Question

The poem, Beethoven, illustrates Beethoven’s determination and his ability to adapt himself to circumstances to create divine music.

Justify the statement with close references to the poem, in about 200 - 250 words.

Answer 1

A.K. Ramanujan’s poem Beethoven honours the composer’s unshakable spirit and his capacity to produce magnificent music in spite of severe personal struggles, most notably his deafness. Throughout the entire poem, Beethoven demonstrates his determination in the face of his declining health and physical limitations. Beethoven showed an amazing ability to adjust to his situation by continuing to compose despite his hearing failing.

The poem examines how Beethoven managed to connect with his music even while he was becoming more and more cut off from the world of sound. Ramanujan emphasizes that Beethoven’s creative genius transcended the material world and that his inner vision of music served as his compass when he states, “He could not hear the music, but the music heard him.” This means that Beethoven changed the way he composed by using his inner sense of music instead of outside noises out of pure will.

Beethoven’s constant commitment is further demonstrated by his capacity to write some of his most profound compositions in his later years, when he was nearly totally deaf. His capacity to produce “divine music” in the face of hardship demonstrates his determination and constant dedication to his craft. The poem suggests that Beethoven’s capacity to adapt to his difficulties and discover methods to produce beauty in the face of enormous barriers was just as important to his music as his genius.