Answer: The poem describes a phone call between a landlady and the speaker , who is black, about renting an apartment. In response, the speaker cleverly mocks the landlady's ignorance and prejudice, demonstrating that characterizing people by their skin color diminishes their humanity.
What is the attitude of the landlady in the poem telephone conversation?
The landlady is described as a polite, well-bred woman , even though she is shown to be shallowly racist. The speaker is described as being genuinely apologetic for his skin colour, even though he has no reason to be sorry for something which he was born with and has no control over.
Who are the character in the 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.
What does the dialogue reveal about these two characters telephone conversation?
What does their dialogue reveal about these two characters ? Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka is a poem about discrimination of the African-Americans . It resembles a telephone conversation brings out the characteristics of the two characters. The landlady is apparently an extremely racist preson.
What was the poem telephone conversation all about?
‘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 .
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.
Which is not seen in Telephone Conversation?
1. Which of these is not considered in a telephonic 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.
What is the symbol of 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.
What is the message in the poem?
Meaning is the word referring comprehensively to the ideas expressed within the poem – the poem's sense or message. When understanding poetry, we frequently use the words idea, theme, motif, and meaning. Usually, idea refers to a concept, principle, scheme, method, or plan.
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.
How is irony used in the Telephone Conversation?
The Use of Irony in “The Telephone Conversation”
The poet uses irony to depict the absurdity of racism and create comical effects in the poem . In the beginning of the poem, the speaker starts his “self-confession” when he reveals his skin color to the lady.
What are the poetic devices used in the poem Telephone Conversation?
“Telephone Conversation” is a vehement attack on racial discrimination. The poet uses various poetic devices such as satire, irony, sarcasm, imagery, pun, alliteration and assonance have been used to bring home to the reader the hypocrisy and racial discrimination of the white landlady.
What does the term self confession imply in the poem Telephone Conversation?
“Caught I was, foully” After this introduction, the speaker begins his “self-confession” about his skin color (line 4). It is ironic that this is called a self-confession since the speaker has nothing that he should have to confess since he has done nothing wrong .
What is the importance of Telephone Conversation?
Advantages of the telephone
An efficient business telephone system streamlines good communication between organisation and customers . The telephone offers a faster interaction than email, is more personal, and easy and quick to use.
What point of view is used in the poem 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.
How many stanzas are in a phone conversation?
Form, Poetic Device and Content
‘Telephone Conversation' features a single stanza , 37 lines in total, free verse (no rhymes) and a narrative style that is both internal, of the mind alone, and external, expressed through dialogue.
