'Joy and Woe are Woven Fine' by William Blake

          The poem 'Joy and Woe are Woven Fine' was written by William Blake.  He was a poet, painter and printmaker during  the romantic era of England.

         The central theme of the poem is about the vicissitudes of the life. From which one can't escape as both are part and parcel of the wonderful life. 

                Joy and woe are woven fine,
             A clothing for the soul divine;
                Under every grief and pine
              Runs a joy with silken twine,
                  It is right it should be so;
           Man was made for joy and woe;
           And when this we rightly know,
           Safely through the world we go.  

          In this short poem, poet compares joy and woe with the woven cloth. Same way in life also these both things are necessary as both are dependent on each other ! Because in life everything is temporary, nothing is permanent.  That's why poet calls it as the cloth of eternal soul. Which has the divine power.

        There is uncertainties in the life. As we know that everything is going to vanish in the dust,  same way, at one level, there might be full grief, here grief helps person to listen his conscience, which ultimately turns into motivation and leads towards the happiness. For that poet gives the symbol of silken twine. 

       At the end of the poem, poet convinces the reader that and that's how life is all about.  Once person understands the path of a life, he never gets frustrated with the life.  Which helps him in living the better, simple life.
      Thus in conclusion we can say that poet tries to provide the philosophical meaning of the life. One should prepare himself for the every situation,  which is going to come in his life. Many times people just keep thinking about the worst situations,  but rather he or she should have started finding the root of a problem. As Every Cloud has a silver lining !

     
       
     

         

'The Character of a Happy Life' by Henry Wotton

      'The Character of a Happy Life' is a poem written by the English author and diplomat Sir Henry Wotton. 

     This poem is about the character of a happy life. Where poet gives the example or we can say provides the lessons which can be considered as the character of a happy life.

          How happy is he born or taught,
           That serveth not another's will;
      Whose armour is his honest thought,
          And simple truth his highest skill;

        In first stanza poet says that, a person who is free to do anything in his or her life are the most happiest people in the world. Because they don't have to worry about others's opinion.  Here we can sense that, may be the narrator is not happy with his life.  In addition, narrator makes a strong statement by saying that, that person doesn't need any armour as his honest thoughts and simple truth stands like a mountain against the enemy. Even we can say that these are the virtues which makes the person happy in his life.

       Whose passions not his masters are;
      Whose soul is still prepar'd for death
           Untied unto the world with care
       Of princes's grace or vulgar breath;

        In the next stanza, narrator describes the good characteristics of a happy man by giving the example of the word 'passion'. Because it leads towards the success as well as to the failure.  But the happy people never get affected by the anger, he handles his emotions with great respect.  However, to fulfill the dreams his soul is ready to die.  Besides all these, the happy person remains aloof from worldly possessions. Even he doesn't crave for the praise, but gives way to the criticism, as it helps in looking one's own self.

 Who envies none whom chance doth raise,
          Or vice; who never understood
    The deepest wounds are given by praise,
            By rule of state,  but not of good;

    In this stanza poet talks about the relationship of a happy person. A happy person never gets envious for the others,  whether they are successful or not,  even they are, by vice, then also, great man shows well state of behavior with everyone and this is what makes him happier than  the others.  We can interpret that the praise which are given by the 'state' are hardly recognizable, but happy man chooses his own rules to live this invaluable life.

     Who have his life from rumours freed;
     Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
       Whose state can neither flatters feed,
           Nor ruins make accuser great;

    As narrator has shown the way of a happy life, in preceding stanza he gives the reasons behind the happy life of a person.  The happiest person keeps himself away from the rumors, because for him 'conscience' is the best guide. He knows about the sycophants ! and even bad wisher can't do anything to his soul.

        Who God doth late and early pray,
    More of his grace than goods to send,
         And entertains the harmless day
      With a well- chosen book or friend.

       Furthermore, narrator tells that happy man goes to pray everyday as it provides positive vibes in his life.  Though he never asks for the things in return,  what he wants is the grace only.  During his day the happy person entertains himself by enjoying the company of a book and friend. Eventually he enjoys the simple living which makes his life more beautiful and interesting. 

     This man is free from servile bands
            Of hope to rise or fear to fall;
     Lord of himself, though not of lands;
         And having nothing, yet hath all.

       In last stanza poet talks about the powerful mindset of a happy person.  They are more mature compare to other. The person is happy because he is free from every servile,  he has no fear of failure as well as he has accepted the reality with the help of his potentiality.  He considers himself as the master of his own fate,  but yes not to show the arrogance of the materialistic things,  but he has everything which has been attributed to the happiest life. 
          In short we can say that to become happy one needs honesty and truthfulness in their lives, the person should not think of own dreams by listening the own conscience. To reach at the pinnacle of the happiness one thinks of being free from every bonds.  And that's what makes life easier and happy too. 

           

"Fame and Friendship" by Henry Austin Dobson

 

   The poem "Fame and Friendship" was written by H. A. Dobson. The central theme of the poem is about the fame and friendship. Here poet describes the importance of fame and friendship as both things are important in our lives.  Here we will see it in detail that how poet criticises the 'Fame' over 'friendship'. Though, in modern time it sounds 'feel good' poem !

       Fame is A Food That Dead Men Eat

        Fame is a food that dead men eat, -
         I have no stomach for such meat.
          In little light and narrow room,
             They eat it in the silent tomb,
     With no kind voice of comrade near
          To bid the banquet be of cheer.

     In the first stanza poet tells that fame is the food that dead men eat, by this line poet tries to say that,  person should not crave for the fame,  which ultimately creates the loneliness in the life. After criticising the 'fame' poet shares his personal views by saying that he has no stomach for such meat. Whenever person becomes the looser,  he or she craves for the fame,  which is not wrong also,  but the important thing is, one needs to learn that how to digest that 'fame.' Moreover,  this fame which person enjoys,  it is temporary. For instance,  when person arranges the feast, the honor of success, but as time passes everything gets vanished.
            The another interpretation comes in our mind is that,  sometimes person works hard but doesn't get the reward while living, which demotivates the person.  But person gets the reward posthumously,  where nobody is with them to cheer.

          But friendship is a nobler thing,-
           Of friendship it is good to sing.
        For truly,  when a man shall end,
        He lives in memory of his friend,
          Who both his better part recall,
           And of his faults make funeral.

          It seems that poet has a full  experience of the long life,  may be he wants to live that moments again  ! In the preceding stanza poet provides the 'moral' but the true message of friendship.  He tells that friendship is nobler thing in the world.  Because in life,  at the certain stages we need some good friend who can guide us in every situation. Many times person can't discuss everything with their parents/ siblings, which he or she can do with their friends.  By concluding the poem,  poet becomes emotional, the mode of poetry gets change. Even after the death of a friend, best moments of life never dies, indirectly, the memory remains with the living one.  In addition poet gives the suggestion for better friendship. He tells that one should burn the past mistakes before he himself becomes the part of a funeral.  At the end of the poetry, the message poetry tries to give is,  recall the great memories which we lived with our friends,  and that memory will keep you alive during the worst time of our lives.

     The interesting thing about the 'friendship' is it is difficult to keep our friends happy at every moment, many times we think of competing with them,  and in that process we  become envious for them.  See, the competition should be their, but with ourselves rather than the others. That's why people often tell that one should not forget the humanity over friendship !

"Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley

         The 'Ozymandias' is a sonnet written by English Romantic writer P. B.  Shelley.  

         Ozymandias- Rameses-11 was a Greek pharaoh in Egypt.  He was famous for his statesmanship, architecture, military leadership,  administrative abilities and building activities.  

          The central theme of the poem is, inevitable decline of rulers with their pretensions to greatness.  Here poet describes a ruined statue, which is in desert, which shows the fragility of human power.

     I met a traveller from an antique land, 
       Who said - " Two vast and trunkless 
                                                     legs of stone 
       Stand in the desert. Near them, 
                                                     on the sand,
       Half sunk a shattered visage lies, 
                                                     whose frown, 
      And wrinkled lip, and sneer of 
                                                   cold command,
      Tell that its sculptor well those
                                                     passions read,
      Which yet survive, stamped on these 
                                                     lifeless things, 
      The hand that mocked them, and the 
                                                     heart that fed,
  And on the pedestal, these words appears :
      My name is Ozymandias, king of kings, 
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair !
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay 
       Of that colossal Wreck, 
                                          boundless and bare 
The lone and level sands stretch far away." 

    As we know that the main theme of the poem is about the decline of the arrogant king/person, here poet describes it by comparing it with the various metaphors.  

   In the beginning narrator meets to the traveller, somewhere on the antique land.  The word antique represents the Greek,  which has an old cultural value and great kings. Beside this, nothing remains permanent as now the statue of the king is barely standing,  and its part are ruined in the desert.  The poet tries to say that though it is vast but it has no upper body,  which signifies the fragility of human power. Furthermore, poet makes mockery of it by saying that, the face of the statue seems unhappy and unrecognizable, and with it, his fame also vanished in the desert.  

         Earlier king had a great tongue but nowadays no one hearing him as he lost his identity which was full of arrogance. As poem progresses, poet uses irony to make fun of it by taunting, for instance,  poet praises the sculptor because the carvings are yet clear on the face of a statue ! 
      
           The traveller, talks about the powerful hands and also about the heart of that dying statue, but everything is in a vain.  As traveller describes the situation of various parts of the body,  suddenly he sees the inscribed words written on the pedestal.  Which is written by Ozymandias and describes himself as the king of kings,  moreover it shows his pompous claim of mightiness. 

               However, as time passed nothing remained with him,  the only thing people see is the barely standing and half ruined,  boundless statue. Here poet tries to say that his ego has been buried into the sand. 

             In conclusion we can say that poet tries to awake the people who are suffering from the ego and who have full arrogance of their position,  but at the end of the day nothing is going to be permanent, thus,  people should keep themselves away from the so called stardom.  Because many times it becomes the reason of a fall.   

Rhyming Scheme : ( Iambic Pentameter)                                           ABABA CDCEDEFEF

'How Sleep the Brave' by William Collins

            The poem 'How Sleep the Brave' was written by the 18th century English writer William Collins. 

      This patriotic poem is about war and soldier. Where soldiers selflessly dies to free their countries from the enemies. The main focus is on the funeral procession of a soldier, because his pyre is now ready for the burial.  

           How sleep the brave who sink to rest
              By all their country’s wishes blest!
           When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
         Returns the deck their hallow’d mould,
           She there shall dress a sweeter sod
               Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod.

This whole poetry is in the ode form, with two stanzas, each containing of six lines.  In the first stanza,  poet praises the soldier who has been died for the country.  And for that, they are blessed by the country's people. Here poet pays homage to the soldiers by honoring them. As poem progresses, poet compares it with the spring,  as spring symbolizes the 'rise',  same way this holy soldiers are like a spring,  moreover poet considers them as a holy person who has sacrificed his life for the betterment of the country. As per our imagination power we can interpret that,  now poet talks about the cemetery, which  is more delightful than the feet of a fancy.

                 By fair hands their knell is rung,
            By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
            There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey,
           To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
                 And freedom shall a while repair
               To dwell a weeping hermit there. 

      
            In the second stanza, our imagination about the funeral pyre becomes more stronger as poet tells that the sound of the bell will be ring as never before, and that's also accompanied by the mournful song. In addition, poet seems inspiring others to be brave by saying that these soldiers, as they have got this honor, they are now more famous, and pilgrimages will come to their grey to pay their homage.  At the end, poet becomes more emotional by saying that, this freedom will repair the sorrow of the hermit.  

         By concluding the poem,  we can say that this poem is an elegy,  where poet laments for the soldier. In modern context,  it can be possible that, ultimately poet is not happy with the freedom which he got at the cost of his friend, who had been serving to the country.  

        

"Fear No More" by William Shakespeare

 

   This poem was written by very famous dramatist William Shakespeare. The poem has been taken from his play 'Cymbeline.'  The core message of the poem is to not feel fear from worldly things.  Because ultimately 'death' gonna win this race !

         Fear no more the heat o' the sun,
           Nor the furious winter's rages;
         Thou thy worldly task hast done,
     Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages :
           Golden lads and girls all must,
     As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

    In this poem we can interpret that poet has a feeling for the dead one.  Morally speaking,  poet tells to the dead ones that you don't have to worry anymore because now you are free from every anxieties.  Here poet has given the example of the sun. As we know that it is intolerable to face scorching sun.  Even the furious winter also makes everyone livid. But they all remains away from the dead. Further in this poem we find kind of satire as poet tells to the masters and labourers to take their wages but ultimately they both gonna die. The another satire is on the inequality of the society.  Where these both reach as well as poor lads also going to die,  and then there should be no inequality anymore, as both are gonna mixed in the dust.  So we can say that poet tries to welcome the death as a well wisher for the betterment of future.

     Fear no more the frown o' the great;
      Thou art past the tyrant's strokes;
         Care no more to clothe and eat;
           To thee the reed is as the oak :
     The scepter,  learning,  physic,  must
       All follow this,  and come to dust.

      In the second stanza,  poet says to labourers that one day death will come and make you all free from your tyrant masters. In addition they don't have to worry for clothes and food as after death nothing is required. Furthermore there is no need to be more resilient as everyone on this earth, including powerful people,  they have to follow the same path of death.

        Fear no more the lightning flash,
     Nor the all dreaded thunder stone;
         Fear not slander censure rash;
     Thou hast finished joy and moan:
        All lovers young all lovers must
      Consign to thee,  and come to dust.
 
       The way poet shows the dumbness of life,  is critical one.  As in next stanza poet tells that, the fear of lightning and thunder remains with the living, it can't do anything to the dead. The poet doesn't stop here,  he has a grudge for the society too,  as there are so many slanders in the society which becomes the reason of moan as well as joy of a person, however nothing gonna affect anymore, even the lovers who makes promises of living together for centuries, at the end there won't be any barriers in the heaven, so one shouldn't fear from death.

              No exorciser harm thee!
         Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
             Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
             Nothing ill come near thee!
             Quiet consummation have;
          And renowned by the grave!

Now we reached to the end of the poetry, till now it seemed that the poet is celebrating funeral procession.  But poet is very well awared about the superstitions of people,  so here he makes clear that nobody can harm the great soul,  not even exorcist. Moreover, poet tries to provide some lightness as he tells that even ghost forbears to the dead.  Once person dies, actually he becomes free from all illness, which has been intolerable for the living one.  In the last lines, poet describes life as quiet consummation which comes to its ends in the graveyard and becomes eminent in all over the world.

        Thus,  we can say that poet has a deep sense of life,  which we can feel in this poem. The main themes of the poem is death,  after life and acceptance of fate,  beside that it is something more than this as poetry has a universal quality and its meaning gets changing as the time passes.

Rhyming Scheme : ABABCC, DEDECC,
                                    FGFGCC, HHHHII

     So far we have discussed the poem and now it is the time to reflect our learning. See,  without 'reflective learning' there's no learning at all. For that you have to complete two below mentioned tasks.  

1 : Quiz ( Click on it to appear in the quiz) • To answer these questions you can take help of the blog or Google.    

2 : Thinking Activity 

      This thinking activity is based on your reflective learning.  It doesn't include right or wrong answers.  More importantly,  its core aim is to widen the mental horizon of the students. But take care of some points, like your answer must include the 'critical / individual thinking.'

Answer these questions in your own reflective blog.  

1. What is the significance of the title of the poem?  
2. Justify your understanding of the poem.  
3. What types of fear you have experienced till date?  
4. Do you believe in 'Supernatural Being' ? If Yes/ No. Provide at least 2 or 3 reasons.  

 •  Yes! #Thinking 🤔 is an arduous task. Let's see who can think differently.

   

                       Best Learning ! 

   

A Fine Day by Michael Drayton

         A Fine Day is a very short poem written by the Elizabethan writer Michael Drayton.   

    Clear had the day been from the dawn, 
             All chequer'd was the sky, 
   Thin clouds like scarfs of cobweb lawn 
        Veil'd heaven's most glorious eye.  

         This short poem describes the wonderful morning of European countries.  Because for them it is 'Good Morning !' The sun hardly appears in the sky,  and we know the importance of the sun.  Here poet tells that from dawn the sky is clear,  which makes them happy as they can go outside on the hills for the fun.  Moreover,  poet compares this sight with the clouds who had been playing the role of scarf for the sun.  But now these clouds have veiled the heaven's most glorious eye ( Sun ! ) getting away from the sun.

The wind had no more strength than this,  
                 That leisurely it blew, 
       To make one leaf the next to kiss 
               That closely by it grew.  

       In the second stanza poet describes the motion of wind,  which is very much favourable to enjoy the nature. We can say that now wind is turned into breeze,  which helps leaves to kiss each other ! As we have discussed earlier that it is all about enjoying the weather,  same way poet has offered  humanly emotions to the leaves. 

'Daybreak' by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow

  About Poet : H.W. Longfellow was an American poet and educator worked during the 19th century.  

   'Daybreak' is a poem, full of motivation and enthusiasm. In this poem poet has personified the wind to proceed his thoughts regarding the hardships of the life. The poem is divided into the nine couplets.

   As every title has its own significance, same way, the title of the poem suggests that we don't have to stop in life because our goals are yet not fulfilled. 

Poem Analysis : 

         A wind came up out of the sea,  
And said,  'O mists,  make room for me.' 

   As Wordsworth says that nature is the best teacher in our life. Likewise,  this poem has also the same motif.  In the beginning, the wind floats from sea to the land,  where people are sleeping at the time of dawn.  Here wind has an honest duty for the people whom it cares. But the mist makes obstacle in reaching towards the people. However,  wind is determined to reach its goal same way in our lives also we find so many obstacles,  but we need to overcome it and for that one should keep ourselves away from social barriers. 

        It hailed the ship and cried, Sail on,
           Ye mariners, the night is gone; 

       After clearing the mist,  wind reaches to the ship and tells the mariners that night has gone, it is the time to sail on again. Here we can assume that the morning time is the best time for hardwok. Because there are less obstacles in our path as livid can not awake early. 

         And hurried landward for away,  
              Crying 'Awake it is the day.  ' 

      The nature of wind is to keep floating, so now it moved towards the land, where this social animals have been sleeping for an hours.  Suddenly wind shouts and tells them that 'it is the day.'

         It said unto the forest, ' shout ! 
       Hang all your leafy banners out ! ' 

   Just meeting human world is not enough for wind, because everyone on earth is its friend.  Not attaching its feeling for the human world and moved into forest where it tells the wood to let leaf enjoy the sunshine. 

  It touched the wood- bird's folded wing, 
    And said, ' O bird,  awake and sing.' 

     In forest, wind touches the wing of bird and tells to chirp and lightens the new day of life. 

     And o'er the farms ' O Chanticleer,  
     Your clarion blow;  the day is near. ' 

     After taking a short halt in forest,  wind proceeds to the farm,  where farmers have been sleeping, here wind tells the Chanticleer to start his clarion so these dreaming farmers gets awake and start working for the real 'yields'.


     It whispered to the fields of corn,  
' Bow down, and hail the coming morn.' 

  Still wind's duty doesn't over. It whispered to corn and bow down to the sun,  as their survival is depending on the sun.  Same we in life we are so much depended on others, and to we owe to them. 

    It shouted through the belfry tower, 
    'Awake, o bell ! proclaim the hour. ' 

    In the second last couplet, wind shouted at bell, because it is his duty to proclaim, with its proclamation all sleeping city will get back to their work.

     It crossed the churchyard with a sigh,  
       And said,  ' Not yet ! in quiet lie !  

   In his journey, wind reaches to graveyard, after realizing that he is in churchyard, he introspects that still he can not take 'rest' cause there are so many things missing in his life. 

       Thus here poet has personified the wind to proceed his messages to human beings.  And not to forget the people who have been helping us invincibly in fulfilling our life goals. 

'The Old Woman' by Joseph Campbell

• Joseph Campbell (1881-1944)  : 

     He was an Irish nationalist poet and mainly famous for his lyrical and simple poetry. His famous poem The Old Woman, describes the old-age beauty of an Old Woman. He re- looks the idea of beauty,  as mainly poets celebrate the beauty of a young lady however here poet beautifully represents the inner as well as the outer beauty of an Old Woman.  

                        As a  white candle

                          In a holy place,  

                          So is the beauty 

                          Of an aged face. 

      The poem is divided into three stanzas. In  the first stanza poet has compared the lady's face with a white candle. Here,  white candle represents the peace and light, that is what makes a human being happy in the life. But to get that bliss one needs to wait till the old age. We feel that poet has an optimistic vision towards the old age. It seems that lady has lived her youth fully and worked like a white candle : Itself burning but giving lightness to others. And that's what makes her face more shining.

                     As the spent radiance
                        Of the winter sun,
                             So is a woman
                    With her travail done. 

       In second stanza poet compares the old lady with the winter sun. In winter the soft rays of sun makes everyone better,  provides warmth,  likewise, old age shines because of the lots of hard work and vastness of heart. The Old Woman is at bliss as she has ' her travail done'.

               Her brood gone from her,
                And her thoughts as still
                         As the waters
                   Under a ruined mill. 

     At the end of the poem,  poet compares the old lady with the water under a ruined mill. As time has passed, the 'brood' of the Old lady has left the house, which makes her more emotional, what she wants is just to be with them. But things are now out of control as she has lost her importance.

      However, we can imagine so many things related to the old age,  where people have their life long experiences, and it becomes inevitable to accept the things as nature has given to the human beings.