"Revolving Days" by David Malouf: 30 Short Q&A

 

"Revolving Days" by David Malouf: 30 Short Q&A

1. Who is the author of the poem "Revolving Days"?
The poem "Revolving Days" is written by the renowned Australian poet and novelist David Malouf.

2. Why did the speaker fall in love "that year"?
The speaker fell in love that year because he felt he had nowhere else to go, suggesting a sense of aimlessness or a void in his life.

3. How does the speaker describe his falling in love in the first stanza?
The speaker describes his falling in love as a mistake, yet he acknowledges that the feeling has persisted over time.

4. What physical sensation does the speaker associate with his heart?
The speaker describes an "old tug at the heart" and "urgencies that boom under the pocket of a shirt," symbolizing intense emotional excitement.

5. What is the significance of the "colour of the shirts" in the poem?
The colors of the shirts represent the speaker's attempt to experiment with different identities and versions of himself as a lover.

6. Name the three colors/styles of shirts mentioned by the speaker.
The three shirts mentioned are mint green, pink, and a tan Ivy League shirt with darker stripes.

7. Why did the speaker hope to catch his reflection in a window?
He hoped to see his reflection to understand who he was becoming in his new life and identity as a lover.

8. What was special about the "Ivy League" shirt?
The Ivy League shirt was tan with darker stripes and featured the speaker's first button-down collar, marking a step toward a more formal or specific self-image.

9. Do the speaker and his lover still communicate?
No, the speaker explicitly states that they "never write" to each other anymore.

10. What activity triggers the speaker's memory in the second stanza?
The act of "knotting my tie at a mirror" triggers the speaker's memory and brings back his past selves.

11. Who "steps into the room" while the speaker is at the mirror?
One of the past "selves" or identities that the speaker had expected to become during his time in love steps into the room.

12. Where is the lover situated in the speaker’s memory?
In the speaker's vivid memory, the lover is imagined as "waiting" in the next room.

13. What was the promise made between the lovers?
The lovers promised to "pour life into each other's mouths forever," symbolizing a commitment to total emotional and spiritual union.

14. What does the phrase "Revolving Days" signify?
The phrase suggests that time moves in a circular fashion, causing past memories and emotions to rotate back into the present.

15. How does the speaker feel while writing the poem?
The speaker feels his "heart in his mouth again," indicating that the old excitement and anxiety of love have returned.

16. To whom is the speaker writing this poem?
The speaker is writing the poem to his former lover, acknowledging that they are now far apart.

17. What does the speaker say about the lover's current situation?
The speaker acknowledges that someone else might now be staring into the lover's "blue eyes."

18. Why does the speaker tell the lover "not to worry"?
The speaker reassures the lover that he will not suddenly appear out of the past to cause them any discomfort or embarrassment.

19. What is the speaker's attitude toward receiving a reply?
The speaker is realistic and states that he is "not holding his breath for a reply," meaning he does not expect any response.

20. How does the speaker describe the "grace" of love?
He describes it as a "grace unasked for," suggesting that love is a gift that arrives without being sought or earned.

21. What is the "experiment" mentioned in the first stanza?
The experiment refers to the speaker's use of different clothes and styles to discover his true identity as a romantic partner.

22. What does the "mirror" symbolize in the poem?
The mirror symbolizes self-reflection and the thin boundary between the person the speaker is now and the person he used to be.

23. What is the tone of the final stanza?
The tone of the final stanza is bittersweet, resigned, and mature, showing a calm acceptance of the past.

24. Does the speaker regret the "mistake" of falling in love?
No, despite calling it a mistake, the speaker values the experience because it has "lasted" and become a permanent part of his life.

25. What does "tan with darker stripes" describe?
This phrase describes the pattern and color of the Ivy League shirt that the speaker wore during his youth.

26. Explain the metaphor of "pouring life into each other’s mouths."
This is a metaphor for intimate communication and the shared vitality that lovers exchange through their words and breath.

27. What is the significance of the "blue eyes"?
The "blue eyes" serve as a specific, intimate detail that makes the memory of the lover feel real and physically present.

28. How has time affected the speaker’s feelings?
Time has not erased the speaker's feelings; instead, it has allowed them to "revolve," staying just as intense as they were years ago.

29. What does the speaker mean by "I'm still here"?
The speaker means that while he has aged and moved on, the essence of the person who loved the addressee still exists within him.

30. What is the primary theme of "Revolving Days"?
The primary themes are the persistence of memory, the construction of self-identity through love, and the way the past continues to influence the present.

Hope these questions help you in your MJC 14 Bankura University exams!