ANY WOMAN

KATHARINE TYNAN

READ AND RESPOND

1. Mention the underlying ideas in the expression ‘pillars of the house’.

The pillars are the main supports of the house. It is not possible to have a house without
pillars. The idea underlying the expression is that a woman is the backbone of the family.

2. How does the poet portray the bond between a mother and her children?
According to the poet, the children get their love from their mother. She is their light of
love. Without her, the children cannot thrive. She is the twist that holds the children together in the
sacred ring of the family.

3. Comment on the expression from ‘floor to roof’. Attempt to coin another expression without
changing the meaning.
Floor to roof means from start to the finish, from the top to the bottom. All aspects of the
home are connected with the woman, the mother of the house. Nothing in the home is unknown to
her. Another expression with the same meaning would be from ‘top to toe’ and ‘head to foot’.

4. What is the symbolic significance of ‘wind and snow’?

The symbolic significance of ‘wind and snow’ is the troubles and adversities that come to
life. Life is affected by problems of various sorts like diseases, financial problems, emotional
problems or some other tragedies. But the mother tries to prevent all these things from entering
the family and bothering its members.

5. Explain, in your own word, the concluding line of the poem.

It is a prayer that the woman makes to Jesus Christ. Jesus was laid in the manger by his
mother Mary. The woman is praying to Jesus to spare her life till her children grow because she
knows without her, her children would not be able to live and thrive in this world.

LET’S DISCUSS

 Woman: the focal point of the family.

It is the general notion in the society that because women do not generally work outside, they
contribute very less to the family. But just think, even if the father plays the role of the breadwinner
it is the woman who takes the trouble to cook it and also take care of their children. It is our mother
who sees to it that our house and surroundings are kept neat and we grow in a hygienic
environment. She has been doing so since we were born. We also know that women generally are
more tolerant and patient than men which helps them support the family at the time of crisis. She
keeps the hope alive. For all of us to make sense just imagine a week without our mother in our
house. What a mess will we make! For we never realize the value of eyes unless we lose it.
  The qualities a woman needs to face the challenges of life.

A woman should have many qualities to face the challenges of life. She should:
 Have self confidence
 Be educated
 Come out of her comfort zone
 Have leadership qualities which includes wisdom, understanding, courage, determination,
compassion, sympathy and empathy
 Be independent and work hard to be empowered.

Women should not remain the weaker sex. There is nothing ‘weak’ about them. They should
dare the difference and come into leadership roles acquiring equality with men in all walks
of life.

THINK AND WRITE

 Analyze the theme of the poem keeping in view the plight of women in the Indian
socio scenario.
The theme of the poem is the importance of the woman in the family. Without a woman a
family is simply unimaginable. In the Indian scenario women are left to live a painful and dark life.
The poem any woman puts forward the unique role of woman in families. In Indian households
women have dual responsibilities. The poem reveals the part that women plays in bringing up
children, managing the house and handling all responsibilities. But in fact, the Indian womanhood is
overburdened. The working women have to struggle hard to earn their bread and manage their
house. House makers are denied respect and concern and are undermined. The Indian society has a
long way to go to realize the noble role of women in making a home a sweet place.

 Identify the major figure of speech used in the poem and describe its significance.
The major figure of speech used in the poem is metaphor. A metaphor is a comparison
where on a thing is seen as another. The use of metaphor is quite apt as woman stands out as the
pivot on which everything centres or rotates. Just as the house crumbles and falls down when once
the keystone is shaken, the family will shatter if the woman is taken away. She is source of fire and
gives warmth and light. Similarly a woman alone can give the warmth and light of love to her
children making them thrive well. It is the woman who protects her children from all adversities
and she is therefore the roof, the wall and the door.

 What is the quantum of work done by woman in a household? Can it be reduced?

How?
The quantum of work done by a woman is tremendous. Women do all homely chores such
as looking after the aged parents, bringing up children and attending to the needs of all family
members and keeping the house neat and clean. In most families it is women who ensure the
wellbeing of all family members. Women rack their brains for the quantum of work. They are forced
to take multiple roles. This can sometimes affect her health, both physical and mental. Therefore, it
must be reduced. This can be made possible if all the members are willing to share the household
work. Husband, children and others must understand the plight of women and must cooperate
with her.
 Appreciation of the poem

Katherine Tynan, the famous Irish poet, speaks of the importance of the woman in the
family through the short and elegant poem “any woman”. It deals with the different tasks and
roles that a woman maintains, in simple but stylish method of presentation. The narrator,
being a woman herself, has succeeded in stirring the hearts of the readers with her emotions.

The poem conveys the message that women are the keystone of the house. They have
the responsibility of managing the house, bringing up their children and attending to the needs
of the family members. The poem shows how a woman is indispensable in a family. The poem
uses the rhyme scheme abab [e.g. hands-stands, alive-thrive except in the first stanza. The
poem is enriched with the use of various figures of speech. Use of alliteration like ‘light of love
alive ‘and, the twist that holds together ‘adds beauty to the poem and gives it a musical touch.
The most dominant figure of speech is undoubtedly ‘metaphor’! She is the keystone of the arch,
the roof and the wall, the fire upon the hearth etc. the powerful image of a pivot on which
everything rotates is seen in womanhood is presented in the poem.

The poet uses the powerful but simple language. Even an ordinary reader can assimilate
the idea presented. But if one goes deep, there can be deeper layers of meaning. The poet wants
the readers to realize that women are to be respected for their contributions to society. A
strong message is that the women who protect the family against mist and snow must be
protected against al atrocities by the society.