He Had Such Quiet Eyes

By: Bibsy Soenharjo

3.1 SYNOPSIS OF THE POEM

The poem is about a woman who has been deceived to think that she was loved by a man with ‘quiet eyes’. She suffers for this and only learns on hindsight not to trust or give in to men who seek women only for pleasure. The poet gives an advice on being able to recognise what is true and what is not, when a person is truly friendly and when he is not. You may lose in the game of love and give your heart away, but knowing the truth of the situation will mean that you will not suffer any lasting losses.

3.2 UNDERSTANDING THE POEM [STANZA BY STANZA]

Stanza 1

The woman is taken up with his ‘quiet eyes’. The eyes mesmerise and beg her to ‘be nice’ to him and make him extremely happy, that is ‘render him paradise’. The poet uses a very long imagery of the eyes ‘breathing desolate sighs’ to enhance the effect of the eyes on the girl. The woman, being enamoured with those eyes, does not notice he is deceiving her. It would not be difficult to see through the man if the woman had her feet on the ground because the eyes have only the ‘thinnest ice’, easy to break through to learn the man’s true nature.

Stanza 2

Something has happened to the woman and she has learnt the truth about the man. The poet suggests that she has learnt the hard way that is she learns her lesson through bad experience. She has made a mistake of trusting the man because she has refused to listen to the advice not ‘to compromise’, that is, lower her standards or expectations in order to please a man who seduces women.

Stanza 3

The poet extends her friendly advice to women to understand what is meant by ‘nice’ what it means when men are ‘nice’ to you. When he is ‘nice’, friendly and pleasant to you, make sure that he is sincere and trustworthy and not because he has ulterior motive, that is he wants something from you in return. The poet further comments that love may be a gamble as suggested in ‘dice’, you take your chances with someone, you may find true love or you may not. The important issue here is that ultimately you have not lost anything because you have not compromised, you are not deceived.

3.3 THE POEM – LINE BY LINE

STANZA 1 MEANING BY LINE

• He had such quiet eyes – His eyes were calm and quiet
• She did not realise – She did not know
• They were two pools of lies-  His eyes were like two pools filled with lies
• Layered with thinnest ice – Thinly veiled, like very thin ice
• To her, those quiet eyes – To the woman, those calm and quiet eyes
• Were breathing desolate sighs – Looked very sad and desolate
• Imploring her to be nice – The eyes were begging her to be nice to him
• And to render him to paradise – And to give him happiness and bliss so that he would feel like he was in paradise (heaven)

STANZA 2 MEANING BY LINE

• If only she’d been wise – The woman wished she had been wiser in her past actions
• And had listened to the advice – And she had listened to the sound advice given to her by people who cared about her
• Never to compromise – They had advised her not to give up her moral values or principles
• With pleasure-seeking guys – When she was with men who wanted only pleasure and fun
• She’d be free from the ‘hows and whys’ – If she had listened to them, she would not be haunted by questions of hows and whys and the difficult situation she was in.

STANZA 3 MEANING BY LINE

• Now here’s a bit of advice – Let me give you a bit of advice
• Be sure that nice really means nice – Make sure that the person you think is nice, is truly sincere and trustworthy
• Then you’ll never be losing at dice – Then, you will not lose in a game of chance or a game of love where you can lose your heart to an undeserving man
• Though you may lose your heart once or twice – Even if you should fall in love and lose your heart to love once or twice

3.4 Elements of the Poem – Literal and Figurative Meaning

Stanza 1

Literal Meaning

When the persona looked into the young man’s sincere-looking eyes, she was deceived into thinking that he needed someone to love. She was not aware that betrayal was second nature to him. His eyes even made her feel compelled to be ‘nice’ to him.

Figurative Meaning

Meeting people and getting involved in a social relationship is part and parcel of life. However, along the way, we may meet two-faced people with ulterior motives. Sometimes, they may come across as so sincere that we innocently accept them as friends or partners.

Stanza 2

Literal Meaning

When the persona was betrayed by the man, she wondered why she had not been wiser. She should have remembered the age-old advice of not believing man blindly. If she had held on to her principles, she would not be asking herself why she had been cheated.

Figurative Meaning

Social relationships can turn sour if one party betrays the other. Hence, one should be careful of the other party’s motives. In any case, do not compromise your principles, as someone who is sincere would not force you into giving up your morals.

Stanza 3

Literal Meaning

The poet advises young ladies to be more careful before getting involved in relationships with men. They must make sure they know then men well. They should learn to differentiate between sincerity and falsehood. They will eventually meet the right man, though they may lose their heats to a few times before that.

Figurative Meaning

It is always good to be cautious before committing to a relationship to avoid serious consequences. You have to make sure you can trust the person you befriend. Do not gamble with your affections, even when you fall in love.

3.5 Themes

(1) Strong Moral Values and Self-Respect

The woman in the poem got herself into a difficult situation and was cheated by a man because she gave in to his pleading and his insincere lies. She displayed weakness in her moral standing and lost her self-respect as a result. We should never lower our self-esteem no matter how much we like a man. If a man has respect for the woman he loves, he too would not ask her to do what is morally wrong.

(2) Deception in Appearances

The woman is taken in by the man’s gentle and quiet eyes. She thinks he is a truthful and trustworthy person. The theme in this poem focuses on deception in appearances. Do not judge a person’s character by his appearance. As can be seen in this poem, a gentle and kind-looking man can actually be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

(3) Consequences

When we make mistakes in life, we have to live with the consequences. The persona tells us that the woman is haunted with questions of ‘hows and whys’. She probably asks herself every day how she could have fallen for his lies; how she could have forgotten the moral values instilled in her by her parents; how she could have ignored all the advice given to her by people who love and care about her. She would probably also wonder why she had not been wiser in her choice of men; why she did not see through his deception and insincerity.

(4) Listen to Advice

The poet wants to reach out to all young readers. The woman in the poem wished she ‘had listened to the advice’. She poured out her disappointment, frustration and hurt in this poem and wished she had ‘been wise’. The poet cautions young readers that they should not be impulsive in their actions and they should, above all, listen to the advice of their elders so that they would not end up like the woman – full of regrets.

3.6 Moral Values & Lessons Learnt

(1) Avoid Being Deluded by Looks or Appearance

• We sometimes encounter people who have ill intentions towards us.

• These are con men who prey on young women.

• They look nice and decent but have bad motives.

• So we should take precaution against them.

• We should not judge a book by its cover.

(2) Listen to Beneficial Advice

• We are given good advice when others feel that we need it.

• We should listen to their advice.

• The advice is for our own good.

• It prevents us from getting hurt or getting into trouble.

3.7 Setting

• The poem is set in the present – the world around us now.
• It highlights the fact that the people around us are not always sincere.
• They may have ulterior motives towards us.
• Some have the intention to cheat us.
• In the case of the woman in the poem, the man only wanted to have sexual pleasure from her.
• However, she saw him as a man in need of love and consolation.
• The poem puts forward the need to practise caution when we deal with the people around us.

Source:http://form4englishliterature.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/he-had-such-quiet-eyes/

TASK: State the correct answer

1. What does the persona in the poem talks about?

2. What does the word 'layered' in the poem means?

3. In stanza 1, what didn't the woman realise?

4. How is the woman attracted to the man?

5. What is the moral in stanza 1?

6. What is the advice given to woman in stanza 2?

7. In stanza 2, what didn't the woman do?

8. What type of guys described in stanza 2?

9. Does the woman have a good or bad experience in her relationship?

10. What lesson has the woman learnt from her experience?

11. What does the phrase the 'hows and the whys' refer to?

12. In stanza 3, what is the poet 's intention?

13. What does the line 'Be sure that nice really means nice' suggest?

14. What is dice used for?

15. What does the phrase 'losing at dice' means?

Source: Eastview & P. Ilmu Bakti

My Dreams and Aspirations

Theme: People
Topic: Dare To Dream
Task:  Finding Meanings of Words ( Individual ), Listing People's  Aspiration, Reading 
           Comprehension Questions

2.2   People – Young People and Their Aspirations:

        Myself, My Education and My Career Plans   

       

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

I am Nor Hasniza Bt Abdul Halim.  I was born on the 27th. of August 1988 in Kuantan, Pahang.  I was raised in the sublime city of Kuantan until I was approximately five years old and later moved to the historical town of Taiping and lived in Assam Kumbang, a village about five kilometres from Taiping.  I am the eldest in a family of five siblings.  My mother is a dedicated teacher while my father works in one of the many government ministries.                        I had my primary education in SK Assam Kumbang, a small school located in the heart of Assam Kumbang.  I later went to Convent Secondary School before being offered a place in the prestigious MARA Science College in Grik.  After achieving excellent grades in my Lower Secondary School Examination (PMR), I was chosen to pursue my upper secondary education in the MARA Science College in Taiping.                            Since young, the medical field has always fascinated and inspired me.  It is obvious that my ambition is to be a distinguished surgeon one day.  Hence, I have been voraciously reading all sorts of books and articles concerning medicine.  I have also a collection of newspaper articles that I have made into a folio.  Most of my reading materials are from the health column in the local newspapers and the health magazines found in hospitals and private clinics.   I am particularly interested in the study of diseases.  Recently my parents bought me an encyclopaedia of diseases and remedies.  It had cost them a fortune but they were happy to see a wide smile on my face.  During my leisure time, I sometimes read articles online.           Collecting and reading materials on medicine alone will not get me anywhere.  I know I have to work hard.  By the way, I have just finished my post secondary education. I am waiting for my examination results that will be out soon. In school I studied Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.  I hoped to do well in the examination.  I hope to be a successful brain surgeon.                    I have been fortunate to have solid backing and support from my loving parents especially my mother who has been a biology teacher for quite a long time.  If by the grace of God, I am given a chance to study medicine, I will do my utmost to perform well.  I have the will to study to the highest level in this field.  I aim to be a heart surgeon and that is my ultimate goal in life. Task 1 To know what some people have achieved in their lives, pay a visit to this website. http://www.malaysiarecords.com.my/vision.php Task 2 Find the meanings of the following words: 1.  sublime 2.  approximately 3.  prestigious 4.  medical 5.  voraciously 6.  diseases 7.  remedies 8.  inspired

Student’s background Academic background Interest/ambitions/likes And things done to achieve them Aspirations and hopes

 Use the following tool to help you.

www.dictionary.reference.com

 Task 3

Read the passage on ' Young People and Their Aspirations:

Myself, My Education and My Career Plans'

Answer the following questions.

READING LESSON 3(30 Jan - 3 Feb 2012) : WHICH TWIN ARE YOU?

Task 1: 
1. What is TALENT?
2.Find out  about talented young people @ http://www.talentedyoungpeople.com/profiles/index.php and state their talents.
3. What is your talent?

Task 2:

Read the text on Which Twin Are You?

Task 3:
Identify and underline these words in the text and find the meaning  by surfing http://kamus.lamanmini.com/ or http://dictionary.reference.com.

1. twin 

2. maddening 

3. rummaged 

4. backpack 

5. crumpled 

6. mumbled 

7. amazing

8. artistic 

9. rusty 

10. masterpiece 

11. stumbled 

12. dribble 

13. bleachers 

14. patted 

15. hallway 

*Discuss the meaning of the words with your teacher.

Task 4

Answer the Multiple Choice Questions given.

READING LESSON 2(25 - 27 Jan 2012) : HAIRCUTS FROM THE HEART

Task 1: 
1. What is charity?
2. Are you interested in charity work?
3. Have you involved in any charitable activities in helping the society?

4. What are the ways to do charity to help others?

Task 2:

Read the text on Haircuts From The Heart

Task 3:
Identify and underline these words in the text and find the meaning  by surfing http://kamus.lamanmini.com/ or http://dictionary.reference.com.

1. waterlogged
2. braided

3. commercial 

4. charity 

5. wig 

6. ponytails 

7. locks 

8. dye 

9. snips

10. predict 

*Discuss the meaning of the words with your teacher.

Task 4

Answer the Multiple Choice Questions given.

READING LESSON 1(16 - 20 Jan 2012): ANNE BAILEY

Task 1:
1. What uniform unit you are involved in your school?

2. What are your contributions to the unit?

3. Do your school has boy/girl scouts?

4. List the activities the scouts can do?

Task 2:

Read the text on Anne Bailey, Brave Pioneer Scout

Task 3:

Find the meaning for the words listed below by surfing http://kamus.lamanmini.com/ or http://dictionary.reference.com.

1. untamed

2. wilderness

3. pioneer

4. struggles

5. buckskin

6. spirit

7. natives

8. swiftly

9. hollow

10. battle

11. gunpowder

12. frontier

*Discuss the meaning of the words with your teacher.

Task 4

Answer the Multiple Choice Questions given.

DW: INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Google for an infectious disease and write a description by using the following guideline:

• define infectious disease
• describe symptoms,
• mode of transmission,
• causes of the disease
• explain the destruction
• ways of prevention and
• how to cure

The description should not be less than 200 words.

EL: CATCH US IF YOU CAN (Answers)

Chapter 11
1. He was moved to Rachnadar.
2. Granda would have to stay at Rachnadar.
3. Val felt that Rory was just a boy and should not take on the responsibility of taking care of Granda.
4. He was very sad and angry.

Chapter 12
1. He cried and begged Rory to take him home.
2. He shouted at Tess and they had a fight.
3. Rory was in a bad mood and tess was being annoying.
4. Granda became more and more quiet and less interested in his surroundings.
5. He decided to run away with Granda.


Chapter 13
1. To him, it was more than an escape. It was the freedom to be with Granda.
2. Darren suggests they hide in his mother's caravan.
3. He packed his and Granda's clothes, wedged open the emergency exit, and sneaked into the home later that night.
4. He did so to make it easier for him to sneak inside and get his Granda.
5. He was confused.


Chapter 14
1. They went to the caravan site.
2. It was warm, well-equipped and Rory and Granda would be very comfortable there.
3. They were happy to be together again after being separated.


Chapter 15
1. They went for a walk and later did some fishing.
2. He sang out loud a Frank Sinatra song.
3. Granda caught the fish.


Chapter 16
1. They met a man and a young boy.
2. He called them tinkers. This was an insulting term used for travellers or gypsies.
3. It ended when Darren sent them a text message one evening.
4. The police were on their way.


Chapter 17
1. The police were coming.
2. They hid behind the bushes.
3. He did not want to separate from Granda.
4. The man whom they met at the lake.
5. He said that he would help them escape.


Chapter 18
1. He led them to his caravan.
2. They were a family of travellers - Tyrone, Sammy and Ruby.
3. They knew Rory and Granda from the news on television.
4. They drove their caravan past the police checkpoint at the entrance of the caravan.


Chapter 19
1. He smelled the delicious smell of food.
2. Tyrone's family was a happy and close-knit one.
3. They watched the news where they saw Val and the police asking them to get in touch.
4. He said that he would never go back.


Chapter 20
1. They were going to a party held by Sammy's brother at Forfar.
2. She said she helped them out of kindness and not for money.
3. He said it because the police were widening their search and they must have a plan to avoid being caught.

Chapter 21
1. He played the guitar.
2. The others sand and danced.
3. She foretells Rory's future by reading.
4. She told him that he would experience a terrible sadness before finding the thing he is looking for.


Chapter 22
1. They saw themselves on TV.
2. He suggested they go to Glasgow.
3. She told them not to sit together.
4. She held Rory tightly.
5. He would never call travellers 'tinkers'again.


Chapter 23
1. He kept thinking that someone was watching him.
2. He decided to get off the train.
3. He wanted to hand them over to the police so that he would become famous.
4. Granda hit the boy on the head with a lemonade bottle.
5. He said they were now criminals.
6. He decided to steal a car to escape.


Chapter 24
1. He dragged Rory with him and decided what they were going to do next.
2. He hotwired a car and used it as their getaway car.
3. He thought they would be sent to jail as they were criminals now.


Chapter 25
1. He played My Way by Frank Sinatra.
2. They were running out of petrol.
3. A big man with a stubble served them.
4. Granda fell asleep in the car.
5. He said Rory and Granda would not be going anywhere that night.


Chapter 26
1. Rab offered to help them.
2. He pushed the car to the back of the garage to hide it.
3. He found out that the police had contacted his father.
4. He decided that it was about time his father lived up to his responsibilities.


Chapter 27
1. His plan was to go to Liverpool to find his father.
2. Granda would be very angry if Rory had told him.
3. Yes, he urged Rory to find his father in Liverpool.
4. They spent the night at Rab's flat.


Chapter 28
1. He had arranged for people to take him to Liverpool.
2. He would drive them to the Borders.
3. They would meet Rab's girlfriend, Annie.
4. He said the world had many kind of people.
5. They had a meal.

Chapter 29
1. They were going to Annie's cousin's place in the Lake District.
2. It was nice and comfortable.
3. She was a good-looking and glamorous woman.
4. He found out that they were going to Liverpool to join his son.
5. He was furious.


Chapter 30
1. He did not want to be hurt by him again.
2. Granda was sleeping and did not look well.
3. She told Rory that her mother had informed the police about them.


Chapter 31
1. They took the back road and climbed a hill.
2. They rested at a stone bus shelter.
3. He stopped breathing.


Chapter 32
1. He went to look for help.
2. He called for an ambulance.
3. A concerned-looking man who said that he was Rory's father got into the car.


Chapter 33
1. They were his wife, Karen, and daughters, Rhonda and Ava.
2. He liked his grandaughters.
3. He felt very apologetic towards them.
4. They stayed in a flat near Jeff's house.
5. Yes, because Rory has finally found a family.