Is the grandfather talking about his present life, his youth or both? How do you know this?

Here are the answers to your questions about the poem 'Grandpa' by Paul Chidyausiku:

1. The grandfather is talking about both his present life and his youth. He talks about his youth when his mind wanders to "hunting and fishing, Of battles fought and won." He talks about his present life when he describes "Now he lies on a soft bed" and "He hates the soft bed."

2. The bed on which the grandfather slept is described as a soft bed with a spring mattress.

3. When the grandfather refers to 'they' in the poem, he is talking about the people who are caring for him, likely his family or caregivers.

4. 'They' want the grandfather to rest, not exert himself, eat soft food, drink warm milk, and sleep all day.

5. Here are three contrasts created in the poem:

   • a) The grandfather's past ability to walk forty miles at night versus 'their' present inability to walk to the end of a mile.
   • b) The grandfather's past ability to lift a bag of maize versus 'their' inability to lift a feather.
   • c) The grandfather's past ability to fell a tree with an axe versus 'their' inability to cut a twig.

6. The words "soft, spring, and sleeping-pill" are indeed examples of alliteration (repetition of the 's' sound). Although the question states these words are in the third stanza, they actually appear in the second stanza. Looking at the third stanza for alliteration, three more words that show alliteration are:

   • say
   • should
   • soft (as in "soft food")

7. The grandfather is described as a proud, old man. The last line of the poem is "The great man he once was." Synonyms for 'proud' include dignified, self-respecting, honorable. Synonyms for 'old' include aged, elderly, venerable. Rewriting the last line to incorporate these synonyms, while maintaining the original sentiment, could be: "He wants to be himself, the dignified, elderly man he once was."