English 30(Grade 12) Literary terms clarification?

Question

After reading a poem I was asked : "Discuss how many ideas, suggestions, or symbols appear in the poem".

What do they mean by ideas and suggestions? Of course this is a simple question normally but the context they use it in is throwing me off.

If you're curious about the poem in question it is Grass by Carl Sandburg.

Answer 1

wish i could read the poem but symbols would be thing that take on different meanings such as the bald eagle meaning freedom. the idea would be what they want u to see not what is written and i think the suggestion is what u pull away from the poem. I am by no means a literary professor but i hope this helps

Answer 2

Grass represents time. Time covers up horrendous happenings in history. So then it appears that Sandburg is using sarcasm to allude to the fact that time can remove visible signs of historical happenings, causing future generations to forget their significance. I think he is intending or suggesting that we make or keep markers that won't erase the memories and emotions that would be covered up by the "grass growing." He may also be suggesting that the change is slow, so guarding against the "forgetting" is difficult because it slips up on us.