With hard words and unkiss'd,
His Mother, who was patient, being dead.
Then, fearing lest his grief should hinder sleep,
I visited his bed,
But found him slumbering deep,
Question 1: What is the theme suggested by the stanza?
Answer: The stanza suggests themes of loss, grief, and the absence of maternal love and comfort, as indicated by the son's reaction to his mother's death.
Question 2: What literary technique is employed to depict the mother's absence?
Answer: Personification is used to portray the absence of the mother's affection and comfort, as she is described as "unkiss'd" despite being dead, emphasizing the lack of emotional connection and physical affection between the mother and the son.
Question 3: How does the son cope with his grief?
Answer: The son copes with his grief by immersing himself in deep sleep, as indicated by the line "But found him slumbering deep." This suggests that he seeks solace and escape from his emotions through sleep, perhaps finding temporary relief from his grief in unconsciousness.