Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile. We breathe, briefly. Our eyes, briefly, see with a hurtful clarity.

1. What image from the world of nature has been used earlier in the context? (Recall)
2. What happens when great trees fall? (Analysis)
3. ‘We breathe, briefly’. What does the poet mean by this? (Analysis)
4. What kind of ‘clarity’ does the poet refer to? (Analysis)
5. What do we come to remember when great men die? (Understanding)

Answer 1

1. Earlier, the poet uses the image of great trees falling in a forest. This image symbolizes the death of great and noble people.
2. When great trees fall, rocks shudder, lions hide in the tall grass, elephants seek safety, and small creatures become silent with fear. The whole of nature is disturbed, symbolising the widespread impact of the death of great people.
3. The poet means that after the death of a great soul, people feel shocked and emotionally numb. They continue to breathe, but only mechanically, as they struggle to cope with the sudden loss.
4. The poet refers to a painful or hurtful clarity that comes after the death of a great soul. We suddenly realize the true value of the departed person and the depth of the loss we have suffered.
5. When great men die, we remember their kindness, wisdom, love, noble deeds, and the precious moments we shared with them. These memories become vivid and remain with us.