The primary theme of “Telephone Conversation” is
racism
. In the poem, a Black man tries to confirm a housing arrangement with a landlady over the phone. He wishes to inform the landlady that he is Black, and a ridiculous conversation ensues regarding how dark his skin color is.
What does the color red signifies in the line red booth red pillar box red double tiered omnibus?
Red pillar-box. Red double-tiered / Omnibus squelching tar”, to
describe the persona’s frantic attempt to ascertain the situation
.
How does the poem telephone conversation reveal the absurdity of racism?
Racism, the poem thus makes clear, is inherently reductive and dehumanizing. As such, the speaker refuses to answer the landlady’s question directly, instead offering
a series of clever replies
that reveal the landlady’s question to be not just offensive but also utterly illogical.
What is the moral lesson of the Telephone Conversation?
The primary theme of “Telephone Conversation” is
racism
. In the poem, a Black man tries to confirm a housing arrangement with a landlady over the phone. He wishes to inform the landlady that he is Black, and a ridiculous conversation ensues regarding how dark his skin color is.
What is the theme of poem telephone conversation?
‘Telephone Conversation’ is a poem about
racism and the engrained mindset of certain white people who, for whatever reason, discriminate on the grounds of race
and, in particular, skin colour.
What is the irony in the Telephone Conversation?
In the beginning of the poem, the speaker starts his “
self-confession
” when he reveals his skin color to the lady. It is ironic that this is called a self-confession since the poet has done nothing wrong to confess his wrongdoing.
What does the color red mean in the poem telephone conversation?
The colour red is a very important symbol in the poem, as it
symbolises the man’s growing anger upon hearing a racist question
. The chocolate mentioned by the speaker is a symbol of superficiality, just like the woman’s questions.
Why does the poet in telephone conversation make use of the colour red repeatedly?
Answer: The various colours highlighted in the poem exemplify the difference between the landlady and the poet, based on the skin-colour of both. The use of the colour red
is magnified to explain the various things which are red in colour
like the telephone booth, the double-tiered bus and the pillar-box.
What point of view is used in the telephone conversation?
Written in
the first person narrative point of view
, the poem “Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka is a poetic satire against the widely-spread racism in the modern Western society.
Which is not seen in telephone conversation?
Explanation: The two people involved in a telephonic conversation are unable to see each other. Hence, the body language of the speakers isn’t very important. … A telephone is not meant for
gossiping
. Explanation: The statement is true.
How does the Speaker justify his joy of having a telephone?
In “The Telephone,” the speaker claims that his “happiness” relies on that very appliance. He explains his joy by claiming that in the city,
“Each person [is] separated from friends” by all the trappings of civilized life
, things like public transportation systems.
What is the meaning of telephone conversation?
Definitions of telephone conversation.
a conversation over
the telephone. type of: conversation. the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
Who are the characters in the poem telephone conversation?
The poem “Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka introduces readers to the characters of
the white landlady and the black African man
. The African man is also the speaker in the poem.
How do you initiate a phone call?
- Open your phone’s Phone app .
- Pick who to call: To enter a number, tap Dialpad . To pick a saved contact, tap Contacts . …
- Tap Call .
- When you’re done with the call, tap End call . If your call is minimized, drag the call bubble to the bottom right of the screen.
What is the meaning of pipped in the poem telephone conversation?
Having looked at the poem, it appears that “pipped” in this line serves as a verb. To pip = to peep or chirp as a bird. It means
when a Cigarette Holder is lighted initially it produces a peep sound
.
‘Telephone Conversation’ is a poem written by Wole Soyinka, a renowned African writer in English. The poem
exposes the presence of racial discrimination at the individual level in society even after the passing of laws against it
. The poem is a conversation between a white woman and a black man over the telephone.
