Few and Little of it

[076] ... [General]

Yesterday's post reached the three-fourth way. Like Robert Frost said "There are miles to go..."

I am not into poetry, but remember Frost from the Poem collection we had during school as a part of English: "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". The memories remain strengthened through a short film on him at the American embassy.

Somehow as observed even in others, many things from the early days always remain etched. Though we studied these fine compositions, the mere intent didn't seem to go beyond academic interests of obtaining enough marks, hardly understanding the nuances though the teacher made sincere efforts. May be some of us get it later in life what the front benchers could get instantly. I looked up for the poem and reasonably grasped the essence conveyed in simple words.

Since the English teacher got mentioned, without a doubt I recall him almost daily whenever seeing the two words little and few. Earlier, we relied on what's printed, in dailies or magazines to be undoubtedly correct to learn better language. But these days on the Net, it is another story. He had made it clear on the three ways those two words need to be used to convey the right meaning in a sentence. "Little" meaning nothing, "a Little" for some, and "the Little" to mean whatever is left out. Ditto for Few.

I understood "little" of his talk, and with "a little" effort could sense what he was trying to get at, and "the few" listeners at the end clapped more out of courtesy is the way we were taught and continue to use. So, when we see little or few used just by themselves all the time, it reminds of an old neighbor who had this pet expression whenever he saw wrong doings or experienced deceit, "My blood boils"...