HSC - II (XII Karachi Board) -- Poetry (Selection From English Verse)

POEM #: 01. “SEVEN AGES OF MAN”

A SPEECH FROM “AS YOU LIKE IT”

BY: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Q: 01.   Who has composed the poem “Seven Ages of Man”

Ans: “The Seven Ages of Man” has been composed by famous dramatist and English literature playwright, William Shakespeare. This poem occurs in ACT II, SCENE VII of Shakespeare’s well and widely known comedy “As You Like It” as a speech delivered by a character named Lord Jacques, a member of the exiled group of nobles, who were obliged to lead an exiled life in the forest or Arden.

 

Q: 02. Describe the idea of William Shakespeare about man and life.                             OR

Q: What characteristic does the poet associate with fourth and fifth stage of man?

Ans: Shakespeare was one of the greatest dramatists of his time and he had devoted an ample part of his life for theatre and plays. He considered this world as a stage. He tells that Human beings are not more than performers or actors who always continue to play their parts on the stage of the world. He has beautifully described the human life and behaviour during different periods of his life and has divided the human life into seven ages right from his birth to his final departure i.e. his death.

 

Q: 03. What are the seven ages of Man?

Ans: Seven ages of man are:

(01) Infant                   (02) A School boy                   (03) Young Lover       (04) A Soldier

(05) A Justice              (06) Old Age                           (07) Very old age / Second Childhood

 

Q: 04.  Describe the 1st age of man.

Ans: According to the poet and dramatist William Shakespeare, each person’s role starts being and infant who is quite innocent, helpless and dependent on others for his life. He is quite feeble and helpless who terribly depends on the nurse. All his necessities and care are looked after by his nurse without whom he can never grow well.

 

Q: 05.  Describe the 2^nd age of man.

Ans: In his second age, the man is a school boy when life is amusement and full of playful activities. He is set with his bag for school with shinning face but he cries and shows protest by doing so as he is unwilling and uninterested to go to school. He feels it totally against his freedom. He is reluctant to leave secure and protected environment of his home as he isn’t confident enough to exercise his own discretion.

 

Q: 06.  Describe the 5th age of man.                                                                        OR

What is the significance of the fifth stage of man’s life in the poem “The Seven Ages of Man”?

Ans: In this age, man develops a pot belly as he eats rich and heavy food. He becomes a justice and starts to differentiate between good and bad. It is also a humorous description of the justice in Shakespeare’s age.

Q: 07.  Describe the 6th stage of man’s life.                                                            OR

Q: Describe the sixth stage of man’s life with reference to the poem ‘The Seven Ages Of Man’.

Ans: In sixth age/stage, an old clownish character appears who is physically thin and weak. The man becomes much fretful finding fault with all concerns in this age when his dress of youth becomes loose. He uses glasses and pouch. His manly voice becomes thin and childish and shrilly voice makes his character comic.

 

Q: 08.  What is the behaviour of man in seventh stage of life?                                         OR

Q: Describe the last stage of life as described by William Shakespeare in his poem "The Seven Ages of Man"

Ans: The seventh age closes the chapter of Man’s entire history of eventful life and is the return to second childhood wherein he forgets everything instantly. In this stage of life man has no teeth, no taste, no eye sight and absolutely nothing. He becomes a true picture of distress and helplessness like his childhood. He loses his wit and becomes fretful. He becomes deprived of all energies, dreams and charms of life and feels himself restless in the world without energetic charms, ambition and dreams.

 

Q: 09. Jacques takes a disrespectful, humorous view of man’s life in The Seven Ages of Man. Discuss.

Ans: There is no doubt that Jacques has made fun of man in his descriptions of the man such as Young lover sighing like furnace and sings songs for his lover’s eye brows, being justice who becomes fat from eating rich food, as old man with spectacles on nose, pouch on side, wearing pantaloon and slippers, being soldier who was bearded like a pard and jealous in honour etc, show his purposeful examples of humorous view of life.

 

Q: 10. Why does the poet make a comparison between soldier and ‘pard’?

Ans: It is done to compare the bravery of the two. In Shakespeare’s time, soldiers used to keep beard so he has compared it to the hair under the chin of the leopard.

 

Q: 11. Why is a soldier, “Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel”?

Ans:  A soldier becomes jealous, sudden and quick in quarrel to his colleagues, in matters relating to his honour. If his colleague supersedes him in rank or wins more praise because of his bravery, it is natural for a person to feel jealous. On the other hand if a soldier gets dishonoured, he would act suddenly and quarrel, for the sake of his honour or give his life in front of cannon.

 

Q: 12. Describe the last two stages of man’s life as described by the poet in “The seven ages of Man”.

Ans: The last two stages of man’s life are sixth and seventh stages of man. In sixth age man appears as a clown-looking old man on the stage of life, wearing slippers, loose pants with glasses placed carelessly on the tip of his nose and a small bag hanging onto his side containing his stockings of his youth which have now become too wide for his shrunk legs. His big manly voice has changed into a think childlike voice producing the sound of pipes and whistles in it.

 

Q: 13. Why does the schoolboy go to school at snail’s pace?

Ans: The school boy is not at all interested in going to school and by going to school on snail’s pace he shows his protest and complains. He doesn’t want to leave the safe and protected environment of the home as he isn’t confident enough to exercise his own discretion.

 

Q: 14. Why does the lover sigh like furnace?

Ans: When the lover is profoundly feels disheartened, avoided, ignored and rejected by his beloved’s behaviour he sighs loudly.

 

POEM #: 02: “THE MAN OF LIFE UPRIGHT”

BY: THOMAS CAMPION

Q: 01. What is the main theme of the poem? OR

What is the theme of the poem “The Man of Life Upright”?

Ans: The main theme or features of the poem “The Man of Life Upright” are that such man is honourable. His heart is free from all kinds of guilt. He isn’t vain or proud. He is honest and lives a simple life. He doesn’t desire wealth or property but his good deeds are his wealth. He desires to go on pilgrimage and spend his time in the service of fellowmen.

OR

The man of life Upright is like a sermonic poetic classic that sheds lights on the prominent visages of the character of a person, who leads a life of honour, nobility and righteousness. He possesses a pure heart which is clear from sinful thoughts and wicked ideas and never deviates from the path of honesty. He never falls prey to the false pride as he is self-sufficient and doesn’t fall onto the trap of deceptive hopes. He is courageous and confident enough to encounter all the miseries.

 

Q: 02. How does the man leading an upright life pass his days and what hope means for him in his life?

Ans: The man leading an upright life pass his days quietly and calmly with no haste or hurdles, greed or treachery. He posses the harmless joys which never offend anyone physically, mentally or morally so he isn’t bothered by the failure of hopes nor can resulting sorrows discontent him.

 

Q: 03. What does the poet say about the man of life upright in his poem?

Ans: The man of life upright is man of virtuous qualities who knows that all the ups and downs in life are from heaven which everyone has to go through the life. He doesn’t worry to defend himself because his dealing is honest and harmless in the society. He stands firm in testing time as he never wishes for high status or materialistic harmony in life because it brings proud with itself and destroys the character of a person.

 

Q: 04. What can an upright man behold with his unafraid eyes?                                    OR

How could the Campion’s man face the fearful situations of life?

Ans: The man leading an upright life is undaunted, honest and innocent. He is always ready to face any calamity or natural disaster boldly either from sky or sea as he has no guilt of sin. He isn’t afraid of death so, he keeps himself calm and contented because he thinks that all calamities are from nature.

 

Q: 05. What is disliked by an upright man? How does he obtain his guidance?

Ans: The man of life upright never troubles his head about his fortune or fate as he knows that the path of nature is the way of divine commandment which keeps him virtuous and chaste. He has nothing to do what fate brings in his life. He even dislikes thinking about it and obtains his guidance from nature because he has firm faith in nature that it can never be wrong as compared with the man-made principles of the world.

 

Q: 06. What is the role of wealth and this world in the life of an upright man? OR

What is the World, in view of Campion’s “The Man of Life Upright”?

Ans: The man leading an upright life doesn’t posses any materialistic ornaments as he prefers to lead a simple and chaste life. His guiltless heart is the most precious possession that he is proud of. He has strong faith that this world is a short abode where he is sent for virtuous deeds sincerely and then has to leave for the final destination.

 

Q: 07. What is Campion’s idea of an upright life?

Ans: Campion’s idea of an upright life as depicted in the poem entitled “The Man of life Upright”, is that a noble person is neither ambitious nor disappointed by any sorrow or grief. He leads a simple innocent life and doesn’t need to protect himself against any evil.

 

Q: 08. What kind of heart does the man of life upright have?

Ans: Campion’s man has an honest and honourable heart and it is free from ill feelings and false hopes. As his mind is free from evil thoughts and thoughts of vanity, so he is a humble person who has peace of mind and contentment of heart.

 

Q: 09. What makes Campaion’s man bold and courageous?                                           OR

Why doesn’t an upright man need any armour for defense?

Ans: Honesty and truthfulness is the best weapon of Campion’s manHonesty makes him bold and courageous and he doesn’t need fortress or any armour to defend him. He doesn’t feel the need of secret vaults to protect himself from any kind of danger.

 

Q: 11. What is the main objective of an upright man?

Ans: The main objective of an upright man is to live an honest and simple life and to perform a pilgrimage.

 

Q: 12. What does the poet mean when he says whose silent days in harmless goes are spent?

Ans: When the poet says whose silent days in harmless goes are spent, he means that only an upright man lives a simple and a peaceful life. His joys are simple and he feels good by doing good deeds.

 

POEM #: 03. “LINES FROM SAMSON AGONISTS”

By: John Milton

 

Q: 01. Who has composed the poem “Lines from Samson Agonists”?

Ans: John Milton, one of the greatest Latin scholars and poets of Europe, has composed the poem “Lines from Samson Agonists”.

 

Q: 02. Who was Samson Agonists?

Ans: Samson Agonists was a real legendary character of Christian history whose description is found in the Bible in chapter 13-16. His father’s was an Israelite with name “Manoah” Samson was a man of stupendous strength and was a warrior of his race who fought and saved his people many times from the deadly enemies of his race “Philistines”. He was married to a beautiful girl named “Delilah” who betrayed him and made him captive of Philistines.

 

Q: 03. What was the behaviour of Samson when he was brought to the temple?

Ans: Samson was calm but undaunted when he was brought to the temple where the Philistines were gathered in order to solemnize the feast. It was a day when Samson was filled with the spirit of heroism and to sacrifice his life in order to save his race from the severity of the Philistines. He had chosen and decided to avenge the enemies rather than being worried about his own security.

 

Q: 04. What Samson had in his mind when he was given rest?

Ans: Samson was taken away for the spot of his manifestation of strength for rest between two pillars that had held the roof. He requested his guide to leave him there so that he could lean because he was over tired. As Samson knew that he was standing between the two massy pillars which gave main support to the arched roof of the temple, he decided to shake and make the pillars collapse to kill the oppressor who were oppressing his race.

 

Q: 05. What did Samson say to his masters and what did he do afterwards?

Ans: Samson addressed Philistine leaders and others present at the temple and announced that he had been demonstrating what he had been ordered till then because he had to obey the masters and it might not have amused the spectators there as they expected but now he was going to display some greater strength on his own. He said that this will astonish the spectators greatly.

Saying this, he gathered all his strength and started to pull and shake the pillars to and fro with his stupendous power. He continued doing so till the roof of the temple came down upon the Excellencies of the Philistines and all the others who were gathered there to celebrate that gratification.

 

Q: 06. Who did Samson kill along his sacrificial death?

Ans: Samson was determined to avenge his enemies and to take revenge he had to destruct the entire temple by collapsing the pillars of the great temple. The people who were present there included Lords, ladies, captains, counselors, priests and every common man of Philistines. Since it was inevitable, he had to sacrifice his own life in the disaster but he shook the pillars till the roof of the temple came down upon the Excellencies and all others who gathered there to celebrate the gratification. His heroic and sacrificial death saved his race.

 

Q: 07. How did Samson Agonists become an unforgettable hero? Explain in the light of the poem Samson Agonists.

Ans: Samson, the undefeatable, a real legendary character of Christian history, became an unforgettable hero because of his sacrifice. He sacrificed his life by bringing down the great arched roof of the temple upon the heads of the Philistines, crushing them and himself to death along with them. As in all the cases, one that gets martyrdom defending and saving his nation becomes immortal.

 

Q: 08. How did Samson take revenge from his enemies?                                                  OR

How did the Samson destroy his enemies and saved the Israelites?

Ans: Samson avenged his race from Philistines, the enemies of his race, the Israelis by bringing down the great arched roof of the temple of Dagon upon their heads which crushed them as well as himself to death.

 

Q: 09. What is the background of the poem, “Lines from Samson Agonists”?

Ans: The poetic tragedy, Samson Agonists, is about an ancient Hebrew legend of Samson. He was the son of Manoah and was gifted with immense human strength. The secret of his strength was concealed in his long hair. He helped the Israelites and caused great destruction among the Philistines, who were their enemies. Philistines made a devilish plan against Samson with the help of his beautiful but wicked wife, Delilah. Delilah supplied her tact and leaked his secret to his enemies and as a result, Philistines arrested Samson and imprisoned him in the prison of Gaza. They blinded him, tortured him and finally decided to kill him on their annual feast. They brought him to provide amusements for them by means on his stupendous and extra-ordinary strength.

 

Q: 10.  What request did Samson make to his guide and why?

Ans: Samson performed all the tasks with courage and patience that were assigned to him and in the interval when guide took him between two massy pillars for a break, he requested his guide to let him lean a little bit.

 

Q: 11. What was the feat of Samson which amazed the Philistines?

Ans: Samson’s great strength, whereby he broke the two pillars which supported the temple, and made them to come down upon the heads of those who were sitting under it was the feat of Samson which amazed the Philistines.

 

Q: 12. What does Samson plan to do while performing for the philistine leader?

Ans: Samson planned to avenge his race from Philistines, the enemies of his race, the Israelis by bringing down the great arched roof of the temple of Dagon upon their heads to crush them. Samson was taken away for the spot of his manifestation of strength for rest between two pillars that had held the roof. He requested his guide to leave him there so that he could lean because he was over tired. As Samson knew that he was standing between the two massy pillars which gave main support to the arched roof of the temple, he decided to shake and make the pillars collapse to kill the oppressor who were oppressing his race.

 

POEM #: 04 “AN ESSAY ON MAN”

BY: ALEXANDER POPE

Q: 01.  Who has composed the poem, “An Essay on Man”?

Ans: The Poem “An Essay on Man” has been composed by the most brilliant and influential poet of his period Alexander Pope.

 

Q: 02. What is the perception of the poet about future?

Ans: The perception of the poet about the future is that what is to come in the future is curtained with darkness from all creatures by Heaven. God in His mercy has hidden the future and let them know their present state. God has hidden from animals what man knows and from man what angles know.

 

Q: 03. What does the poet think about the unawareness to the future?

Ans: The poet thinks about the unawareness to the future is that this darkness is kept so that everyone can continue to play his part calmly in the pageant of life else no one will tolerate his existence and no one will do anything properly in the world if he will come to know his future. He thinks that this awareness to the future is a boon so that the business of the world can keep going on.

 

Q: 04. What example does the poet give to justify his perception about future?

Ans: The poet illustrates the example of a lamb to justify his perception about future. He says that it plays, grazes fodder happily, remains full of life and pleased till the last time and even it shows its faithfulness to his master by licking his hand that is about to kill him. If the lamb will know its fate of being killed it wouldn’t bubble and bounce with life.

 

Q: 05. What is the belief of poet about hope?

Ans: Hope is an elevating factor that keeps a man surviving in a human life. It is hope that gives us a way to move ahead amidst all uncertainty. Despite all the adversities, hurdles, troubles and disappointments of this miserable world and of the present day, we hope for a better future and keep struggling for the same. It is because of the future and hope that the world is going on an on without any break or pause.

 

Q: 06. What is the condition of our souls in this world according to the Pope?

Ans: Pope thinks that human soul is permanently restless, disturbed and far from its real and eternal home “Heaven”. It tries itself to liberate from its material cage-human body. It wants to go back to its original and ultimate destiny that is eternal life which is the permanent and eternal destiny.

 

Q: 07. Why does the poet name death a great teacher?

Ans: Alexander Pope names death “Great Teacher” because it teaches us that we don’t have to stay in this world forever and we have to die one day to leave this mortal world. Therefore, we must keep on doing virtuous deeds in the world and must keep on admiring God in every thick and thin so that we can make ourselves ready for the accountability to God.

 

Q: 08. How does the poem “An Essay on Man” justify Pope’s opinion that ignorance of the future and hope are two great blessings of God?

Ans: The Poem focuses on secrecy of future and hope. If a man had known his future, it would have absolutely become unbearable and impossible for him to complete his destined cycle of life according to His wishes. Pope supports this thought by giving the example of a playful contented lamb which is unaware of its fate of being sacrificed shortly by its master. Pope also expressed the thought that even though God does not let man know His future blessings but has certainly blessed him with the hope of being blessed in the future which is yet another precious gift of God.

 

Q: 09. How does God of all see with equal eyes?

Ans: The concept “God of all sees with equal eyes” presented by Pope, says that God prefers none to anything. The death of legendary figure or a tiny bird, the destruction of a tiny particle of an atom or that of an entire astronomical system and the rupturing of a bubble or the world are of similar significance to God.

 

Q: 10. Why does Pope suggest flying humbly?

Ans: Alexander Pope while preaching the principles of humanity, humility and modesty, advises man to lead a simple life with humble hopes and modest desires. If we aspire to rise, we should be humble and fearful like a bird that gradually balances its wings lest it might fall.

 

Q: 11. What is the background of the poem “An Essay on Man”?

Ans: An Essay on Man is the last complete long poem of Alexander Pope. It’s a Philosophical, thought-provoking and soul-stirring piece of verse. In poets own words the object of the essay is “To indicate the way of God to Man”. Humans and animals cant peep into their future and they are puppets to work on the orders of God. Only God observes the actions of them and if a man wasn’t to rise he should be humble and fearful.

 

Q: 12. Why God has kept the knowledge of future hidden from all creatures?

Ans: God has kept the knowledge of future hidden from all creatures and has given to his creatures only what they can afford to know. Whatever is given is nothing but in our interest and we should hope and wait the great teacher Death to teach us.

 

Q: 13. Hope springs eternal in the human breast. Discuss with reference to “An Essay on Man”.

Ans: It is hope which inspires human beings to keep striving and moving ahead. Man is never contented with his present condition and circumstances and he always hopes and struggles to get into a better position. The light of hope gives courage and will to work to the mortal beings so we should uphold the banner of hope and thanks God for this gift of unawareness from future.

 

Q: 14. “Ignorance of the future is a blessing of God”. Do you agree?

Ans: Yes, I agree that ignorance of the future is a great blessing of God because if one were to know in advance about his death, he would never be happy.

 

Q: 15. What does the poet mean when he says, “Who sees with equal eyes, as God of all”?

Ans: The poet means that in the eyes of God, all the creatures are equal when he says “Who sees with equal eyes, as God of all”.

 

THE SOLITARY REAPER

BY WILLAIM WORDSWORTH

Q: 01.  Who has composed the poem, “The Solitary Reaper”?

Ans: The great critic, Poet of Nature, William Wordsworth has composed this poem.

 

Q: 02. When and where did Wordsworth find the Solitary girl?

Ans: During his tour of the Highland of Scotland, in 1805, once as usual on a casual tour, he chanced to witness a Highland girl who was reaping and binding the crops alone. The girl was singing something that not only enraptured the poet but also it added beauty to the spectacular and breathtaking scene of that valley.

 

Q: 03. With what did the poet compare the voice of the Solitary girl and why?              OR

How does the poet compare the song of the reaper with the song of two birds?

Ans: The poet got so much impressed by the song and voice of the Solitary girl that he compared her voice with Cuckoo and Nightingale.  Wordsworth thinks that no nightingale had ever sung so pleasing and welcome songs for weary caravans of traveler in Arabian deserts nor anyone would have heard so thrilling voice from Cuckoo which breaks the silence of the seas among Hebrides. The voice of Solitary reaper is more thrilling and charming than both the Cuckoo and Nightingale.

 

Q: 04. Why did the poet say, “Will no one tell me what she sings”?                       OR

Why was the poet unable to understand the song of that girl?

Ans: The poet is inquiring “Will no one tell me what she sings”, impatiently because he could not understand the theme of her song as she was singing either in Gaelic or in Celtic language of Scotland. As the poet is English, he couldn’t fancy that she was singing a sad song about some old, unhappy, far off things, battles or about some ordinary matter of life like natural sorrow, loss or pain that had been in the past and might happen in the future again.

 

Q: 05. How much was the poet impressed by the voice of the girl?

Ans: The poet was so much enraptured and impressed that he listened the song motionless till he had his fill. The poet founds the song such a profound and sheer beauty that he felt the song had a never ending effect. At last, when he left the spot, her voice went on echoing in the valley of his mind even when it was heard no more.

 

Q: 06. What is the message of the poem?

Ans: Music has its own charm either of any language that’s why the poet got impressed by girl’s voice and it left prints on his memory. “Great and magical music never leaves the memory rather penetrates the ear with facility.”

 

Q: 07. Why does the poet use the similes of the nightingale and Cuckoo-bird?

Ans: The poet says that the song of the girl is far sweeter than the humming of birds and impresses the heart deeply. He says that the musical notes of the young singer are symmetrical to the thrilling songs of the Nightingale and the Cuckoo.

 

Q: 08. What does the poet mean by Stop here or gently pass?

Ans: The poet means that the passerby, if interested in the reaper’s song, should stop here and listen to the song. If not then, they should quietly go away that the singer shouldn’t be distracted to stop her song.

 

Q: 09. “The Music in my heart I bore long after it was heard no more”. Explain.

Ans: These words say that poet has preserved the reaper’s song in his heart as he didn’t know the words or meanings. Long after when it couldn’t be heard anymore, he could still enjoy the song just by thinking about it.

 

MUSIC WHEN SOFT VOICES DIE

BY PERCY BYSSHE SHELLY

Q: 01.  Who has composed the poem, “Music When Soft Voices Die”?

Ans: Major English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelly has composed the poem “Music When Soft Voices Die”.

 Q: 02. What does the poet believe about music and love?

Ans: The poet believes that lovely music or beautiful voices never die as they live in the memories of people like the flowers, when beloved dies, her beauty and her love would haunt the mind of the poet and will provide him with moments of joy.

 Q: 03. What is the perception of the poet about the separation of beloved?                 OR

How does Shelly advocate the idea that the true love never dies?

Ans: The poet thinks about the separation of beloved that when one’s beloved is gone and is no more with the person, the thought keeps the love alive in memory and the person finds the feeling much stronger, pure and caring than before. One can feel the presence of his or her love around him/her and continue to love even in the absence of beloved.

 Q: 04. What examples does the poet give to justify his idea of separation of beloved?

Ans: The examples the poet gives to justify his idea of separation of beloved are of the music that touches our hearts moves us and leaves profound impact on us though we are listening to it anymore or not. The sensation created by its memory is even stronger that music itself and becomes the bliss of solitude. When one finds some beautiful flower bearing fascinating smell in garden, it touches us at the very first go and the fragrance that touches the soul can be felt afterwards when the flowers fade. Roses, the sign of love, when are plucked become priceless and precious gift for the beloved and are heaped for the darling’s bed. When roses are plucked, they start to fade still play their role and reflect sheer love of one.

 Q: 05. What is Percy Bysshe Shelly expressing in his poem “Music When soft Voices Die”?

Ans: In his poem “Music when soft Voices Die”, Shelly expresses that we can’t forget our loved ones even though they no longer exist in our lives. Just as the pleasing voice of a singer, when no longer heard, is revived by its melody and the sweet scent of flowers like the violet lingers in the memory of the people long after they have withered away.

 

Q: 06. How are roses useful even after they are dead in Shelly’s opinion?

Ans: The charm and usefulness of the rose flower is not lost even after it has withered away as its petals can be scattered on the bed or the tomb of one’s beloved to decorate it and make it look beautiful.

 Q: 07. “Absence sharpens the love”. Discuss with reference to “Music when soft Voices die.”

Ans: In this beautiful short poem, Shelly has expressed his views about beauty, love and separation. He says that beauty is immortal, and love is unchangeable. It doesn’t change with the passage of time and with the change of circumstances. Absence or separation can not kill true love rather makes it stronger.

 

Q: 08. What does poet mean when he says “and so thy thoughts, when thou art gone, love itself shall slumber on”?
Ans:  When the poet says “and so thy thoughts, when thou art gone, love itself shall slumber on”, he means that when you (his beloved) are dead and gone, you shall live in my memory and my love shall sleep on your thoughts.

 Q: 09. What is the message of the title of the poem “Music when Soft Voices Die”?

Ans: The t title conveys the message that good music or lovely music, when it ends, never dies because it lives in our memories.

 Q: 10. What message does Shelley give to his beloved through the poem ‘Music When Soft Voices Die’?

Ans: Shelly tells her that even when she will be no more with him, he will love her with all his heart and soul

 

LINES FROM ENDYMION

BY JOHN KEATS

Q: 01. What is the central idea of the Poem “Lines From Endymion”?

Ans: John Keats is a worshiper of beauty and believes that beauty is constant source of joy forever. Nature has given birth to the most beautiful and the most captivating things like the sun, the moon, the trees, flowers, the sky and the earth. Hence, nature is a source of everlasting pleasure and enjoyment for all human beings.

 

Q: 02. According to John Keats, Why do we bind ourselves to the Earth?

Ans: According to John Keats we bind ourselves to the Earth because of our love or beauty that makes us attached to the world. Every morning life is making us busier with worldly affairs than the previous day. The world is full of joys and sorrows where noble souls are very rare to be found. Hence, we should remember that in this inhumane atmosphere beauty is the only thing that can help and keep us amused.

 Q: 03. How do some shapes of beauty moves us away from gloomy atmosphere?

Ans: It is known to everybody that all the evils prevailing in the society are of our own making. It is nature and her beauty that keeps us away from the gloomy atmosphere. We can get a chance to remove the evils away our souls and enjoy the beauty of nature.

 Q: 04. What does Keats mean to say by ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink, pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink”?

Ans: The poet means to say by these last lines of the poem ‘Endymion’ that it is due to our fondness for nature and its beauties that we have invented fine and lovely tales about the heroes who are no more. We believe that they will live in a beautiful place called Heaven and will have beautiful things around them where there will be an endless fountain on pouring upon us and humans shall enjoy its beauty, pleasure and effect forever.

 

Q: 05. Why is a thing of Beauty, a Joy forever?

Ans: John Keats has begun his poem “Endymion” with the line “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”, because beauty is immortal and has an everlasting impact on our minds and souls. Nature is ours and we belong to nature because all the beautiful objects guide and help us in the miseries of the world. As a matter of fact, Nature is a source of eternal joy, entertainment and refreshment to the suffering humanity. 

 

SAY NOT THE STRUGGLE NAUGHT AVAILETH BY ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH

BY ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH

Q: 01.  Who has composed the poem, “Say Not The Struggle Naught Availeth”?

Ans: The poem “Say Not The Struggle Naught Availeth” has been composed by Arthur Hugh Clough

 

Q: 02. What is the theme of the poem “Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth”?

Ans: Arthur Hugh Clough has presented a very beautiful and excellent idea that a person should never think that his efforts and striation will go in vain and he will not get the results of his hardships, pains and hard works done in life. He has delivered some worldly examples of Sea Waves, battlefield where two armies are fighting and the sun rise.

The poet means to say that we do get the reward of our struggle but it is not necessary as we expect rather ALLAH may reward us in other way or form.

 

Q: 03. What idea does Arthur Hugh Clough convey by the line “If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars.”?

Ans: By these words Arthur Hugh Clough conveys the message that if one feels that his hopes have not come true or he has failed in achieving them, those fears he has in his heart, are baseless and unreal. He has given an example of a battle field where two groups are face to face and each is hopeful for success. He says that each should not think that the enemy is weak and shouldn’t be afraid to lose the ground. Hence one should wait for the results of his efforts and never feel disappointed.

 

Q: 04. What does the symbol ‘light’ stand for in the second line of the last stanza in the poem?

Ans: It is remarkable that in all languages and cultures light appears to be a symbol of goodness and the sunrise is a symbol of the human hope that eventually light will prevail over darkness. Hence, light is the symbol of good omen.

 

LINES FROM THE ULYSSES

BY LORD ALFRED TENNYSON

 

Q: 01.  Who has composed the poem, “Lies from Ulysses”?

Ans: The poem, “Lies from Ulysses "Lord Alfred Tennyson"

 

Q: 02. What is the theme of the poem “Lines from the Ulysses”?

Ans: Ulysses is a symbol of an ideal hero who has an unconquerable soul and burns with the passion of adventure and knowledge. Ulysses gives the message of putting and continuing efforts till one achieves his objective. They should not be afraid of the hardships, time or fate and must be strong in their will because ‘Where there is a will there is a way.’ 

 

Q: 03. To whom does Ulysses address?

Ans: Ulysses addresses his mariners who will man his ship to one last voyage in his old age. He encourages and inspires them to continue their efforts till they reach their destination and should not submit before any horrors or hardships.

 

Q: 04. What achievements have been described by Ulysses to encourage his mariners?

Ans: Ulysses has described some remarkable, valuable deeds and achievements by the past heroes who are no more in this world. They worked very hard and always welcomed ups and downs very happily. They faced great challenges, storms and difficulties merrily and opposed free minded people.

 

Q: 05. What does Ulysses tell us about old age?

Ans: Ulysses inspires and encourages his companions in the last voyage of their life by telling that no doubt, they have grown old and old age has brought its labours and honours with it. He emphasized that is should be befitting great heroes to face challenges ahead very bravely and happily.

 

Q: 06. What suggestion does Ulysses give to the mariners?

Ans: Ulysses has given some suggestions to his mariners in which he firstly emphasizes on performing some remarkable deeds before the death. He secondly says that they should not be like those who took in battles against their gods as told in Greek Mythology and they should not submit or give up their efforts due to any hardships or horror.