WAEC Literature in English 2016 Theory — Question 16

Model answer

The poet's persona in the poem 'The Panic of Growing Older' is of the view that fear accompanies every stage of one's life as one grows older. The persona is of the view that one is active and effervescent at twenty and as a result, one is hopeful. One is 'stilled by hope of gigantic success, time and exploration.' Because one is still agile and active, one is hopeful of achieving huge success. That is typical of everyone at that age. One's hope of succeeding and achieving one's dream in life dwindles as one advances in age. At thirty, one is shocked by the fact that one has not achieved some things as planned. The reality dawns on one as one realizes that one's 'legs are crib bed in domesticity' which allows 'no sudden leap at the moon.' Responsibilities heap up as ones advances from age thirty to the middle of one's life time. One's freedom is restricted and of course, one is expected to have children, which is the norm in the society. At this point, one realizes that one's 'failures' manifest gradually. It is natural that one should be expecting death from age seventy as bible confirms it but 'science gives hope of twice three score and ten' which is impossible. It becomes crystal clear at this age that the hope of achieving huge success gets dwindled and even at the nadir: 'Hope is not a grain of sand.' At this point one's better option is to be satisfied with one's achievements: 'inner satisfaction dwindles in sharp blades of expectation.' At that point, one surrenders to the world which one has constantly engaged in battle. One gives in and gives up.