the purpose of educating these children were futile. The poet believed that the only solution is to destroy these slums and let the children run free in the green fields. The poet addresses the government officials to solve this problem and help to fight malnourishment that was prevalent in these children.

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