9.

Abou Ben Adhem

Leigh Hunt

ASSIGNMENTS

Remarks
I. i) Refer to The Real Abu Ben Adhem, under Critical
increase"
section Page 137. The phrase "may his tribe
means

Ben Adhem in this

that there should be more people like Abou
world. The narrator admires and respects Abou Ben Adhem.
Abou Ben Adhem

Refer to Notes Section, Page 135. He is at peace as he loves

ii)
and serves his fellowmen.
(ii) The bright silvery moonlight in Abou's room on a peaceful night
had a magical effect. The room appeared rich and calm.
The comparison is made to reflect the similarities between
blossoming lily and the sparkling moonlight. Both the flower
and the moonlight are natural, beautiful and pleasing to the
eyes. They are the symbols of peace and purity.
(iv) When Abou wakes up he finds his room brightened with
moonlight and an angel writing something in "a book of gold".
The "book of gold" is significant as it adds to the magical and
supernatural quality of the poem. Moreover gold could also be
a symbol purity of the subject matter of the book.
(v) The angel visits Abou again the next night with "a great wakening
light." The angel shows him the names of those who had been
blessed by God, Abou Ben Adhem sees that his name appears
at the top, ahead of others.
Refer to True Devotion to God under Themes, Page 135.
II. (i) The presence in the above extract is referred to the angel who
woke Abou from his "deep dream of peace". Abou asked the
presence in his room, what was he writing.
(ii) The vision here refers to the angel, or could be Abou's supernatural
vision.
The vision raises its head to answer Abou's query about what
was he writing in his book of gold.
(ii) The angel tells Abou that he is writing in his book the names
of all those who love the Lord.
(iv) Abou curiously asks the angel if his name was written among
those who love the Lord. When the angel replied in the negative,
it made Abou feel low.
(v) Abou feels a little low but only for a moment. The words "cheerly"
tells us this. Abou cheerfully requests the angel to write his
name as the one who loves his fellow men.
III. (i) The angel might have written Abou's name as one who loves
his fellow men.
Refer to Lines 15-18, under The Poem in detail,
Page 135.
(ii) Abou Ben Adhem was a pure and simple man. He lived on
humanistic ideals. He is the epitome of the idea that when
you
love your fellow men, you become worthy to be loved by God.
 Moreover he was a positive man. On realising that his name
was not there on the list of men who love the Lord, he was
not disheartened, but cheerfully asked the angel to write his
name the as the one who loves his fellow-men.
(ii) (a) The line is a reference to the angel's second visit to Abou's
room. His first visit filled Abou's room with moonlight and the

second time his visit is accompanied great wakening

by "a light.
(b) This is the last line of the poem. The angel appears the
and with set of of people who have
next night a new names

been blessed by God with Ben Adhem's name on top of the

list. The word l0' adds to the climax.
Refer to True Devotion to God, under Themes, Page 135.
(iv)
shows Abou the names of people loved by God. Refer
(v) The angel
to Climax, under Style, Page 137.

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