Las Rimas de Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1816-1871) Spanish poet and narrator.

Las Rimas de Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1816-1871) Spanish poet and narrator. The most popular lyrics poet whose fame rests on one small volume which bears the simple title, Rimas.

Please read Rima XXI and Rima XXXVIII and answer the following questions?
RIMA XXI
—¿Qué es poesía? —dices, mientras clavas
en mi pupila tu pupila azul—;
¿Qué es poesía…? ¿Y tú me lo preguntas?
¡Poesía… eres tú!
What is poetry? you ask
as your blue eyes stare into mine.
What is poetry? And you ask this of me?
Poetry…is you.

RIMA XXXVIII
Los suspiros son aire y van al aire.
Las lágrimas son agua y van al mar.
Dime, mujer: cuando el amor se olvida
¿sabes tú dónde va?

Sighs are air and go to air!
Tears are water and go to the sea!
Tell me, woman, when love is forgotten,
do you know where it goes?

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS-

1. According to Bécquer, what is poetry?
2. What is your perception of what poetry is?
3. In your opinion, what is the relationship between los suspiros (sighs), las lágrimas (tears) y el amor (love)?
4. In your opinion, do Rima XXI and XXXVIII seem too sentimental or unnatural for today's life style?
5. In your opinion, what are both Rimas about?
   Grading will be based on answering the questions: 20% per question.