Lecture Notes: "The Morning Sun is Shining" by Olive Shriner

Overview

• Poem: "The Morning Sun is Shining"
• Poet: Olive Shriner (1855-1920)
• Context: Part of the English home language poetry syllabus for 2023 and beyond.

About the Poet

• Background:
  • Born in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
  • Known for her novel "The Story of an African Farm."
  • Wrote about anti-racism and feminism.
• Personal Tragedies: Suffered multiple miscarriages and the loss of her child shortly after birth.

Themes and Meaning

• Nature and Interconnectedness: The poem reflects Shriner's love of nature.
• Contrast of Beauty and Loss: Juxtaposition of nature's beauty with personal grief.

Poem Summary

• Setting: The speaker in morning sun surrounded by nature (willow tree, fountain, birds).
• Sensations: Beauty of nature becomes overwhelming due to the absence of a loved one.
• Personal Loss: Reflects personal tragedy; unable to share nature's beauty with a lost loved one.

Detailed Analysis

• Imagery and Symbolism:
  • Willow Tree:
    • Symbolizes power, security, fertility, and associations with love and grief.
  • Sunbeam:
    • Personified as dancing; symbolizes richness and beauty.
• Sound and Movement:
  • Fountain Bubbles Merrily:
    • Onomatopoeia and personification used to convey joy.
  • Happy Brown Birds Sing:
    • Alliteration ('life and light') and personification emphasize happiness and vitality.
• Personification and Diction:
  • Earth "clothed with beauty" – suggests comfort and impressive appearance.
  • Air "filled with song" – indicates nature alive with music.
• Symbolic Elements:
  • Yellow Thorn Trees: Native to South Africa, contribute to the sensory experience.
  • Shift in Mood: Sudden shift to personal loss in the final lines.

Mood and Tone

• Initial Tone: Cheerful, joyous appreciation of nature.
• Final Tone: Despair, sadness, reflecting personal loss and grief.

Poetic Structure

• Form: 16 lines divided into four segments.
• Sensory Focus:
  • Lines 1-4: Sight
  • Lines 5-8: Hearing
  • Lines 9-12: Smell
  • Last 4 lines: Unfulfilled touch and sight due to loss.
• Rhyme and Rhythm: Regular rhyme pattern and rhythmic structure.

Themes

• Beauty and Nature: Appreciation of nature's beauty.
• Grief and Loss: Deep personal loss overshadowing nature's beauty.
• Shared Happiness: True happiness comes from sharing with loved ones.
• Loneliness: Isolation from personal grief.

Conclusion

• The poem captures the profound connection and contrast between the beauty of nature and personal tragedy, reflecting universal themes of loss and the transformative impact of grief.
• Next Steps: Future presentations will cover remaining poems for Grade 12 English Home Language.

Note: For further understanding, consider how the poem’s structure and literary devices contribute to its themes.