An Elementary School Classroom in A Slum by Stephen Spender (Study Guide)

 

An Elementary School Classroom in A Slum

by Stephen Spender

(Study Guide) 

Stephen Spender was a poet and critic born in London in 1909. He was part of a group of British poets known as the Oxford Poets, including W.H. Auden and others, who gained fame in the 1930s. These poets emphasized addressing political issues in their work and writing clearly for everyone to understand.

During World War II, Spender worked for the London fire service, and later became a professor of English at University College, London. He was often associated with W.H. Auden, but some critics found them quite different in their styles.

Spender's poem "The Pylons" coined the term "pylon poets" for the group's style that reflected their political and social concerns. In the 1930s, many of these writers, including Spender, were briefly involved with the communist party. Spender's experiences in that decade had a lasting impact on his life and work.

While he continued to write poetry throughout his life, Spender focused more on autobiography and criticism in later years. His book "World within World" caused controversy for its candid account of a same-sex relationship. Later, a writer named David Leavitt faced plagiarism accusations from Spender for using similar details in his novel.

Stephen Spender passed away in 1995, leaving behind a legacy of influential poetry and autobiographical works.

"An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" is a poem written by Stephen Spender. It portrays the bleak and harsh reality of an elementary school classroom in a poverty-stricken slum. The poem highlights the contrast between the innocence of the children and the harshness of their living conditions. It also raises questions about the social inequality and the lack of opportunities faced by children in such impoverished areas. The poem serves as a powerful commentary on the importance of addressing social issues and providing better education and opportunities for all children, regardless of their background.

An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

Far far from gusty waves these children's faces.

Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor;

The tall girl with her weighed-down head. The paper-

Seeming boy, with rat's eyes. The stunted, unlucky heir

Of twisted bones, reciting a father's gnarled disease,

His lesson, from his desk. At back of the dim class

One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in a dream,

Of squirrel's game, in tree room, other than this.

On sour cream walls, donations. Shakespeare's head,

Cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all cities.

Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley. Open-handed map

Awarding the world its world. And yet, for these

Children, these windows, not this map, their world,

Where all their future's painted with a fog,

A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky

Far far from rivers, capes, and stars of words.

 

This poem evokes the image of a deprived elementary school classroom in a slum, where children's lives are marked by poverty and limited opportunities. The poem emphasizes the contrast between the outside world with its grand images of civilization and learning (Shakespeare's head, a map of the world), and the reality of these children's lives trapped in a gloomy, impoverished environment. It serves as a reflection on the societal neglect faced by the less privileged and the urgent need for better opportunities and education for all children.

 

Explanation

 

"Far far from gusty waves these children's faces."

The children in this slum classroom are far away from the lively and spirited waves of the sea. The poet suggests that they are deprived of the joy and freedom experienced by others.

 

"Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor;"

The children's hair looks unkempt and disheveled, resembling rootless weeds. Their faces are pale, possibly due to malnutrition and lack of proper care.

 

"The tall girl with her weighed-down head."

The girl in the classroom appears sad and burdened, with her head hanging low in dejection.

 

"The paper-Seeming boy, with rat's eyes."

The boy's eyes are compared to those of a rat, possibly implying a sense of fear or mistrust. He is described as "paper-seeming," which might suggest he appears fragile or weak.

 

"The stunted, unlucky heir."

The poet describes another child who is physically stunted, likely due to malnutrition or poor living conditions. The term "unlucky heir" implies that the child has inherited a life of hardship and deprivation.

 

"Of twisted bones, reciting a father's gnarled disease,"

The child with twisted bones is reciting something related to his father's illness. This could indicate that the child's family has a history of health problems and that he might also be affected by it.

 

"His lesson, from his desk."

The child is reciting his lesson from his desk, which could indicate that even in such challenging circumstances, he is trying to learn and study.

 

"At back of the dim class."

Explanation: The child sits at the back of the classroom, perhaps overlooked and unnoticed.

 

"One unnoted, sweet and young."

Another child in the class, who is young and innocent, goes unnoticed by the teacher or others.

 

"His eyes live in a dream,"

The young child's eyes appear dreamy and lost in imagination, possibly as a way to escape the harsh reality of his surroundings.

 

"Of squirrel's game, in tree room, other than this."

The child's dream is of playing like a squirrel in a room full of trees, far removed from the grim and impoverished setting of the classroom.

 

"On sour cream walls, donations."

The classroom walls are described as "sour cream," suggesting a faded and unpleasant appearance. Donated materials or educational posters may hang on these walls.

 

"Shakespeare's head, Cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all cities."

A portrait of Shakespeare, a symbol of literature and knowledge, hangs on the wall. The image is described as "cloudless at dawn," suggesting its brightness and significance. It represents the knowledge that should uplift and enlighten all cities.

 

"Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley."

The poet mentions an idyllic and picturesque valley in the Tyrol region of Europe, known for its beauty and charm.

 

"Open-handed map Awarding the world its world."

There is a map on display, representing the world and its various places.

 

"And yet, for these Children, these windows, not this map, their world,"

Despite the presence of the map and images on the walls, the real world for these children is limited to what they see through the classroom windows – a world of poverty and hardship.

 

"Where all their future's painted with a fog,"

The future for these children seems uncertain and unclear, as if obscured by a fog, representing the lack of opportunities and hope they face.

 

"A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky."

The children's surroundings are depicted as a narrow street, confined and limited, with a leaden sky overhead, suggesting a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.

 

"Far far from rivers, capes, and stars of words."

The children are far removed from the beauty of nature (rivers and capes) and the wonders of education and literature ("stars of words"), emphasizing their deprived and isolated state.

 

The poem uses vivid imagery to highlight the contrast between the confined, impoverished world of the children in the slum classroom and the larger world of opportunities and knowledge that they are deprived of. It serves as a poignant commentary on social inequality and the urgent need for better education and opportunities for all children, regardless of their background.

 

Summary

"An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" by Stephen Spender portrays a grim scene of children in a poverty-stricken slum attending a basic school. The children's faces and appearance reflect their impoverished and neglected lives. The poet describes their hardships, such as malnutrition, physical deformities, and the lack of attention from the teacher.

Amidst this gloomy setting, one young child stands out as innocent and dreamy, trying to escape the harsh reality through imagination. The classroom walls display educational materials, including a portrait of Shakespeare, symbolizing the potential for knowledge and enlightenment.

However, the poet emphasizes that the real world for these children is the narrow, oppressive environment of the slum, and their future appears uncertain and obscured by poverty. They are isolated from the beauty of nature and the opportunities of education, emphasizing the stark contrast between their lives and the greater world beyond the slum.

Overall, the poem serves as a powerful commentary on the social inequality and lack of opportunities faced by children living in impoverished areas, calling for better education and support for these marginalized young individuals.

 

Analysis

"An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" by Stephen Spender is a poignant and thought-provoking poem that delves into the harsh realities faced by children living in poverty. Through vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, Spender offers a social commentary on the inequality of educational opportunities and the impact of poverty on young lives.

 

Imagery of Desolation: The poem opens with vivid descriptions of the children's faces resembling "rootless weeds" and their hair "torn round their pallor." These images convey the sense of desolation and neglect experienced by these impoverished children. Their physical appearance reflects the difficult circumstances they are born into and the lack of care and resources available to them.

 

Symbolism of Innocence: Spender uses the imagery of a young child with dreamy eyes, lost in the world of imagination, to contrast the innocence of childhood with the harsh reality of their surroundings. This child's dreams of playing like a squirrel in a tree-filled room provide a stark contrast to the drab and confined classroom in the slum.

 

 

Contrast of Education and Poverty: The presence of educational materials on the classroom walls, including a portrait of Shakespeare, represents the potential for knowledge and enlightenment. However, the poet points out that the children's world is confined to what they see through the windows - a world of poverty and deprivation. This stark contrast highlights the disconnect between education and the actual lives of these disadvantaged children.

 

Uncertain Future: The fog symbolizes the uncertainty and obscurity that shrouds the children's future. Living in a narrow street sealed in with a lead sky, their prospects seem limited and their potential clouded by poverty and lack of opportunities.

 

Critique of Social Inequality: The poem serves as a critique of the social inequality prevalent in society, where children from slums are denied the same opportunities for education and a better future as those from more privileged backgrounds. Spender calls attention to the urgent need for addressing these disparities and providing equal opportunities for all children.

 

The Power of Art: Despite the bleakness of the environment, the portrayal of Shakespeare's head on the classroom wall suggests that literature and education can transcend boundaries and offer hope and knowledge even in the darkest of places. However, the poet also underscores the gap between the potential of education and the reality faced by these children.

 

In conclusion, "An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum" is a moving and powerful poem that draws attention to the plight of children living in poverty. Through vivid imagery and symbolism, Stephen Spender highlights the stark contrasts between innocence and hardship, education and deprivation, and the urgent need for addressing social inequalities. The poem's call for equal opportunities and better support for marginalized children resonates as a timeless plea for a more just and compassionate society.