EXPLANATION

AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM IN A SLUM

An elementary school classroom in a slum was published by Stephen Spender in 1964.
The poem resonates the poets political views and brings forth the difficulties faced by the
kids in slums. This poem was written to highlight the social injustice prevailing at that
time in the world. The following article summarizes his views and is divided stanza-wise
for ease in understanding.

STANZA 1
e poet says that the condition of the children in a slum school is pathetic. eir world is far removed from
the open, healthy environment. ey are as unwanted as the rootless weeds. eir hair is unkempt and they
have pale faces which clearly indicate their deprived and under-nourished condition. ese children, as the
tall girl, are stressed by the burden of their circumstances. ey are exhausted both physically as well as emotionally. e paper thin boy is skinny. His eyes have a scared look. ese unfortunate beings have inherited
only disease and bad luck from their parents. One of diseased ones cant even get up from the desk to recite
his lesson. However, there is one child at the back of the class who is younger than the others. His inexperienced eyes are full of hope and he is dreaming about playing games in the open. Apparently gloom has still
not enveloped him.

STANZA 2
e classroom walls have a dirty appearance as they havent been painted for a long time. In other words,
these children inhabit a world which is dreary and depressing. On the walls are displayed the names of people who have given donations. e head of Shakespeare with the background of a clear sky at the time of sunrise is also displayed. e walls also have scenic pictures of Tyrolese Valley with its beautiful flowers presenting
a world of the heavenly splendor. Apart from all this the walls also have a map revealing the world which they
view from the classrooms windows which is foggy and harsh. It represents a dark and bleak future with no
hope for amelioration. eir eyes can only view a narrow road which is enclosed with a dull sky. e poet
suggests that these children are trapped in a hopeless situation and their reality is far removed from the literary world which glistens with the beauty of nature such as the rivers and the high land jutting from the sea.

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STANZA 3
e pensive poet suddenly turns belligerent and feels that Shakespeare is wicked. is is because he misleads the
children. He shows them a beautiful world of ships, sun and love which is not only unreal for them but it has a
corrupting influence on these children and instigates them to steal and try to escape from their cramped holes.
eir existence is indeed, very sad. ese emaciated children are so thin that it appears that they are wearing
skins. e spectacles they are wearing have glass which has been broken and mended. eir entire appearance
reeks of their deprivation. e poet shows his outrage by suggesting that the maps on their walls should show
huge slums instead of beautiful scenic graphics.

STANZA 4
In a conciliatory tone the poet appeals to the governor, inspector and visitor to do something to improve their
condition. If there is political will this map showing the beautiful world outside can become their reality too. e
poet hopes the authorities would realize their moral responsibilities and free these children from their grave-like
entrapments. He wants all the barriers to be pulled down; barriers that keep away true education from them. e
children must be given freedom to experience the wholesome bounties of nature-view the green fields and run
on gold sand. Let them read books and let them breathe in fresh air. Let them discover themselves and let them
be creative so that their names also enter the books of history. Let them find their place in the sun.

This document was published at www.gyanguru.org