WAEC Literature in English 2025 Theory — Question 12

Model answer

The poem 'Binsey Poplars' is about man's destruction of nature through the felling of trees, and its diction aptly captures the devastating effects of deforestation. The poet portrays the violence of human actions with phrases like 'hack and rack the growing green'; the harsh consonant sounds evoke the physical aggression of cutting down trees, while the alliteration adds to the sense of reckless damage - these words reflect not careful cultivation but careless destruction, communicating a strong criticism of how humans treat the natural world. The poet also paints a vivid picture of the landscape before its destruction, with phrases such as 'shadow that swam or sank on meadow and river and wind-wandering weed-winding bank', illustrating a vibrant and harmonious environment; the contrast between this peaceful image and the earlier description of destruction deepens the sense of loss. Hopkins invents the word 'unselve' to describe how this destruction removes the essential identity of the landscape, suggesting that cutting down the trees has erased something irreplaceable from nature itself. The poet also touches on the delicate balance of the environment, comparing the land to an eye and stating that 'country is so tender to touch, her being so slender', implying that nature is fragile and easily harmed, and that even minor human actions can have serious consequences for the climate and environment. In the final part of the poem, the poet expresses concern for future generations, since 'after-comers cannot guess the beauty been', mourning the loss of natural beauty that future people will never know, noting that only 'ten or twelve strokes of havoc' could erase such beauty. In conclusion, the poet's use of diction effectively conveys the emotional and environmental consequences of deforestation, serving as a passionate plea for the preservation of nature and a warning against careless harm to the environment.