Great Books Born out of Great Minds-Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam-Questions-An...

Sonnet 18- William Shakespeare's- Extracts for Explanation

 Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines, and often is his gold complexion dimmed; and every fair from fair sometime declines, by chance or nature's changing course untrimmed

Reference to the Context: These lines are from William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, also known by its first line: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? In this sonnet, the poet is praising the beauty of a young person (often believed to be a beloved friend or muse). He begins by asking if he should compare this person’s beauty to a summer’s day. Then, in the following lines, he explains why summer is not a perfect comparison — because summer can change and fade, while the beauty of the person he’s talking about is more lasting and constant.

Explanation: In these lines from Sonnet 18, Shakespeare explains that summer is not always perfect—it can be too hot, or the sun can be hidden behind clouds. Just like summer, all beautiful things in nature eventually lose their charm. This happens either by chance or through the natural process of time. He says this to show that the person he’s talking about is even better than a summer’s day because their beauty will not fade like the beauty of nature does.

The Essay on Man-Explanation of Extracts

 Created half to rise, and half to fall;

Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;
Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurled,
The glory, jest, and riddle of the world.
Reference to the context:

Reference to the Context: These lines are from The Essay on Man (Epistle II of the poem), where Pope discusses human nature and the place of man in the universe. He tries to show that humans are a mixture of greatness and weakness and that their position in the world is full of contradictions.
Explanation In these lines from An Essay on Man, Alexander Pope talks about human beings' mixed and confusing nature. He says that humans are made "half to rise and half to fall," meaning they have both strengths and weaknesses. They can achieve great things but also make big mistakes. Even though humans are called the "great lord of all things" because they rule over other creatures and nature, they are still weak and can be harmed by many things. Pope also points out that humans are the only ones who try to judge what is true, but they often make many errors. In the end, he calls man "the glory, jest, and riddle of the world," which means humans are amazing, sometimes foolish, and very hard to understand. These lines show how humans are full of contradictions and are both wonderful and confusing at the same time.

Great Books Born out of Great Minds-Questions-Answers

What does Kalam mean to say when he mentions 'Life Force in his speech: "Great Books Born Out of Great Minds'?

In Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's speech "Great Books Born Out of Great Minds," when he mentions the "Life Force," he is referring to the inner energy, inspiration, or driving spirit that resides within a person. This "Life Force" is what pushes someone to create, to think deeply, and to write meaningfully—especially when it comes to creating great books or works of literature.

Kalam suggests that this Life Force enables authors to pour their thoughts, emotions, and ideals into their writing. It goes beyond just intellect or skill—it's a deeper motivation, often tied to a purpose or vision. For example, he talks about how writers like Thiruvalluvar, Shakespeare, or Tolstoy used their Life Force to bring forth ideas that have inspired generations.

In essence, by mentioning the Life Force, Kalam highlights the power of passion, purpose, and creativity—that inner spark that transforms ordinary thoughts into timeless works.