Unit 2.3 The Inchcape Rock Extract 01

 Unit 2.3  The Inchcape Rock Robert Southey

Original Poem

No stir in the air, no stir in the sea,

The ship was as still as she could be,

Her sails from heaven received no motion,

Her keel was steady in the ocean.

Without either sign or sound of their shock

The waves flow’d over the Inchcape Rock;

So little they rose, so little they fell,

They did not move the Inchcape Bell.

The Abbot of Aberbrothok

Had placed that bell on the Inchcape Rock;

On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung,

And over the waves its warning rung.

When the Rock was hit by the surge’s swell,

The mariners heard the warning bell;

And then they knew the perilous Rock,

And blest the Abbot of Aberbrothok.

The Sun in heaven was shining gay,

All things were joyful on that day;

The sea-birds screamed as they wheel’d round,

And there was joyance in their sound.

The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seen

A darker speck on the ocean green;

Sir Ralph the Rover, walk’d his deck,

And he fix’d his eye on the darker speck.

He felt the cheering power of spring,

It made him whistle, it made him sing;

His heart was mirthful to excess,

But the Rover’s mirth was wickedness.

His eye was on the Inchcape float;

Quoth he, “My men, put out the boat,

And row me to the Inchcape Rock,

And I’ll plague the Abbot of Aberbrothok’.

The boat is lower’d, the boatmen row,

And to the Inchcape Rock they go;

Sir Ralph bent over from the boat,

And he cut the Bell from the Inchcape float.

Down sunk the bell with a gurgling sound.

The bubbles rose and burst around;

Quoth Sir Ralph, ‘The next who comes to the Rock

Won’t bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok.’

Sir Ralph the Rover, sail’d away,

He scour’d the seas for many a day;

And now grown rich with plunder’d store,

He steers his course for Scotland’s shore.

So thick a haze o’erspreads the sky,

They cannot see the Sun on high;

The wind hath blown a gale all day,

At evening it hath died away.

On the deck the Rover takes his stand,

So dark it is they see no land.

Quoth Sir Ralph, ‘It will be lighter soon,

For there is the dawn of the rising Moon.’

‘Canst hear’, said one, ‘the breakers roar?

For methinks we should be near the shore’.

‘Now where we are I cannot tell,

But I wish I could hear the Inchcape Bell’.

They hear no sound, the swell is strong;

Though the wind hath fallen they drift along,

Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock,-

‘O Christ! it is the Inchcape Rock!’

Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair;

He curst himself in his despair;

The waves rush in every side,

The ship is sinking beneath the tide.

But even in his dying fear

One dreadful sound could the Rover hear,

A sound as if with the Inchcape Bell,

The Devil below was ringing his knell.

- Robert Southey

Paraphrase of the Poem

Stanza 01 :

In the first stanza, the post describes the calmness of the sea and sets the natural setting .The Sea was calm and there was no movement in the air that is why the ship stood still.

The sails of the ship were not getting any thrust from the air and were erect. Its keel which is a metallic or wooden piece that offers support to the whole structure of the ship was also steady in the ocean.

Stanza 02 :

The second stanza describes the drowsy / mild sea waves. The ocean waves flowed over the 

Inchcape rock very smoothly. The movement was so slow that it could make the Inchcape bell ring. The weaves were not rising up high to hide the dangerous Inchcape Rock and had no power to rock the bell. Therefore, the bell could not make any sound.

Stanza 03 : 

The word Abbot means the head monk in a Monastry.The Abbot of Aberbrothok was a spiritual man and he was knowing the danger posed by the submerged rock for the passing ships. A collision between the keel and the rock could make the ship to sink. His intention was to warn the sailors about a possible collision ,so he positioned a large bell a top a buoy and had it anchored to the rock with a chain, During the storms, the seamen could not see the rock as it stayed hidden under the high waves. These waves relentlessly rocked the bell back and forth and the sound from it reverberated all around warning the passing the ships to clear of the rock thereby averting the disasters. Mariners used to praise and bless the Abbot for this kind act of placing the warning device on the rock.

Stanza 04 :

In the above stanza, the poet describes a cheerful atmosphere. It was very sunny and bright. The sun was shining in the sky and making the other creatures on the planet earth happy. That particular day, everything looked so joyful, the sea-birds were whirling over the sea and screaming to express their happiness, while there remained certain buoyancy in the step of the ship’s men.

Stanza 05 :

In this stanza, sir Ralph is introduced for the first time. On the fine day, the anchored floating 

Sign(buoy)was clearly visible as a blackish spot in the green ocean. The captain of the ship, Sir Ralph stood on the deck of his vessel and at the dark spot of the buoy.

Stanza 06 :

The stanza describes Ralph’s thoughts and feelings. The magic of the cheerful weather gripped his mind and he felt unusually joyous. He was making whistling sounds and singing in delight as his heart swayed in joy. However, this joy was not pure and got generated from his wickedness. He had something devilish in his mind.

Stanza 07 :

The devilish thoughts lurking inside the dark mind of the captain made him to cook up a very nasty plan. His intentions were to destroy the good work of the Abbot by destroying the bell and wreak havoc on the passing ships with the hidden treacherous rock.

Stanza 08 :

The captain ordered his men to lower a boat and hopped on it so as to get close to the buoy to uproot it.The captain ordered his men to lower a boat and hopped on it so as to get close to the buoy to uproot it.

Stanza 09 :

As soon as Ralph cut the rope, the bell of Inchcape sank down into the deep water creating a gargling sound causing bubbles to rise and burst on the surface. Deriving immense pleasure from what he did, he felt satisfied that the bell would save no more ships and the seamen would no longer bless the Abbot.

Stanza 10 :

Proud of his deed, Sir Ralph set the sails on a new journey across many seas and over many days. He was a pirate and robbed many ships which met accidents crashing to the Inchcape rock and became a rich man .After collecting enough treasure and booty, he was heading back to the Scotland shores.

Stanza11 :

The day when Sir Ralph was returning turned out to be dark. The thick fog filled atmosphere spread far and wide making the sun invisible. The strong winds that were blowing throughout the day seized in the evening.

Stanza 12 :

Sir Ralph stood on the deck but couldn’t see the land due to the foggy atmosphere. The crew was panic-stricken but Ralph assured them that there would soon be some light in the sky as the moon was about to appear.

Stanza 13 :

One of the crew members said that he could not locate the position of the ship and coastland as the waves were receding into a mute conspiracy. He was also lamenting that there was no Inchcape bell to wan them of the nearing rocky road and to ease their fears.

Stanza 14 :

The sea got more turbulent and feisty and they could hear no sound as there was no alarm bell ringing. The wind also dropped to a standstill and the ship was now in the grip of the waves and they continued rowing here and there. Suddenly, the ship got the jerk and they understood and uttered in disappointment that their vessel had hit the Inchcape Rock.

Stanza 15 :

The Rover, Sir Ralph in frustration pulled his hair and cursed himself for his evil deeds. He fell into a pit of his own making and the rock turned into his tombstone. Meanwhile, the water rushing in from all sides and started sinking the ship.

Stanza 16 :

As the ship was sinking down in the sea, Sir Ralph heard a sound like that of the Inchcape Bell that seizes him with terror. It was actually his death knell that the devil himself was ringing beneath the water reminding him of his approaching death due to his misdeeds done.

Stanza 17 :

As he breathed his last he finally heard a bell rang in the distance. He was seized with horror. The sound was of the Abbot’s bell at the belly of the sea.

The Devil at the bottom had the ball in his hand and was ringing the death knell fervently. It was the final sound of the Rover’s fateful demise. It was deathly music of revenge, a song of poetic justice.

Extract/ Stanza  No. 01

Page No 104 (Lines, “No stir……………..Abbot of Aberbrothok”)

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

A1. Complete the following sentences                                     (02)

a) There was neither…Stir (in the air) as well as in (the sea)

b) The waves were flowing over the Inchcape Rock.

c) The Abbot of Aberbrothok placed the bell on the bell on the Inchcape Rock.

d) The Mariners used to bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok.

A1. True or False :                   (02)

State whether the following statements are true or false.

1) The Abbot of Aberbrothok had placed the bell for the sake of warning the mariners.                  (T)

2) The Mariners could heard the warning bell when the sea was steady and silent.                     (F)

3) The Mariners used to curse the Abbot of Aberbrothok for placing the bell at a wrong place.      (F)

4) The Atmosphere in the first two stanzas describes calmness in the sea.                                                     (T)

A2. Complete the following sentences :                                     (02)

a) The Abbot of Aberbrothok placed a bell on the Inchcape Rock because………

The movement of the float during the high tide would make the bell ring and warn the sailors of the danger from the Rock.

b) The mariners were grateful to the Abbot of Aberbrothok because ………….. 

The Abbot of Aberbrothok Placed the warning bell on the Inchcape Rock and there by, saving them from the perilous rock.

A2. Explain :                            (02)

Explain the meaning of the words,” Surge’s swell”

The words,” Surge’s swell” means the sea-waves moved up  and down and rose high due to the group of tides.

A2. Find out :                            (02)

Find out the weather conditions prevailed in the first stanza and write down the lines to prove the fact.

The weather condition prevailed in the first stanza was very calm and quiet. The sea was silent

And there was no storm or movement.

The lines that prove this are…

There is no stir in the air

There is no stir in the sea.

The keel of the sheep is steady.

The waves flowed steadily.

A3. Personal Response :             (02)

Share your views on the notion," In the battle of Good v/s Evil, Goodness always wins"Explain with suitable examples in about Fifty words.

A3. Personal Response :            (02)

 Imagine  you lost in an unknown place especially during travelling write down your feelings in about Fifty words.

A3. Personal Response :            (02)

Do you have similar experience when you were in a risky situation and a glimmer of hope  relieved you,Share your views in about Fifty words.

A4. Poetic Devices :                    (02)

Name and explain the figure of speech used in the lines

            “ No stir in the air, no stir in the sea”

And find one more example from the extract.

The figure of speech used in the above line is an example of REPETITION.

The other example from the extract is

“ So little they rose, so little they fell.

A4. Poetic Devices :                   (02)

Find out examples of Alliteration from the extract.

The examples of Alliteration are

1. The ship was as still as she could be.(sound ‘s” is repeated)

2. Without either sign or sound of their shock.( sound “s” is repeated)

A4. Poetic Devices :                    (02)

Name and explain the figure of speech used in the line

1. The ship was as still as she could be, the keel was steady.

The figure of speech used in the above line is an example of Personification because the sheep or keel ( non-living thing/abstract idea) is personified and given human qualities.

A4. Poetic  Devices :              (02)

Name and explain the figure of speech used in the following line

“ without either sign or sound of their shock

The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock”

The figure of speech used in the above line is an example of an INVERSION because the words are not arranged in a proper prose/grammatical order.

The correct order should be,” The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock without either sign or sound of their shock.

A4. Poetic  Devices :                  (02)

“The ship was as still as she could be”

Name and explain the figure of speech used in the above line.

The figure of speech used here is an example of SIMILE  because the ship is directly compared with the female( human being) and the comparison is made with the word, “as”)

A4. Poetic Devices:.                      (02)

Name and Explain the figure of speech used in the given line.

"So little they rose,so little they fell"

The figure of speech used in the above line is an example of Anti Thesis because two opposite ideas/contrasting words are used in the same line.

A5. Poetic Creativity :             (02)

Compose two lines of your own  on the theme ,” Sailing in the sea”

A5. Poetic Creativity :            (02)

No stir in the air, no stir in the sea

The ship was as still as she could be

How sails from heaven received no motion

Her keel was steady in the ocean

Replace the underlined lines and compose two lines of your own.

A5. Poetic Creativity :             (02)

The Abbot of Aberbrothok had placed that bell on the Inchcape Rock.................

Compose the next two lines of your own replacing the original lines.

Activities prepared by

TUSHAR J BAGWE

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI

E Mail ID : tushar@somaiya.edu

Unit 2.2 Indian weavers

Unit 2.2  Indian Weavers Sarojini Naidu

 

Weavers weaving at break of day,

Why do you weave a garment so gay?

Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild,

We weave the robes of a new-born child.

Weavers, weaving at fall of night,

Why do you weave a garment so bright?

Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green,

We weave the marriage-veils of a queen.

Weavers, weaving solemn and still,

What do you weave in the moonlight chill......?

White as a feather and white as a cloud,

We weave a dead man’s funeral shroud.

halcyon - Kingfisher, a bird which has bright, colourful plumes.

Plumes - Soft feathers.

Shroud - a cloth in which a dead person is wrapped.

  Introduction

Indian Weavers by Sarojini Naidu is a short poem consisting of three stanzas having four lines each. The poet talks about three types of dresses that the Indian Weavers weave at three particular times of the day. Metaphorically each time and the dress weaved in that time symbolises a particular stage of life. The poem has the rhyme scheme AABB. The poet uses a number of literary devices to express her ideas like smile, imagery, metaphor etc. The poem consists of a discussion between the poet and the weavers; the poet asks the weavers and the latter reply.

Naidu’s writing style

Traditional and simple, with use of such literary devices as imagery and alliteration. 

Indian Weavers Poem Summary

Stanza 1: Infancy ( Childhood)

In the first stanza, the poet asks the weavers why they are weaving clothes early in the morning which seem to be quite beautiful and charming (gay). The clothes are blue as the wing of a halcyon wild. Halcyon is the other name of the kingfisher.

The wings of the kingfisher are bright blue in colour. In addition blue colour also symbolises loyalty. The blue colour thus symbolises something beautiful and precious. Hence, in this stanza, the clothes weaved by the weavers are quite special and this is why the poet is curious to know about them.

The Indian Weavers reply, we weave the robes of a new-born child i.e. they are weaving the beautiful dress for a young one who has just came to the world.

In this stanza, a number of images are used to describe the first stage of human life like break of day, garments so gay, & blue as the wing of halcyon wild. This stage is full of happiness, freshness, hope, beauty etc. There is no sorrow in the stage.

Stanza 2: Adulthood 

In the second stanza, the poet again meets the Indian Weavers, this time during the fall of night. It probably refers to the evening or dusk time when the sun sets and darkness paves the way. Moreover, it is also the time during which most of the Indian marriages take place. The poet questions the weavers why they weave a garment so bright like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green. The garment at this time is bright and full of colours like feathers of peacock unlike the one colour-blue (during the morning time).The weavers reply that they weave the marriage-veils of a queen, thus referring to the second or in other words adult stage of the life. During this stage, humans are quite active. They love each other, get married and quest for a better and prosperous life. The colours purple and green symbolise sorrow and happiness or struggle and ease in one’s adult stage and these all colours or ups and downs of life make the adulthood bright.

Stanza 3: Death 

In the final stanza, the poet finds the weavers solemn and still i.e. they are quite sorrowful, grieved and silent. They are weaving something weird in the moonlight chilli.e. in the dead of the night which is White as a feather and white as a cloud, i.e. colourless, lifeless.

As the poet fails to figure out what it is (the cloth) and why they are sorrowful and silent, she asks them what are they weaving rather than why are they weaving. They reply that they are weaving shroud (cloth put on the dead body) for a dead person.

Thus the 3rd and the final stage is death which is emotionless and lifeless like a white cloud or feather. In this way, the life which begins with life, joy, hope etc ends with sorrow and grief.

Key Points

Indian Weavers by Sarojini Naidu sums up the life of human beings on earth in three main stages by using symbols like clothes and times of the day. The journey of life begins with one colour-blue which means joy and happiness. It continues with the addition of a number of colours-green and purple which means sorrows also enter into life along with happiness. Life is more active in this stage than in the first stage. In the final stanza, all the colours vanish away and single colour-white remains which means emotions are connected with life and when the person dies, emotions also die.

SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA AND MEDIA

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

A1. Choose : (02)

Select the most appropriate option and complete the statement.

1) The weavers are weaving…………………………………. In the early morning.

a)A bright blue cloth b) a dull grey cloth

c)A soft white cloth     d)  a  red coloured veil.

2) …………………………………. is being prepared by the weavers in the evening.

a)Dress of the weavers

 b) dress of a new-born child

c) The queen’s marriage veil

d) the robe of a child.

3) The poet is addressing………………………………………………

a) Weavers      b) children

c) queen         d) all the above

4) The three stages of life mentioned in the poem are.

a) Infancy, childhood and senility.

b) childhood, adulthood and senility.

c) Infancy, youth and death

d) infancy, adolescence, middle age.

A1. True or false :                    (02)

State whether the following statements are True or false.

a) The weavers are weaving marriage veils of a queen in the morning. (F)

b) The poem represents three events of human life birth, adulthood and death. (T)

c) The Weavers are grieved while weaving in the moonlight. (T)

d) The colour of clothes of a new- born child is just like the wing of a halcyon bird.(T)

A1. Complete the diagram :     (02)

Complete the diagram by writing down the colour imagery /comparisons

made by the poet about weaving at different times in the poem.

A2. Complete the table :.        (02)

Complete the table by writing down the necessary details.

Time of the day  Words phrases

Weaver’s work

A2. Fill  in  the blanks :          (02)

The poem reveals three phases of life. Fill in the blanks with feelings and colours appropriate to the Phases of life

New-born childhood Youth/adulthood Old age/death

(This is a practice Activity for students)

A2. Describe :                           (02)

Describe the various products made by the weavers as mentioned in the poem.

The weavers are weaving the robes of a new- born child using blue colour like the wings of a halcyon child. They are also weaving the marriage-veils of a queen like the feathers of peacock of purple and green colour. The weavers are working silently and preparing a white cloth for the funeral of a dead man.

A2. Infer :                                    (02)

Express your own views and opinions /feelings from the weaver’s point of view and complete the following activity.

A3. Personal Response:             (02)

Suggest some steps or measures to improve the conditions of the Indian Weavers in about Fifty words.

A3. Personal Response :            (02)

Although the weavers are using different beautiful colours to weave their own lives have become colourless. Share your views on this in about fifty words.

A3. Personal Response :            (02)

"Government should promote and encourage small scale industries/cottage - Industries "Write your views on this in about Fifty words.

A3. Personal Response :             (02)

Write down various career opportunities available in small scale industries in about Fifty words with suitable examples.

A3. Personal Response :           (02)

The  dignity of labour must be maintained and reasonable wages should be given to the labourers in India.Write with probable solutions in about Fifty words.

A4. Poetic Devices :                    (02)

Complete the following table by writing down the figure of speech with explanation before the line.

A4. Poetic Devices :                   (02)

“Weavers, weaving at break of day,

Why do you weave a garment so gay?

Name and explain the figure of speech used in the above line and find one similar figure of speech used in the extract.

The figure of speech used in the above line is called as an ALLITERATION because the sound “w’ is repeated in a pleasant manner.

Other similar examples are

“Weavers weaving at fall of night,

Why do you weave a garment so bright?” And

“Weavers weaving solemn and still

What do you weave in the moonlight chill?”

A4. Poetic Devices :                     (02)

Write down the Rhyme scheme used in the poem and also note down the rhyming pair of words and complete the table.

A5. Poetic Creativity :     (02)

Compose a poem on Indian weaver of 4 lines in continuation of the following.

He weaves ……………………………………..

He sweats………………………………………

He laughs………………………………………

He weeps………………………………………..

A5. Poetic Creativity :             (02)

Weavers, weaving at break of day

Why do you weave a garment so gay?

Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild.

We weave the robes of a new-born wild

Replace the underlined lines by composing two lines of your own.

A5. Poetic Creativity :            (02)

Imagine you are an Indian weaver. Compose 4 lines of your own expressing the plight / pathetic condition.

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.

A4. Poetic Devices :             (02)

Pick out one example of Repetition from the extract.

Henceforth I ask not good fortune; I myself am good-fortune.

A4. Poetic Devices :                   (02)

Name and explain the figure of speech used in the given line.

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

Pick out one similar example from the extract.

( This is a practice Activity for students)

A4. Poetic Devices :                  (02)

Find one example of Metaphor from the extract and explain it.

“Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road.”

The road in the line does not mean only the road to travel. The poet wants to suggest the road of life. 

It is an implied (Indirect/implicit) Comparison.

A4. Poetic Devices :                   (02)

Name and explain the figure of speech used in the line.

“I carry my old delicious burdens”

The figure of speech used here is an example of paradox because a burden cannot be delicious. The poet has used this combination of words to express that he has many sweet memories of the people and places which he would like to remember forever. The poet has used seemingly self-contradictory, absurd, expressions to convey the meaning. 

His heart is full of sweet memories of good and kind people. Though he wants to be free from any type of attachment. He wants to cherish these sweet memories in his heart forever.

A4. Poetic Devices :                   (02)

The poem is written in Free verse. Write some features of Free verse.

Free verse is a poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm. 

The features of free verse are.

a) Free verse does not have regular metre or rhythm. It does not rhyme with fixed forms.

b) The poet has a freedom to express his ideas freely without any fixed verse pattern.

c) No Restriction of number of lines, number of stanzas, Rhyme scheme rhyming pair of words.

A5. Poetic Creativity :           (02)

Complete the lines.

I take to the open road

………………………….

…………………………

…………………………

A5. Poetic creativity :            (02)

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.

Remove the underlined second and fourth lines and compose two meaningful lines of your own.

A5. Poetic Creativity :            (02)

Still here I carry my old delicious burdens

Compose the next continuous 2/4 lines of your own.

A5. Poetic Creativity :             (02)

Compose any two lines of your own on the Theme, “The path of my life.”

Activities prepared by

TUSHAR J BAGWE

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77

E Mail ID: tushar@somaiya.edu

Mobile: 9820928141

The Blogger

Voyaging Towards Excellence 8

 Extract No. 08

Page No. 84  [Lines, “After this ……… thinking big.” ]

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow.

A1. Complete : (02)

Complete the table by writing down necessary information from the extract,

NO SUBJECT/TOPIC NAME OF THE BOOK

a Autobiography musafir

b Psychology Manat

c science kimayagar

d management boardroom

After this, I have written about 34 books in Marathi. Most of them have become bestsellers with tens of thousands of copies sold for each. However, it is not the sales or the money that is important to me as much as the fact that these books have brought about very good changes in the lives of thousands of readers. After reading my autobiography ‘Musafir’ and a book on Psychology ‘Manat’, hundreds have come out of depression and more than a dozen have given up thoughts of committing suicide and decided to start all afresh. There are hundreds who tell me that they understood the theory of relativity or Big Bang after reading my book on Science ‘Kimayagar’. My book ‘Boardroom’ on Management has created at least 20 successful entrepreneurs. Then there are hundreds who tell me that they now can understand Economic Times or NDTV Profit after reading my book on economics ‘Arthat’. Many have turned to Mathematics after reading my book on Mathematics ‘Ganiti’. The same is true about my books on Indian Music (Nadvedh), English Literature (Zapoorza), Painting (Canvas), Western Films (Limelight) and Western Music (Symphony) or books such as ‘Genius’ series, ‘Rakta’ or ‘Vitamins’ or ‘Anartha’. It is these reactions of thousands of readers and the feeling that I am touching the hearts of thousands, if not lakhs, of my readers that keeps me going.

Why am I telling you my story? When I look back, there are a number of lessons and values that I cherish and keep learning about even today. Some of these are: Thirst for knowledge, Curiosity, Humility, Humanity, Rationality, Equality, Team work, Quest for excellence, Never say die, Thinking big...

A2. Describe : (02)

Describe how the author touch the hearts of the readers.

A3. Give reasons : (02)

The writer says that it is not the sales or the money that is important to me because ………

A4. Personal response : (02)

The hunger for knowledge and thirst for learning should be never ending. Do you agree with the view. justify your answer with examples.

A5. Language study : (02)

a)  I have written about 34 books.  (identify the tense used here)

Present Perfect Tense.

b) I am touching the hearts of thousands. 

(Rewrite the sentence using present perfect Continuous tense)

I have been touching the hearts of thousands.

A6. Vocabulary : (02)

Find out words from the extract which mean the following.

a) Sale of books in large numbers = best sellers

b) Creative businessman = entrepreneurs

c) Treasure lovingly = cherish

d) Logically = rationality

Activities with expected answers by

TUSHAR J BAGWE

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77

Mobile :9820928141

E Mail ID : tushar@somaiya.edu