Essay Questions

What is unique about the poem ‘Self-Pity by D.H. Lawrence?

The first unique aspect the reader realizes when reading the poem 'Self-Pity' is its length. The poem is too short with a big message. The author illustrates that few words represent significant meaning in the contemporary world, unlike in the past when poems were written in several lines and stanzas. The reader is shocked to realize that the poem only consists of twenty-six words in total! Regardless of the few words in the poem, it can be summarized and analyzed in tens of pages to reveal its meaning and context.

Explore the symbolic meaning of the bird mentioned in the poem.

The speaker mentions the freezing bird that falls without regret. The birds' life cycle is short, and the speaker narrates that they never complain that they do not have a long life. The speaker says that birds are satisfied with the short time they have. Consequently, the speaker uses the bird to represent the significance of appreciating what we have and stop complaining all the time. Readers can relate birds' life experiences to their own and discover how unappreciative they are in life. Human beings keep on complaining about everything in life.

What is the speaker’s main message to readers?

Despite the poem being very short and brief, the speaker reminds readers of the significance of living a bold life at all times. The speaker is worried about the human nature of living in fear. Readers are reminded that at some point, they will die, and they need to live their current lives with confidence and appreciation for whatever they have in life.