In “The Ransacked Grave Mound” Shevchenko tries to reflect the reality that was right in front of his eyes. In the poem we can see his motherland, Ukraine, personified and shown as a loving mother but drawn into despair. The poem begins with rhetorical questions to Ukraine. The author cannot understand why she has to pay such a high price without doing anything wrong. He asks maybe she did not pray to God that he punished her to bear such a fate or did not teach her children of customs that were so important and valued. The motherland replies Continue reading...