Third Thought:

Literal Comprehension:
The story ‘Third Thoughts’ by E.U Lucas (1868-1938) is a great satire to
the common human mentality. This story was told to Lucas by his friend
who had a business especially buying at dearer (higher) price and selling
it cheap. However, he always used to bear the loss. He used to think
that one day the luck would favor him. Once the writer’s friend while
visiting New York bought a painting thinking that it was by Turner. He
got it at a cheap price since the seller was also confused about its
originality. With the painting, he went to London and sold it for fifty
pounds. He was so much happy that he decided to share the profit with
the seller of New York.
At first, he decided to share fifty percent of his profit and wrote a
letter but having no stamp, he went to his room. Again at about 3 AM,
he thought it quite inappropriate to share the profit but still thought
of sending ten pounds only. His thinking kept on changing and couldn’t
sleep well. Again. he thought of sending five pounds thinking that if he
shared, the Goddess would be angry and he thought it was he who
knew the value of the painting. If he had known it, he wouldn’t have
given him at such a cheap rate, so it is wrong to send him the profit.
Finally, he decided to send only a pound. Early in the morning, he
went outside and spent all his money on gambling. Finally, he
concluded that buying and selling a straight forward matter. Everyone
in this matter tries to get a benefit. The buyer once paid to the goods
has no obligation to the dealer.
2. Interpretation:
The story is about the changing state of the human mind and the
policy of the business. It gives us a true picture of present
commercial practice. The feeling of love, sympathy, truth, and
generosity have gone extinct in this materialistic world. Business is a
straightforward matter where there is buying, selling, bargaining,
and profit. Dealers want to take as much as they can and customer
is under no obligation. People became money minded and
humanism did not get a place. Besides the bargaining of goods,
there is bargaining of the soul in the essay. He first becomes
generous and thinks to provide half profit to the dealer but later he
decides one pound to give the dealer. Here he shows how the mind
has degenerated in modern society.
Critical thinking:
This story has shown the straight policy of business and changing
nature of human mind. It is interesting and realistic which attack
modern money minded people. But we can raise some questions
on the text. Does anyone sell in cheap price buying in dearest
market? Can anybody find Turners painting in 10 shillings? Can we
find ideal customer like the businessman? Would he post the
letter if he had stamps? Except these points, I like the text.
Assimilation:
This essay has provided me an opportunity of
understanding people in modern world . It has exposed
the reality of saying one thing and doing another thing.
We look so curious and like to show our generosity and
humanity but we lose our earlier desire and turn into
same position. Teaching moral is easier than practicing
moral. Thus, this essay teaches us about modern people,
changing state of their mind, lack of rationality and
money mindedness.
THIRD THOUGHTS E. V. Lucas (England, 1868-1938)

This story was told to me by a friend. It is my destiny (said he) to buy in the dearest markets and to sell—if I succeed in selling at all—in the

cheapest. Usually, indeed, having tired of a picture or decorative article, I have positively to give it away; almost to make its acceptance by

another a personal favour to me. But the other day was marked by an exception to this rule so striking that I have been wondering if

perhaps the luck has not changed and I am, after all, destined to be that most enviable thing, a successful dealer. It happened thus. In

drifting about the old curiosity shops of a cathedral city I came upon a portfolio of water-colour drawings, among which was one that to my

eye would have been a possible Turner, even if an earlier owner had not shared that opinion or hope and set the magic name with all its

initials (so often placed in the wrong order) beneath it. “How much is this?” I asked scornfully. “Well,” said the dealer, “if it were a genuine

Turner it would be worth anything. But let’s say ten shillings. You can have it for that; but I don’t mind if you don’t, because I’m going to

London next week and should take it with me to get an opinion.”

I pondered. “Mind you, I don’t guarantee it,” he added. I gave him the ten shillings.

By what incredible means I found a purchaser for the drawing at fifty pounds there is no need to tell, for the point of this narrative

resides not in bargaining with collectors, but in bargaining with my own soul. The astonishing fact remains that I achieved a profit of forty-

nine pounds ten and was duly elated. I then began to think. The dealer (so my thoughts ran) in that little street by the cathedral west door,

he ought to participate in this. He behaved very well to me and I ought to behave well to him. It would be only fair to give him half.
Thereupon I sat down and wrote a little note saying that the potential Turner
drawing, which no doubt he recollected, had turned out to be authentic, and I
had great pleasure in enclosing him half of the proceeds, as I considered that
the only just and decent course. Having no stamps and the hour being late I did
not post this, and went to bed.
At about 3.30 a.m. I woke widely up and, according to custom, began to
review my life’s errors, which are in no danger of ever suffering from loneliness.
From these I reached, by way of mitigation, my recent successful piece of
chaffering,3 and put the letter to the dealer under both examination and cross-
examination. Why (so my thoughts ran) give him half? Why be Quixotic? This
is no world for Quixotry. It was my eye that detected the probability of the
drawing, not his. He had indeed failed; did not know his own business. Why
put a premium on ineptitude? No, a present of, say, ten pounds at the most
would more than adequately meet the case.
Sleep still refusing to oblige me, I took a book of short stories and read
one. Then I closed my eyes again, and again began to think about the
dealer. Why (so my thoughts ran) send him ten pounds? It will only
give him a wrong idea of his customers, none other of whom would be
so fair, so sporting, as I. He will expect similar letters every day and be
disappointed, and then he will become embittered and go down the
vale of tears a miserable creature. He looked a nice old man too; a pity,
nay a crime, to injure such a nature. No, ten pounds is absurd. Five
would be plenty. Ten would put him above himself.
 While I was dressing the next morning I thought about the dealer again. Why
should I (so my thoughts ran), directly I had for the first time in my life brought off a
financial coup,6 spoil it by giving a large part of the profit away? Was not that flying
in the face of the Goddess of Business, whoever she may be? Was it not asking her
to disregard me—only a day or so after we had at last got on terms? There is no
fury like a woman scorned;7 it would probably be the end of me. City magnates8
are successful probably just because they don’t do these foolish impulsive things.
Impulse is the negation of magnatism. If I am to make any kind of figure in this new
role of fine-art-speculator (so my thoughts continued) I must control my feelings.
No, five pounds is absurd. A douceur9 of one pound will meet the case. It will be
nothing to me—or, at any rate, nothing serious—but a gift of quail and manna from
a clear sky to the dealer, without, however, doing him any harm. A pound will be
ample, accompanied by a brief note.
The note was to the effect that I had sold the drawing at a profit which
enabled me to make him a present, because it was an old, and perhaps odd,
belief of mine that one should do this kind of thing; good luck should be
shared.

I had the envelope in my pocket, containing the note and the cheque
when I reached the club for lunch; and that afternoon I played bridge10 so
disastrously11 that I was glad I had not posted it.

After all (so my thoughts ran, as I destroyed the envelope and contents)
such bargains are all part of the game. Buying and selling are a perfectly
straightforward matter between dealer and customer. The dealer asks as
much as he thinks he can extort, and the customer, having paid it, is under
no obligation whatever to the dealer. The incident is closed.
Who was to Blame? Anton Chekhov
Satire on education system and on all those teachers who believe
that punishment is an integral part of teaching and learning
activities
In the story Anton Chekhov tries to show how a teacher fails to
teach Latin to the narrator and how the same tutor also fails to
teach a kitten to catch mice. His failure is the result of his ineffective
teaching methodology that regards punishment (canning and
lashing) as way of improving student’s learning. This story is an
incomplete list of stories sketched by ‘Anton Checkov.’ In the story,
the narrator compares his life with a little kitten.
The writer of the story has made his uncle and little
kitten as the main character and Paraskeva, the maid as
a female character. The story begins with training the
kitten to kill the rats as they used to disturb the uncle
sometimes by nibbling the top of the hat and
sometimes by nibbling the corner of the grammar
book. In the course of training, the kitten was unable to
catch the mice as it was difficult for it to match with the
speed of little mice. The kitten was under a strict
environment of rules and regulations of narrator
uncles.
The narrator’s uncle decides to train a kitten to catch a mouse
because he finds the cover of his grammar books and his hats
are being nibbled by mice. He wants to get riddle of this
problem by training his little kitten to catch a mouse. He buys
a mouse trap to catch a mouse so that he can use it to train a
kitten to catch mice. However, his training effort goes off
course when the kitten not only fails to chase the mouse
rather runs and hides under the kitchen table. For his failure,
kitten gets beating and scolding from his master. After third
attempt narrators uncle kicks of the kitten deeming it as
useless.
Being several times failed in the uncle test and
experiment, the uncle threw the little kitten away. A
year passed, the thin frail kitten had turned into a solid
and sagacious tomcat. On the way to his house, one
day he saw the same cat which still failed in its mission
which made uncle realize the wastage of his precious
time that he spent on training it. So does the narrator
in the story never learn Latin English grammar as it was
beyond his interest.
Interpretation:
(a) Wrong teaching methods destroy inherent talents, creativity and students
nature impulse for learning. For example, even a kitten that has a natural
impulse to kill and hunt mice is reduced to a useless creature that is afraid of
the mouse.
(b) Punishment leaves negative impact upon the learner. The more punishment
we use or force upon the learners, they become more reluctant and afraid of
their subject matter.
(c) Punishment is not an effective way of teaching either animals or human
beings.
(d) Mother cat teachers her kitten to catch a mouse first by giving him a dead
mouse to play with, next she brings a mouse that is barely alive and then only
she teaches her kitten to catch a mouse which is alive and running. She is
creative and a mother cat never punishes a kitten for its failure to catch a
mouse.
Critical thinking
I can’t understand the comparison between narrators’
situation and of the tom cat. Can learning Latin from a
tutor and a cat learning to catch a mouse be same
thing? Why the narrator is silent about the fact, we
don’t know whether the narrator was given a
punishment by his uncle or not?
Assimilation:
Assimilation:

When I have gone through this story “ who was to blame” I have recalled the time of
my school days. During my school days I was not smart enough in English grammar.
One day my English teacher taught us the rules of “simple present tense” and told us to
memorize them. In our next class at class 8, my teacher began to call students one by
one to write the rules of tense on the white board. When my turn came I became
nervous and could not articulate any of the rules of simple present tense. Then my
English teacher became furious and scolded me bitterly. He charged as an indiscipline
student. After that incident I dislike English subject. Even at present if people talk about
tense, I immediately recall the class eight and I don’t like to listen about English
grammar.
The Clock Tower :Bhupi Sherchan, Nepal (1936-1989)

About Poet

• Bhupi Sherchan was the first free style poet in Nepali literature. He has analysed humans
and human life in different ways but his biggest contribution to Nepalese society is that
he has tried to show the way to the new generation through his numerous poems.

• He was a fierce nationalist and loved his country and countrymen above all else. His
down to earth rationalism can be seen in his classic poem "Hami" where he claimed that
we Nepalese are brave but foolish and because we are brave we are foolish. His intense
love for the nation and the goodwill of the nation can be seen in his odes to the martyrs
of Nepal. Bhupi Sherchan was awarded the Sajha Puraskar in 2026 B.S.
• Famous works: Ghumne Mech Mathi Andho Manche (A blind man on the revolving
chair), Sahid Ko Samjhana (In the memory of martyr), Main Batti Ko Sikha (Flame of a
candle), Ghantaghar (Clock-tower), Hami (Us),  etc.

The Clock Tower :Bhupi Sherchan, Nepal (1936-1989)

Literal Comprehension:
• The Clock Tower captures the image of pensioned veteran who passes his days without worry
and anxiety. The poet is very much successful in providing the realistic image.

• The poet looks sympathetic towards the clock tower and the senior vet (a person who has
served in the armed forces). Both are the victim of time. They are degrading due to ageing. It
is paradoxical that though the clock tower tells the time, it is victim of the very time. 
• The veteran is not happy with his present life. Rather he is passing his long, sad
days of his old age, having cast bait into Ranipokhari standing forever on its bank.

• He has spent his entire youth in the service of his camp. Now it is time for him to
rest. But he does not seem to be happy with his present life. He has grown old. He
is passing his long, sad days of old age.

• The clock tower, on the other hand, is a witness of the vet's passing life. Time has
cast bait into the vet's life. The old man has no old souvenirs  as all the old military
attires (Clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion) have been gone,
some are torn, some eaten by rats and others are distributed among kith and kin
one by one. 
 The time is invincible (unbeatable/Incapable of being overcome or subdued).
It is the time that eats everything.

 Time is very powerful. No one can defeat time. No one can escape from the
clutch (grip) of time. The old vet is silently waiting for his death. It is time that
has robbed his youths and all his energy.

 No one can feel the passage of time, it slowly comes and takes away our life.
Both the clock tower and senior vet are the victim of time. They both are
degrading due to ageing. It is paradoxical that though clock tower tells the
time, it is the victim of the very time.
Interpretation:
The loneliness of the old man is powerfully presented
through the image of the clock tower symbolically. Like the
clock tower which is old, neglected and waiting its end day,
the old man has also the same fate- old, rejected and
dejected. The poem has revealed the bitter reality of old
age.
Ranipokhari was built by the king Pratap Malla in 1727 BS
in the memory of his son. It was a token of consolation to
his wife. Thus, by looking at the lake the old man
remembers his past and is mollifying (lessening) his
suffering.
Critical Thinking:
Time is most power full thing. It turns a handsome man to an old and
ugly person who has nothing except memories. We all are victims of
the time. The poem aptly points out the power of time. The vet is
sitting under the tower, time, which itself is the curse of for human
being. The poem has used the power of imagery in a powerful way.
Without stating the history of Ranipokhari it invites readers to know
why the old man is looking at the Ranipokhari, queen’s pond.Why does
the poet compare an inanimate object like a clock tower with a living
human being? Why does he say that the clock tower is brooding? It is
unhappy. How does he know?
Assimilation:
The poet seems to be very unhappy with our neglect
towards tradition, historical monuments. In our life as
well, when we grow older, nobody talks to us. We want
to share our experiences, but nobody would have time to
listen to us. Thus we lament and curse time because it is
time that changes us to old and ugly things. We have to
wait silently to death. We cannot stop the passage of
time, time is powerful than us. We have nothing except
lamenting on the bygone days. I met an old man in the
Pashupati area. He reported all his grief within five
minutes to an unknown like me.
• “Mr Know All” by Somerset Maugham

Main characters:

Somerset Maugham( white man)

Max Kelada: Black man (Mr Know All)

Mr. Ramsey and Mrs. Ramsey

When the First World War ended, the writer ‘Somerset Maugham ‘decided to go to Japan from America by ship.
The narrator of story is travelling from San Francisco,USA to Yokohama Japan by an ocean liner. While on his
voyage the narrator has to share a cabin with a stranger, Mr. Max Kelada. The narrator is prepared to dislike Max
Kelada even before knowing him completely. He reveals his prejudices towards Max Kelada and he is prepared to
dislike Max Kelada even before knowing his properly. He dislikes Mr. Kelada for his name, tone of voice, the way he
speaks and interferes with other people’s matters. And more importantly he is disgusted with the fact that even as
a man of middle-eastern/ Asian origins he travels around the world carrying a British Passport.
While on ship Max Kelada organizes games and parties, argues with
everyone on various topics, mixes easily and muddles into each and
every issue. He flaunts his knowledge with everyone from issues
ranging from players to politics. Because of his activities he gets the
nickname Mr. Know-All. One day while on board, Max Kelada engages in a
discussion with Mr. Ramsay about pearls. Here, Mr. Max Kelada reveals that he
is traveling to Japan to know about Japanese pearl business where they are
making artificial pearls exactly like a real ones. After discussing for a while there
discussion moves towards a pearl necklace Mrs. Ramsay is wearing.
Max Kelada argues that the pearl necklace Mrs. Ramsay is worth
around 30,000 dollars. Whereas, Mr. Ramsay argues that the pearl
necklace she is wearing is a fake one, which costs just around 18
dollars. They put on a bet of hundred dollars to settle the argument.
However, Mrs. Ramsay is reluctant about the whole issue. When Max
Kelada takes out his magnifying glass to examine the pearl, he also
finds Mrs.Ramsay’s face turning pale and blue. Right there, Mr. Max
Kelada decides to throw his bet way and also his reputation as Mr.
Know-All. He admits to Mr. Ramsay that he is made a fool of himself
and the fake pearl maker has really done a great work. However, next
morning he revives a letter of thanks along with 100 dollar note from
Mrs. Ramsay.
After that Max Kelada tells the narrator that if he had a beautiful wife
like Mrs. Ramsay, he would have never left her alone for a year in
New Year while he was way. After this incident, the narrator decides
to change his mind and now he prepared to like Mr. Kelada.
Interpretation
The story shows the racial prejudice of white against non-white
people. The white narrator hates Mr. Kaleda without seeing and
knowing him. The story also shows that one can be great not because
of his birth, caste but because of his heart and behavior. We should
know mankind and humanity, not race and color of skin. Even after
knowing Kelada’s generosity and sacrifice of his own prestige for the
sake of others, the narrator doesn’t completely like him. Despite
being non-white, Max Kelada through his behaviors proves himself to
be good. oR
The story deals with humanity. There is a great difference in what
people say, what they do and what they pretend to be. Here, Mr.
Kelada is proved the best man though he is hated by all aboard
the ship. He saves Mrs. Ramsay and her life making him stupid.
He only cares about humanity but not the blames upon him. He
loses the money and own prestige to save the prestige of Mrs.
Ramsay. On the other hand, the story presents the racial
prejudice of whites and their hatred of black Kelada believes in
humanity and is ready to help all people but he is ridiculed and
ill-treated. Besides, this story shows the faithlessness of women.
Mrs. Ramsay looks honest but she seems to be involved in an
immoral affair in her husband’s absence.
3. Critical Thinking:
4. Assimilation:
Questions:
1.Somerset Maugham felt that his stories had to have a moral and teach
people tolerance, wisdom and compassion. Explain how this statement is
relevant to “Mr. Know-All”. Support your answer with examples from the story.
2. “I was prepared to dislike Max Kelada even before I knew him.” Give two
reasons why the narrator dislikes Mr. Kelada even before he meets him.
3. If you had been on the ship with Mr. Kelada, would you have disliked him as
much as the narrator did? Explain.
4. “A person has to have time and patience, and to observe people carefully in
order to learn their true secrets. Eventually, people say or do something that
reveals who they really are.”– Adapted from A Writer’s Notebook by Somerset
Maugham. Make a connection between the above quote and the story.
Support your answer with information from the story.
• Burden of Skepticism
• Skepticism is not something esoteric (mysterious) we use and
encounter it every day. when we are purchasing a used car we are bit
skeptical. However, we are skeptical in some areas but unfortunately
not in others. The writer of the essay, Carl Sagan argues that we are
not so skeptical when it comes to following TV commercials,
pronouncement of politicians and in other areas. He brings an
example of Whole Life Expo held at San Francisco where thousands of
people were sold the false hopes of cure for AIDS, healing through
stones and crystals. Likewise, Carl Sagan brings the example of
Spiritualists who claim that they can talk with the soul of a dead
person and convey their message.
Sadly, there are many people who believe in them and waste their resources.
But, in fact spiritualists are exploiting unsatisfied medical and spiritual needs
of helpless people. Similarly, he is also aware that skepticism is not
something taught at schools and college. We told not to be skeptical. Here,
Carl Sagan argues that skepticism is an elementary intellectual tool of a
democratic society. He argues for scientific thinking that aims at a balance
between skeptical/critical analysis of all the ideas and also open mindedness
towards all the new ideas as well. Like a scientist he wants all of us to be
critical as well as creative.
• Skepticism: Attitude of doubt, we are skeptical about some issues not
about others, people easily believe everything shown as TV
commercials, speeches of politicians, they are even ready to believe
people who claims that they can chat with dead spirits, find the
minerals buried under the earth with their mental powers
• Scientific attitude- openness to new ideas as well as critical scrutiny
of all new ideas
• 
Keeping Errors at Bay
The author gives us critical thinking tools to get rid of silly intellectual
errors we human beings are inclined to. Even the great thinker Aristotle
made an error saying that women have fewer teeth than man without any
observation. Therefore, before forming our opinions on any issue, event or
an idea we need to at least make an observation when even it’s possible.
The essay begins with the statement that no superhuman ability is needed
to avoid foolish opinions. He asserts that there are simple rules to save you
not from all the errors but from silly errors. He gives the example of
Aristotle who declared that women had fewer teeth than men. Russel says
that if Aristotle had asked Mrs. Aristotle to keep her mouth open until he
finished counting, he would have saved himself from making a very serious
mistake.
He did not do so because he thought he knew. This according to
Russell is the greatest mistake. He further illustrates this situation
stating his own beliefs about hedgehogs and the beliefs of the
ancient and medieval authors about unicorns and salamanders.
Russell says that one’s opinions are to be brought to the test of
experience. There are also many ways by which one can become
aware of one’s bias. If an opinion contrary to your own makes you
angry you must understand that in your subconscious you are
doubtful. He also explains the difference between Arithmetic and
Theology. In Arithmetic there is knowledge, but in Theology there
are only opinions. Knowledge is the result of observations but
opinion need not be so. So whenever you get angry about another
person’s opinion, be on your guard and make observations to
ascertain your idea.
There are ways to get rid of dogmatism as well. One way is to
become aware of the opinions held in social circles different from
your own. Travel is a good way of diminishing the intensity of narrow
prejudice. If you cannot travel, communicate with people who have
other opinions or read a newspaper belonging to a party that is not
yours. If such people and newspapers seem to you to be mad or
perverse you may caution yourself that you are in the same. Russell
gives another interesting observation that knowing the customs of
other countries will not always help. When the Manchus conquered
China, it was the custom among the Chinese for the women to have
small feet, and among the Manchus for the men to wear pigtails.
Instead of these two people dropping their foolish customs, each
adopted the custom of the other.
The Chinese continued wearing pigtails until the Manchus dominion
ended in 1911.We must, however, learn to judge and accept only what
is good in other people and cultures. Blind conformity to another faith
or practice will not do us any good. Another method to avoid
dogmatism is to imagine arguments with a person having a different
bias. But one should be careful in taking opinions that flatter one’s self-
esteem. It is very difficult to handle this problem because everybody is
conscious of his sense of superiority. According to Russell this should be
tempered with a little modesty and reasonableness. Our standard of
values should not be absolute. There are other people and other
cultures. Their standards and systems of values are equally respectable
and valued for in their lives. Fear, Russell says, is another common
source of error.
Imagination works negatively and harmfully when we invent
certain kinds of fear (disastrous war, ghosts) or entertain
illusory gains (eternal life, heaven) etc. We must learn to
admit, at least to ourselves, these fears. When we overcome
fear we become less superstitious and more rational. Russell
gives some examples to show how magic, sorcery and
witchcraft only create illusions of freedom. We become really
free only when we conquer fear rationally.
• Stopping by the woods in a snowy evening – Robert Frost
Robert Frost has been called the finest American poet of the 20th
century, “the purest classical poet of America to-day” and “the one
great American poet of our times”, He has been called, “the voice of
America”, and more honours have been showered upon him than any
other American poet of the century. A poem, says Robert Frost begins
in delight and ends in wisdom.
• Form:four stanza, sixteen lines, iambic meter, rhyme patter is
somewhat complex
It’s a dark winter evening. The speaker has to stop near the woods.
He is watching the snow falling in the woods. He wonders about the
owner of those woods. He thinks at first that the owner will be
annoyed with the speaker's presence there but then he remembers
that the owner of the woods lives in the village. There is no one
nearby, so he can enjoy that beautiful scene. His horse doesn't
understand why the master has stopped there. The horse shakes its
harness bells impatiently. The horse seems to be reminding the
master that it is a mistake to stop there. Expect for the sound of
snow flakes and winds, there is no other sound. The speaker wants
to stay there longer but the speaker remembers that he must leave
to fulfill his promises. He reluctantly leaves the place.
On the surface, it is no more than a simple anecdote
relating how the poet pauses one evening along a country
road to watch the snowfall in the woods: “The woods are
lovely, dark and deep”, and as he gazes into the soft, silent
whiteness, he is tempted to stay on and on, allowing his
mind to lose itself in the enchanted grove. “His
consciousness seems on the verge of freeing itself from
ordinary life, as if it were about to dissolve in the shadowy
blank, but his mind holds back from this.” He remembers
that his journey has a purpose. He has promises to keep and
many miles to go before he can yield to the dream-like
release which the woods seem to offer.
• Interpretation
• In this philosophical poem, the poet has tried to explore a
deep meaning of human life by describing his journey and
the beauty of woods. He seems to say life is a journey, which
everyone has to complete at any cost. We should not break
our journey for anything romantic and beautiful. Death is the
ultimate destination of this journey and we have to complete
lots of work before we die. Similarly, the poem shows that
nature is lovely and inspiring to human beings. It is a
storehouse of pleasure and inspiration.
• Critical Thinking
• The poem is beautiful and skillfully composed. Yet, I can’t agree with the
poet fully. I wonder if the horse is sensible enough to shake its harness
bell to remind its master of his mistake. The poet also does not say
clearly what sort of promises the speaker has to keep before he passes
away.
• Assimilation
• This poem has a tremendous impact on me. From this poem, I knew that
life is a journey one has to complete at any cost. We should not stop at
this journey because of some romantic sensation. Now I have
determined not to linger on any such romantic and beautiful thing but to
continue my journey of life.