Night Train By Fhazel Johanesse Revision Quiz

The use of italics in the word "out" emphasizes its importance and makes it stand out from the rest of the text. This suggests that the poet wants to convey a clear message to the reader, which is to get off the train. The italics serve to highlight this message and make it more noticeable.

The given statement suggests that the night train is a suburban train that is specifically meant for transporting workers to their homes in the townships. This implies that the train operates during the night and caters to the needs of workers who live in the townships and work in the city. Therefore, the statement is true as it accurately describes the purpose and function of the night train.

The given answer suggests that the account being described is subjective, meaning it is based on personal opinions and perspectives rather than objective facts. It is also described as immediate, indicating that it is a firsthand account that was experienced or witnessed directly. Lastly, it is described as realistic, suggesting that it accurately portrays events as they happened. Overall, the answer implies that the account may be influenced by emotions and may not be completely reliable, but it provides a subjective, immediate, and realistic perspective on the events described.

The poet refers to the "stale men" as the sweaty, dirty mine workers returning home. This can be inferred from the description given in the question, where the workers are mentioned as being sweaty and dirty. The term "stale" suggests a sense of exhaustion and weariness, which is often associated with physical labor. Therefore, it can be concluded that the correct answer is the sweaty, dirty mine workers returning home.

The poet uses personification in the last line to give the abstract concept of fear a tangible form. By personifying the smell and making it "whisper," the poet is able to make fear more relatable and concrete for the reader. This technique helps to emphasize the presence and reality of fear in a way that is more engaging and evocative.

The line "in this third class coach" tells us that the speaker is traveling in a third class train carriage. This suggests that the speaker is not wealthy and does not have access to the more expensive first class seats. Given the context of the poem being set in South Africa during the apartheid period, where racial segregation was enforced, we can infer that the speaker is likely a person of color, specifically Coloured or Indian. This is because second class carriages were for poorer White people as well as wealthier Black people, and third class carriages were used by Black, Coloured, and Indian travelers.

The poet says "there was no comfort here" because the third class seats were green, wooden, uncomfortable seats. Additionally, the poet felt scared while traveling in these carriages late at night, which added to his discomfort.

The word "out" being written in a line of its own disrupts the natural flow and rhythm of the poem. This interruption in the poem's structure creates a jarring effect and breaks the expected pattern, which can be seen as interfering with the natural rhythm of the poem.

The word "whispering" gives the poem an ominous, eerie feeling. Whispering is often associated with secrecy, mystery, and the unknown. It creates a sense of unease and suggests that something unsettling or sinister is happening. The soft, hushed nature of whispering adds to the eerie atmosphere, as it implies that there may be hidden dangers lurking in the shadows. Overall, the word "whispering" contributes to the ominous tone of the poem.

The adverbs and adverbial phrases in lines 4-7 indicate that the poet's state of mind was characterized by fear, nervousness, and anxiety. The use of the word "twitch" suggests a sense of unease or restlessness, while "glance around" implies a heightened state of alertness or paranoia. Crossing the legs and flicking the cigarette could be seen as nervous habits, further indicating the poet's anxious state. Overall, these actions and descriptions paint a picture of someone who is afraid, nervous, and anxious.

The absence of punctuation marks starting and ending sentences creates a continuous flow of words, contributing to the jerky feeling of the poem. The use of enjambment, where lines run into each other without punctuation, further enhances the swaying movement of a train. Additionally, the short sentences in the poem add to its quick tempo, reinforcing the stop-and-go sensation. Lastly, the word "out" being written in a line of its own emphasizes the jerking movement of a stopping train.

The given sentence uses irony to convey a contrasting meaning. The phrase "not the smell of stale man but the whispering nagging smell of fear" suggests that instead of the expected smell of a person, there is a smell of fear. This creates a sense of irony as it presents a surprising and unexpected twist in the description.