(1) Std.

IX - English

CRITICAL APPRECIATION (5 MARKS)

Q. Write a Critical Appreciation of the poems using the following points: [5 marks]
1. Title 2. Poet
3. Rhyme Scheme 4. Figures of Speech
5. Central Idea / Theme

1.1 Life
The poem 'Life' is written by the English poet Charlotte Bronte. Her novel 'Jane Eyre' is a
widely read classic through the ages. The poem is reflective of Bronte's life which was full of
struggles and Bronte's fight against the hardships. The rhyme scheme of each stanza of the
poem is 'abab'. The poet uses the Figures of Speech - Personification to personify morning
rain, sunny hours, death, hope and sorrow by giving them animate qualities. Also, Metaphor
has been used as life has been directly compared to a dream. The poet uses morning rain,
clouds, shower, roses and sunny hours metaphorically for the good and bad times in one's
life. The poem revolves around the central idea that life is a combination of good and bad
times. No situation lasts forever. The bad times make us stronger and wiser. We should always
be optimistic, fearless, hopeful and courageous in life.

1.3 'Have you ever seen…?'

The poem 'Have you ever seen…?' has been written by an anonymous (unknown) poet. The
poem has been written in rhyming couplets and so the rhyme scheme is 'aabb…'.
The main Figure of Speech used in the poem is Pun. The dual meanings of words have been
used cleverly to create humour in each line of the poem. Interrogation has been used in each
line to make the readers think on the intended dual meaning. The central idea of the poem is
the use of puns based on homographs to highlight the oddities in the different meanings of
the same word. A clever use of words has been used to create humour and poke fun at the
absurd usages in the English language.

2.1 Invictus
The title of the poem, 'Invictus', is a Latin term that means unconquerable, invincible and
undefeatable. The poem has been written by the English poet 'William Ernest Henley' when he
was in hospital due to tuberculosis and had to get his left leg amputated. The poem has been
written in a fixed rhythm and has been divided into four stanzas of four lines each. The rhyme
scheme of each stanza is 'abab'. The poet uses Metaphors of 'night' for the difficult period of
his life and 'the shade' for life after death. He compares himself to a master of a slave and a
captain of a ship. The poem gives the message of displaying strength in the face of adversity.
The central idea of the poem is that no matter how difficult the circumstances in life get, the
soul is unconquerable. It is eternal and cannot be controlled by anyone. The poem shows the
poet's undying attitude and his 'never say die' spirit despite being subjected to physical
disability. The poem is an inspirational poem that motivates the reader to face all difficulties
in life with courage and determination.

2.3 Somebody's Mother

The poem 'Somebody's Mother' has been written by the American poet Mary Dow Brine. She is
known for writing children's books. The poem has been written in rhyming couplets and so
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the rhyme scheme is 'aabb…'. The poet uses the Figure of Speech - Synecdoche by using a
part for the whole, like feet and heart in place of the old woman and the boy. Transferred
Epithet has been used for 'anxious eye' and 'young heart'. The central idea of the poem is the
importance of compassion and how each stranger is important in one's life and how we should
help others so that even our loved ones are helped by others. It reveals the beauty of helping
others. It teaches us to be empathetic towards each other.

2.5 Autumn
The poem 'Autumn' has been written by the great Indian poet Mahakavi Kalidas. He is hailed
as one of the greatest poets of the world and described as the Shakespeare of India. The poem
has been translated in English by Prof. A. W. Ryder, a professor of Sanskrit at the University
of California. The rhyme scheme of both stanzas of the poem is 'ababcdcd'. The main Figure of
Speech used in the poem is Personification as the entire poem is a personification of the
autumn season as a young maiden. Metaphor has been used as a comparison has been made
between autumn and a maiden, diadem and the stars, silken robe and moonlight. The central
idea of the poem is the beauty of autumn, the season of fall by comparing it to a slender young
maiden, who will soon become a woman. It captures the brilliance and the contrasting images
of the season during the day and the night. The poem greatly succeeds in capturing the
essence of the season visually.

3.1 Silver
The poem 'Silver' has been written by the British poet Walter de la Mare, who became well
known as a children's author. He was also a notable writer of ghost stories. The poem is a
sonnet of seven rhyming couplets. The rhyme scheme is aabb. The main figure of speech used
in the poem is Personification as moon has been personified as a woman. The poet also uses
Repetition, as the word 'silver' has been repeated to emphasise on the silver effect. The central
idea of the poem is that everything appears silver on a moonlit night. The poem personifies the
moon and how it makes the night scene silver. It tells us how we perceive things in different
situations. The moonlight conquers the darkness of the night and brings about a change in
the plain surroundings.

3.4 The Road Not Taken

The poem 'The Road Not Taken' has been written by the American poet Robert Frost, a four-
time Pulitzer Prize winner in poetry. The rhyme scheme of each stanza of the poem is 'abaab'.
The prominent Figure of Speech used in the poem is 'Metaphor' as the roads symbolise the
choices we come across in life. The theme of the poem is the choices that a person may face in
his life. It is about selecting the right approach to life through making bold and correct decisions.
It tells us how it is not the paths that we take, but the paths that we don't take that shape our
lives.

4.1 Please Listen!

The poem 'Please Listen!' has been written by an anonymous poet. The poem does not have a
rhyme scheme and has been written in free verse. Repetition is the prominent Figure of Speech
used in the poem. The word 'listen' has been repeated several times. The central idea of the
poem is the art of listening. It states that listening should involve understanding and patience,
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and should not be followed by advices. The narrator mentions that sometimes a person just
wants to share things and may not need advice or solutions. He further says that God is the
ideal listener.

4.4 Tansen
The poem 'Tansen' has been written by 'Inayat Khan'. He is known for his brilliance in poetry
and music, yet his deepest inner calling was in spiritual matters. He has received many awards
and medals of honour for his magnificent singing. The poem has 23 couplets, each line rhyming
with the other. The rhyme scheme of the poem is 'aabb…'. The figures of speech used by the
poet are Simile, Metaphor, Alliteration, Inversion, Tautology and Onomatopoeia to convey the
meaning of the poem. Tautology has been used in the line "Scorning its wealth, remote and
far-away" as 'remote' and 'far away' have the similar meanings. Tansen is a narrative poem
which tells us about a story involving King Akbar and one of his Navaratnas, the legendary
singer Tansen. The central idea of the poem is the power of devotion to God. The poem gives
the readers a very deep perspective, creating in them an urge to understand the true meaning
of life and their purpose in it.

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