Appreciating short stories and poems

Appreciating short stories and poems

Appreciating is actually criticism. You should not write summary. So read the text out and out to:

Ø  find out the subject matter and

 

Ø  find out the theme

 

Ø  then write down the theme and subject matter in not more than 50 words.

Ø  Do not worry about the names of the text and it’s author.

 

Ø  Do not worry about the size.

 

You may use the following format.

This text is a nice poem/story.---------------- is the main theme of the poem/story. Here (2) ----------------is depicted very carefully. (3) ---------------. (4) -----------------. So (5) ----------------- is praiseworthy/very important/noteworthy.

 

(1+2+5) subject matter  (3+4) Your own sentences.

 

Understanding Poetry

Examples:

1.      Write down the theme of the following poem (Not more than 50 words)

Amidst killer speeds I stand

Facing the traffic, stretching my hand.

I am seen on kid’s books and as cartoons everywhere

Educating people and asking them to beware

Of the erratic traffic and the signboards

Seen on almost all the roads.  

 

Answer: It is a nice poem. The work of a traffic police is the main theme of the poem. Here the work of a traffic police is depicted very carefully. A traffic police works for the safety of the people. But he stands amidst killer speeds. So the work of a traffic police is praiseworthy.

2. 

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;

Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:

   So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

   So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

 

Answer: The central metaphor in Sonnet 18 is the metaphor of the fair youth's beauty and a summer's day. Like a summer's day, the youth's beauty is resplendent. However, unlike a fleeting summer's day, Shakespeare is able to preserve the youth's beauty forever in his sonnet.

3.

Under the greenwood tree
     Who loves to lie with me,
     And turn his merry note
     Unto the sweet bird's throat,
   Come hither, come hither, come hither:
     Here shall he see
     No enemy
   But winter and rough weather.

      Who doth ambition shun,
    And loves to live i' the sun,
    Seeking the food he eats,
    And pleas'd with what he gets,
  Come hither, come hither, come hither:
    Here shall he see
    No enemy
  But winter and rough weather.

---

Analysis: "Under the Greenwood Tree" is a pastoral poem written by William Shakespeare in the late 16th century. It is a simple yet evocative piece that celebrates the pleasures of living in harmony with nature and eschewing worldly ambitions. The poem's musicality and nature imagery create a sense of idyllic tranquility, inviting readers to escape the cares of everyday life. It is similar to Shakespeare's other pastoral works, such as "As You Like It," in its idyllic setting and elevation of simple pleasures over material wealth. However, "Under the Greenwood Tree" is more concise and focused, allowing its message to be conveyed directly and effectively. 

4. 

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils. 

 

Theme:  "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" explores the themes of nature's beauty and its impact on human happiness, the power of memory and imagination, and the joy of solitude. The poem, a prominent example of Romantic poetry, suggests that nature is a source of inspiration and joy, and that a connection to the natural world is essential for human well-being. It also highlights how memories of nature can bring solace and happiness, even when alone. 

 

5.  She Walks in Beauty

By Lord Byron (George Gordon)

 

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o’er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

Theme: "She Walks in Beauty" explores the multifaceted concept of beauty, both internal and external, and the harmony found in the balance between the two. It also delves into the ideas of innocence, purity, and the speaker's admiration for the subject's captivating nature. 

 

6. I died for Beauty

     Emily Dickinson

I died for Beauty – but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining Room –
He questioned softly “Why I failed”?
“For Beauty”, I replied –
“And I – for Truth – Themselves are One –
We Brethren, are,” He said –
And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night –
We talked between the Rooms –
Until the Moss had reached our lips –
And covered up – our names – 

 

Theme: The central theme of Emily Dickinson's poem "I Died for Beauty" revolves around the relationship between beauty, truth, and death, and the idea that these ideals are not necessarily preserved after death. The poem also explores the transient nature of human existence and the human desire for connection and understanding even in the face of mortality. 

 

7. Auld Lang Syne

Robert Burns

 

Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
In the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

And surely, you will buy your cup
And surely, I'll buy mine!
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

We two who've paddled in the stream
From morning sun 'til night
The seas between us roared and swelled
Since the days of auld lang syne

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
For the sake of auld lang syne?

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
In the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne 

 

Theme:The primary theme of "Auld Lang Syne" is the enduring power of friendship and the importance of remembering and honoring past relationships. The poem emphasizes the value of past experiences and the bonds we share with others, even as time and life change. It encourages a sense of nostalgia and the cherishing of shared memories, particularly when reconnecting with old friends. 

 

8.  I Have Seen Bengal’s Face By Jibananando Das

Because I have seen Bengal’s face I will seek no more;

The world has not anything more beautiful to show me.

Waking up in darkness, gazing at the fig-tree, I behold

wn’s swallows roosting under huge umbrella-like leaves. I look around me

And discover a leafy dome-Jam, Kanthal, Bat, Hijol and Aswatha trees-

All in a hush, shadowing clumps of cactus and zedoary bushes.

When long, long ago, Chand came in his honeycombed boat

To a blue Hijal, Bat and Tamal shade near the Champa, he too sighted

Bengal’s incomparable beauty. One day, alas. In the Ganguri,

On a raft, as the waning moon sank on the river’s sandbanks,

Behula too saw countless aswaths bats besides golden rice fields

And heard the thrush’s soft song. One day, arriving in Amara,

Where gods held court, when she danced like a desolate wagtail,

Bengal’s rivers, fields, flowers, wailed like strings of bells on her feet.

Theme:The poem "I Have Seen Bengal's Face" explores the beauty and struggles of Bengal, highlighting themes of resilience, cultural identity, and social justice. The poem captures both the natural beauty of the region and the hardships faced by its people, creating a powerful emotional connection with the reader. 

9. Landscape with the Fall of Icarus

According to Brueghel
when Icarus fell
it was spring

a farmer was ploughing
his field
the whole pageantry

of the year was
awake tingling
near

the edge of the sea
concerned
with itself

sweating in the sun
that melted
the wings' wax

unsignificantly
off the coast
there was

a splash quite unnoticed
this was
Icarus drowning

 

Theme: The primary theme of William Carlos Williams' poem "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" is the insignificance of individual suffering in the face of the larger world and the relentless rhythm of everyday life. It explores the contrast between a grand, mythical event (Icarus's fall) and the mundane, unnoticed activities of people in the landscape.  

10.  Dreams

All people dream, but not equally.
Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their mind,
Wake in the morning to find that it was vanity.

But the dreamers of the day are dangerous people,
For they dream their dreams with open eyes,
And make them come true.

 

Theme:  The main theme of D.H. Lawrence's poem "Dreams" revolves around the distinction between daydreamers and nightdreamers. The poem contrasts those who dream while awake and actively pursue their visions with those who dream only in their sleep, finding those dreams unrealized upon waking. The poem suggests that the former, the "dangerous dreamers of the day," are more powerful and impactful because they translate their dreams into tangible realities. 

 

 11.  Dreams

By Langston Hughes

 

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

 

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

Theme:  The main theme of Langston Hughes' poem "Dreams" is the importance of holding onto dreams and goals for a fulfilling life. The poem emphasizes that a life without dreams is akin to a broken-winged bird unable to fly or a barren field frozen with snow, lacking hope and purpose. 

 

12. Those Winter Sundays

     By Robert Hayden

 

Sundays too my father got up early

and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,

then with cracked hands that ached

from labor in the weekday weather made

banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.

When the rooms were warm, he’d call,

and slowly I would rise and dress,

fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,

who had driven out the cold

and polished my good shoes as well.

What did I know, what did I know

of love’s austere and lonely offices?

Theme:  The main theme of "Those Winter Sundays" is reflection on a father's sacrifice and the speaker's later understanding of that sacrifice. The poem explores the speaker's recollection of his father's selfless actions on winter Sundays, actions he didn't appreciate as a child but later recognizes as acts of love and care. It also delves into themes of parenting, family, childhood memory, and the complexities of love and communication. 

 

13. Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Theme:  The primary theme of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee?" is the depth and enduring nature of true love, particularly its spiritual and eternal aspects. The poem explores the speaker's profound love for her beloved, emphasizing its vastness, intensity, and capacity to transcend earthly limitations.

14.  Alone         p- 194

Maya Angelou

 

Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
With money they can't use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They've got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

 Theme: 

15. September 1, 1939  p196

W. H. Auden

I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright 
And darkened lands of the earth,
Obsessing our private lives;
The unmentionable odour of death
Offends the September night.

Theme: The main theme of W.H. Auden's "September 1, 1939" is the futility and destructive nature of war, with the poem exploring the psychological and social origins of conflict, human nature, and the need for love and unity. 

 

 16. The ghost of Tom Joad  p207

 

17. Peace p 208

  

 

Peace

    Understanding Story

1.      Write down the theme of the following text (Not more than 50 words)

According to some Myths and legends, Gazi Pir was a Muslim saint who is said to have spread Islam in the parts of Bengal close to the Sunderbans.  He was credited with many miracles. For example, he could supposedly calm dangerous animals and make them docile. He is usually depicted in paats or scroll paintings riding a fierce-looking Bengal tiger, a snake in his hand but in no apparent danger.

 

Answer: It is a nice story. The legend of Gazi Pir is the main theme of the story. Here the legend of Gazi Pir is depicted very carefully. He was a Muslim saint and said to have spread Islam in southern Bengal. He is credited with many miracles like calming dangerous animals. So the legend of Gazi Pir is noteworthy in Bangladesh.

 

Now appreciate the following poems:

Textual:

1.      The Traffic Police-Anonymous (2/3)- Amidst killer speeds I stand

2.      Love and Friendship-William Shakespeare (4/2)- Blow, blow thou winter wind(BB’17)

3.      The School boy - William Blake (5/3)-                                                                                I love to rise in a summer morn (DB’17, CB’17)

4.      Out, Out-Robert Frost (7/5)- The buzz saw snarled and rattled in the Yard

5.      I Have Seen Bengale’s Face- Jibanananda Das (9/1)-                                                Because I have sin Bengal’s face I will seek no more

6.      ‘Dreams’ by D.H. Lawrence (10/2)- All people dream, but not equally

7.      ‘Dreams’ by Langston Hughes (10/2)-Hold fast to dreams (JB’17)

8.       The lake Isle of Innisfree- W.B. Yeats (12/1)-I will arise and go now, (RB’17)

9.      September1, 1939-W.H. Auden (12/1)- I sit on one of the dives

10.   The Charge of the Light Brigade- Lord Alfred Tennyson (12/3)- Half a league,

11.   She Walks in Beauty-Lord Byron (14/1) -She Walks in Beauty, like the night

12.   I died for beauty-Emily Dickinson (14/1)- I died for beauty, but was scarce

 

Nontextual:

1. I wandered Lonely as a cloud- William Wordsworth
2. Sonnet 18 – William Shakespeare
3. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner – S.T Coleridge
4. A Poison Tree – William Blake
5. If those I loved were lost – Emily Dickinson
6. A poet to his Beloved – W.B Yeats
7. No man is an Island – John Donne
8. Under the Green wood Tree – William Shakespeare(SB’17)
9. Leisure – William Henry Davies
10.  There is no Frigate Like a book – Emily Dickinson
11.  What is our life? A play of passion – Sir Walter Raleigh
12.  I died for beauty -  Emily Dickinson
13.  There is another Sky – Emily Dickinson
14. Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star -  John Donne
15.  To Daffodils – Robert Herrick
16.  Today – Thomas Carlyle
17.  Tree at my Window – Robert Frost
18.  Laughing Song – William Blake
19.  The Sands of Dee – Charles Kingsley
20.  The Shepherd - William Blake
21.  Patriotism – Sir Walter Scott
22.  Crabbed Age and Youth – William Shakespeare
23.  Ode to a Nightingale – John Keats
24.  TIME, you old gypsy man (DjB’17)
25. There were two brothers in a village. (CtgB’17)