ELYSIAN FOR JR.COLLEGE: Unit 2.1 Song of the Open Road

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Unit 2.1 Song of the Open Road

Unit 2.1 Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,

Strong and content I travel the open road.

The earth, that is sufficient,

I do not want the constellations any nearer,

I know they are very well where they are,

I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens,

I carry them, men and women; I carry them with me wherever I go,

I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them,

I am filled with them, and I will fill them in return.

Afoot- in preparation,on the way

Whimper - low weak or sad cries

Querulous - complaining,

Constellations - Fate, destiny or influential people.

Suffice - adequate or enough.

Paraphrase of the poem.

The speaker of the poem is describing a trip on which he embarking. He describes himself as being,” Healthy and free,” and he realises he is the only person who is in complete control of his life; he is having his own identity. Because of this realisation, he does not have to wish or hope or pray for good fortune. He attests that he himself, is his own good fortune and that is all he needs there is nothing that he is lacking. He will reach his destination on his own and the earth will provide him with anything extra that is necessary. This is not to say that the road he is taking is not paved with imperfections and burdens, rather than worry, however, the speaker has decided to take those burdens with him and deal with them as they arise.

First stanza: The reader is able to glean several important points. First the speaker is setting out on the open road on foot. Secondly, he is light hearted and open to all he is about to experience. The speaker recognises that it is he who is in control of his journey. He will choose where the path will take him on his journey.

Second stanza: The speaker says that he does not have to pray for good luck because he is the maker of his own luck. He will no longer cry to hesitate to do what he wants because he is in need of nothing. He is no longer content with being walled inside, he is strong and happy to be on the open road….( Line 6 carefree tone)

Third stanza: The speaker seems to separate himself from others. He says that the earth is fine the way; it is he does not desire to be any closer to the stars than he already is. He knows they are fine where they are and he knows they are good enough for those who belong to the constellations. He does not belong to them because he does not need them.

Fourth stanza: Whitman’s use of parenthesis here makes the stanza more of an aside than its own separate being. It is almost afterthoughts that the speaker decides to throw in but it is still important to song of the open road. Here the speaker admits that he is not without his own problems, but instead of fretting, he relishes them. The reader can see this through Whitman’s diction. The speaker is stating here that his burdens do not define him; rather he accepts them and carries them with him wherever he goes.

Q. Read the given extract and do all the activities that follow it.

A1. Pick out : (02)

Pick out the lines showing that the poet is prepared to enjoy every moment of his journey.

1. Afoot and light hearted I take to the open road.

2. Healthy, free, the world before me.

3. Henceforth, the world before me.

4. I whimper no more, postpone no more need more.

5. Strong and content I travel the open road.

6. The earth,that is sufficient.

A2. True or false : (02)

State whether the following statements are True or false.

1. The speaker says that he will choose the path and it will take him on his journey. (T)

2. The speaker decides not to complain or regret about his journey. (T)

3. The speaker wants that fate/destiny should always be there with him. (F)

4. He carries the burden wherever he goes. (F)

A2. Choose and complete :. (02)

Complete the following lines and rewrite it.

1. By “old delicious burdens” the post means…………………

a) The luggage

b) The food he carries.

c) The stress he bears during the travel.

d) Sweet memories of the past.

2. By constellations any nearer, the word constellations means…..

a) Complaints

b) Regrets

c) Concessions

d) fate/destiny/influential people.

3. Strong and content I travel the open road the line implies that……………………

a) He is very strong and happy to do whatever he wants to do.

b) Physically strong and muscular

c) Strong hands to lift his luggage.

d) Travelling abroad.

4. I whimper no more means…………………………………

a) He will not cry or express his sadness any more.

b) He will file a complaint without waiting.

c) He will wait for some more time.

d) He has the sources to deal with people.

A2. Inference / interpretative / Analysis : (02)

The poet is a person who is free from all inhibitions. Discuss how the concept of” Freedom” is expressed in the poem.

The speaker wants to travel to open road. He is strong and healthy and free. The World is waiting for him. The speaker has a freedom to go wherever he wants to go. The road Signifies mobility and keep on moving. He is having free will to choose the path of his life.He is all set to follow the road to his dream/destination.

A2. Interpret : (02)

Interpret the line,” I do not want the constellations any nearer.

The line implies that he does not want any favour from fate/destiny or any influential person in his journey of life. He is quite strong and content to start his venture. He feels that the earth is fine the way it is. He does not have the desire to be any closer to the stars than he already is.

A2. Infer : (02)

Infer the line,” I carry my old delicious burdens,”

The line,’ I carry my old delicious burdens” means he is not without his own problems but instead of fretting he relishes them. His use of the word delicious is no accident. He and his burdens share a symbiotic relationship of sorts. He is filled with his burdens and in return, he fills them.

A2. Distinguish :. (02)

Distinguish between the past life and the present life of the speaker mentioned in the poem.

In the past, the speaker was hesitant to start his journey. He believed in fate, destiny or good fortune .He used to complain and regret about his life. He was scared of criticism and did not dare to venture.

In the present, he is a changed personality with a desire to have a freedom. He has chosen his way of life happily and he is not complaining or postponing thing. He is strong and contended.

A3. Personal Response : (02)

Give suggestions for a happy, peaceful and a prosperous life in about fifty words.

A3. Personal Response : (02)

Do you believe that,” Fortune favours the brave” justify your answer with suitable examples.

( In about fifty words)

A3. Personal Response : (02)

Procrastination is a bad thing and it is the root cause of man’s failure. Comment and share your views on this in about fifty words.

A3. Personal Response : (02)

According to you, what obstacles, difficulties, odds, problems are faced by people to become a successful person in their journey of life. Write in about fifty words.

A3. Personal Response : (02)

‘Whenever there is freedom, there comes the responsibilities” Do you agree with this notion ? Justify your answer in about fifty words.