Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Toys
Toys
INTRODUTION OF POET: The Toys in one of the beautiful poems composed by Conventr
y Patmore. Conventry Patmore was born in London in 1823. He had a religious bend
of mind deeply associated with the everyday happenings of life. His publication
s are The Angel in the House and The Un nown Eros and Other Odes. Patmore died i
n 1896.
INTRODUTION OF POEM: The poem conveys the idea of mercy of God through an incide
nt in the Poet s house. The verses of this poem are different from other poems. Th
e lines are uneven and are rhymed in an irregular manner.
SUMMARY: One night, the poet scolded his son for disobeying orders and tal ing i
n loud voice. The child went quietly to his bedroom with a gloomy heart. After s
ome time, the poet realized that he had made a mista e, as his son was lonely an
d his mother had died. No one was there to cheer him up.
The poet, went into his son s bedroom thin ing that his child must be weeping and
trying to sleep. But when he entered the room, he saw the boy calmly sleeping in
bed. The poet noticed mar s of tears on his chee s. He also saw some toys neatl
y arranged on a table besides his son, which were ept to comfort the sad heart.
The sight of the room was very uncomfortable for the poet. He felt sorry for hi
s attitude and learning the importance of toys for the child.
The poet was inspired by the whole incident. He issed his son and cleared the t
ears in his eyes. He understood that God loves his fellowmen more than a father
loves his son. Then why should not God forgive the people who commit mista es. H
e also realized that as the toys were of no importance to him, this world has no
worth before God. We only console our hearts by the beauty of this world. This
thought gave the poet a New Hope. He prayed all night with the feeling that God
is merciful and would forgive him.
MESSAGE:
We should forgive the mista es of people and live with a friendly atmosphere. Go
d is merciful on us and he forgives those people who forgive the mista es of hum
an beings.
Let me be a little indness, let me be a little blinder to the faults of those ar
ound me.
Lines
MY LITTLE SON, WHO LOOK D FROM THOUGHTFUL EYES
AND MOVED AND SPOKE IN QUIET GROWN-UP WISE,
HAVING MY LAW THE SEVENTH TIME DISOBEY D,
I STRUCK HIM, AND DISMISS D
WITH HARD WORDS AND UNKISS D,
-HIS MOTHER, WHO WAS PATIENT, BEING DEAD.
REFERENCE: This narative poem is written by Coventry Patmore (23 July 1823 - 26
November 1896 / Essex, England)
CONTEXT: In this poem the poet points out that God is always ind and merciful t
o man but man often fails to follow the commands of his Creator. The poem relate
s the story of father and son. The father treats the son harshly but later reali
zes his mista e and as s for forgiveness from God for his foolish behaviour. He
hopes that as he has forgiven his son, God would pardon him for his childishness
.
EXPLANATION: The poem tells the story of a father and his son. The little boy al
ways appeared to be serious and thoughtful. He behaved li e grown-ups but someti
me his childish instinct made him commit follies. When he disobeyed his father f
or the seventh time, he was beaten, scolded and turned out without being issed.
There was no one to defend or console him because his mother was no more in thi
s world.
Lines
THEN FEARING LEST HIS GRIEF SHOULD HINDER SLEEP,
I VISITEDHIS BED,
BUT FOUND HIM SLUMBERING DEEP,
WITH DARKEN D EYELIDS, AND THEIR LASHES YET
FROM HIS LATE SOBBING WET.
REFERENCE: This narative poem is written by Coventry Patmore (23 July 1823 - 26
November 1896 / Essex, England)
CONTEXT: In this poem the poet points out that God is always ind and merciful t
o man but man often fails to follow the commands of his Creator. The poem relate
s the story of father and son. The father treats the son harshly but later reali
zes his mista e and as s for forgiveness from God for his foolish behaviour. He
hopes that as he has forgiven his son, God would pardon him for his childishness
.
EXPLANATION: The father realized that he had been too harsh with his son. He fea
red that the child might not be able to sleep due to his grief. He visited his s
on s bed and found him sound asleep. The boy had fallen into a slumber while weepi
ng because his eyes appeared swollen and his eyelashes were still wet with tears
.
Lines
AND I, WITH MOAM,
KISSING AWAY HIS TEARS, LEFT OTHERS OF MY OWN;
FOR, ON A TABLE DRAWN BESIDE HIS HEAD,
HE HAD PUT, WITHIN HIS REACH,
A BOX OF COUNTERS AND A RED-VEIN D STONE,
A PIECE OF GLASS ABRADED BY THE BEACH,
AND SIX OR SEVEN SHELLS,
A BOTTLE WITH BLUE BELLS,
AND TWO FRENCH COPPER COINS RANGED THERE WITH CAREFUL ART,
do not fear God even on their death-bed. However, God is the most Beneficent and
the most Merciful. He provides man with all the simple joys of life. The father
forgives his son and hopes that God, being li e and guardian and benefactor of
the entire human race would pardon him for his rash and unreasonable behaviour t
owards his son.