Question

Theme for “ forgetfulness” by billy Collins

Answer 1

The basic theme is forgetfulness, plain and simple, but the underlying issues are many and include that of identity versus time, tragedy versus comedy and life story versus trivial detail. All of us face memory loss sooner or later so the poem deals with the universal as well as the personal.

Answer 2

Forgetfulness is a deceptively innocent-looking poem that explores the consequences of gradual memory loss. It builds up through a series of examples of things that a human might forget, from an author's name to riding a bicycle.

The basic theme is forgetfulness, plain and simple, but the basic issues are many and include that of identity versus time, tragedy versus comedy and life story versus trivial detail.