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Question
Explain the following line briefly with reference to the context.
“They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,”
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Solution
- Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘All the world’s a stage’ written by William Shakespeare.
- Context and Explanation: The poet says this while hinting at the beginning and the end of life. The poet divides man’s life into seven stages. The first stage symbolizes birth and the last stage of death. So, he uses the words “entrances and exits”.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Read the poem again and complete the summary using the words given in box.
Stanzas 1–3
‘The Castle’ by Edwin Muir is a moving poem on the (1)______ of a well guarded (2)______ The soldiers of the castle were totally stress-free and relaxed. They were (3)______ of their castle’s physical strength. Through the turrets they were able to watch the mowers and no enemy was found up to the distance of (4)______ and so they seemed no threat to the castle. They had (5)______ of weapons to protect them and a large quantity of (6)______ in stock to take care of the well-being of the soldiers inside the castle. The soldiers stood one above the other on the towering battlements (7)______ to shoot the enemy at sight. They believed that the castle was absolutely safe because their captain was (8)______ and the soldiers were loyal.
| half-a-mile | watching |
| castle | brave |
| ration | capture |
| plenty | confident |
Stanzas 4–6
Even by a trick no one but the birds could enter. The enemy could not use a (9)______ for their entry inside the castle. But there was a wicket gate guarded by a (10) ______ He (11)______ in the enemies inside the famous citadel that had been known for its secret gallery and intricate path. The strong castle became(12)______ and thin because of the greedy disloyal warder. The (13)______ was captured by the enemies for (14)______ The narrator (15)______ over the (16)______ of the useless warder and also decided not to disclose this (17)______ story to anyone. He was (18)______ and wondered how he would keep this truth to himself. He regretted not finding any (19)______ to fight with the (20)______ called ‘gold’.
| lamented | shameful |
| wicked guard | bait |
| let | gold |
| weapon | citadel |
| weak | disloyalty |
| helpless | enemy |
Read the given line and answer the question that follow in a line or two.
| Oh then our maze of tunneled stone Grew thin and treacherous as air. The castle was lost without a groan, The famous citadel overthrown, |
- Bring out the contrast in the first two lines.
- What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanza?
Identify the figure of speech used in the following line.
Grew thin and treacherous as air.
What is the creeper compared to?
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound No other tree could live.
- Which tree is referred to in the above lines?
- How does the tree survive the tight hold of the creeper?
- Why does Toru Dutt use the expression ‘a creeper climbs’?
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
Dear is the Casuarina to my soul;
How does a man play a lover’s role?
Bring out the features of the fourth stage of a man as described by the poet.
Which stage of man’s life is associated with the ‘shrunk shank’?
Pick out the word in ‘alliteration’ in the following line.
“and all the men and women merely players”
Introduction
The poem ‘Ulysses’ is a dramatic monologue that contains 70 lines of blank verse. Ulysses, the King of Ithaca, gathers his men together to prepare for the journey and exhorts them not to waste their time left on earth. Ulysses has grown old, having experienced many adventures at the battle of Troy and in the seas. After returning to Ithaca, he desires to embark upon his next voyage. His inquisitive spirit is always looking forward to more and more of such adventures.
‘Ulysses is not happy to perform his duties as a king.’ Why?
Identify the figure of speech employed in the following line.
Thro’ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades Vext the dim sea...
Identify the figure of speech employed in the following line.
There lies the port the vessel puffs her sail
Read the set of line from the poem and answer the question that follow.
This is my son, mine own Telemachus,
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle Well-loved of me,
- Who does Ulysses entrust his kingdom to, in his absence?
- Bring out the significance of the ‘sceptre’.
Read the set of line from the poem and answer the question that follow.
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
- What do ‘thunder’ and ‘sunshine’ refer to?
- What do we infer about the attitude of the sailors?
Explain with reference to the context the following line.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
Explain with reference to the context the following line.
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
What makes Ulysses seek newer adventures?
Every parent is anxious about the welfare of his/her children. Parents express their anxiety by advising them almost all the time. What kind of advice do you frequently receive from your parents? Fill in the bubbles. Tick the ones you like to follow implicitly and give reasons for the ones you don’t like to follow.
‘A tough will counts.’ Explain.
What has twisted good men into thwarted worms?
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
“Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.”
- How should one face life?
- Identify the figure of speech in the above line.
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
“Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy.” And this too might serve him.
- Why does the poet suggest to take life easy?
- Identify the figure of speech in the above line.
Pick out the alliterated words from the poem and write.
And this might stand him for the storms
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
Yet learning something out of every folly
hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
Legs wide, arms locked behind As if to balance the prone brow Oppressive with its mind.
- Whose action is described here?
- What is meant by prone brow?
- What is his state of mind?
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
To see your flag-bird flap his vans Where I, to heart’s desire, Perched him!’
