Essay Questions

Could there be a connection between the brown paper parcel and Pandora’s Box?

In the Greek mythology, the first woman who was created was Pandora. All the Gods gave her various gifts, including a box she was never to open. Driven by curiosity, Pandora opened the box, releasing all the evil things into the world. In a similar fashion, the act of untying the string may appear harmless in the poem. However, the person who unties the string must face dire consequences. Thus, one could assume that there is a connection between the Pandora’s box in Greek mythology and the brown paper parcel that appears in the poem.

Why is the poem titled A Warning to Children?

The poem’s title points out the fact that the audience it is aimed at is small children who are extremely curious by nature. The author entitled it ‘’a warning’’ because through the poem, the poet tries to make the children see just how dangerous curiosity can be. The children are warned to stay away from the string that unties the secret of the world and in this sense, the poem is a warning addressed to those who might want to discover something that should be better left alone.

Does this poem fit with the other poem written by the author?

Robert Graves is a well-known writer, known in particular for his poems. Robert Graves was the son of the English poet Alfred Perceval Graves and during his lifetime, Robert Graves developed a writing style particular only to him. Many critics praised his poems for their symbolism and for the presence of dualism in his poems. The symbols are also present in the poem A Warning to Children and also the sense of dualism. Robert Graves is also known for his tendency to mention the muse that helped him write his poems , elements that all appear in his poem.