Question

Read the following poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of the given points in a paragraph format:

Animals I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-containe’d  I stand and look at them long and long. They do not sweat and whine about their condition,  They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins, They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God, Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things.  Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago, Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth. So they show their relations to me and I accept them, They bring me tokens of myself, they evince them plainly in their possession I wonder where they get those tokens, Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop them?                                                              - Walt Whitman

You can use the following points while appreciating the given poem.

1. The title and the poet of the poem     [1]
2. Rhyme scheme     [1]
3. Figures of speech     [1]
4. Central Idea/Theme     [2]

Answer 1

• The title and the poet of the poem: The title of the poem is ‘Animals’, and it is written by Walt Whitman.
• Rhyme scheme: The poem is written in free verse, so it does not follow a fixed rhyme scheme.
• Figures of Speech: 
  • Repetition: ‘Not one...’ is repeated for emphasis.
  • Alliteration: ‘stand and look’, ‘wake and weep’.
  • Personification: Animals are shown having human-like traits.
  • Interrogation: The poet ends with a rhetorical question.
• Central Idea/Theme: The major topic of the poem is the contrast between humans and animals. The poet admires animals’ simplicity, peace, and contentment. Unlike humans, they are neither greedy, unhappy, or burdened by guilt or consumerism. The poet considers how humans have lost these virtues throughout time and seeks comfort in the companionship of animals.

Answer 2

The poem “Animals” is written by Walt Whitman. The poem has no regular rhyme scheme as it is written in free verse, which gives a natural flow to the poet's thoughts. The poet has effectively used figures of speech such as Repetition (“Not one”), Alliteration (“stand and”), and Personification to make the poem more expressive and impactful. The central idea of the poem is that animals possess qualities like peace, honesty, contentment, and simplicity, which human beings have gradually lost because of greed, pride, and materialism. The poet admires animals because they are free from selfishness, complaints, and unnecessary worries. They live in harmony with nature and are satisfied with what they have. Through this comparison, the poet encourages human beings to learn valuable qualities from animals and lead a simple, peaceful, and meaningful life. The poem conveys a strong message that true happiness lies in contentment and living in harmony with nature and others.