Prof.

Sunitha H G
Assistant Professor of English
MCMCW, MYSORE

“Ulysses”
-By Alfred Lord Tennyson
The poem Ulysses is a dramatic monologue written in blank verse by Alfred
Lord Tennyson in 1833 and it was published in 1842. In 1833 he lost his best
friend Arthur Hallam and it inspired him to write this poem. Ulysses known as
Odysseus in Greek mythology was the king of the Ithaca kingdom.
The poem portrays Ulysses as a resolute and heroic man, who is
determined “to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield” at old age. After his far-
ranging travels and exploration for eighteen years, when Ulysses returns to his
kingdom he finds himself idle and restless. He yearns to continue his adventure
and explore the untrodden world. The poem opens with Ulysses’
acknowledgment that his life is monotonous despite him the king of Ithaca. He
bemoans on the fact that he is wasting his time and life to rule the savage, idle
people of his kingdom with unequal laws and they don’t know him at all. The
company of his aged wife is also not helping him to come out of stagnation and
empty feelings. He declares that;
“I cann’t rest from travel; I will drink
Life to the lees”;
While reminiscing his old days, he claims that he found joy in every
moment of his traveling even at the times, when he was suffering. He enjoyed
his traveling both at both times when he was with his faithful sailors and when
he was all alone by himself on land and in the sea sailing through rainstorms. As
an explorer, he has a hungry heart to see and to know the world more. He
reflects that he has seen and learned a lot about all the “cities of men. And
manners, climates, councils, governments”. As a result, he has become famous
and the world respects and gives honor to him.
 Ulysses also acknowledges the fact that he felt delighted in fighting the
Trojan war alongside his fellow soldiers. He feels all the places and people he
has encountered have been changed including him. All that in the past have
become experiences for him now and they appear like an arch to him. Through
that arch, he wants to continue his exploration of the untrodden world.
Ulysses exclaims that it is boring to stop and stay in one place without doing
any activities. Here he compares himself to a sword that has been allowed to
rust uselessly without using it in battle. Ulysses declares that bare breathing is
not living and life afterlife would not be sufficient to do all that he desires. At
the old age, very little time is left over and he is at the end of his lifetime. So he
thinks that every little hour left in his life would bring new opportunities to
explore the world. He feels that it would be disgraceful to sit at home, eat and
pray to stay alive. His greatest desire is to explore the world and get new
knowledge. He yearns to go beyond the humans’ limits like “a sinking star”.
In the next part of the poem, Ulysses introduces his son Telemachus, who is
the inheritor of the throne. He asserts his love for his son and applauds his son’s
ability to carry out the responsibilities as a ruler. He says with patience and
prudence, Telemachus will work towards civilizing the savage and idle people of
Ithaca and will make them indulge in productive activities. As a ruler
Telemachus; “Most blameless is he”. Because in the absence of Ulysses he
shows proper respect and affection to his mother and will continue his offering
worship and sacrifices to the Gods that Ulysses most honored. Hence he
declares that Telemachus is well fit to discharge kingly duties whereas he is fit
to continue his exploration of the world.
“He works his work, I mine”.
Then Ulysses while indicating the sea addresses his mariners, who
worked and explored the world with him to gain new knowledge. He says that
the sea is calling and the ship is ready to sail beyond the dark sea. He reminds
his mariners about their joyful acceptance of both troubles and good luck in their
previous explorations with all bravery and resolution. Now as Ulysses
acknowledges both he and mariners have grown older but they are still capable
of hard work and earn respect before “death closes all”. He urges to accomplish
some great deeds before death takes them all. Because they are all the heroic
men, who fought with the Gods in the Trojan War. As the night is befalling
Ulysses urges his mariners to join him in the last voyage. Because they are not
too old to explore the unknown regions of the world. He talks about his goal to
sail beyond the horizon before death takes him away from the world. He
confesses that during their voyage their ship may get drowned in the sea or they
may reach the Happy isles, where they can see Achilles the warrior. In spite of
being old, they haven’t lost their heroic qualities. Their minds and hearts are still
brave and composed to face any difficulties. Though they are physically weak
and old yet they are the same men with strong spirits. In spite of humans
destined to mortality and aging, Ulysses refuses to yield not only to enemies but
also to time and age.
“…but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield”.
Thus the poem ends with Ulysses’ articulation of his goal in seeking new
knowledge and new worlds.

Annotation:
There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toiled, and wrought, and thought with me-

The above lines are taken from the poem “Ulysses” written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. The poem is a dramatic monologue written in blank verse by
Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1833 and it was published in 1842. In 1833 he lost his
best friend Arthur Hallam and it inspired him to write this poem. The poem
portrays Ulysses, the king of Ithaca, as a resolute and heroic man and he is
determined “to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield” at old age. After his far-
ranging travels and exploration for eighteen years, when Ulysses returns to his
kingdom he finds himself idle and restless. He yearns to continue his adventure
and explore the untrodden world.
In these lines Ulysses is addressing his mariners after talking about his
past explorations and about his son Telemachus. By pointing out the port, he
says that the sea is calling and the ship is ready to sail beyond the dark sea.
Moreover the gloomy darkness is approaching to cover the vast sea. So he calls
out his mariners to start the voyage and these are the same mariners, who
worked hard and explored the world with him to gain new knowledge.
 “If”
- By Rudyard Kipling
The poem “If” is written by the India born British poet Rudyard
Kipling in 1895. It was first published in Rewards and Fairies in 1910. The poem
is written in the form of paternal advice to a son. The poem talks about a set of
conditionals that we all should follow including his son to succeed in life and to
be happy. The whole poem is written in a single complex sentence. Throughout
the poem, the speaker puts on conditions as requirements to succeed in one's
life. It is only in the ending the speaker talks about the achievement that one
can get after fulfilling the conditionals. Overall the poem is an ultimate
inspiration for everyone which tells us how to deal with different situations in
life. It conveys how to be a good human being.
In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker advises his son to
keep calm when others are losing their heads. He also tells his son not to lose
temperament even if others are blaming for their faults. Because losing temper
doesn’t solve a problem rather it intensifies it. Hence keeping one’s head cool
allows to think wisely and to solve any tough situations. In the next lines, the
speaker advises his son to have faith in himself when others doubt him. But
sometimes he needs to give heed to others' doubt and must try to find out the
reason for their suspicion. This helps not to get demoralized or disheartened and
not to do anything wrong knowingly or unknowingly. Along with that, he advises
his son to work hard and wait for the result without getting tired.
“If you can wait and not be tired by waiting”
Because losing patience makes one lose many opportunities. In the next lines,
the speaker advises his son not to indulge himself in lies or in hating others when
they lie or hate him. Both truth and love are the ultimate universal things in the
world. Along with this, a person should not show himself as too good or too
wise. Because both may get us into trouble.
In the second stanza, the speaker turns to advise his son to
develop self-control. He says we should not let our dreams and thoughts control
us. If not they detach us from reality leading us to fail. Then he talks about
success and failure, which are inevitable in everyone’s life. The speaker
personifies ‘triumph’ and ‘disaster’ by calling them ‘two imposters(cheaters)’.
Because too much happiness in success and grief in failure reduces one’s chance
to reach higher goals. He says;
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same”.
Then he advises his son to learn how to handle it when others misinterpret or
deliberatively distort his words in their favor to befool others. We shouldn’t lose
our temper in such kind of situations. Rather he needs to tolerate that ensuring
we have spoken truth. Then if his life or his favorite things broke he should
quietly and graciously pick up the pieces to rebuild it; “And stoop and build ‘em
up with worn-out tools”. But we shouldn’t complain about the loss with
everyone. This quality will take us to the top of the world.
In the third stanza, the speaker tells his son to develop courage and
grace during pressurized timings. Because it takes one’s nerve/courage to risk
everything in one toss and remain calm without complaining about it and to
rebuild it from the beginning. Here the speaker is talking about taking big risks
to achieve success and about developing mental toughness and the will power.
Because these two drive us to work hard even at old age or during illness. The
will power compels our body to work and achieve success. “…the will which says
to them, Hold on!”
Then in the last stanza, the speaker advises his son to have touch
with people from different classes of society and treat them all with the same
courtesy. Because the connection with common people helps to realize the
reality of the world. The noble touch with kings gives power and opportunities.
Then he tells his son should be strong enough so that neither enemies nor loving
people can hurt him. The personality must be in such a way that everyone should
support and give importance to us but not too much. Because it may bound us
from our duty. He says;
“If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:”
Lastly, the speaker advises his son not to waste time as its precious. Every
minute with sixty seconds must be utilized by us using some productive works.
In the last lines, the speaker reveals what would be the reward (achievement) if
his son fulfills the conditionals. His so would be a complete and perfect human
being.

Annotation:
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings –nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

The above lines are taken from the poem “IF” written by Rudyard Kipling in 1895.
The poem was first published in Rewards and Fairies in 1910. The poem is
written in the form of paternal advice to a son. The poem talks about a set of
conditionals that we all should follow including his son to succeed in life and to
be happy. The whole poem is written in a single complex sentence. Throughout
the poem, the speaker puts on conditionals as requirements to succeed in one's
life. It is only in the ending the speaker talks about the achievement that one
can get after fulfilling the conditionals. Overall the poem is an ultimate
inspiration for everyone which tells us how to deal with different situations in
life. It conveys how to be a good human being.
In these last stanza’s lines the speaker advises his son to have touch with people
from different classes of society and treat them all with the same courtesy.
Because the connection with common people helps to realize the reality of the
world. The noble touch with kings gives power and opportunities. Then he tells
his son should be strong enough so that neither enemies nor loving people can
hurt him. The personality must be in such a way that everyone should support
and give importance, but not too much.

“Questions from a worker who reads”

-By Bertolt Brecht
 The poem “Questions from a worker who reads” is written by Bertolt
Brecht, a famous German poet and the founder of the epic theatre, in literature.
His works were influenced by the political, social, economic, conditions of
Germany during the 1970s. Brecht who was a Marxist has tried to convey his
messages and the Marxist ideologies through his poems and plays. He was
always on the side of poor and downtrodden people.
The poem “Questions from a worker who reads” reveals his
boundless compassion to the working-class people. We always glorify and brag
our history mentioning the names of the kings, the wars waged by them and the
historical monuments erected by them. But unfortunately, no one bothers to
speak about the labourers and soldiers who shed their sweat and blood.
Emperors and kings could not have invaded any country and win a war or built
any monument without workers or soldiers. But it is ironic that only kings and
people of higher ranks are mentioned in history. The poem has great relevance
to modern society as well. Public buildings constructed by the working class
people using their own funds and taxes are inaugurated by politicians and their
names are written in the buildings. No one values the effort and work of the
working-class people. Hence the poem also deals with socio-political themes in
a satirical and critical tone.
The poem presents the surprise and confusing questions that arise in
the mind of a worker after reading history. The worker has a first-knowledge of
the spade works. These are worker’s sarcastic rhetorical questions and they
compel the readers to rethink their knowledge on history. By workers, the poet
means builders, masons, labourers, cooks, soldiers and so on. First, the seven
gates of Thebes is mentioned and who constructed it. In history, many kings’
names are mentioned. But with sarcasm, the speaker asks were those kings
pulled up the stones to build the gates of Thebes. Then there is a reference to
Babylon and Lima cities. Babylon, a city of ancient Mesopotamia, was destroyed
many times and each time it was erected by workers. Lima, a city of Peru, was
known for its glittering and richness in history. But where did the workers live
who built it? Even about the great-wall of China, it is mentioned that it was built
by the king Qin Shi Huang in history. But nobody knows the whereabouts of the
masons, who built it.
 The imperial Roman kingdom is full of triumphal arches. But the
speaker asks who constructed them. It wasn’t emperors. But it’s their names
glorified in history. Then the speaker asks over who did the Caesars achieve
triumph. Because in all their triumphs and construction of the arches it was
soldiers and workers who worked hard. But in history, only the emperors are
mentioned in history. Byzantium an ancient Greek city is mentioned and praised
much in songs and in poems for its palaces. But the workers, which contributed
to the construction of that city, lived in humble dwellings and there is no
reference about it in history.
Even in the fictional work of Plato Timaeus and Critias, an allegory,
when Atlantis was submerging in the Atlantic ocean the drowning people cried
out for their slaves. But in the work, there is not a single reference about the
slaves. Many historical wars and emperors are glorified in history like Alexander
the Great, conquering India, Julius Caesar's victory in the Gallic wars, Fredrick II
victory in the Seven Years War. The speaker asks were the wars fought only by
the kings and did they achieve victory all alone. Because it was soldiers and
cooks who stood as backbones in all those wars. Then in 1588, the Spanish
Armada (battleship) of Philip II was drowned by a storm defeat by the British
Empire. In history, there is a reference if Philip II weeping hard when he heard
the news. But the speaker sarcastically says that the king was not the only one
who wept when the armada was drowned. Even the families of the drowned
and dead soldiers must have cried too. But the traditional narrative method of
history only talks about the kings and the emperors.
At the ending of the poem the speaker wonders that every page of
history is named after victories and feasts of the kings. In history, we can see
that for every ten years a great man is born. But all their expenditures are lifted
by the taxes paid by the working-class people. The speaker briefs that history is
nothing but full of reports and they raise many questions in the minds of workers
who read it.
Annotation:

Every page a victory.

Who cooked the feast for the victors?
Every ten years a great man?
Who paid the bill?
These above lines are taken from the poem “Questions from a worker
who reads” written by Bertolt Brecht, a famous German poet and the founder
of the epic theatre, in literature. This poem reveals his boundless compassion to
the working-class people and by workers, the poet means builders, masons,
labourers, cooks, soldiers and so on. It is ironic that only kings and people of
higher ranks are mentioned in history when it has always been the labourers,
workers and soldiers who have shed their sweat and blood. Hence the poem
presents the surprise and confusing questions that arise in the mind of a worker
after reading history of great cities like Thebes, Babylon, Lima, Byzantium,
Roman Empire, Atlantis and of kings like Caesars, Philip of Spain, Alexander the
Great, Fredrick II.
In these last lines of the poem, the speaker says that every page
of history is named after victories and feasts of the kings. In history, we can see
that for every ten years a great man is born. But all their expenditures are lifted
by the taxes paid by the working-class people and we can’t find a single word
about common man or workers.

“You Start Dying Slowly”

-By Pablo Neruda
The poem “You Start Dying Slowly” is written by Pablo
Neruda, a Chilean Nobel prize-winning poet. The poem is written in
free verse without any rhyme scheme it's about living life to the fullest
without any negativity. Throughout the poem, the speaker tells us
how to flourish in life and live it fully, if not he warns us we start dying
slowly. Herewith the term 'dying slowly' he means mere surviving
without living in happiness and blessings of life. Thereby he inspires us
all to have a vibrant life and be the master of our lives, dreams, and
destiny instead of being a slave and leading passive life.
The poem begins with the alarm; “You Start Dying Slowly” if
we don’t travel by coming out of our shells and experience new things.
Because traveling allows one to meet new people, visit new places and
learn new things. Then to see and to feel the unseen we also need to
read. As life is too short to keep on traveling we need to cultivate the
habit of reading. It not only expands our knowledge and experience
but also increases our knowledge. Along with traveling and reading,
listening enables us to understand the world and ourselves better. By
'listening' the speaker means “the sounds of life” like noises and
voices around us, music, the music of nature, and most importantly
silence. Listening silence (being in silence) creates self-awareness and
it leads to self-appreciation. If we don’t praise and encourage
ourselves for our achievements we cannot expect from others. When
we neglect traveling, reading, listening and self-appreciation, despair
and negativity fill us leading to losing hope in a happy life. It’s an alarm
of we dying slowly.
Then in the second stanza, the speaker reinforces the idea of
living life fully by telling us not to kill our self-esteem. Because any
differentiation on the basis of caste, color and other things towards us
makes no difference until we don’t feel inferiority about ourselves.
When we don’t respect ourselves we can’t expect respect from others.
Then humans are all basically social animals and we need to
communicate and help each other at the needy time. At the same
time, we need to let others also to help us. That strengthens our social
bonding and lets us be empathetic towards each other. If we close
doors and prefer leading life in gloom and loneliness its alarm of our
slow death.
Living life at its height includes being the master of our
lives. We shouldn’t let even our habits have control of us, particularly
bad habits. Rather we need to them in the bud. Then the speaker asks
us to tread on new paths by having giving up old ones and to change
our mundane routine. This allows us to navigate new untrodden ways
for a successful life. Apart from that acknowledging different emotions
and getting well mixed in society with people is also important to
flourish in life. Hence the speaker asks us to “wear different colors”.
If we fail in these explorations our lives are nothing but a living death.
Finally, the speaker asks us to change our lives and job if we
are not happy. Otherwise, it will become monotonous, burden and
boring. Even though we are not satisfied with life and job we usually
never take risks and uncertainties by changing them in fear of losing
comfort zones. Thereby giving up our talents, passion, and dreams.
So the speaker asks us to take risks for what is safe and;
“Allow yourself
At least once in your lifetime
To run away from sensible advice”
Thus through the poem, the poet advises to rediscover our
lives and live at its full. Otherwise, he gives a big alarm that 'we start
dying slowly'.
Annotation:
You start dying slowly …
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.
The above lines are taken from the poem “You Start Dying
Slowly” written by by Pablo Neruda. In the poem tells us how to
flourish in life and live it fully, if we don’t not we start dying slowly.
Herewith the term 'dying slowly' the poet means mere surviving
without living in happiness and blessings of life. Thereby he inspires us
all to have a vibrant life and be the master of our lives, dreams, and
destiny instead of being a slave and leading passive life.
In these lines the speaker reinforces the idea of living life
fully by telling us not to kill our self-esteem. Because any
differentiation on the basis of caste, color and other things towards us
makes no difference until we don’t feel inferiority about ourselves.
When we don’t respect ourselves we can’t expect respect from others.
Then humans are all basically social animals and we need to
communicate and help each other at the needy time. At the same
time, we need to let others also to help us. That strengthens our social
bonding and lets us be empathetic towards each other. If we close
doors and prefer leading life in gloom and loneliness its alarm of our
slow death.

“We ARE THE TSB BANKING DIRECTORS”

-BY DARRYL ASHTON

The poem “WE Are the TSB Banking Directors” is written by

Darryl Ashton, a British poet, and writer. Ashton also gives stand-up
comedy poem performances. He has written on both serious and
humorous subjects. The present poem “WE Are the TSB Banking
Directors” is about a post-modern phenomenon globalization and
liberalization. Under its new economic policies, banks are being sold
and bought like tomatoes and apples when they are considered as
assets of a nation.
The poet has satirized this act of selling and buying banks
without considering the interest of customers. He criticizes the selfish
acts of banks’ trustees, directors, and employees. Here in the poem,
the poet satirized the TSB banking directors. The Trustee Savings Bank
is a British financial institution and its directors are appointed as
trustees. Its first bank was established in 1810 in Scotland with the
motive of accepting savings deposits from people. During the 1970s
and 1980s, various trustee savings banks were merged into a single
institution named TSB Group plc. Later on, it became a subsidiary to
Banco de Sabadell, a banking group in Spain. This act of selling the
bank by the trustees to the Spanish people is criticized by the poet in
the poet.
Throughout the poem, the ‘directors’ (trustees) of the bank
show how selfish and hypocritical they are and their real motives. The
poem begins in a kind of self-introduction of the bankers. They claim
that;
“We always like to say; yes!” for whatever the customers come up
with, but they also confess that they like to cause stress to them. By
continuing their hypocritical confession the bank employees agree
that they have the power and chance to grant loans when people
come up with any request like that. But they sanction loan only to a
few privileged people. Thereby confessing how they differentiate rich
and poor customers.
The banking people inform about a Spanish banking group purchasing
the TSB institution by flashing their huge money. With the sale of the
bank, the bankers are intended to flee from the country. The poet
feels sad about losing another national asset to a foreign source. But
the bankers feel it’s good and profitable for them. Because they have
gained huge profits in that trade. They say;
“But we have all made a killing”. That’s all that matters to them.
They blatantly reject safeguarding the customers’ interest
under the pretext of shortage of money; “as money is so tight!” Hence
they declare that at the right time they would inform about the bank
people being sold out to the Spanish customers as they don’t really
care about them. Next, the bankers wonder whether the Spanish
people know the English language or do they speak in gibberish.
Because after the acquisition of a nation’s assets like banks it’s
important to know that nation’s language too. Here the poet has
parodied the Spanish people and the banking people.
 Then the directors agree with the fact that they pretended
about caring for people. So they confess;
“We were so very phony!”
As they have sold out the bank and amassed huge money the banking
people want to leave Britain and set for a new country. In their
farewell words, they don’t forget to express gratitude to the people of
Britain and the Spanish bank group. Because of who they became rich.
Before taking leave the directors confess; “We bankers are greedy
sods!”
Thus through the bank people, the poet satirizes and parodies
the new economic policies and hypocritical nature of the banking
people.
Annotation:
Nothing now is British-
Oh, what a shame!
But we have all made
A killing- it is the name
Of the game!

The above lines are taken from the poem “We Are the TSB
Banking Directors” written by Darryl Ashton, a British poet, and writer.
The poem is about a post-modern phenomenon globalization and
liberalization. The poet has satirized the act of selling and buying
banks without considering the interest of customers. Here, he
criticizes and satirizes the TSB’s trustees, directors, and employees for
their selfish and hypocritical acts.
In these lines the poet feels sad about losing another
national asset to a foreign source. Because a Spanish banking group
has purchased the TSB institution by flashing their huge money. But
the banking people feel it’s good and profitable for them. Because
they have gained huge profits in that trade.