'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. 

           

"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 !