Geography Lesson

Geography Lesson

                              By Zulfikar Ghose

 

1.    The poem ‘Geography Lesson’ is composed by Zulfikar Ghose.

2.    The poem describes certain physical features, geographical arrangements on earth and reasons of settlements on earth.

3.   The poem is divided into three stanzas of 8 lines each. The tone of the poem is critising and didactic.

4.    Towards the end, the poet speaks about narrow-mindedness, selfishness and hatred among human beings. Poet fails to understand the reasons behind boundaries made by men which have divided them.

5.    The poem gives the message that God has made one earth and we, human being should not divide it into cities, countries and continents, rather we should live on earth peacefully and lovingly with one another.

  

 Line by Line Explanation of the Poem:

 

Stanza 1

When the jet sprang into the sky,                              A

it was clear why the city                                           B

had developed the way it had,                                   C

seeing it scaled six inches to the mile.                      D

There seemed an inevitability                                   B

about what on ground had looked haphazard,           C

unplanned and without style                                     D

When the jet sprang into the sky.                              A

Explanation:

In this poem the poet describes the scene of the city from the height of a jet in which he is sitting. The country from an aeroplane flying high is completely different from what everyone witnesses in his/her everyday life. When the jet took off, it was clear why the city had been planned the way it looks. The poet looked out from the window. A boundary of six miles was looking equal to six inches as he is quite far above in the sky. The city looked neatly planned and every establishment seemed to be meaningful. But on ground it looked as if it is without any plan or order as entire view of the city was not possible when he was on ground.

 

Stanza 2

When the jet reached ten thousand feet,                   A

it was clear why the country                                     B

had cities where the rivers ran                                  C

and why the valleys were populated.                        D

The logic of geography —                                        B

that land and water attracted man —                        C

was clearly delineated                                               D

When the jet reached ten thousand feet.                   A

Explanation :

When the aeroplane flew at a height of 10,000 feet above sea level, he looked down and understood the logic of Geography. It became clear to him why the cities in every country are situated on the banks of river. Secondly, the valleys are inhabited by the people. That’s why all the civilisations in the world took place on the edge of water bodies. Land for cultivation of food and water for drinking are primary needs of life. The plains and water bodies have always attracted people. This important truth unfolded before the poet when he was flying ten thousand feet high in the sky.

 

Stanza 3

When the jet rose six miles high,                              A

it was clear the earth was round                                B

and that it had more sea than land.                           C

But it was difficult to understand                              C

that the men on the earth found                                B

causes to hate each other, to build                            D

walls across cities and to kill.                                   E

From that height, it was not clear why.                    A

Explanation:

When the plane rose higher and he reached six miles above the ground, he could see that the earth is round as well as that it had more water than land. We all know that there is more than 70 percent water on the earth. The poet understood the reasons why it was so. He could understood all the reasons and the logic behind the geographical facts but he could not see any logic behind the division of land by raising the borders and the walls of hatred across the countries. He failed to understand why people go mad to kill one another.

 

Poetic Devices

When the jet sprang into the sky – Refrain

had developed the way it had – Consonance  & Repetition

seeing it scaled six inches to the mile – Simile

about what on ground had looked haphazard – Consonance

When the jet sprang into the sky – Alliteration

When the jet reached ten thousand feet – Refrain

It was clear why the country – Alliteration

had cities where the rivers ran – Alliteration

that land and water attracted man — Assonance

it was clear the earth was round – Repetition

and that it had more sea than land.

But it was difficult to understand – Consonance

that the men on the earth found – Alliteration & Repetition

walls across cities and to kill – Symbolism ( walls as boundaries)

From that height, it was not clear why – Consonance

 

Rhyme Scheme:

ABCD BCDA for each stanza

 

Summary/Synopsis: 

In this poem the poet describes the scene of the city, and the country from an aeroplane flying high. When the jet took off, the sky was clear. The poet looked out from the window. The city looked neatly planned. But on ground it looked without plan or order. It had numerous lanes and houses without style or symmetry.

When the aeroplane flew at a height of 10,000 feet above sea level, he looked below and realised the logic of geography. It became clear to him why the cities in every country are situated on the river banks. Secondly, the people lived chiefly in the valleys. This is the level land between the hills. Land and water are primary needs of life. They attract people.

When the plane rose as high above the ground as six miles the earth looked round. It had more water than land. The poet understood the reasons why it was so. But he could not see any logic behind the division of land by raising walls of bricks and hatred, and why people went madly after one another’s throat.

 

Message:

The poem renders a strong message that God has made one earth for human beings. We should not divide it into cities, countries and continents, rather we should live on earth peacefully and lovingly with one another. It give the message of brotherhood and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam’.