Two Poems for T.

What is the theme in Two Poems for T. by Cesare Pavese?

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One important theme in the story is that of epiphany. In the thirteenth line of the poem, Pavese says, "you'll rediscover something." The poem does not identify what T. is supposed to discover, but readers can tell that it will be a revelation that will change T.'s life. While she is described as being a part of the clamor earlier in the poem, in line 7 the speaker says that after this revelation she will be "beyond the clamor."

An epiphany is a moment when a character comes to a sudden understanding of the meaning or essence of things. In this case, the poet tells readers that the character being addressed, "you," will have an epiphany, but he does not go into any further detail about what will cause this epiphany, or why, or exactly what will be learned from it. The point of the epiphany, in this case, is to instill hope in the person who is being addressed. The poet cannot identify just what it is that is going to make T.'s life better, but he does express his confidence that something will, and that the change will be instantaneous. This hope for sudden revelation can help to make the current suffering bearable.

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