poem

Explore how the writer presents the relationship between the lion-keeper and the lion in this poem. In your answer, you should consider the writer’s: • descriptive skills • choice of language • use of form and structure. Support your answer with examples from the poem. The writer’s descriptive skills: The lion-keeper’s emotional closeness to the lion is tenderly conveyed. He is someone "Who could stroke his head", suggesting familiarity, trust, and long-term bonding. The description of “rough glowing fur” evokes a deep sensory connection, blending texture with a warm, almost reverent glow. The lion-keeper’s dedication is shown through small details: he “cut it up small to feed him / since his teeth were gone”, emphasizing care in the face of decline. The physical and emotional comfort they provided each other during wartime is movingly described: “curled close to him, wrapped in his warmth, / his pungent scent, as the bombs fell”, highlighting the lion as a source of solace. The final stanzas poignantly contrast memory with grief: the lion “asleep so often / but never like this” shows the emotional shock of death despite expectations. The poem closes on a note of deep loss, showing the man’s disorientation in a world without the lion: “to be an old man in a city / without a lion.” The phrase reflects loneliness and disconnection. The poem becomes a mirror reflecting the reader's own encounters with grief, fostering empathy and connection as they vicariously experience the Lion-keeper's journey through the labyrinth of emotions. The writer’s choice of language: Repetition of “Who…” at the start of most stanzas creates a reverent, almost liturgical tone, as if recalling acts of devotion. The phrase “deepest purr in the world” is rich in sound and emotion, suggesting a profound, unique connection. Use of metaphor: the lion becomes a symbol of love, constancy, and emotional sanctuary. The gentle verb “plunge” in “plunge fingers / into rough glowing fur” suggests complete immersion in intimacy and trust. The use of “moth-eaten” to describe the zoo subtly indicates the wear and decay of time and place, adding to the sense of fragility. The oxymoronic “peacefully… in the course of nature” contrasts with the keeper’s personal devastation, suggesting how grief often defies rational acceptance. The final line—“without a lion”—uses stark simplicity to underscore profound emotional emptiness. The poem's title, "Bereavement," immediately sets a sorrowful tone, encapsulating the state of profound grief over the loss of a loved one. The lion-keeper's unwavering dedication, even after his pay ceases, emphasizes the sincerity of his care, transcending conventional human-animal relationships. The writer’s use of form and structure: The poem is composed in free verse, with irregular line lengths and stanza breaks, echoing the fragmented and personal nature of memory and grief. The six stanzas each begin with “Who”, giving the poem a repetitive, elegiac structure, like a list of cherished recollections or a eulogy. The use of enjambment (e.g., “Who could stroke his head, who knew / how it felt to plunge fingers…”) enhances the flow of memory and mirrors the continuous stream of affection. The poem builds gradually from practical care to emotional interdependence, then to profound grief, showing an arc of life, death, and mourning. The structure emphasizes the lion’s importance in the keeper’s identity, culminating in a loss that strips him of meaning—“no way to let go / of love.” The final short stanza contains no further “Who…” and shifts to “but who knows…”, marking a turning point from recollection to the painful present, underscoring emotional rupture. The use of enjambment throughout the poem adds a layer of complexity to the emotional landscape, allowing readers to navigate the ebb and flow of the Lion-keeper's inner turmoil. General Notes for Examiners: Be open to a range of interpretations supported by relevant evidence. Stronger responses will connect language and structure directly to the emotional impact and the central relationship. Descriptive, analytical, and evaluative comments should be rewarded, particularly when they explore multiple layers of meaning or effects on the reader.