A Comparative Study of English Poems
12th Song of the Open Road
(04 Marku)
1. Title
The title of the poem “Song of the Open Road” is suitable.
2. Poet
The poem is written by Walt Whitman. This is an inspirational poem.
3. Theme
Themes of the poem are:
- Freedom
- Mobility
- Journey of life
- Staying in one place for too long stagnates life
4. Poetic Style
The poem is in free verse. It has 4 stanzas and unique arrangements of words and lines.
5. Language
The poet used artistic and simple language with musical and pictorial effects.
6. Poetic Devices
The poem uses poetic devices such as repetition, metaphor, paradox, inversion, and alliteration.
7. Special Features
The poem is a monologue. The symbolic word “road” is used to compare human life.
8. Message/Moral Value
We must believe in our strengths. If we are not free, no one will respect us.
9. Favorite Line
“Strong and content I travel the open road, because life is full of ups and downs. Live honestly, happily.”
10. Own Opinion
I think man is free by birth. In my opinion, a man without liberty is a body without a soul. We are the creators of our own lives. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.
Indian Weavers
1. Title
The title of the poem “Indian Weavers” is suitable because it describes the life of Indian weavers.
2. Poet
The poem is written by Sarojini Naidu, who is known as the “Nightingale of India.”
3. Theme
Themes of the poem are:
- Life of Indian Weavers
- Three stages of human life
- Life is short, live happily
4. Poetic Style
The poem has 3 stanzas and is in a question-answer format. The first line rhymes with the second, and the third line rhymes with the fourth line in each stanza.
5. Language
The poet used artistic and simple language with musical and pictorial effects.
6. Poetic Devices
The poem uses poetic devices such as alliteration, metaphor, imagery, and inversion. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB.
7. Special Features
The poem uses symbols to describe human life and imagery to describe the life of weavers.
8. Favorite Line
“We are weaving… Hard work is important in all situations.”
9. Message/Moral Value
Indian weavers are hardworking and honest. Life is momentary, live happily. Enjoy all stages of life.
10. Own Opinion
I think the poem uses birds, colors, and images effectively. I like this poem because weavers weave each thread with love, and our life is like cloth: wear it, enjoy it before it’s torn because you will not get it back again.
The Inchcape Rock
1. Title
The title of the poem “The Inchcape Rock” is suitable because the whole story revolves around the Inchcape Rock.
2. Poet
The poem is written by Robert Southey. This is a famous ballad.
3. Theme
A warning bell for sailors was tied on the Inchcape Rock by the Abbot of Aberbrothok, but it was cut by Ralph the Rover. His ship crashed into the same Inchcape Rock, proving “as you sow, so shall you reap.”
4. Poetic Style
There are 17 stanzas of four lines each. The poem is dramatic and narrative.
5. Language
The poet used artistic and simple language with musical and pictorial effects. Archaic (old) words are used.
6. Poetic Devices
The poem uses poetic devices such as alliteration, inversion, metaphor, simile, and onomatopoeia. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB.
7. Special Features
The poem effectively uses symbols and imagery. It employs narrative and descriptive techniques. This poem is didactic.
8. Favorite Line
“No stir in the air, no stir in the sea” because it uses verbal imagery to show a calm atmosphere.
9. Message/Moral Value
We must think positively. As you sow, so shall you reap. Tit for tat. Good people are rewarded. Bad people are punished.
10. Own Opinion
I think it is rightly said, “He who digs a pit for others falls into it.” When you are jealous of others, you do not get peace.
Have You Earned Your Tomorrow
1. Title
The title “Have You Earned Your Tomorrow” is suitable because it questions how people spend their todays.
2. Poet
This inspirational poem is written by Edgar Guest, who is known as the “People’s Poet.”
3. Theme
Themes of the poem are:
- Today’s good actions will earn your tomorrow
- Importance of human connection in life
4. Poetic Style
The poem has four stanzas of quatrains. It is presented in an appealing, interrogative, unique, self-introspection style.
5. Language
The poet used 11 questions, artistic language, and simple language with musical and pictorial effects.
6. Poetic Devices
The poem uses poetic devices such as interrogation and alliteration. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB.
7. Favorite Line
“A single heart rejoicing over what you did or said” because we start self-analysis of our behavior.
8. Special Features
The poem effectively uses interrogative questions and daily life situations. This poem is didactic.
9. Message/Moral Value
This poem gives the message: as you sow, so shall you reap. Tit for tat. Service to man is service to God.
10. Own Opinion
I like this poem because it gives me confidence and positivity. It teaches me to do good work honestly, help everyone, how to live a happy life, and how to behave with others.
Father Returning Home
1. Title
The title of the poem “Father Returning Home” is suitable because the father returns late at home.
2. Poet
The poem is written by Dilip Chitre. This poem is narrative, gloomy, and a monologue.
3. Theme
Themes of the poem are:
- Generation gap between father and children
- Man’s loneliness in a man-made world
4. Poetic Style
It is a free verse poem. It is autobiographical, symbolic, and narrative.
5. Language
The poem uses words to describe the father’s character, simple language with musical and pictorial effects.
6. Poetic Devices
The poem uses poetic devices such as alliteration, simile, inversion, onomatopoeia, transferred epithet, and climax.
7. Special Features
The poem uses symbols and imagery to describe the father’s loneliness: weak tea, stale chapati, late evening traveler.
8. Favorite Line
“Man’s estrangement from a man-made world” because it shows the real picture of society.
9. Message/Moral Value
We must care for and respect our parents. We must share jokes and secrets with our family members.
10. Own Opinion
I think family bonding is important in this material world. We must [cherish] our family members. I think fathers devote their lives to their children, so fathers are superheroes forever in our lives. Family bonds are more important than material bonds.
Money
1. Title
The title of the poem “Money” is suitable because the poet describes the experience of life with and without money.
2. Poet
The poem is written by W.H. Davies. The tone of the poem is narrative and positive.
3. Theme
- Happiness can’t be bought with cash.
- Comparison between rich people and poor people, true and false friends.
4. Poetic Style
The poet used exclamations, imagery, and symbols to show the value of money.
5. Language
“Of Money, money, money” – The poet uses words to describe the value of life, simple language with symbols and imagery.
6. Poetic Devices
The poem uses poetic devices such as alliteration, antithesis, metonymy, and simile.
7. Special Features
The poem uses imagery and symbols like money, trumpets, bees, death, and the life of poor people.
8. Favorite Line
“My friends are real, though they are few” because it gives the message that we can’t buy real friends.
9. Moral Message
- Real happiness is not found in money but in real friends.
- Earning too much money leads to unhappiness.
10. Own Opinion
I think money is not everything. In my opinion, friends make the world beautiful. Friendship is forever, in good or bad days. Money can’t buy everything.
She Walks in Beauty
1. Title
The title of the poem “She Walks in Beauty” is suitable because the poet describes how beautiful the woman is.
2. Poet
The poem is written by George Gordon Byron. This is a short, lyrical poem.
3. Theme
- Balance in beauty and harmony
- Balance of external and internal beauty
- Perfect combination of opposite forces of dark and bright to describe beauty
4. Poetic Style
The poet used contractions, opposite words, imagery, and symbols to show outer and inner beauty.
5. Language
The poet uses words to compare the beauty of women, simple language with symbols and imagery.
6. Poetic Devices
The poem uses poetic devices such as alliteration, antithesis, metaphor, and simile.
7. Special Features
The poem uses imagery and symbols like clouds, night, stars, and a winning smile.
8. Favorite Line
“The smile that wins, the tints that glow” because her smile comes from the bottom of her heart.
9. Moral Message
- Real beauty is not external beauty but internal beauty.
- Beauty is the flower of virtue.
10. Own Opinion
I think the poet describes a pure mind in a beautiful body. One smile makes many friends. A smile comes from the heart, so a smart heart is in a smart body.
Small Towns and Rivers
1. Title
The title of the poem “Small Towns and Rivers” is suitable because it is a pictorial poem.
2. Poet
The poem is written by Mamang Dai. She described tribal life with nature.
3. Theme
Themes of the poem are:
- Destruction of nature for development
- Importance of natural resources
4. Poetic Style
It is a free verse poem. It is narrative and autobiographical.
5. Language
The poem uses words to describe the Adi tribal community of Arunachal Pradesh, simple language with musical and pictorial effects.
6. Poetic Devices
The poem uses poetic devices such as alliteration, repetition, simile, and metaphor.
7. Special Features
The poem uses symbols and imagery to describe the native place, the Adi community, loneliness, water, rivers, and trees.
8. Favorite Line
“Small towns grow with anxiety” because now small towns are becoming artificial, materialistic, and unnatural cities.
9. Message/Moral Value
We must care for and protect natural elements. We must be attached to our native places and childhood memories.
10. Own Opinion
I think we should not make progress at the loss of nature. The goal of our life is to live with nature. I think nature is the best teacher, doctor, and reformer.