[2] fmowerus Introduction : The poet, cre of a leg below the knee. This powerful poem was writ! of the will to survive with | showing courage in the face of death, and [WArMine uPt_| | *Q. 1. Let's introspect! | (a) Think and respond with a ‘YES’ or ‘NO’. When you are faced with a very serious problem or some grave danger, what do you experience? (Students can attempt this activity on page 27 of the textbook on their own.) (b) Write about your feelings and reactions in 4-5 lines. [Students may write this based on responses made in (a).] (Some other words’ you can use to describe | your feelings and reactions : fear, nervousness, | lack of confidence, aggressiveness, uncertainty, insecurity, courage, optimism, despatr, etc.) *Q. 2. Form groups of four. Discuss what you actually feel and do in difficult situations and some of the things you could and should do in | those situations. (Students can discuss this activity in groups.) match the pairs : (a) beauty (1) a tall mountain j j i | | { | *Q. 3. Guess what the following symbolize and | | | (2) a dark night (b) freedom (3) a rose (c) deep distress (4) sunrise (d) anger (5) a flying bird (e) strength/firmness (6) thunder (0 hope Ans. (1) a tall mountain — strength/irmness | (2) a dark night - deep distress (3) a rose - beauty (4) sunrise ~ hope (5) a flying bird - freedom | (6) thunder - anger. } William Ernest Henley, ‘suffered a tubercular infection that ||nim are || thanks whatever Gods that may be there, for his | (Textbook page 27, resulted in the ten shortly after this incident. It's all abou, th dignity in the face of severe hardships, PARAPHRASE ‘The poet says that the hardships that surroung as black as the centre of the earth. He | |unconquerable soul. He says that though he was a victim of wicked| circumstances, he has neither reacted with pain nor | cried aloud. Though he is suffering under the violent beatings of fate, his head is bloody but unbowed. Beyond this world of anger and sadness in which we live, there exists the dark unknown, which may hold more hardships for the soul. Yet, he says, | even the threat of what may happen later does not| make him afraid. It does not matter how narrow or difficult the || gate to Heaven is, or how many more punishments are written on the official roll of paper. The poet says with utter confidence that he is the master of his own fate, and the captain of his soul. He has the sole authority of his own life. READING SKILLS, VOCABULARY AND POETIC DEVICES @. Read the following poem carefully and complete the activities : Al. Choose : *Choose the correct option : (a) Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole. (W There ts a pit between two poles which you cannot see at night. (iw Iam in a pit that ts covered with a black sheet. (iii) The circumstances are as bad as they can be, with nothing to hope for from any corner.(b) In the fell clutch of circumstance, 1 have not winced nor cried aloud, (w Lfell down and cried aloud. (tT have not expressed my grief even when Thad to suffer great pain. (uy I freed myself from a difficult situation and crled. (c) Under the bludgeonings of chance, My head 1s bloody «.. Thave suffered many setbacks and losses, for which there was no reason, : (ty I got hurt due to my own faults. (uti) My enemies hit me till I started bleeding. (d) And yet the menace of the years, Finds, ‘and shall find me, unafraid (Y My enemles threaten me but cannot find me. (W A great bully found me once, but shall not find me in future. (ut) Even though I am growing old, I am not, and shall not be, afratd. (e) How charged with punishments the scroll. (i) The scroll ts very expensive. (wW Imay have to pay for many of my mistakes. | suffered his hardships bravely are : (ti) T have to pay money as punishment. ( Iam the master of my fate. (J I take responsibility for everything that happens in my life. (i) My fate is my master. (it) Tam the master of this world. (g) 1 am the captain of my soul. (y Lam the captain of a team. (ti) My soul (s the captain of my team. (itt) My actions are the result of my own feelings. ‘Ans. (a) The circumstances are as bad as they can be, with nothing to hope for from any corner. (b) Ihave not expressed my to suffer great pain. (c) I have suffered many setbacks and losses, for which there was no reason. (d) Even though I am growing old, Tam not, and shall not be, afraid. (e) I may have to pay for many of my mistakes. (f) I take responsibility for everything that happens in my life. (g) My actions are the result of my own feelings. | |how strait the gate grlef even when I had | } | \ { } | i } Out of the night captain of my soul. bie, pit a fell clutch uncon Glonsury nvietus in the ground wicked trap. wineed - jerked bludgeonings - violent beatings with a club, wrath anger. looms menace ~ (hreat ry into the deep, large hole with pain, hangs overhead. how difficult the new world, seroll - a large roll of paper/parchment with official writing on tt, ‘A2. (A) Answer the following questions : *(1) What is the poet thankful for? ‘Ans, The poet 1s thankful for his unconquerable soul. (2) What does the poet have full control over? ‘Ans. The poet has full control over his fate, his soul and his life. } i) Your interpretation/inference : +(1) Which lines show that the poet has suffered his hardships bravely? ‘Ans. The lines that show that the poet has (i) thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. (4) In the fell clutch of circumstance Thave neither winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeoning of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. *(2) What is meant by ‘the place of wrath and tears’? ‘Ans. “The place of wrath and tears’ means the | place of anger and sadness. That 1, the world where | we live. AS. (A) Meanings Match the words with their meanings + (a) anger (b) threat (c) violent beatings (1) menace (2) bludgeonings Ans. (1) menace - threat (2) bludgeonings - violent beatings. 31(B) Poetic Device : | *(2) Write the rhyme scheme of the poem. (1) ‘Under the bludgeonings of chance’. Pick ; Ans. Rhyme scheme : abab, cdcd efef ghgh. out and explain the figure of speech from this line. | Ans. Personification — Chance (fate) is personified. | It is said to be beating the poet violently with a club. | “Read the poem ‘Where lies the land ..." py A.C. Clough. FURTHER READING