APPRECIATION OF POEM-COMPILED BY-Dr. Salunkhe T.B.

 

Academic Year 2023-24

2.1 Cherry Tree-Ruskin Bond

About the title-

                           The title 'Cherry Tree' is really suitable/appropriate as it explains the planting of the cherry seed and describes how the cherry tree as a child grows up facing lots of difficulties in life. 

Gist of the poem:

                               Cherry Tree is a beautiful poem written by the poet Ruskin Bond. It is narrative poem describing the everyday struggle of the plant to grow and blossom. After a wait of eight years, a seed grew into a full blossomed tree. The poem is all about this wonderful experience and survival instinct of the tree. The poem is about the poet's fulfilment about his achievement and pride of having nurtured a tree.

Poetic Devices:

                         To enhance the beauty of the language, the poet Ruskin Bond has used different poetic devices in the form varied figures of speech like Alliteration, Antithesis, Personification etc. For example-'Since I placed my cherry seed in the grass' is the best example of the figure of speech Alliteration because in this line the sound 'S' is repeated twice in the beginning of the words 'since' and 'seed'. Let us have one more example of the figure of speech Personification-'Tree had come to stay'-This line is an example of the figure of speech 'Personification'. The tree is personified here. The poet has attributed human quality of 'staying' to the tree, therefore this line is an example of the figure of speech Personification.

Message in the poem:

                                        The poem conveys the message of tree plantation, its conservation and its importance. It also speaks about the tree's determination in spite of threat and difficulties, to survive. So despite threat in life, one should struggle hard like the cherry tree and be successful in the life.

2.2 The Sower-Victor Hugo

About the title:

                         The title 'The Sower' is apt as it gives realistic description of a lone farmer, working hard in his field. The title 'The Sower' and this poem is a translation of the famous French author Victor Hugo's work. Torulata Dutt was the first Indian poetess to write this poem in English.

Gist/Theme of the poem: 

                                           The poem is about the sower who is sowing seeds in his field. He is poor old man and has witnessed many bad harvests in his life. The poet observes his actions and expresses his respect for the farmer who is doing this noble task. 

Poetic Devices:

                         The poetess Toru Dutt has made the use of various poetic devises to beautify the linguistic features of the poem like Alliteration, Antithesis, Hyperbole, Inversion, Personification, Repetition etc. Moreover, the poet has also used symbols and imagery to illustrate theme of the poem. For example-'Sunlight, I see dying fast' is an example of the figure of speech Personification as the sunlight is personified here. The sunlight is given the human quality of 'dying'. Secondly, 'Marches he along the plain' is an example of the figure of speech Inversion as the poet has changed the order of the word. The correct order is-He marches along the plain.

Message in the poem:

                                    The poem reveals the qualities like determination, hard work, perseverance etc. The poem gives the message that one should keep working with a positive attitude in life as it brings good results in our future life. 

Your opinion about the poem:

                                                  I like this poem very much as it conveys the positive and respectful picture of the farmer. The qualities of the farmer described in this poem are truly commendable. 

2.3 There is Another Sky-Emily Dickinson

About the title:

                          The title 'There is Another Sky' is an appropriate title as it suits to exact theme the poetess Emily Dickinson wants to convey to the readers. The words 'There is Another Sky' means another kind of atmosphere from the present place. 

Theme/Gist of the poem:

                                         The poetess addresses her younger brother, Austin, and urges him to return home. Home is considered here as an another world, a garden, an ideal place. The poetess advocates the peace and happiness surrounding one's home. The theme of the poem is that happiness and gloom are the two sides of life and each one has to focus on what one likes.

Poetic Devices:

                         The poem is Petrarchan sonnet consisting octave and sestet. To make the language of the poem lucid and simple, the poetess has made the use of the figures of speech like Metaphor, Repetition, Onomatopoeia, Hyperbole, Alliteration etc. For example- 'I hear the bright bee hum' is an example of the figure of speech Onomatopoeia as its sound conveys the meaning of the word 'hum'. Let us take one more example-'Whose leaf is ever green' is an example of the figure of speech Hyperbole. It is obviously overstatement. There can not be any leaf in nature which stands green forever. 

Message in the poem:

                                   The poem has a great message for the readers. It conveys that one should support the person who is far away from the home and in depressed mood. It also teaches us that life is full with challenges and one should tackle the challenges with positive attitude. 

Your opinion about the poem:

                                                 I think this poem is one of the best poems written by Emily Dickinson. It creates positive picture in our mind about our life. This poem develops new outlook to look at life and face adverse situation in our life. 

2.4 Upon Westminster Bridge-William Wordsworth

About the title: 

                               The poet William Wordsworth, with his sister, was passing through the city London early in the morning and he sees the Westminster Bridge that spans the river Thames in London. The scenes, weather are so beautiful that inspire the poet to write this poem 'Upon Westminster Bridge'. The title of this poem is really suitable as the poet describes various scenes and surrounding of this city London from the Westminster Bridge. 

Theme of the poem:

                                In the poem 'Upon Westminster Bridge', the poet William Wordsworth describes the beauty of the bridge as seen at dawn from the Westminster Bridge, London. The poet describes the panoramic landscape, beauty, clam and quiet nature before him. The poem also conveys the poet's feelings about the beauty of the city of London.

Poetic Devices:

                         Despite of couple of archaic English words, the language used in this poem is simple and lucid. The figures of speech like simile, hyperbole, and personification increase the beauty of poem. For example-'The city now doth, like a garment wear' is an example of the figure of speech 'Simile'. In this line the poet has compared the beauty of the city with garment on the body. 

Special features:

                           The poem is a Petrarchan sonnet means it has fourteen lines and particular rhyme scheme.

Message in the poem:

                                   The poet very skillfully has presented the beautiful atmosphere of the city. It conveys that one should appreciate the beauty of the nature and the tranquility that exists around us. 

Compiled By-Dr. Salunkhe T. B.