POEM: WHAT IS RED?

By MARY ONEILL

1. Word Power:
Match the words in Column A to its meaning in Column B.

Column A Column B
1 blazing A shy, ashamed
2 bright B a small mark on a persons skin
3 might C strong in colour, noticeable
4 sunburn D materials used to decorate something especially along
the edges
5 spot E most important
6 squiggles F wagon / carriage
7 embarrass G extremely hot
ed
8 trimmings H red skin caused by spending too much time out in the sun
9 cart I flows out in a broken line
10 signal J behaves in a way intended to attract attention
11 giantest K strength, power, force
12 show-of L a movement or sound that gives information, a message,
a warning, etc

Answers:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

2. List ten things red in colour that are mentioned in the poem in the
circle map below.

RED
Poem

3. Synopsis:
 a) This simple but fascinating poem brings the world of the
colour red to life.
b) The poet uses vivid imagery (gambaran yg jelas) red is a
sunset blazing and bright and evocative descriptions
(butiran yg mengingatkan seseorang terhadap perasaan,
memori) red is a hotness you get inside when youre
embarrassed to describe the colour red and the many things
that are associated with the colour.
c) The poet represent the colour red in terms of:
- feelings (embarrassment)
- touch (sunburn, lipstick)
- vision (red nose)
- hearing (signal, shout)
- smell (blood)
and other sensory images in imaginative ways. This makes
the colour red memorable to the reader.
d) Finally, the poet poses the question can we live without
the colour red?

4. Meaning of Lines
Lines 1 4 The colour red can be seen in sunsets. Blazing means very
hot. The poet compares it with the courage within us.
Lines 5 6 A sunburn is reddish and the first place to get sunburnt is
usually the tip of the nose.
Lines 7 8 Sometimes the first thing that comes to mind when one sees
red is a red nose.
Lines 9 Red squiggles out refers to blood flows out of a wound.
12 Bricks are also reddish. The phrase sound of a band refers
to a marching band.
Lines 13 Feelings of shame or embarrassment turn our faces red.
16
Lines 17 All things associated with fire are flaming red firecrackers,
20 fire engines. Red is also the colour of anger in our minds.
Lines 21 When the poet thinks of the colour red, these images come to
24 the mind a native American (Indian), a red heart shape to
express love (Valentine heart) and the red designs
(trimmings) along the edges of a circus cart.
Lines 25 Red lipstick is usually memorable. The colour red is also a
28 visual and audio signal for danger or caution.
Lines 29 The colour red also reminds the poet of a huge rubber ball.
32 Red is indeed the biggest colour of all, like a huge red ball.
Lines 33 The colour red is like a show-of because it attracts the most
36 attention. A show-of is someone who likes to impress other
people by showing how good he / she is at doing something.
The last two lines are in the form of a question asking whether
 we can live without the colour red.
5. Figurative Meaning: Refer to your Literature Module Page 19
a) Figurative Meaning = the deeper, imaginative and
abstract meaning of the poem.

6. Setting:
a) Setting of Place:
- Where is the poem set?
- Not specified.

b) Setting of Time:
- When is the poem set?
- Not specified.

7. Point of View = 2nd Person Point of View (The use of pronoun

you or your).

8. Themes: The main idea in the poem that the writer wants the
readers to understand.
a) Appreciation of our surrounding
- The poem lists things around us that are red in colour.
Some are obvious things such as the colour of blood and
the fire engine. Others are not obvious such as the colour
of sunset and sunburn. This prompts us to take a moment
to actually observe and appreciate our surroundings and all
the wonderful colours in the world.

b) Emotions and feelings

- The poet associates certain emotions with the colour red
such as courage, anger, embarrassment and caution. All
these are quite strong emotions and this conveys what a
powerful colour red is. It also reminds us of a variety of
emotions that we feel in our daily lives.

9. Moral Values: lessons one can learn from the poem.

a) We must be observant and appreciative of our surroundings.
b) Every human being will feel a variety of emotions.

10. Tone and Mood:

a) Tone Refers to the writers attitude to his listener
- Positive and vibrant:
The poet is positive about her subject of colours and writes
in captivating detail about everything that is usually
associated with red.
In this poem, the colour red dances, sings, cries, turns on
the warning lights, screams for attention or sighs in love.
 b) Mood Refers to the overall feeling or emotion of the
poem
- Enthusiastic:
The poet writes enthusiastically about the colour red and
all that is associated with this colour.

11.
a) Structure:
- The poem is written in one long stanza.
- Consists of 36 lines.

b) Language:
- The language used in the poem is simple and easy to
understand.

c) Literary Devices: Refer to your Literature Module Page 20 21.