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Showing posts from August, 2017

Joy and woe woven are fine - William Blake

In this short poem William Blake wants to give message that joy and grief, both are part of life and both are good. He says joy and woe are woven fine. Woven means things which are attached to each other. Both happiness and grief are fine. They are cloths of our soul. In every grief, there are also joy we need to find it. We are not here for only happiness or for only pain. But we are made for both. And when we know that joy and woe both are part of our life, we can live happily in grief also. So, in this poem poet wants to tell that accept both joy and pain. Do not become unhappy when sad moments come, there are always happy moments also. Know that both are part of everyone's life and live happily. That is all poet wants to say in the poem.

The character of a happy life - Edward Wotton

"The Character of a Happy Life by Edward Wotton describes the formula for creating a character that will help you to life a happy and fulfilled life.  In each stanza, Wotton mentions different ways in which a person can be strong and fulfilled, and achieve happiness. In the first stanza, he mentions that happiness is "honest thought...utmost skill," and a life where you are free and don't have to "serve another's will."  So, a person who is capable of thinking well, who has a skill and purpose, and doesn't have to live in servitude. In the second stanza, Wotton mentions that you must have control of your passions. Be prepared for death and not care about wealth or fame. The third stanza talks about how you should not envy, or give too much praise, or have bad habits. The fourth stanza describes a person who is "from rumours freed" and who is not subject to flattery or ruin by men, and has a clean conscience. The fifth stanza mentions

The Fly - William Blake

In this poem poet goes into philosophy of life and death from everyday incident. He mistakenly kills a fly and then he goes on thinking. On a sunny day, a little fly enjoying the warm weather unknowingly annoys the poet. The poet in rage shakes his hand and fly gets killed. After murdering the fly, the poet's heart repents and starts thinking in a different angle. He continues asking himself isn’t the fly a man like me. He feels the fly also had a life similar to him and he had ended its life. The poet compares this incident to man’s death. Death occurs to a man on an unknown date, but it happens so sudden. No one knows who is taking away man’s life. The poet says he enjoys his life singing, dancing and drinking. He enjoys his life till someone takes away his life, very similar to his thoughtless hand killing a fly. The poet clearly depicts the difference between a man and a fly i.e thoughts. Man can think that is his strength. If he cannot reason he would be just ordinary a

Daffodils - Wordsworth

In this poem Wordsworth recalls his experience of how one day he was wandering, he saw group of daffodils flowers and how he felt so much pleasure. We know that he was nature poet. So, this beauty of nature fills poet's heart with pleasure. The speaker says that he was wandering lonely like cloud. Suddenly, near a lake, he noticed a big group of yellow daffodils waving in the breeze. It was like milky way who never end. Poet says I saw ten thousand daffodils at once. And all these flowers were dancing. The speaker’s loneliness was replaced by joy, but he didn't even realise what a gift he has received until later. Now, poet is at home, sitting on couch. In free time he thinks of that scene and that sight of daffodils fills poet's heart with pleasure and begins to dance with daffodils.

Fame and friendship - H.A. Dobson

This poem sings songs of friendship. Fame is the thing which every person sought for. People can do anything to be famous. But here poet says that friendship is far better than fame. In first stanza, poet talks about fame. He says that fame is a food that dead men eat. The meaning of this is that people value person after death. We see that great people are awarded after death and their statues are built. Poet says that he does not want this food. In tomb there is no light and there in narrow place they receive fame. Their fame no longer remains and people forget them. No one prays now for them. Now in second stanza, poet describes how friendship is better than fame. He says, “But friendship is a nobler thing”. In last part of life when death comes, man recalls memory of friend. It was better part of life and his friend makes funeral of his faults. Means in friendship faults are forgotten and only good part is to be remembered. So it is better than fame.

Ozymandias poem - P.B. Shelley

'Ozymandias' by P.B. Shelley gives message that whatever you are, you will be vanished with time. All will come to dust. The speaker of the poem says that he met one traveler who has traveled to a place where ancient civilisations once existed. The traveler tells the speaker a story about an old statue in the middle of the desert. The statue is broken apart and only two legs were remain and face in sand. but you can still make out the face of a person. The face looks stern and powerful, like a ruler. The sculptor did a good job at expressing the ruler’s personality. The ruler was a wicked guy, but he took care of his people. On the pedestal near the face, the traveler reads an inscription in which the ruler Ozymandias tells anyone who might happen to pass by, basically, “Look around and see how awesome I am!” But there is no other evidence of his awesomeness in the vicinity of his giant, broken statue. There is just a lot of sand, as far as the eye can see. The traveler e

Virtue poem - George Herbert

In this poem George Herbert explains importance of virtues. In 'Virtue' he tells us that the earth and all its beauty shall pass away but only a virtuous soul shall live forever. In beginning he starts with beautiful day. Though it is so cool, calm and bright day, it will end and see will weep for that. Then poet goes on describing beauty of nature and saying all must die. Roses, sweet spring, sweet days all will die. Then what does remain forever? Poet says that only a sweet and virtuous soul lives forever. Even if whole world turn into chal, a virtuous soul lives eternally.

She walks in beauty - Byron

This poem by Lord Byron deals with evergreen topic of poems, beauty of woman. In first stanza poet says that she walks in beauty, then he informs how?  Poet says that she walks like cloudless night with starry night. This picture of night gives feeling of calmness and peace. The girl is walking peacefully. Further poet says that her beauty is best mixture of dark and bright. It looks heavenly. In second stanza poet describes how light and shade are perfect on her face. He can not find an adjective to describe it. So he uses words, 'nameless grace' her face is dwelling of peaceful thoughts. In third stanza poet describes how her smile affected him. Her beautiful smile is so soft, calm and eloquent. In last poet says that her heart is very pure and her love is innocent. So, in whole poem poet has described a lady who is very beautiful and innocent.

Fear no more - William Shakespeare

This is a poem by William Shakespeare which gives message that do not fear of anything. Poet gives many examples of difficulties and says not to fear of anything. Poet starts with the example of heat of the sun. Poet says do not fear of heat of the sun, not by furious winter's rages. These are metaphors for different kinds of difficulties. Though home is lost, do not fear because all of us will be died Like chimney sweeper all will be turned into dust. Do not fear of anger of power. Do not worry about food and cloth. You are like oak tree. All on this earth follow one rule. All will come to dust. Do not fear by thunder strokes, do not fear of people who talk bad about us or blame us. All lovers also will die. Do not fear if witches and ghost also. Death is just renovation of life. So, in whole poem poet gives message that do not fear of anything.

A Fine Day poem - Michael Drayton

Clear had the day been from the dawn, All chequer'd was the sky, Thin clouds like scarfs of cobweb lawn Veil'd heaven's most glorious eye. The wind had no more strength than this, That leisurely it blew, To make one leaf the next to kiss That closely by it grew.                                  - Michael Drayton This short poem 'A fine day' by Michael Drayton describes the beauty of a day. In first stanza poet says that the sky is clear from the morning. There are thin clouds who have covered the sun. It looks like sun has wear scarf. Though there are not used word sun, poet has used metaphor for sun. He used word, 'heaven's most glorious eye' for sun. This also suggests how important the sun is. In second stanza poet further describes beauty of day. He says that wind has no more strength. Wind with strength is not beautiful thing. It can destroy things, but slow wind is romantic and so poet uses words, ' leisurely it blew' and thi

Digdarshak Hindi play review

It was 8th August, 2017 when we watched this amazing play in our department of English. The screening of the play was conducted by department's film screening committee.           This amazing play is written by Priyam Jani and directed by Rishit Jhaveri.           The play started with a young film actor who had came to his guru, who is now old. When I came to know that the man is playing role of old digdarsak, I felt surprised. Because he was not looking old aged. I thought why they didn't do make up and made him looking old aged but soon I found my answer when it went in flashback. The same actors played roles of their past and this present and flashback technique goes till the end of the play. Only two actors we see from beginning to end who changes their roles and this makes the play more interesting. Sometimes we think that for a good play, lots of actors, music, costume and props requires, but in this play only two actors, less music, same costume and

To the lighthouse thinking activity

2. Do you agree: "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay"? Can we read Mrs. R in context of the idea of Ideal Indian Woman - Karyeshu dasi, Karaneshu manthri; Bhojeshu mata, Shayaneshu rambha; Kshamayeshu dharithri, Roopeshu lakshmi; Satkarma yukta, Kuladharma pathni. ) Yes, the novel can be read as tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay. In novel Mr. Ramsay’s character is portrayed as caring figure who take care of everyone. Husband, children and guests. After her death also everyone remember her and summer house becomes desolate. Mr. Ramsay goes to other women for sympathy like Lily Briscoe. Lily Briscoe’s thoughts were different than Mrs. Ramsay, but she feels isolate after Mrs. Ramsay’s death and wants to finish her painting even after ten years. These things suggest that Mrs. Ramsay had special importance in everybody’s life. She is like ideal Indian women. She does not go against husband’s wishes. She takes care of everyone, she is very goo