Question

Write a summary of the poem using the following points:

• Title
• Introductory paragraph (about the poem, type, nature, tone)
• Main body (central idea, the gist of the poem)
• Conclusion (opinion, views, appeal)

Answer 1

The Sower

The poem centres on the act of sowing by the farmer, who tirelessly sows the seeds, despite having seen many bad harvests. Still an optimist, he hopes for a good harvest each time he sows the seeds. The poem is an ode to the sower, whose noble actions make him the receptor of the poet's admiration. It is a gripping narrative by the poet of his observations about the sower. The tone of the poem is optimistic and complimentary. As the poem progresses, the poet's description of the sower takes on a tone of reverence. The central idea of the poem is that with dedication, commitment, perseverance, and hard work, one can achieve anything that one sets one's mind too. The poet's observations about the sower tell us that the sower's undeterred faith in the likelihood of a good harvest in the future makes him work hard today. Though the sower is old and in tattered clothes, he is calm and patient, because he knows that even if he doesn't get to reap the benefits of his labour, others will certainly benefit from it. The sower braves the darkness and continues to sow the seeds by marching to and fro in the field, scattering the grain far and wide and ensuring that the grains cover the entire field. This is when the poet realises that the sower's actions are noble because he does not sow merely for himself. For the greatness of his actions, the sower appears to be a towering figure, whose nobility elevates his position in the poet's eyes such that his height seems to be touching the starry skies.

The poem is full of positive elements that aim to encourage the reader. The constant reiteration of the values like persistence and resolve give the poem a motivational tone and the extensive use of word imagery make the poem appealing to the readers.