Where the Mind is without Fear-Rabindranath Tagore-Explanation Line-to-line

Where the Mind Is Without Fear written by Rabindranath Tagore-Explanation of the Poem

 Where the Mind Is Without Fear written by Rabindranath Tagore

 

About the Poet

Rabindra Nath Tagore is a well-known poet and writer of India. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his collection of poems under the title ‘Gitanjali’. The present poem appeared in that collection of poems. The poet had written this poem in Bengali, but later he himself translated this poem into English.

About the Poem

Tagore wrote this poem when India was under British rule. People were hopeful in those days that sooner or later, their country was going to be liberated from the slavery of the British. Tagore was also cherishing the hope of freedom. So he wrote this poem in which he made prayer to God to grant his country the real type of freedom. By reading this poem, we come to know what type of freedom Tagore wished to get for his country.

Text of the Poem

 

Where the Mind id without Fear

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth

 

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake

Line-to-line Explanation of the Poem
(Lines 1 to 4)

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth

 

Word-meanings: 1. Held-kept 2. Fragments-pieces 3. Narrow domestic walls: Usually when there is division in a house, small walls are erected (built) to show separation in a family. But here in the poem, the poet thinks of his country as a family. He hopes that no walls should be built to separate one human being from the other. In a way the poet does want that his countrymen should be divided on the basis of caste, religion, culture, and dogmas.

4. ‘words come out from the depth of truth’: The poet wishes that his countrymen should be truthful. They should not become hypocrites. Whatever they think and do must come out of the depth of their hearts. It should be real and genuine.
Explanation: The poet imagines an ideal situation. He wishes that his countrymen should be bold and courageous. They should not have any fear in their minds. They should be able to hold their heads high with the honour. In the next line, the poet wishes that in his country knowledge should be free. It should not be the prerogative (special right) of the few. The light of knowledge should spread everywhere. Every child of the country should have the right to education. Such is Tagore’s concept of education.

 

‘Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls’

Tagore not only thinks of his own country India, it seems that he thinks of the whole world also (Vasudevo Kutumbhkam). He thinks of the whole world as a family which should not be divided into fragments (pieces). It happens when there is division into a family. Small domestic walls are built within the small house. Thus the unity of the family is destroyed.

But Tagore means to say that his country and even the whole world should not be divided on the basis of nationalities, languages, cultural differences, castes and religions.

‘Where words come out from the depth of truth’

In the above line, the poet wishes that his countrymen should be honest and truthful. He prays to God that his countrymen should be simple and straightforward. They should not show hypocrisy neither in their words nor in deeds. What they do should do or speak should come out of their hearts. It means they should be truthful and outspoken in words and deeds. The poet indeed imagines of an ideal situation in his country where no evil prevails.

 

Lines 5-8:

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake
Word-meanings: 1.Tireless: without feeling tired 2. Striving: struggle

3. Clear stream of reasoning: The poet thinks of the mind in which the flow of thoughts is very clear 4. Dreary: dry 5. Thee: you 6. Dead habit: outdated customs and dogmas 7. Heaven of freedom: a country becomes a heaven of freedom when all the people respect one another’s freedom and rights.

 

Explanation: The poet makes a prayer to God that his country should be free in the real sense of the word. His countrymen should not be tired of struggling to achieve perfection in their work. Before doing anything the reasoning powers should guide them. They should not be swayed by their emotions while doing their actions.

A clear stream of well-reasoned thoughts should flow in their minds. Such thoughts should not be overpowered by the overflow of emotions that are related to their bad habits and old customs.

The poet also prays that the minds of his people should ever be widening. He means to say that his countrymen should always try to increase their knowledge.

Rabindranath Tagore compares well-reasoned thoughts to a stream full of clear water. He has also compared old habits, narrow-mindedness and dogmas to the sand that is spread in a vast dry desert. If, by any means, a stream of water is made to pass through such a desert, it would get lost into the dry sand. In that case, it will be a sheer wastage of valuable water. In the same way, well-reasoned thoughts also go waste if they are overpowered by bad habits, dogmas and narrow-mindedness.

So the poet prays to God that his countrymen should always have well-reasoned thoughts. There should not be any place for bad habits in their minds.

After that, the poet again prays to God that his countrymen’s minds should always keep on broadening. They should always accept new ideas to develop their mind and personalities. There should be appropriate coordination between their thoughts and actions. Every human being in his country should enjoy the freedom of thought.

If all the above wishes of the poet are granted by God, then, his country would really become a ‘heaven of freedom’.

 

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake

Lastly, the poet seems to pray to God to awaken the inner-being (deep insight) of his countrymen so that they should be able to differentiate between good and evil, right and wrong, and friend and foe.

 

Stanzas for Comprehensions:

Stanza 1.

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Reference to the Context: The above lines have been taken from the poem ‘Where the Mind is without fear’ written by Rabindranath Tagore. In this poem, the poet thinks of an ideal situation. He prays to God that his country should be free in the real sense of the word. His countrymen should not be slaves to bad habits, narrow-mindedness, dogmas.

Explanation: The poet imagines an ideal situation. He wishes that his countrymen should be bold and courageous. They should not have any fear in their minds. They should be able to hold their heads high with the honour. In the next line, the poet wishes that in his country knowledge should be free. It should not be the prerogative (special right) of the few. The light of knowledge should spread everywhere. Every child of the country should have the right to education. Such is Tagore’s concept of education. Tagore not only thinks of his own country India, it seems that he thinks of the whole world also (Vasudevo Kutumbhkam). He thinks of the whole world as a family which should not be divided into fragments (pieces). It happens when there is a division into a family. Small domestic walls are built within the small house. Thus the unity of the family is destroyed.

But Tagore means to say that his country and even the whole world should not be divided on the basis of nationalities, languages, cultural differences, castes, and religions.

Stanza 2

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake
Reference to the Context: The above lines have been taken from the poem ‘Where the Mind is without fear’ written by Rabindranath Tagore. In this poem, the poet thinks of an ideal situation. He prays to God that his country should be free in the real sense of the word. His countrymen should not be slaves to bad habits, narrow-mindedness, dogmas. They should live in harmony and unity. His country should be real heaven in which his countrymen will enjoy their freedom.

 

Explanation: The poet makes a prayer to God that his country should be free in the real sense of the word. Before doing anything the reasoning powers should guide them. They should not be swayed by their emotions while doing their actions.

A clear stream of well-reasoned thoughts should flow in their minds. Such thoughts should not be overpowered by the overflow of emotions that are related to their bad habits and old customs.

The poet also prays that the minds of his people should ever be widening. He means to say that his countrymen should always try to increase their knowledge.

Rabindranath Tagore compares well-reasoned thoughts to a stream full of clear water. He has also compared old habits, narrow-mindedness, and dogmas to the sand that is spread in a vast dry desert. If, by any means, a stream of water is made to pass through such a desert, it would get lost into the dry sand. In that case, it will be sheer wastage of valuable water. In the same way, well-reasoned thoughts also go waste if they are overpowered my bad habits, dogmas and narrow-mindedness.

So the poet prays to God that his countrymen should always have well-reasoned thoughts. There should not be any place for bad habits in their minds.

After that, the poet again prays to God that his countrymen’s minds should always keep on broadening. They should always accept new ideas to develop their mind and personalities. There should be appropriate coordination between their thoughts and actions. Every human being in his country should enjoy freedom of thought. Then and only then his country can be called a Heaven of freedom. They should always remain awakened.

 

 

Wide gap between the reality of contemporary India and Tagore's concept of India-Rabindranath Tagore-Where the Mind is without Fear

 Q3. Comment on the wide gap between the reality of contemporary India and Tagore's concept of India.

Ans. In the poem, ‘Where the Mind is without Fear;, the poet Rabindranath Tagore cherishes ideal conditions for his country. He thinks that political and economic freedoms are useless if the people are not mentally free. Our mind should not be a slave to any dogmas, narrow-mindedness, and social or moral evil. He thinks of a country where people are fearless, courageous, and brave. There should not be any barrier that divides his countrymen on the basis of colour, caste, and creed.  His countrymen should be free to increase their knowledge. Education in his country should be free for all. The people of his country should be broad-minded, honest, and generous in nature.  They should be true to their word actions and thoughts.  If all these qualities are imbibed into the personality of the people, then, his country would really become a heaven of freedom on the earth.

But in reality, we find quite an opposite picture. The people of our country are still slaves to so many evils. They are not mentally strong. Fear still prevails in the minds of people. Dogmas, narrow-mindedness, and social or moral evil is still present. Discrimination on the basis of colour, caste, and religion is present in the minds of many people.

So there is a wide gap between the reality of contemporary India and Tagore's concept of India.

Write a note on Tagore’s concept of the ‘Heaven of freedom’-Where the Mind is without Fear-Rabindranath Tagore

 Q2. Write a note on Tagore’s concept of the ‘Heaven of freedom’.

Ans. According to common perception (view/opinion), heaven is a place where everything is in ideal condition. No evil is found there. It is a place where gods and goddesses are found.  Tagore also cherishes (takes pleasure in) the dream in which he wishes his country to become a place like heaven. So we may say that it is only possible when everything becomes ideal and human beings also behave as gods and goddesses do. For that, Tagore prays to God that his countrymen should adopt certain qualities that make them ideal beings. He thinks that political and economic freedoms are useless if the people are not mentally free.

Our mind should not be a slave to any dogmas, narrow-mindedness, and social or moral evil. He thinks of a country where people are fearless, courageous, and brave. There should not be any barrier that divides his countrymen on the basis of colour, caste, and creed.  His countrymen should be free to increase their knowledge. Education in his country should be free for all. The people of his country should be broad-minded, honest, and generous in nature.  They should be true to their word actions and thoughts.  If all these qualities are imbibed into the personality of the people, then, his country would really become a heaven of freedom on the earth.

 

 

What kind of freedom does Tagore visualise for his country? Where the Mind is without Fear-Rabindranath Tagore

 Q.1. What kind of freedom does Tagore visualise for his country?

Ans.  Rabindranath Tagore dreams that his country should be a heaven on earth.  Tagore gives very much importance to mental freedom.  Our mind should not be a slave to any dogmas, narrow-mindedness, and social or moral evil. He thinks of a country where people are fearless, courageous, and brave. There should not be any barrier that divides his countrymen on the basis of colour, caste, and creed.  His countrymen should be free to increase their knowledge. Education in his country should be free for all. The people of his country should be broad-minded, honest, and generous in nature.  They should be true to their word actions and thoughts.

Tagore also cherishes (takes pleasure in) the dream in which he wishes his country to become a place like heaven. So we may say that it is only possible when everything becomes ideal and human beings also behave as gods and goddesses do. For that, Tagore prays to God that his countrymen should adopt certain qualities that make them ideal beings.  If all these qualities are imbibed into the personality of the people, then, his country would really become a heaven of freedom on the earth.

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Ode on A Grecian Urn-John Keats-Long Answer-type Questions

   Ode On A Grecian Urn

 Long answer-type Questions (Word-limit:100-150) 

 Q1. Discuss the development of the theme of transience and permanence as discussed in the poem ‘Ode on the Grecian Urn’.

   Ans. In this poem, John Keats contrasts life to a work of art. Towards the end of the poem, the poet asserts the superiority of art over real life.

   The poet advocates the idea that life is always transient while the life depicted in a work of art is perfect and permanent.

   The poet happened to visit the British Museum, where he looked at the urn that is being discussed in the present poem. He was greatly excited to see the freshness and perfection in the carved images taken from the pastoral life of the people living in Tempe or the valleys of Arcady.

He saw some men or gods pursuing some maidens who were trying to escape from them. The poet calls it a mad pursuit. Then, the poet’s eyes fall on the musicians, who play upon their pipes and tumbrels. The poet is not able to hear the music. But he can imagine that they were lost in a wild ecstasy while playing upon their instruments.

All the images are so perfectly carved on the urn that the poet also enters into the state of imagination. He feels as if he were there one among the lovers and the pipers. We may say that the poet achieves the state of negative capability here. He has forgotten his own self and started enjoying the music and the passion of the lovers’ ‘mad pursuit’.

Thus the whole poem revolves around the theme of transience of life and permanence of a work of art.

The poet says that the passion of the lovers will never diminish. It will remain the same for centuries together till the urn remains undamaged in the British Museum. The trees on the urn will remain green forever and their leaves will never get dry due to the ravaging effect of time. The musicians will never get tired of playing upon their instruments like pipes and tumbrels. The lovers will never be able to kiss their beloveds. But the poet tries to console them by saying that their beloved will always remain young.

In this way, human generations will come and go. But the artistic carvings on the urn shall always be the source of joy and solace. They will always provide relief to us from the bitter realities of life.

But in real life, everything is in a state of flux. So nothing is constant and permanent. All the physical world on the earth is subject to decay and death. The urn is also a physical object. But its life is longer than that of human beings if it is kept safe and sound.

Finally, the poet gives a great message to all human beings. He advises us that the Truth is always a Beauty and Beauty is always Truth.

Q2. Keats is preoccupied with the imperfection of ordinary human experience and the perfection of art. Elaborate.

Ans. John Keats is really preoccupied with the theme of the imperfection of ordinary human experience and the perfection in a work of art in this poem.

The opening of this poem shows how Keats’ imagination was stirred (moved) to see the beautiful images carved on the outer sides of the urn. He was so much excited that he called the urn by different names in one breath.

But in reality, there were several images of ordinary human experiences were carved on the urn. To an ordinary human being, those carvings on the urn were just beautiful images. But John Keats was not an ordinary human being. He was endowed with the power of great romantic imagination that could transport him in the world of the work of art carved on the urn.

He found himself standing at a distance watching all the human experiences carved there on the urn. Now they were not just images. They became alive all of a sudden for the poet. He watched that the passionate lovers were pursuing the reluctant maidens. The musicians were playing upon their instruments. A lover was singing under a tree. A priest was leading a calf to the place of the altar to perform its sacrifice to please some deity. The people of the town were also going to watch the sacrifice.

All these scenes of ordinary human experiences carved on the urn were still fresh and young. The poet’s imagination made all these images look so true and beautiful that they were a source of great joy and relief to the poet’s heart.

A great work of art is always a source of joy for human beings. Human generations will come and go. Through the power of imagination, human beings would enter the world of art and get some relief from the bitter realities of life. After having some relaxation from their dull routine of life, they would resume their routine of life.

Thus a work of art if truly and perfectly depicted is always beautiful and permanent source of joy for human beings. But human experiences are never perfect. There always remains scope for more improvement. Human passions and human life do not continue for long. Everything on this earth is subject to decay and death.

Thus we may conclude that perfection can only be achieved in a work of art. Life experiences remain imperfect.

 

 

 

 

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Female Characters in ‘The Merchant of Venice’-William Shakespeare

 Female Characters in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

Ans. William Shakespeare is a past master in creating life-like characters in his plays. There is a large range of male and female characters in his plays painted in different shades of colours in life. Some of his female characters like Cordelia in King Lear, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Desdemona in Othello, and so on are really wonderfully created female characters.

Let’s discuss female characters in the Merchant of Venice.

Shakespeare seems to have created female characters in this play intentionally stronger than their male counterparts. We have three female characters: Portia Jessica and Nerissa.

 

Portia dominates by her qualities not only the female but also the male characters. She has several qualities of head and heart. She has intelligence, wisdom, loyalty, romantic nature, presence of mind, confidence, kindness, wit, humour, etc.

 These qualities make her stature very high. The reader/audience loves her even in her weak moments of life when she feels caught in difficulty due to the vow given to her late father. She is not free to choose the husband of her choice. She respects her father’s strange will unto the last. She shows her deep love for Bassanio and deep respect and loyalty to her father. She is also full of the milk of human kindness. When she comes to know from Bassanio about  Antonio’s difficulty, she at once tells her husband to stop all his work and go to Venice to save his friend.

It is her presence of mind that she at once makes a plan to reach Venice to save Antonio in the Duke’s court. She intelligently and very confidently handles Antonio’s case. Thus she not only saves Antonio but also gets Shylock punished for the crime that he committed against humanity.

In this way, she also overshadows not only other female characters but also male ones including her husband Bassanio, who has been created in low profile. It is, later on, Bassanio’s character is redeemed (saved/recovered) when he reaches Venice to help Antonio in the Duke’s court. There he shows much concern for his friend’s life. He offers Shylock several times more money than it was taken as a loan from him. But the Jew is not ready to forgive Antonio. Bassanio also tells the Jew that he can cut every part of his body but spare Antonio’s life.

Another female character is Jessica. She is Shylock’s daughter. She elopes with her lover Lorenzo taking with her a lot of valuables from her house. She does not love her father. She condemns him for his evil-doings. She also calls her house a hell. She feels ashamed of being called Shylock’s daughter. although she feels bad for such types of feelings for her father. Lorenzo and Jessica waste Shylock’s money when they stay at several places during elopement time. Thus we do not have a very high opinion about Jessica. She loves money. That is why she took diamonds and ducats with her. In Portia’s absence, Lorenzo and Jessica take care of her house.

The third female character in the play is Nerissa, who marries Gratiano. She is Portia’s woman-in-waiting. She provides (gives) company to her. Portia shares her thoughts and feelings with her. In Act, I, Scene (ii), Portia feels sad to think that she is not free to choose the husband of her choice. Then she tells Portia that her father was really a wise person. She consoles her that she would finally get a husband who would truly love her. Nerissa also accompanies Portia in the Duke’s court. In the ring episode also, Nerissa has an equal part to play. In a way, she has been created as a foil to Portia to highlight her qualities.

 In this way, there are three female characters in The Merchant of Venice, who dominate their male counterparts.

 

When You Are Old-Explanation-Line-to-Line-W B Yeats

 

When You Are Old-Explanation-Line-to-Line-W B Yeats

William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin in 1865 and died in 1939. He was a great Irish poet. He is considered one of the great modern poets also. He began writing poetry at an early age and he was much influenced by Spenser, Shelley, and a few Pre-Raphaelite poets also. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1923.

About the Poem

When You Are Old’ is WB Yeats’ memorable poem which deals with the theme of ‘love’ that is expressed by the poet in a very unique manner. It is said that the great Irish poet, W. B. Yeats had immense love for Maud Gonne, who was equally active in native politics. Several times the poet expressed his love for her, but he was always met with rejection.

It seems that, while writing this poem, the poet writes this poem keeping in view his beloved Maud Gonne, whom he continuously loved and his love indeed met with a failure.

In the present poem, the poet tries to convince his beloved that he was the only person who loved her from the core of his heart and his love for her spirit.

In the above lines, the poet addresses his beloved that she should take down ‘this book’ and read it slowly when she grows old,  her hair becomes grey and she sits by the fire feeling sleepy and nodding on some winter evening. The poet uses the demonstrative adjective ‘this’ for the book. 

It means the poet means to indicate to her to read the particular book in which the present poem would also be there. He further suggests to his beloved that after going through the pages of the book of poems, she should recollect, as if in a dream, that her eyes once had the soft look and her eyes were deep and shadowy.

It means she had very beautiful eyes. The use of the word ‘nodding’ shows the aging effect on her. It also creates beautiful imagery.

Stanza 2

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true,

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

Explanation: In the first stanza, the poet suggests to her to analyse how many of the young men loved her truly or falsely. After deep consideration, she would reach the conclusion that all of them had physical love in their hearts for her. But still, there was one who loved her ‘pilgrim soul’. 

The poet also claims that he was always sensitive to the changes that went on her face from time to time. It shows the poet’s deep devotion to her and is a testimony to ‘his true love for her. He knew when her face showed the marks of sadness and sorrow. Only the poet was able to read and understand even the minutest changes on her face.

The poet has called the ‘soul’ as a pilgrim. It means that the poet also believes in life after death like Robert Browning, a great Victorian poet. According to Oriental philosophy, the human soul is immortal and leaves the body after death to take new birth.  Thus human soul travels like a pilgrim to reach its final abode, Heaven, the pilgrimage. This is what the poet wants to convey to us by using the phrase ‘pilgrim soul’.

 Stanza 3.

And bending down beside the glowing bars,/  Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled

And paced upon the mountains overhead/  And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

Explanation: In this stanza also, the poet again imagines his beloved as an old woman who is sitting beside the fire. Now she is bending down the glowing ‘bars’ of the fireplace, and murmuring a few words of regret as to how the true love has fled from the world and become impossible to find.

The poet uses personification here to bring out the meaning that true love is a rare phenomenon on this earth. He says that it has left the earthly surroundings and fled by pacing upon the mountains. It has hidden his face amid the crowd of stars. 

One cannot pick up a star and bring it down on the earth. So it has become to find true love on the earth. The use of the word ‘murmur’ shows regret.

Here, it may also be concluded that by presenting the picture of love disappearing from the earth, the poet means to make his beloved realise that his love for her is true. 

When You Are Old-Qs-Ans-WB Yeats-English for B.A. Semester III

 Questions & Answers: When You Are Old By WB Yeats:

Answer in about 20-30 words

Q1. Explain the rhyme scheme used in the poem ‘When You Are Old’.

Ans. In this poem, each stanza has four lines. We also find that in each stanza. the first line rhymes with the fourth and the second line rhymes with the third one. This is the rhyme scheme in the poem is abba,

cddc, effe

Q2. How does the poet use personification in this poem 'When You Are Old'?

Ans. The poet uses personification here to bring out the meaning that true love is a rare phenomenon on this earth. He says that it has left the earthly surroundings and fled by pacing upon the mountains. It has hidden his face amid the crowd of stars. One cannot pick up a star and bring it down on the earth. So it has become to find true love on the earth. The use of the word ‘murmur’ shows regret.

Q3. How does Yeats nostalgically recall his beloved?

Ans. The poet nostalgically recalls the days when his beloved was young and beautiful. He uses beautiful imagery here to make his point clear. The poet says that when a flower is fresh and young, so many drones fly around it. But as the flowers wither, all drones leave it. Similarly, in youth, many young men hovered around his beloved. But as she grew old, all the fake lovers would leave hovering around her.

Q4. Who is referred to as hiding his face in the crowd of stars?

Ans. The poet uses personification here to bring out the meaning that true love is a rare phenomenon on this earth. He personifies ‘love’ as a bird and ‘stars’ as beautiful objects that cannot be brought back to this physical world. He says that it has left the earthly surroundings and fled by pacing upon the mountains. It has hidden his face amid the crowd of stars.

Q5. What does the poet ask the lady to do when she turns old?

Ans. The poet advises his beloved to take down ‘this book’ and read it slowly when she grows old. After reading the book, she might remember that once she was young and beautiful. She would also remember that so many young men showed their love to her at that time. But, now, in her old age, all have left her. She would come to know that their love was fake. But the poet claims that he loves her still in her old age. His love is pure towards his ‘pilgrim soul’.

Q6.What will happen to the lady when she turns old?

Ans. The poet imagines a situation when his beloved grows old. At that time, her physical beauty would be lost. There would be no charm and freshness on her face. In her youth, so many young men claimed their love towards her. But in old age, all would leave her. No one comes to her to claim his love for her. But the poet claims that he still loves her truly. His love was always deep and permanent for her.

Q7.Why does the poet call the soul of his beloved a ‘pilgrim’?

Ans. The poet has called his beloved’s soul a pilgrim. It means that the poet also believes in life after death like Robert Browning, a great Victorian poet. According to Oriental philosophy, the human soul is immortal and leaves the body after death to take new birth.  Thus human soul travels like a pilgrim to reach its final abode, Heaven, the pilgrimage. The poet loved her soul. This is what the poet wants to convey to us by using the phrase ‘pilgrim soul’.

 

Answer in 100 to 150 words

Q1. General Question: About the poet’s personal experience/ views revealed on love in the poem

Ans. W. B. Yeats expresses his views on true love in this poem. He believes in true love that never changes. He says that most of the lovers in this world believe in physical love. Physical love fades away as the beloved starts becoming old. This poem expresses the poet’s personal experience. He had a deep love for his beloved, Maud Gonne. Several times he approached her and expressed his love for her. But every time he received a rejection. In the present poem, the poet expresses his true love for her. He imagines that at that time, she would be old and sitting all alone by the fire feeling sleepy. Then she would recall how several young men used to express their love for her. But in her old age, no one would be there to love her truly except one (i.e. the poet), who loved her pilgrim soul truly. The poet believes that her heart would be filled with regret at that time for not responding to the poet’s true love. But it would be too late then.

 Q2. Comment on the title of the poem, ‘When You Are Old’?

Ans. The title of the poem is quite appropriate (apt/right). In this poem, the poet imagines a situation when his beloved would be old in age. At that time, her hair would be grey and she would be feeling sleepy while sitting by the fire on some winter evening.

After that, the poet talks about how her physical beauty would be destroyed by the passage of time. His beloved’s eyes and cheeks would remain no more attractive. She would lose her all physical charms.

Then the poet says that his beloved had so many lovers in her youth. They used to keep hovering around her. But in her old age, all of them deserted (left) her. They did not love her truly. The poet also says that true love is a very rare phenomenon. Very few people like the poet himself are left there in the world having true love for their beloved. He loves the ‘pilgrim soul’ of his beloved.

Q3. The poem, ‘When You are Old’, comes up with a concept of love that is pure, spiritual, and unconditional. Elaborate.

Ans. The poet comes up with a concept of true love in this poem. He says that true love never changes with the passage of time. A true lover loves the spirit, the soul of his beloved, not the body. People may love their beloveds for their physical charms. But their love disappears as soon as the bodily charms start fading due to the aging effect. Such lovers are like the drones that hover around the beautiful flowers. But they leave the flower when they wither away.

 Actually, the poet clarifies all this through his personal experience. He had a deep love for his beloved, Maud Gonne. Several times he approached her and expressed his love for her. But every time he received a rejection. But in this poem, he says that he always loved his beloved unconditionally. He never expected the love in return from her. He always loved her in her sad and happy moments. He always noticed the minutest changes on her face. He loved her ‘pilgrim soul’, not her body. He never felt dejected whenever he received a rejection from his beloved.

Thus the poet explains the concept of true love in this poem.

Q4. Describe the role of Time in this poem ‘When You Are Old’.

Ans. We do find the role of time in the present poem. Here, we also remember William Shakespeare’s concept of true love and the role of time in it. Shakespeare talked about the ravaging effect of time on every object, living, and one-living in this world. All physical objects have to decay and die after some time. Similarly, the beauty of human bodies and that of other objects on this earth have to suffer decay and death. But true love never changes with the passage of time.

The same concept of true love and time finds echoes in this poem. The poet claims true love towards his beloved in this poem. He says that his love is beyond the destructive effect of time. He loved her when she was beautiful and young. He continued loving her even when she lost her physical charms. He still loved her ‘pilgrim soul’. His love is unique and different. His love was not accepted by his beloved, yet he continued loving her with the same intense feeling.

Thus time could not destroy the poet’s deep love for his beloved.

 

The World Is Too Much with Us-Question-Answers-Video 1 of 2

A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost-Qs-Ans-English for Class XII

 A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost

Short Answer-type Qs

Q1.  What does the roadside stand seem to plead?

Ans. It seems to plead that its owner is a poor person. He needs the support of rich persons to change his lifestyle.

Q2. What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it vain? Or Why does Robert Frost sympathize with the rural people?

Ans. The owners of the roadside stands to keep on hoping against hope that the rich would stop their cars and purchase something from them. The poet calls it their childish longing.

Q3. What news is talked about in the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’?

Ans. The news is that the poor people would be shifted from their places. They would be provided houses in cities. Their poverty would finish (remain no more).

Q4. What do the people in the cars do if ever they look towards these roadside stands?

Ans. They feel irritated and utter some words in disgust. They do not like the way they have painted their house and how they have put signboards there. They think that the beauty of the place has been destroyed by them.

Q5.Why is it unfair to say that these people are begging for a ‘dole of bread?’
Ans. The owners of the roadside stand are not beggars. They wait for the customers to sell them their articles like vegetables, fruit and other eatables.

Q6.What is the flower of the cities? How?
Ans. Prosperity/growth is the flower of the cities. As the flower is the crowning glory of a plant, growth becomes the flower of a city.

Q7. What do you mean by ‘polished traffic?
Ans. Polished traffic stands for the flashy and expensive cars. The owners of the cars may seem to be polished in their behaviour. But they are insensitive to the poor and suffering people.

Q8. What are the usual complaints made by the city men when they stop at the roadside stand?
Ans. The rich people complain that the owners of the roadside stand have spoilt the beauty of the landscape. The letters on the boards are written wrongly and in a bad manner and the directions also shown in a wrong manner.

Q9. How did the poor people “mar” the landscape?
Ans. The poor people mar/ruin the beauty of the landscape by making their roadside stand in an unsystematic way. They have no aesthetic sense. They write words in wrong spellings. They paint the walls of the roadside stands artlessly.

Q10. What do the people at the roadside stand expect from the rich? What for?

Ans. The people at the roadside stand expect that the rich people should stop near their stands and purchase something from them. They do not expect any charity from them.

   Stanzas: Stanza 1

The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,
A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
But for some of the city money, the cash, whose flow supports
The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

Q1. Name the poem and its poet.

Ans. The name/ title of the poem is ‘A Roadside Stand’ and its poet is Robert Frost.

Q2. Where was the ‘little old house’ situated?

Ans. It was situated at the edge of the road leading to the city.

Q3. What does the flow of cash support as has been said in the above lines?

Ans. It supports flowers and lawns of the cities.

Q4. What would not be fair as quoted in the above lines?

Ans. It would not be fair to think that the roadside stand was set up for begging ‘a dole of bread’ from the rich people.

Q5. What are the beauties of the cities?

Ans. The flowers in the houses, lawns, parks, etc. are the beauties of the cities.

Q6. What is the rhyme scheme in the above lines?

Ans. aaaabc

Stanza 2: The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
Or, if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs with S turned wrong and N turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,

Q1. Name the poem and its poet.  Ans. The name/ title of the poem is ‘A Roadside Stand’ and its poet is Robert Frost.

Q2. What do the polished traffic stand for/symbolise?  Ans. It stands for the polished cars.

Q3. How do the polished traffic pass?   Ans. It passes keeping destination in mind looking forward.

Q4.Wherefrom do the polished traffic pass?  Ans. It passes by the roadside stand.

Q5. What do the person who looked for a moment towards the stand think for a moment?

Ans. He would think that the beauty of the landscape has been damaged by the shed. The directions at the signboard have wrongly been pointed.

Q6. What has been painted artlessly?   Ans. The house has artlessly been painted.

Q7. What has been shown ‘S turned wrong and N turned wrong’?

Ans. The directions on the signboard have wrongly been shown.

 

Stanza 3: The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid: 

Q1. Whose complaint is about the ‘hurt of the scenery’?

Ans. It is the complaint made by the owners of the flashy cars.

Q2. What does the poet mean by ‘trusting sorrow’?

Ans. The poor people have full faith in the false promises made to them by the politicians. They continue waiting for their fulfilment and that causes sorrow in their minds.

Q3. What is ‘unsaid’ here in the poem?  Ans. The poor people’s trusting sorrow remains unsaid.

Q4. What is meant by ‘unsaid’?  Ans. It means unexplained.

Stanza 3:

While greedy good doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives, enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits…

Q1. Who are the greedy good doers?

Ans. The people from business class and politicians are called the greedy good doers.

Q2. Why have they been called ‘greedy good doers’?

Ans. They are called so because they are making money out of their goodness shown to them.

Q3. What poetical device has been used in the phrase ‘‘greedy good doers’?

Ans. Paradox has been used here.

Q4. What does ‘beneficent beast of prey’ symbolise?

Ans.It also  stands for the social workers and the politicians who pretend to  help the poor. But they make money by doing acts of charity and social work.

 

 

Keeping Quiet- Qs-Ans-(By Pablo Neruda)

 3.  Keeping Quiet (By Pablo Neruda)

Summary of the poem ‘Keep Quiet’

          Pablo Neruda tells us about the importance of introspection in this poem. It needs only counting up to twelve to reach this state. We become one with all on this earth in this position. The process of introspection discards all greed, cruelty, and selfishness from our minds. We become more humane. The fisherman would no more kill whales out of greed. The man gathering salt will stop gathering more salt. The people who create wars will also become sympathetic to innocent people. The process of introspection needs a few moments of silence. The people doing introspection may seem inactive. But this is a temporary situation. After introspection, we are again full of energy and enthusiasm.

Short-Answer type questions (30-40) words each :

Q.1    What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us to achieve?

Ans.   Counting up to twelve will just provide us a chance to stop our activities for a while. We shall be able to understand ourselves and restart our activities with renewed energy.

Q.2    Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

Ans.   The poet does not advocate total inactivity and death. He says that we should stop our activities for a few moments. During these moments, we should do introspection. It will fully recharge our mind and we can again start our activities afresh.

Q.3    What is the sadness that the poet refers to in the poem?

Ans.   The poet talks about sadness in the poem. It comes because we are always busy with the activities of life. We do not spare time to think and understand our inner-being.

Q.4    What symbol from nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?

Ans.   The poet uses the symbol of the earth in the winter season. The earth suspends all its creative activities during this season. It does not mean that the earth becomes dead. After winter, the earth restarts its activities with fresh energies. New colours and beauties are added to it. Similarly, if we suspend our activities, we do not become dead.

Q.5    What idea does the poet Pablo Neruda want to convey to us?

Ans.   The poet tells us the importance of introspection. In this process, we sit quiet and silent. We think only about ourselves we suspend all our activities and sit still. It helps us understand our inner-being. After that, we restart our worldly activities afresh our virtues are kindled (created) during introspection. This is the poet’s message to us.

Q.6    What does the poet mean when he says, “Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still”?

Ans.   Counting to twelve will make us focused on our thoughts. All activities will be suspended for a few moments. Our body is still. Now we are in a position to do introspection.

Q.7    Why does the poet call the moment of quiet introspection ‘an exotic moment’?

Ans.   It is exotic because we will feel united with all creatures and nature. The feeling of oneness will cure us of the negative feelings of greed, jealousy, cruelty, selfishness, etc.

Q.8    What does the poet say about those ‘who prepare green wars’?

Ans.   When we are in quiet introspection, our inner voice becomes more effective. Our negative thoughts and feelings become weak and inactive. They will become soft and human in quiet introspection. They will give up their activities.

Comprehension

Stanza 1-    Now we will count to  ........ arms so much.

Q.1    Name the poem and its poet.

Ans.   ‘Keeping Quiet’ by Pablo Neruda.

Q.2    What does the poet want us to do?

Ans.   He wants us to count to twelve and keep still (quiet)

Q.3    What does he not want us to do?

Ans.   __ not to say anything and not to move our arms.

Q.4    What is the real purpose of saying all this?

Ans    We should stop all our activities for a while, become silent and do introspection.

Stanza-2     “It would be an exotic moment .......... strangeness.

Q.1    What would be an erotic moment?

Ans.   The moment of introspection and silence would be exotic.

Q.2    How would it be ‘without rush without engines’?

Ans.   It is because all activities would be suspended during introspection.

Q.3    How shall we feel at this moment?

Ans.   We will feel together with all.

Q.4    How will it help the individual and the world?

Ans.   It would bring peace to the individual and the world.

Stanza-3     “Fishermen in the cold sea ....... would look at his hurt hands”

Q.1    What would the fishermen not do and why?

Ans.   They would not harm whales because they would feel satisfied in the moments of introspection.

Q.2    What would the man gathering salt do?

Ans.   He would look at his hurt hands and perhaps would stop collecting more salt.

Q.3    What do the words ‘hurt hands’ mean?

Ans.   Injured hands

Stanza-4     “Those who prepare green wars ....... in the shade, doing nothing.”

Q.1    What is meant by ‘green wars’

Ans.   Wars against greenery

Q.2    How are the wars fought?

Ans.   They are fought with fatal gases and weapons of firing.

Q.3    Which phrase used in the stanza show inhumanity of wars.

Ans.   “Victory with no survivors”

Q.4    How can men come out of their love for wars and start living like brothers?

Ans.   By giving time to introspection.

Stanza-5     “What I want should not be confused ..... I want no truck with death”

Q.1    What does the poet want?

Ans.   He wants - to stop for a second, remain still, and find a moment for quiet introspection.

Q.2    What does he want us not to confuse quiet introspection with?

Ans.   He does not want us to confuse it with total inactivity.

Q.3    What does he think about life?

Ans.   He thinks life full of activity.

Q.4    According to the poet, inactivity means -

Ans.   death

Stanza-6     “If we were  not so single-minded....... threatening ourselves with death”

Q.1    What does the poet think to be a sad situation? Ans.    It is the situation when we keep our life busy and do not find time for quiet introspection.

Q.2    What will happen if we go on without endless activities? Ans.        We shall never be able to understand ourselves.

Q.3    We can understand ourselves through - Ans.       quiet introspection

Q.4    How shall we be threatening ourselves with death?

Ans.   If we do not do introspection, we shall be threatening ourselves with death.

Stanza-7     “Perhaps the Earth can teach us .......... and you keep quiet and I will go ?”

     -    We can start our activities with fresh energy and in a better way by suspending them for a short while.

     -    The poet tells us to count to twelve just to give time for introspection.

     -    Keeping quiet will help us achieve an inner maturity

     -    A little of introspection can bring harmony to the world.