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Question
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed.
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Solution
- Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to his Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.
- Context and Explanation: The poet highlights the importance of a soft but firm will to melt even hardened criminals. Love can transform even criminals. Harsh punishment may harden them but gentleness and love may bring about a change of heart.
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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.
Complete the summary of the poem, choosing words from the list given below. Lines 33 to 42
Ulysses desires to hand over his (1) ______to his son Telemachus, who would fulfil his duties towards his subjects with care and (2) ______. Telemachus possesses patience and has the will to civilise the citizens of Ithaca in a (3) ______way. Ulysses is happy that his son would do his work blamelessly and he would pursue his (4) ______for travel and knowledge.
| prudence, kingdom, quest, tender |
‘He works his work, I mine’ – How is the work distinguished?
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How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
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....you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
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To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
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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.
How would the poet’s advice help his son who is at the threshold of the manhood?
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“Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.”
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“Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy.” And this too might serve him.
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Tell him solitude is creative if he is strong and the final decisions are made in silent rooms.
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Tell him to be a fool ever so often
and to have no shame over having been a fool
yet learning something out of every folly
hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies
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| determination | result | dramatic |
| pride | admiration | softened |
| wounded | mound | victory |
| conquered | soared | valiant |
Who do you think is the narrator of the poem?
