Not Marble nor the Gilded monuments

Not Marble nor the Gilded Monuments

                                     By William Shakespeare

Analysis :

·      The poem ‘Not Marble Nor the Gilded monuments’ is a beautiful poem composed by William Shakepeare, one of the greatest writers and poets of English literature.

·      This poem is a sonnet – a poem of 14 lines. The Shakespearean sonnet is a simplified version of Italian sonnet (having strict division of an octave (verse of 8 lines) followed by a sestet (verse of six lines)

·      It is an example of artistic marvel, having been divided into three stanzas – the first three being quatrains (verse of 4 lines) and a concluding couplet (a verse of 2 lines).

·      It also follows a simplified rhyming scheme – abab, cdcd, efef and gg.

·      The tone of the poem is philosophical.

·      The poem highlights the themes that time is powerful and cruel, death is inevitable and poetry or literature is immortal and beyond the overpowering death and destruction.

 

Line by Line Explanation

Stanza 1

Not marble nor the gilded monuments

Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme,

But you shall shine more bright in these contents

Than unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time.

Explanation :

Shakespeare wants to tell the readers that the marble monuments which are beautifully decorated and studded with gold and precious stones to proclaim the glory of kings and princes, cannot save them from death and destruction as time is the greatest ravager. The poet feels proud to say that his friend of beloved will remain immortal after being admired in his sonnet or poetry. Here, he means to say that only a piece of literature remains untouched by the destruction caused by time which is compared to an immoral woman who is insensitive and unconcerned to the pain and loss of others just like time as it doesn’t spare anyone.

 

Stanza 2

When wasteful war shall statues overturn,

And broils root out the work of masonry,

Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn

The living record of your memory.

Explanation :

Shakespeare continues telling that the wars bring destruction and statues of kings get overturned and broken. Similarly small riots also destroy the works of masonry such as statues, monuments, forts, buildings and palaces. But, even Mars, the Roman god of war who is responsible for war cry and destruction can not spoil or destroy a piece of poetry or literature, which eventually becomes a living record of Shakespeare’s friend who will be remembered till that piece of poetry is.

 

Stanza 3

’Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity

Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room

Even in the eyes of all posterity

That wear this world out to the ending doom.

Explanation :

The poet is certain that his friend shall live against the rules of death and even enmity can’t make people forget his friend as he or she is recorded in his sonnet for ever. The future generations will come to know about his friend when they read his verse. Thus, he or she shall live till the Judgement Day when the entire world perishes.

 

Stanza 4 (Couplet)

So, till the Judgement that yourself arise,

You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.

Explanation :

The poet concludes that his friend will live in this world till the last day of judgement when he or she will arise again for judgement. And before that he or she will remain alive in form of his sonnet and be remembered by his admirers. Thus, he or she will live in their hearts as beautiful memory till the judgement day.

 

What is a sonnet?

A sonnet is a poem of fourteen (14) lines with specific form and meter. It originated in Italy. It is known for its strict rhyme scheme, meter and stanza pattern.

Shakespearean Sonnet is structured in four stanzas :

Quatrain 1 (consisting of 4 lines)

Quatrain 2 – (consisting of 4 lines)

Quatrain 3 – (consisting of 4 lines)

Ending Couplet – (consisting of 2 lines)

Every line consists of 10 syllables, composed in Iambic Pentameter (5x2 = 10 syllables)

Rhyme Scheme - abab, cdcd, efef, gg

Quatrain 1

Not marble nor the gilded monuments                                A          

Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme,                     B

But you shall shine more bright in these contents               A

Than unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time.             B

Quatrain 2

When wasteful war shall statues overturn,                           C          

And broils root out the work of masonry,                             D

Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn             C

The living record of your memory.                                       D

Quatrain 3

’Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity                                  E           

Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room           F

Even in the eyes of all posterity                                             E

That wear this world out to the ending doom.                        F

Couplet

 So, till the Judgement that yourself arise,                              G          

You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.                              G

 

 

Themes

Time is the greatest ravager and spares none.

Time eventually destroys everything.

 

Poetic devices

Alliteration

•       Not marble nor the gilded monuments

•       Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme

•       But you shall shine

•       unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time.

•       When wasteful war

•       That wear this world out

Personification

•       your praise shall still find room

•       nor the gilded monuments Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme

•       And broils root out the work

Difficult Word Meaning

•       Gilded – ornate, decorated or studded with gold or gems

•       Powerful rhyme – sonnet or poetry

•       You – the poet’s friend/beloved to whom he addresses

•       These contents – sonnet or his poetry

•       Sluttish – immoral or untrustworthy woman (here refers to time which is insensitive or unconcerned)

•       Wasteful wars – wars bring destruction

•       Broils – roasting, riots, grilling or tarnishing

•       Masonry – stone or bricks work or monuments

•       Mars – Roman god of war

•       Living record – sonnet or verse of Shakespeare

•       ‘Gainst death – even after death

•       Oblivious enmity – enmity that makes one forget the friends and relatives

•       Posterity – future grnerations

•       Ending doom – end of the world (judgement day)

•       Judgement Day – final day of judgement

•       You – poet’s friend/beloved

•       You live in this – poet’s sonnet will keep his friend’s memory alive

•       Lovers – admirers or lovers of Shakespeare’s poetry

•       Dwell – live (in admirers’ hearts)

 

 

The Letter

The Letter

                                By Dhumketu

 

Analysis :

·      The story ‘The Letter’ is written by Dhumketu Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi who writes with his pen name Dhumketu. It is an account of the life of a father, Ali and his unfathomable love for his daughter.

·      The story highlights mental condition and emotions of a father and his desperate wait for his daughter’s letter, which concludes with the ironical end that the letter arrives only after his death and is laid on his grave.

·      The story makes us understand that a father suffers hugely in absence of his daughter describing his desperate wait for her letter that leads to the life of loneliness, grief, anxiety and helplessness.

·      The letter written by Jim clearly states there are better ways to resolve ways. It also highlights that sports and festivals may unite people across the boundaries and war divides humanity causing loss of lives and property and making children orphans and wives widows.

·      The chapter successfully gives a beautiful message of love, kindness and compassion for the family as well as other creatures. It beautifully and impactfully helps us imbibe the values like concern, empathy, compassion, understanding, love and trust for the creatures in this universe.

·      The chapter explores beautifully the theme of love and trust between a father and his daughter.

·      It is about a father who is in pain as he doesn’t get the letter of his daughter, but is determined to get it. It helps him have the recognition and acknowledgement of his cruel behaviour towards birds as a hunter and he tries to change his ways and behaviour towards all the creatures.

·      The story helps the readers learn their mistakes and develop the sensitivity, sensibility and understanding among family members especially the parents and children.

 

Summary

‘The Letter’ is an emotional story of an old man named Ali who is all alone and waiting for a letter from his daughter, Miriam. But unfortunately, he receives that letter only after his death.

In the early morning when cold and biting wind was blowing, Ali walked through the town to the post office. Except for some women singing and working on the grinding mill, a dog’s bark, a workman going early to work and a bird’s disturbed chirrup, there was deathly silence in town. Most people were sleeping due to effect of cold. Ali was shivering and walking on his old staff. When, he reached the Post Office, a beautiful building with newest style, he was filled with the joy of a pilgrim on seeing the pilgrimage. Ali went in quietly and sat there on a bench in the verandah, waiting for his daughter’ letter. This has been his daily routine for last five years.

The people at the post office during their routine work would call out names such as Commissioner, Police Superintendent, Diwan Saheb and many other names and flung the letters to the waiting postmen. Sometimes, in between a post man in his jesting voice would call, ‘Coachman Ali!’ The old man would get up, expressing gratitude to God would ask for his letter. Then, the clerk would call out the name ‘Gokul Bhai’ and scold Ali calling him a mad man. Others used to laugh at him. The clerk told the postmaster that Ali is mad as he comes every day for his letter but letter never comes.

Ali has been a clever shikari in his young age. He derived pleasure to look at the terrorised faces of young birds after getting separated from family and the eyes of dying birds. He couldn’t stay for a day without hunting. His sharp eyes could see birds hidden among leaves and the hare hidden in the yellow brown scrub and in another moment, they were shot dead. He would also go for fishing. His life suddenly took a new turn when his only child, his daughter, Miriam left him after getting married with a soldier in the Punjab regiment. For the last five years he got no news of his daughter but he was living only to receive his daughter’s letter. Now, he understood the meaning of love and separation and could no longer enjoy hunting. Loneliness of his life made him reflect that the whole universe is built up through love and that the grief of separation is inescapable. From that day, with immense hope and faith, he is always the first to arrive at the post office that became his place of pilgrimage. People laughed at him. Even though there was no letter for him, they would call out his name to see him jump up and come to the door. Still, he came every day, and went away empty handed.

The post-master with serious face was inexpressive as a pumpkin, and with the features of village schoolmasters, office clerks or postmasters. At the end of day, Ali got up and saluting the post-office left the place. The post-master asked the clerk if he is mad. Clerk agreed and told that he comes every day whatever the weather is. The postman told, mad men are strange people. Then everybody started talking about and giving examples of mad people. They discussed about a postman in Ahmedabad making little heaps of dust, another going to the river and pouring water on a stone, a madman pacing up and down all the time, one declaiming poetry and another slapping himself and crying. The post master felt, mad-men are like the poets.

For several days Ali had not come to the post-office. Noone had enough sympathy or understanding to think about him and the reason. At last, he came, he was weak and on his face were clear signs of approaching end. When he asked about letter from Miriam, the postmaster was in a hurry and shouted at him saying that nobody would eat his letter when it comes and he walked off hastily. Ali’s eyes were filled with tears of helplessness. His patience was exhausted but his faith was intact. Ali, giving five golden guineas to the clerk requested him to keep his letter on his grave whenever it came as the day was his last day. There were tears in Ali's eyes. Ali was never seen again, and no one troubled to inquire after him.

One day, the postmaster’s daughter lay ill in the town, and he was anxiously waiting for news of her well being. Among the post, there was a letter addressed to Coachman Ali. The post master became sad and anxious. He called Lakshmi Das and told him about the letter for Ali and asked him to find out Ali. That day he did not receive his letter and decided that he would hand over Ali’s letter himself. Now, the postmaster understood Ali's heart and had sympathy for him who had been sad and anxious in the same way for the last five years.

The next morning at five he heard the knock and expected Ali to be there. He opened the door and saw Ali leaning on a stick with tears in his eyes. His eyes had a light so unearthly that the postmaster got scared. He handed him the letter. But, suddenly he disappeared. Lakshmi Das, the clerk was shocked to hear the postmaster call out the name of Coachman Ali who had now been dead for three months. The letter was found lying near the door. The postmaster was perplexed, whether he had really seen Ali or it was Lakshmi Das. The daily routine began and the clerk read out the addresses. The postmaster now watched the letters as each contained a warm, beating heart and not as envelopes and postcards. In the evening Lakshmi Das and the postmaster went to Ali's grave and laid the letter on it. Now, the newly-wakened father's heart in him scolded him for not understanding Ali's anxiety. He was tortured by doubt and remorse when he was waiting for his daughter’s letter while sitting near the charcoal sigri. He repented as he should have been more sympathetic and helpful towards Ali. He was no longer ill-tempered.

Themes

•       The story highlights the theme of love, empathy and understanding towards all the creatures alike through the characters of Ali and the post master.

•       It explores beautiful relation of love & trust between father & daughter. Even after waiting for 5 years in vain Ali’s faith was intact. Post master changed due to his love for his daughter.

•       The chapter conveys that the whole universe is built up through love and grief of separation is inescapable. Ali left hunting as he could not see the young birds terrorised and separated.

 

Message

•       The chapter successfully gives a beautiful message of empathy, love, understanding and compassion for family as well as other people. We need to understand other people’s pain. We must not react before knowing the entire truth.

•       The story helps us imbibe the values like empathy love and kindness. We need to be kind towards all the creatures in the universe. Before doing harm to them we must think of their pain as we do for ourselves.

  

Important Question Answers

Q . Why did Ali give up hunting?

Ans. Ali gave up his passion for hunting because he grew old and weak physically in his later days. Though he lost his youthful stamina and energy, yet the instincts of hunting were still present in him. Truthfully, the main and the most important reason to leave hunting was his separation from his daughter after her marriage. His loneliness made him realise the pain of young birds after getting separated from family. Therefore, he stopped hunting as it causes separation. He understood, the universe is built through love.

Q. What had exhausted Ali’s patience but not his faith?

Ans. Ali was getting old and weak. His constant weakness took away   all his strength and stamina. He was also losing his patience due to his old age and weakness. It was impossible for him now to make a daily visit to the Post Office for his daughter’s letter.

He realised that his days were few, so his eyes were filled with tears. Though his physical infirmities and the shadow of approaching death exhausted his patience, yet they could not dampen his spirits and shake his faith. He believed that one day his daughter’s letter would certainly come so he gave 5 guineas to the clerk to deliver the letter to his grave. His faith won and the letter came for him.

 

 

Solitary Reaper

Solitary Reaper

By William Wordsworth

Analysis :

·      The poem ‘Solitary Reaper’ is composed by William Wordsworth who is a prominent poet of Romantic Era, 18^th century. He is also known as ‘worshipper of nature’. He said, “Let nature by thy teacher”.

·      The poem is about a girl from the highlands of Scotland.

·      This poem is about a day when the poet saw a beautiful woman working in the fields, harvesting the grain and singing a sad song which had a great impact on the poet.

·      The tone of the poem is admiring.

·      The theme of the song is overpowering impact of music and peaceful joy of solitude and beauty of nature.

Line by line Explanation :

Stanza 1

Behold her, single in the field,

Yon solitary Highland Lass!

Reaping and singing by herself;

Stop here, or gently pass!

Alone she cuts and binds the grain,

And sings a melancholy strain;

O listen! for the vale profound

Is overflowing with the sound.

Explanation

The poet is telling the readers to look at a girl who is working alone in the field. The girl who the poet can see in front of himself, is from the Scottish Highlands and she is working all by herself. She is involved in all sort of works in the process of harvesting such as cutting crops and binding the grain. The work is tedious and time taking so she prefers to sing at the same time, completely alone. The words related to loneliness highlight the fact that the girl is there alone. The poet tells the passersby to either stop and listen carefully, or walk quietly so they don’t disturb her. She is harvesting the crop and tying it into bundles all by herself, there is no one to help her. While being at work, she is singing a sad song about the battles. The poet asks the passersby to listen carefully and feel the impact of the song. The song is resonating the entire valley which appears to be overflowing with the overpowering sound.

 

Stanza 2

No nightingale did ever chant

More welcome notes to weary bands

Of travellers in some shady haunt,

Among Arabian sands:

A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard

In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird,

Breaking the silence of the seas

Among the farthest Hebrides.

Explanation :

Here, the poet is comparing the solitary reaper’s song with two most melodious birds, nightingale and Cuckoo who are known for sweet singing) But, the poet says that even nightingale must have never sung so melodiously to the tired travellers, walking in the desert sand of Arabia and resting in a shady place, as this girl is singing. The poet makes this comparison to emphasise that the reaper’s song is even more refreshing. He further says that such a captivating and powerful voice has never been heard. Even the cuckoo who sings in spring time is not so pleasing and melodious as the solitary reaper who is singing to break the silence of quiet surroundings in Hebrides, the distant Scottish islands. According to the poet, her song is more beautiful than nature’s best sounds.

 

Stanza 3

Will no one tell me what she sings?

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow

For old, unhappy, far-off things,

And battles long ago:

Or is it some more humble lay,

Familiar matter of to-day?

Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,

That has been, and may be again!

Explanation :

The poet wonders what the girl is singing about or what could be the subject matter of her song. The poet is unable to understand the words and their meaning as the girl is singing in regional language which the poet is unfamiliar with. He makes a guess that her sad song may be about some past unhappy event or some mishappening in her past. He also thinks for the possibility that she may be singing a song on the theme of ancient wars and violent struggles. There is also a possibility that she is singing a simple, ordinary song on simple theme or it can be a song about everyday life which may be expressing sadness, loss, or pain happening normally in human life and such things must have happened in past and, can happen in future, too.

 

Stanza 4

What’er the theme, the maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending;

I saw her singing at her work,

And o’er the sickle bending –

I listen’d motionless and still;

And, as I mounted up the hill,

The music in my heart I bore

Long after it was heard no more.

Explanation :

The poet feels that she is singing so meditatively that it appears as if she is singing fo ever and it will never end. The poet closely observes her while she works, bending over her sickle to cut the crops. As he listens the song, he stands completely still, gets immersed in the song. Even when he walks up the hill and moves away, he feels the vibrations of the song. He feels that even after sound is left behind and the song is no more heard, its effect stays with him. He feels that he is carrying the sweet memory of her song in his heart which will remain intact for ever.

 

Summary

One day, the poet William Wordsworth saw a young woman from the Highlands region of Scotland working alone in a field and harvesting grain with a sickle. Words referring to solitary, loneliness. She was attractive. She was singing a luring song, whose melody sounded sad and melancholy. Her voice was as melodious as a nightingale’s and could be heard echoing throughout the valley. It was a pleasant voice that was suitable for welcoming some travellers to the deserts of Arabia. It was a voice which was more thrilling than that of a cuckoo bird, which was powerful enough to break the silence in the most remote group of islands that lie to the north-west of Scotland. The poet could not know the real reason or story behind the sad song, so he thinks of several possible backstories behind the song. He even questions if no one would tell him the reason behind her sad song. He says that the song may have been just a plaintive flow about old, unhappy battles and wars. Next, he says that the song may have been an ordinary song about the hardships of ordinary life, a collection of what happens every day and will continue to happen every day. Also, it could be due to a loss of a loved one or a family member. The poet observed that, regardless of the theme, the sad song of the lonely reaper seemed endless, just like her work. The poet was so affected by the melody that he stopped moving altogether. He climbed the hills, his heart full with the melody. The song was still playing inside him although he could not hear it any longer which shows the effectiveness of the melodious voice. He went back to the same fields where the young woman was working but the woman was no longer there and he could no longer hear the melodious voice or know the real backstory behind her sad song. The poet never saw the woman again, but the song remained in his mind forever.

 

Difficult Words

Behold - look

Solitary - lonely

Lass - girl

single - lonely

Yon (yonder) – in front of

melancholy strain - sad saong

reaping - cutting the crop

vale profound - deep valley

weary bands - tired group of travellers

shady haunt - cool shady place

farthest - very far

Hebrides – Scottish islands

Plaintive numbers– sad song

far off - past

Humble lay – ordinary song

Sickle – tool to cut grass

Bore (bear) - carried

 

Rhyme scheme (irregular) – abcbddee / ababccdd

Poetic devices

Behold her, single in the field, - Assonance, Imagery

Yon solitary Highland Lass! – Poetic license, Assonance, Imagery

Reaping and singing by herself; - Assonance, Imagery

Stop here, or gently pass! - Assonance

Alone she cuts and binds the grain, - Imagery

And sings a melancholy strain; - Alliteration

O listen! for the vale profound – Poetic License, Assonance, Imagery, Metaphor, Enjambment

Is overflowing with the sound. – Assonance, Imagery

No nightingale did ever chant – Alliteration, Imagery, Hyperbole, Onomatopoeia, Enjambment

More welcome notes to weary bands – Assonance, Alliteration, Hyperbole, Enjambment

Of travellers in some shady haunt, - Imagery, Hyperbole, Enjambment

Among Arabian sands: - Imagery, Enjambment

A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard - Hyperbole, Enjambment

In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird, - Imagery

Breaking the silence of the seas – Alliteration, Repetition, Personification

Will no one tell me what she sings? - Assonance

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow - Alliteration

For old, unhappy, far-off things, - Assonance

And battles long ago: - Assonance

Or is it some more humble lay, - Assonance

Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, - Assonance

That has been, and may be again! - Assonance

What’er the theme, the maiden sang - Repetition

As if her song could have no ending; - Alliteration

I saw her singing at her work, - Repetition, Imagery

And o’er the sickle bending – Imagery

I listen’d motionless and still; - Poetic Repetition

And, as I mounted up the hill, - Assonance, Imagery

The music in my heart I bore - Alliteration

Long after it was heard no more. - Assonance