notes 2
Departure and Arrival By T.S. Elliot
Idea of Poem:
The idea is, that man should keep in view his departure right at his arrival in the world. He should determine objects of his life and work for them. Man should leave a better world before his departure to the next world. As in this twentieth century we should set good examples for the coming generation, so that we may be remembered forever. We must struggle to make the future better, before we start for our destination. The poem shows Eliot’s faith in idealism and optimism.
Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘Departure and Arrival’ written by T.S. Elliot.
Context:
This poem was written at the departure of 19th century and arrival of 20th century. Elliot is very optimist about the future. He gives us a message of hope and happiness in the poem. He advises us to struggle continuously for the betterment of humanity and society. He says that only in this way we can give a better future to our coming generations.
Stanza 1:
Standing upon the shore of all we know
We linger for a moment doubtfully,
Then with a song upon our lips, sail we
Across the harbour bar no chart to show
No light to warn of rocks which lie below,
But let us yet put forth courageously.
Explanation:
These are starting lines of the poem. In these lines, the poet compares human life with that of see journey. He says that standing on the shore of the world a man does not know about the dangers he will have to face in his future. He has no map or plane. There is no lighthouse to warn him of the rocks that might hit his ship. But, the poet advises us not to care about the dangers that will come in the life. He asks us to forget all the worries and dangers and march forward courageously.
Stanza 2:
Although the path be tortuous and slow,
Although it bristles with a thousand fears,
To hopeful eye of youth it still appears
A lane by which the rose and hawthorn grow
We hope it may be, would that we might know;
Would we might look into future years.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet says that the path of life is full of twists and turns. There are many fears and worries. This path of life is full of thorny bushes. But, a hope full young man also sees roses and flowers with these thorns. He advises us to look at the future with hope. Definitely, we shall success if we move ahead courageously.
Stanza 3:
Great duties call–the twentieth century
More grandly dowered that those which came before, Summons–who knows what time may hold in store, Or what great deed the distant years may see,
What conquest over pain and misery,
What heroes greater than were ever of yore.
Explanation:
This poem was written at the departure of 19th century and arrival of 20th century. In these lines the poet tells us that the coming time demands some more efforts on our part. He hopes that this century will have more facilities and comforts than any other century. He is optimistic about the future. He says that human beings can make full use of available and hidden resources to overcome the pains and miseries. This century will produce greater heroes than the heroes of old time.
Stanza 4:
But if this century is to be more great
Than those before, her sons must make her so
And we are her sons, we must go
With eager hearts to help mould well her fate,
And see that she shall gain such proud estate
And shall on future centuries bestow.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet tells us how we can make our century great. He says that we are sons of this century and only we can make this century great. We should try our hard to mould the fate of this century. We should make it better than the previous ones. We should make this century gain a proud estate. By doing so, we shall set a good example for the coming centuries and coming people.
Stanza 5:
A legacy of benefitsâ“may we
In future for the good until they die,
And ask no other question than to know
That they have helped the cause to victory,
That with their aid the flag is raised on high.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet asks us to do such good deeds that last forever. He asks us to leave good legacy for the coming generations that can benefit them for a long time. He wants us to work for the betterment and glory of the humanity so that the coming generations remember us as hard workers. Then in their turn, they will also work for the benefits of humanity and leave behind sweet memories.
Stanza 6:
Sometime in distant years when we are grown
Gray haired and old, whatever be our lot,
We shall desire to see again the spot
Which, whatsoever we have been or done
Or to what distant lands we may have gone,
Through all the years will never have been forgot.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet says that when we will grow old, we will remember the struggles we have done for the betterment of human life. We shall desire to visit the places where we worked hard and long. The people of coming generation will never forget our good deeds. In this way, this world will become a happy place to live
In this way, this world will become a happy place to live
14: Light Out By Edward Thomas
Idea of Poem:
Major Themes or idea in “Lights Out” is Power of sleep, death, acceptance, are some of the major themes present in the poem. The poet has discussed sleep as powerful and unavoidable like death. Throughout the poem, he talks about entering into the realm of sleep and getting lost in the peace it offers. To him, it overthrows all human interests and activities as he submits himself to its sweet temptations.
Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘Light out’ written by Edward Thomas.
Context:
In this poem, the poet deals with sleep as a great blessing of nature. He says that sleep takes man away from his tiresome activities. The poet has beautifully described his ideas. In fact, the poet has tried to compare sleep with death. It takes man to a land of permanent peace.
Stanza 1:
I have come to the borders of sleep, The unfathomable deep
Forest where all must lose
Their way, however straight
Or winding, soon or late;
They cannot choose.
Explanation:
These are starting lines of the poem. Here in these lines, the poet describes the theme of the poem. He says that lust of wealth and material has overpowered man. But, even then after a long busy day, we come to a stage when one desires to have some rest. This is advent of sleep. According to him, sleep is a vast thick forest which is immeasurable. We lose our way in this forest. We cannot make choice except to be driven by the wave of forest.
Stanza 2:
Many a road track
That, since the dawn’s first crack, Up to the forest brink,
Deceived the travelers,
Suddenly now blurs, And in they sink.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet says that though life is full of hardships and tiresome struggles, yet
the sleep is there to dominate all. It leads man to a peaceful valley, where there are many paths. Man walks on these paths till dawn. After the whole days’ work, man has to succumb to sleep willingly or unwillingly. It deceives man and slowly overcomes man and takes him into the world of peace.
Stanza 3:
Here love ends, Despair, ambition ends;
All pleasure and all troubles,
Although most sweet or bitter,
Here ends in sleep that is sweeter
Than tasks most noble.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet describes experience of sleep. According to him, sleep is so enchanting that all our disappointments, feelings of love, wishes, pleasure and pains vanish in dreams. For him sleep is very tempting. He says that during day time man remains busy in different types of works but when he enters in the valley of sleep all his works comes to end. Sleep is sweeter than all his worldly works.
Stanza 4:
There is not any book
Or face of dearest look
That I would mot turn from now
To go into the unknown
I must enter, and leave, alone. I know not how.
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet describes experience of sleep. When man is overshadowed by sleep neither any book nor any image of a near or dear one can stop him from entering this land of peace and pleasure. When man comes to this world, he has to enter this unknown world. He has to leave behind everything to enter the world of sleep. Here, actually the poet has compared sleep with that of death. He wants to say that when death comes man has to leave everything and nothing can stop him.
Stanza 5:
The tall forest towers;
Its cloudy foliage lowers
Ahead, shelf above shelf;
Its silence I hear and obey
That I may lose my way
And myself.
Explanation:
Here in these lines, the poet compares sleep with physical forest. A forest has huge trees like towers with unaccountable leaves. These trees are covered with layers and layers of leaves one upon another. In the same way, the sleep overcome man layer over layer. When sleep overcomes man, silence prevails over him. Man has to yield every command of sleep. When a man enters a thick forest he loses his way. In the same way, when man enters into sleep he loses his way and remains wandering in this forest of sleep till morning. He who is in sleep, is unaware of himself and all the worldly things as he would be in death.
One Art By Elizabeth Bishop
Idea of Poem:
Major Themes in “One Art”: Losing, acceptance, and sadness are the major themes found in the poem incorporated with powerful language and other literary elements. The poet’s message includes losing something, or someone does not bring disaster. She details her own losses to support her idea that the art of losing teaches us how to come out of precarious situations and be happy.
Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem “One Art” written by Elizabeth Bishop.
Context:
In this poem the poetess wants to teach us the most trifling incident and the greatest disaster should be faced without tears. The art of the losing, in fact, means to live life, hoping for the best, and to be ready to face and accept the worst.
Explanation:
Stanza 1
Stanza 1:
The art of losing is not hard to master;
So many things seen filled with the intent
To be lost that their loss is not disaster
In these lines the poetess gives us an important message that is directly related with human life. The message is that a man should not feel sorry or sad over losses of some ordinary things. Things come and go but the most important thing is human life. The loss of common things does not bring disaster in human life. To make life happy we should endure their loss and it is not hard to learn the art of losing.
Stanza 2:
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
Of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing is not hard to master.
Explanation:
In these lines the poetess gives us an important message that is directly related with human life. The message is that a man should not feel sorry or sad over losses of some ordinary things. She says that one should have the courage to bear the loss of door keys or a badly spent hour. Their loss causes problem for a moment not for whole life. She says to master in the art of losing lose something every day and it is not hard to master in the art of losing.
Stanza 3:
Then practice losing farther, losing faster; Places and names and where it was you went. To travel. None of these will bring disaster
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet suggests us the way to become expert in the field of losing. She says that in order to become master in this field try to lose more and quickly. This will make you able to bear the loss of anything. Sometimes, we forget the names of some persons or names of some places we have visited. But, it is a fact that forgetting of these things does not bring any disaster in life. Hence, the art of losing make us bear the loss of all these things with courage.
Stanza 4:
I lost my mother watch. And look; my last, or
Next-to-last, of three loved houses went. The art of losing is hard to master
Explanation:
In these lines, with the help of some examples, the poet tries to tell us that it is not difficult to be master in the art of losing. She tells us that once she lost her mother’s watch. Then, she had three beautiful houses which were very dear to her. I lost them also. But the life went on and on. It did not bring any kind of disaster in her life. Hence, if we try it is not hard to become expert in the field of losing and this will make our life easy.
Stanza 5:
I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster, some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. I miss them but it wasn’t a disaster.
Explanation:
In these lines, with the help of some examples, the poet tries to tell us that it is not difficult to be master in the art of losing. She says that even the loss of some big things does not bring any kind of disaster in life. She gives the example of losing her two beautiful cities. Then she says that she lost some things bigger than that. She lost a realm which was her. Then she lost two rivers and even a continent. But, the loss of even these things did not bring any kind of disaster in her life. Life goes on and on.
AFTER APPLE PICKING
Idea of Poem:
The main idea or theme which poem is based are love and beauty of nature, theory of death, accomplish and relish of success, life and relaxation. This poem is rich in understanding and deep in meaning. The idea of world and dreams are beautifully combined. Adding the soothing effects of deep sleep and relaxation make it powerful in meaning and understanding. To take a fresh start with the poem; we find a set of contrasts gradually developing: the world of summer and the world of winter; the world of labour and the world of rest; the world of effort and the world of reward; the world of wakefulness and the world of sleep.
Reference
These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘After Apple Picking’ by Robert Frost.
Context.
The poem is about sleep and the relaxation in life. The poet is talking about harvest of apples and picking apples and power of sleep. He is collecting apples but went tired and want to enjoy a sound deep sleep.
Explanation
The poem "After Apple Picking" is a master piece of English literature. The poem has two meanings, one deals with the harvest of a farmer whom blessed with wealth of crops but now he is tired of apple picking and wants to take rest.
But when we study different symbols used by the poet in this poem, it has many hidden meaning in symbols used for it.
The poet has used the symbol of farmer. The farmer in the poem represents the human beings who are busy in their day to day work and are trying to accomplish their desires of life. From early in the morning till late at night they are working in achieving their targets of life. But they tire soon. Their hands and feet start paining. They wish to take rest but their goals and targets of life do not make them sit and rest.
The poet has used the symbol of empty barrels. These empty barrels stand for our unfulfilled desires, wishes, aspirations, targets and goals. A man in his all life has thousands of desires. Only some of them are fulfilled but not the all. The barrel of our wishes and desire remains empty throughout the life. This never fills completely.
Apples are the symbol of goals, desire, deeds and actions in life. The poet is going to sleep and is seeing apples in his dreams. It means that he is visualizing his good or bad deeds, bad deeds are like bad apples and are of no use in the life after.
Sleep is the symbol of death. Sleep is a big barrier on the way to accomplish our desires. Man wishes to do some more work but sleep-death dominates him and does not give him the chance of fulfilling the unfulfilled task and desire.
The tree is the symbol of this world. It provides us different opportunities of earning. The ladder is the symbol of the technique and methods of earning. So, It is a highly symbolic poem.
The vanish Village by R.S Tomas
Idea of the poem.
The poem, “The vanishing Village”, describes the sadness of the poet over the rapid decline of the villages. It is said that the world is turning fast into a Global Village without villages. The unchecked, unchanged large scale migration towards cities goes on worldwide. The poet does not like it. He believes in the theory of Plato that the village is the basic unit of the world.
Reference to the context
These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘the vanish village’ written by, T. S. Tomas.
Context
In these lines the poet describes his sadness over the …….
Explanation
In the poem the poet has projected a gloomy picture of a village that is on its way to destruction. There are a few houses in the village. It has only one street that is leading nowhere and is eaten away by the tide of green grass. It means that the village is disconnected from the rest of the world. The village contains the population equal to none, so there is little activity in it. There is only one shop and one inn in the village. A black dog that is sitting in the hot sun and cracking its fleas is the only history. The reason is that all its residents have shifted to big cities in search of better life. The poet is pained to see that this basis of human civilization is being destroyed by its founders.
The concept of time and space is being vanished in the village. The girl moving from one door to another is a ray of hope. One sign of life and hope in the village. The girl who wanders from door to door is a symbol of revival. The poet hopes that the village will certainly come out of its present dismal condition. It will become centre of activity again. The tone of the poet is sad. He is grieved at the decline of beautiful and gay rural culture. He loves village life and firmly believes that the deserted village will regain its vitality and dynamism life once again.
The poem is based on the Plato s’ theory that the village is the basic unit of this world. If one wants to save the world, one must save the village. Large scale immigration to the cities must be checked.
(1. What is the real nature of Keats’ fears?
2. Write a note on Keats’ loneliness?
3. What is a sonnet; define it with reference to this poem)
Idea of the poem.
When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be: A wonderful reflective poem by John Keats. John Keats is considered one of the greatest romantic poets. He died at a very young age of 26. He wanted to be a great poet. This poem expresses his fear that he “may cease to be” very soon before fulfilling all his wish and before seeing the beauty of life and love and the world. Like all other human being he was afraid of leaving this world earlier as he was suffering from a fatal dieses TB.
Reference
These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘when I have fear’ by John Keats
Context
In these lines the poet is expressing his fear……
Explanations.
The sonnet, “ When I Have Fears “, is of great significance when we bear in mind the fact that Keats died at a very young age of twenty-six years old. The theme of the sonnets is the fears of the poet that he would die in a young age before the fulfilment of his poetic potential. His first fear is that he may die soon. The poet was suffering from T.B and at that time it was a very fatal disease. So, his fear came true when he died at the ripe age of twenty six.
His second fear was that he would not become a famous poet in his life. The reality is totally in favour of this fear in the mind of the poet. When he started writing poetry, he had to face a severe criticism, so he was not able to get the expected fame.
In case of his love he remained unsuccessful. He was in love with a beautiful woman but his love was one sided and unreflecting as that woman was in love with another fellow. Keats was a great lover of beauty. He was of the view, A thing of beauty is a joy forever,” But in his life span Keats did not relish the taste of beauty. Rejected from every sphere of life, he is standing alone on the shore of the world and is thinking that love and fame are nothing in this world.
A poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes, in English typically having ten syllables per line.
Theme of the poem
In this poem, the poet speaks of the grandeur of Kubla Khan s’ palace. As in the poem the poet is not discussing about the personality of Kubla Khan but of his palace and the beauty of his place.
The poet takes the flight in his imagination and tries to build the palace as a rare device. The poem has been written under the influence of opium. Under the effect of this medicine he dreamed of the place of Kubla Khan a Mongol emperor.
Reference
These lines have been taken from the poem, Kubla Khan, by S.T. Coleridge
Context
In these lines the poet is discussing about the beauty of the place of the Kubla Khan. He build an imaginary world place that is out of physical world. The post takes ……..
Explanation
Kubla Khan ordered to build a palace in Xanadu where the sacred river Alph flowed. It was a site of superb beauty. It was a place as enchanted as a place that is haunted by a woman wailing for her demon lover. There was a romantic chasm which went obliquely down to the slope of green hill covered with cedar trees. Out of this chasm, there gushed out a great fountain vaulting out stones with water. The river passed through the enchanted land for ten miles before falling into the sea. The palace was built in the fertile ground of ten miles area. The reflection of the domes of the palace floated in the mid of the sacred river.
Once the poet saw a maiden who was singing of mount Abora .She was an Abyssinian girl. The poet was much impressed by the symphony of her song. The poet desires to revive the song of that girl as with the help of that song he wants to rebuild the palace of Kubla Khan in his imagination. In the end, the poet has labelled Kubla Khan as a supernatural character who forces the seers to close their eyes with holy dread as he has been fed with heavenly food.
Snake BY D. H. LAWRENCE
Idea of the poem.
The poem is about the ever changing feelings and emotions of the poet on seeing a snake at his water trough. Lawrence is a great lover and admirer of the objects of nature. So this natural instinct of poetry compelled him to compose a beautiful poem on a very common and dangerous object of nature- Snake. The poet is much impressed by the beauty of snake.
Reference
These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘’ snake’’ by D. H. Lawrence
Context
In these lines of this strange poem the poet is showing his emotions about his uninvited guest, snake. Who has come to drink water from his water holder. The beauty made him to compose …..
Explanation.
The poet welcomes the snake, as an honourable guest at his home.
Throughout the poem his reactions and feelings are changing. Firstly, he is honoured and pleased on seeing a snake at his water trough. He let the snake drink water first and as a second comer he is waiting. But soon his voice of accursed human education informs him that this snake is very venomous (poisonous) it must be killed. The poet is confused as he still likes the snake. His voice of education dominates him and he picks up a clumsy log and throws it onto the snake. The snake resumes his back -hole journey and disappeared. Now the poet s’ feeling and reaction again changes and he starts repenting. He compares the snake with a king- a king in exile that has gone under world to resume his kingship. He compares his snake with a god and also with Albatross. It is a bird mentioned in Coleridge s’ most famous poem. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” In which the sailor kills the Albatross and he receives a series of misfortunes as a result of his bad act. In the same way, the snake for the writer is a symbol of good luck but he misses this chance. The poet becomes remorseful and wants to compensate his bad act.
1. Discuss the main theme of the poem ‘Snake’?
The poet feels repentant after his encounter with snake. Why?
Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes
Idea of poem
The poem is about the wrong ideas of a ruler who thinks that he is all- powerful. The Hawk symbolizes this ruler. The poet presents the idea that a ruler who becomes a dictator thinks that he is a god and the rest of the people are his subject. He can do with them what he pleases. Even the objects of nature are created for his case and to enhance his power.
Reference
These lines have been taken from the poem, hawks monologue, by Ted Huge.
Context
In these lines the poet personifies the poem and used hawk and explains the idea that ….
Explanation
Ted Hughes is a modern English poet. His philosophical views are based on his deep observation and study of human nature. Death, destruction, power and violence are the main themes of his poetry. "Hawk's Monologue" is the speech of a savage bird of prey who takes pride in his unchallenged power to kill and destroy. The poem also exposes the attitude of power-drunk persons in this world.
This poem is a dramatic monologue delivered by the 'hawk' who boasts much of his superiority over other birds. He thinks that he is the most powerful creation of Nature and has complete right to kill others. The poet has painted "Hawk" as a symbol of absolute power, authority and destruction. The poem has symbolic significance. In fact, it is a satire on those dictators who wish to have unlimited powers for them. They develop misconceptions about their power and status.
They do not listen to any reason and believe that are the greatest on earth. They treat others with contempt and do not hesitate to torture or destroy them for their pleasure. But they forget the fact that they also have to face death and destruction. They do not accept the reality that, no one in this world is permanent, every thing changes and declines here. Sometimes they realize their mistake but too late.
say this city has ten million souls; WY Stan Hugh Auden
Idea of the poem
The poem is about the sense of alienation and isolation of immigrants. The poet presents the idea that immigrants are looked down upon. They are not considered as good citizens. So they are ignored and deserted. It is considered that they have no rights. The passport is the proof of their existence. If they have no passport they are officially dead. They are considered worse than animals.
Reference
These line have been taken from the poem, ‘ say this city has million souls’ by W. H. Auden
Context
In these lines the poet described the feeling and isolation of the immigrants…..
Explanation
This poem is about the international problem of refugees. It is an outcome of political difference or religious and racial discrimination. In these touching lines Auden has expressed the scene of alienation of refugees coming to a country not their own. He is talking specifically of the German Jews who fled their country afraid of Hitler's persecution. However, the feelings expressed here can be shared by refugees and immigrants anywhere in the world.
The poet regards refugees the most unfortunate people.
They are given merciless and inhuman treatment by the so-called civilized societies. Human life and its dignity fall beneath the animal level. Man is imprisoned in a thousand chains of religion, race, nationality and passport. The poet condemns the division of mankind due to selfishness and narrow-mindedness. He believes that we should rise above these barriers and accept the right of refugees to live. The poem is sentimental in impact. It arouses the feelings of sympathy and pity for the refugees.
The poem is very pensive and ironic. The author seems to be lamenting the refugees, and it would seem he is one. He seems to be admiring the fish and birds, and their freedom and the peace that they have.
Politics
Idea of the poem.
The poem is about the subject of love and politics. The poet presents the idea that politics has no importance in the face of youth and love. The poet talks on the subject of love and politics very beautiful. He wants to make us understand that in the face of a living girl, politics does not have any importance.
Reference
These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘politics’ by W.B.Yeats
Context
In these lines the poet, main subject is love and politics….
Explanation
This is a simple, yet beautiful poem about politics and love. It tells us that in this age, politics has assumed great importance. Everybody has been interested in the political activities of big countries.
But love is a great reality. Politics loses of its charm in the face of youthful beauty and burning passion of love. In this poem Yeats has contrasted the reality of politics with the reality of love. According to his view political reality cannot be denied but it is certainly questioned in the face of the greater reality of love. The girl in the poem symbolizes youth and beauty and stimulates a strong passion of love in the heart of a man. Love is a more enjoyable alternative than current political information. The world of powerful politics appears meaningless in the face of this basis need and reality. The language of the poem is simple and conversational.