John Donne

“The sun rising” is an emotional lyric by John Donne. It is the form of a dramatic monologue. The lover in the poem says that

the sun does not control the world. It is lovers who do this.

1. Why is the song called ‘busy old fool’ and why is the unruly?

The poet calls the sun a busy booty. He thinks that he can interfere with the affairs of any body including the lovers. Now

love controls the world and not the sun. They should mind his own business.

2. Who are the people the sun should actually govern of control?

The sun should not interfere with the lovers .He should try to deal with the school boys late to the school .He should tackle

the ill tempered trainees . He can warn the courtiers about the king’s ride. He can call the farm laborers to their duties

3. How does the poet represent his beloved in the poem?

The poet is all praise for his lady love. She excels everything in the world. The spices in the East Indies and the gold mines in

the West Indies do not match the glory of her presence.

4. Why is it said that the sun calls on the pair in the poem through throw windows and through Curtains? What

is meant by this?

The sun peeps through the windows and curtains of the lovers bedroom. The poet says that he should not do so and try to

wake them up. He cannot try to have control over their time.

5. Why is the sun both ‘Saucy’ and’ pedantic’?

The sun thinks that he regulates the time and controls the activities of the world. Lovers need not adapt themselves to his

time keeping. The sun expects all the world to obey his rule.

6. What does the speaker make his bedroom into and what does he make his bed into? Explain with reference

to the third stanza.

The poet makes his bedroom into a contracted word. Him and not the sun, rules this world. Their love is the only reality not limited by time. The sun has no power over them.

William Wordsworth

Wordsworth is a keen lover of nature. ‘The Solitary Reaper’ is one of his finest lyrics. Once the poet sees a highland girl

working alone in the field. She is reaping and singing herself. The whole valley is filled with the sound of her song.

1. Describe the setting, the song and the task that the singer was engaged in as she sang.

‘The Solitary Reaper’ is one of the finest lyrics of Wordsworth. Once the poet sees a Highland girl working alone in the

field. She is reaping and singing by herself. She is singing a sorrowful song.

2. What were the conjectures of the poet as he listened to the song and wondered about it?

The girl sings in her own language . The poet does not know what she sings about. Perhaps she sings about some old,

unhappy incident. Or she sings about some battle fought long ago. It may be singing about some natural sorrow, loss or pain.

3. The reaper seemed to be happy with her life and fate. What are the indications from the poem to this effect?

The reaper is working alone in the field. She is reaping and singing by herself. She is singing sweetly her own language.

She sings as if there was no ending. Her activity indicates that she seems to be happy with her life and fate.

4. What is the poet’s mood as he listened to the song of the solitary reaper? Why?

The reaper is working alone in the field. She is singing sweetly in her own language. Though he leaves the place, he

carries the music in his heart for a long time. He cannot forget the song. He is very happy as he listens to the song of the solitary

reaper.

5. What is meant by ‘Arabian Sands’? Why is this called so?

The poet compares the song of the solitary reaper with the song of the nightingale. The nightingale sings when the tired

travelers in the Arabian desert settles at an Oasis to take rest. Arabian sands refer to the deserts of Arabia.

Robert Frost

The poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ is written by Robert Frost. It has a personal and universal appeal. It makes us think

about the choices we make in life. We have to think carefully before we take a decision. We must have the courage to choose the way

even if it is rough and thorny.

1] Explain the options the traveler has. What is his dilemma?

Ans. The poet looks at the two roads. One road is used by many people. The other road is not used by many people. The poet

cannot decide which road to take . That is his dilemma.

2] What is the reason for the traveler choosing the less travelled path?

Ans. The poet looks at the two roads. One road is used by many people. The other road is not used by many people . He keeps

the first road for the other day.

3] What does the poet stand in front of the two paths for a long time?

Ans. One day the poet travels alone. He comes to a point. It is autumn. The leaves on the trees are yellow. In what yellow

wood the road divides into two. He stands there for a long time looking at the two roads.

4] How difficult is the choice for travelers? Does it mean that he cannot reverse his choice at a later time?

Ans. The poet chooses the road which is not used by many people. It is a difficult choice. He says that it is impossible to retrace the steps once taken. Either the desire to go back is lost or it becomes difficult to go back. 5] Why does the poet say that he will be telling this story “ages and ages hence”.

Ans. In future the poet will tell himself that he has the courage to take the less travelled road. He feels that he cannot choose

a path because it is used by many people.

6] What has made all the difference to Robert Frost? [Or]

“And that has made all the difference” What made so each of a difference to the traveler ans why?

Ans. The poet takes the less traveled road. He thinks that it is the only road he has to take. That has made the difference. He

does not give importance to the road taken. He gives importance to the road not taken.

Chinuva Achebe

In the present poem chinuva Achebe shows great sensitivity and humanity. The poet describes the plight of refugees. The

poem offers a realistic picture of a refugee mother and her child. The emphasis is on the mother and the child.

1. Why is this a child that the mother would soon have to forget?

The poet describes the refugee mother and her child in pathetic terms. The child is undernourished and is dead or

about to die. The mother has to forget it soon. However she does not ignore the child as many other mothers would do.

2. Briefly describe the refugee camp.

The refugee camp is a picture of pain and misery. The air is heavy with the odors of diarrhoea and unwashed children.

They are dried up with empty bellies. Many mothers have given up hopes for their children.

3. Why is the mother describing here different from other mothers?

[Or]

Can you think of why some mothers had ceased to care in the situation?

The refugee camp is full of undernourished and sick children. Many of them have no chance of survival. Many mothers

have given up hopes for their children. But this mother is otherwise. She treats the dead child lovingly as if putting flowers on the

grave.

4. Why is the little act of combing the child’s hair of special significance in this situation?

The refugee mother and her child are presented in a pathetic manner. The mother has not ignored her child like the

other mothers. She is seen combing the child’s hair. This would have been a normal act with normal children. But with this child

who is dead the act has a special significance.

Nissim Ezekiel

In the present poem Ezekiel describes a farewell party. Miss Pushpa is leaving for a foreign country and a party is

arranged to wish her a happy journey. The speaker exhibits his hypocrisy in praising miss Pushpa. His use of Indian English creates

humor.

1. Briefly describe the speaker in the poem.

The speaker in the poem exhibits his hypocritical personality. He uses many Indianisms. His literal translation of

vernacular expressions creates humor. He pretends to have intimacy with missing Pushpa.

2. What does the speaker say about Pushpa’s father?

The speaker does not know much about missing Pushpa’s father. He knows only that he was an advocate. He does not

know whether he lived in buslar or Surat.

3. How does the speaker drift into his memories?

The speaker refers in his to miss Pushpa’s father. He recollects how he once stayed in Surat with the family his uncle’s

friend. His wife was a nice cook.

4. What do you gather about missing Pushpa from the speaker’s words?

The speaker says that miss Pushpa comes from high family. She is most popular lady. She moves freely with men

women. She has a helping nature. She never says ‘no’ to anybody.

TRIPURANENI SRNIVAS

“I Will Embrace Only the Sun” is a thought provoking poem. The poet Tripuraneni Srinivas makes a strong plea

for generation of new ideas and originality in thinking. He condemns blind imitation. He is prepared to put his life at stake for the sake

of originality.

1. Why is the speaker trying to re-create himself?

The poet takes original thinking and creativity. He does not like blind imitation. He does not want to be a mirror

reflecting other things. He wants to re-create himself in new forms.

2. Why does the poet like a song that is not completely understood?

The poet always takes the song that defies total understanding. Such a song leaves scope for imagination. He wants

rebirth for that is a victory over death. He emphases that ideas are creators.

3. Why does the poet prefer the sun to the moon?

The poet has never lived without a new thought. He will not rest till the mirror is broken. Blind imitation should give

place to originality. He cannot love the dull moon but is prepared to embrace the hot sun even if it means death.

4. What does the poet say about songs that are repeated?

The poet dislikes songs that are merely repeated by scores of people. He has twenty years and has gone through

many births. The poet hates blind imitation.

PRADEEP.S