SPEAKING

 

Planning for speaking engagements involves several key steps:

1. Understand Your Audience: Research your audience's demographics, interests, and needs. Tailor your content to resonate with them.

2. Define Your Purpose: Clarify the main message or objective of your speech. What do you want your audience to take away from it?

3. Structure Your Content: Organize your speech with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Break down the body into key points, examples, and supporting evidence.

4. Craft Engaging Opening: Start with a compelling hook to grab the audience's attention. This could be a story, a shocking fact, a quote, or a question.

5. Develop Key Points: Create 2-3 main points that support your message. Present each point with relevant examples, anecdotes, data, or visuals.

6. Transition Smoothly: Use transitions to guide your audience through your speech. Transition phrases like "moving on to our next point" help maintain the flow.

7. Engage Audience: Encourage participation through rhetorical questions, anecdotes, or involving them in brief activities.

8. Visual Aids: If appropriate, use visuals like slides to enhance understanding. Keep them simple, with minimal text and impactful visuals.

9. Practice: Rehearse your speech multiple times. This helps improve your delivery, timing, and confidence.

10. Time Management: Ensure your speech fits within the allocated time. Practice pacing yourself to avoid rushing or running over time.

11. Vocal Variety: Use variations in tone, volume, and pace to keep the audience engaged. A monotonous voice can lead to disinterest.

12.  Body Language: Maintain eye contact, use gestures, and move around the stage to connect with the audience.

13.  Address Concerns: Anticipate possible questions or objections and address them in your speech.

14. Memorization vs. Notes: Decide if you'll memorize your speech, use bullet points, or have a full script. Choose what suits your style and comfort.

15. Feedback: Practice in front of a friend or record yourself to get feedback on your delivery and content.

16. Manage Nervousness: Pre-speech jitters are common. Deep breaths, positive self-talk, and focusing on your message can help reduce anxiety.

17.  Adaptability: Be prepared for changes. Sometimes, you may need to adjust your speech on the spot due to audience reactions or unforeseen circumstances.

18. Strong Conclusion: Summarize your key points and re-emphasize your main message. Leave the audience with a memorable closing statement or call to action.

Remember, effective speaking takes practice and refinement over time. Each speech is a chance to improve and grow as a speaker.

Structuring a speech effectively is crucial for keeping your audience engaged and conveying your message clearly. Here's a common structure you can follow:

1. Introduction: 

   - Hook: Begin with an attention-grabbing opening, like a quote, question, anecdote, or surprising fact.

   - Purpose: State the purpose of your speech. Let your audience know what you'll be discussing and why it's important.

2. Body:

   - Main Points: Divide your speech into 2-3 main points that support your purpose. Each point should have a clear focus.

   - Supporting Details: For each main point, provide supporting evidence, examples, statistics, anecdotes, or stories.

   - Transitions: Use transitions between main points to guide your audience through the structure smoothly.

3. Conclusion:

   - Summary: Recap the main points you discussed in the body of your speech.

   - Restate Purpose: Remind the audience of the purpose and significance of your message.

   - Closing Statement: End with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression. It could be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, or a powerful quote.

Remember to tailor this structure to your content, audience, and speaking style. Each main point in the body should be organized logically, with a clear flow from one point to the next. Use signposts, such as phrases like "Firstly," "Secondly," "In addition," and "Finally," to help your audience follow your speech's progression.

Practice your speech with this structure to ensure that your ideas flow coherently, and your audience can easily understand and remember your message.

Delivering a speech refers to the process of presenting your message to an audience in a clear, engaging, and effective manner. It involves various aspects of communication and presentation skills:

1. Voice: Use a clear, audible voice. Vary your tone, pitch, and volume to emphasize key points and maintain audience interest.

2. Pace: Speak at a moderate pace. Avoid speaking too fast, which can make it difficult for the audience to follow, or too slow, which might lead to disinterest.

3. Pauses: Incorporate strategic pauses to allow the audience to absorb what you're saying and to emphasize important points.

4. Articulation: Pronounce your words clearly and distinctly to ensure that your message is understood.

5. Body Language: Use appropriate gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to enhance your message and engage the audience. Maintain eye contact to establish a connection.

6. Posture: Stand or sit confidently with good posture. This conveys professionalism and helps you command attention.

7. Visual Aids: If using slides or visuals, coordinate your speech with them. Avoid reading directly from the slides; they should complement your speech, not replace it.

8. Engagement: Connect with the audience by addressing them directly. Use inclusive language like "you" and "we" to involve them.

9. Adaptability: Be prepared to adjust your delivery based on the audience's reactions and engagement level.

10. Energy: Infuse enthusiasm and energy into your speech. Your excitement can be contagious and keep the audience interested.

11. Confidence: Project confidence through your demeanor and speech. Even if you're nervous, maintaining confidence can help you appear more credible.

12. Variety: Use vocal and nonverbal variety to avoid monotony. Change your tone, pace, and gestures to keep the audience engaged.

13. Connect with Emotion: Incorporate emotion into your delivery where appropriate. Sharing personal stories or anecdotes can help create a connection with the audience.

14. Interaction: Encourage audience interaction through rhetorical questions, brief activities, or moments for reflection.

15. Stay Focused: Stick to your main points and avoid rambling. Keep your speech organized and on track.

Remember that effective delivery complements the content of your speech. Practicing your delivery multiple times helps you become comfortable with the material and refine your speaking style. Tailor your delivery to your audience's preferences and the nature of the event for the best impact.

Effective speaking involves conveying your message in a way that captures your audience's attention, communicates your ideas clearly, and leaves a lasting impact. Here are key characteristics of effective speaking:

1. Clarity: Your message should be easy to understand. Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon or overly complex terms.

2. Engagement: Capture your audience's interest from the start and maintain it throughout your speech. Use engaging openings, stories, anecdotes, and interactive elements.

3. Organization: Structure your speech logically with a clear introduction, well-defined main points, and a strong conclusion. Your ideas should flow coherently.

4. Audience-Centric: Tailor your content to your audience's interests, needs, and preferences. Connect with them on a relatable level.

5. Confidence: Project confidence through your voice, body language, and overall demeanor. Confidence helps establish credibility and capture the audience's trust.

6. Vocal Variety: Vary your tone, pitch, and pace to keep the audience engaged. Monotone delivery can lead to disinterest.

7. Nonverbal Communication: Use gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to enhance your message. Maintain eye contact to establish a connection.

8. Emotion: Incorporate emotion when appropriate. Sharing personal stories or conveying passion about your topic can resonate with the audience.

9. Relevance: Ensure that your content is relevant and meaningful to your audience. Address their concerns, interests, and challenges.

10. Supporting Evidence: Back up your points with relevant examples, data, statistics, or anecdotes. This enhances the credibility of your message.

11. Interaction: Encourage audience participation through questions, discussions, or brief activities. This keeps them engaged and involved.

12. Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt to the audience's reactions and adjust your content or delivery accordingly.

13. Memorability: Use memorable phrases, anecdotes, or visuals that resonate with the audience. A well-crafted speech leaves a lasting impression.

14. Time Management: Respect the allotted time for your speech. Being concise and well-paced shows professionalism and consideration for the audience's time.

15. Practice: Rehearse your speech multiple times to become comfortable with the content and delivery. This helps reduce nervousness and enhances your confidence.

16. Feedback: Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or the audience to identify areas for improvement.

17. Purposeful Conclusion: Summarize your main points and provide a clear and impactful closing statement. Leave the audience with a key takeaway or a call to action.

Remember that effective speaking is a skill that develops over time with practice and feedback. Each speaking opportunity is a chance to refine your abilities and connect with your audience more effectively.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding PPT - Vipul Dabhi from Vipul Dabhi

Kindly go through the PPT and appear in the Online Test. 

Click Here to appear in the Online Test.

Thinking Activity 

What's the general atmosphere of the movie Lord of the Flies?

(Answer the question based on your movie-watching experience.)

Write a blog about it.

Thank you. 

Tell It Not In Gath by Joe Corrie

 

              

                The play, Tell It Not In Gath is written by Joe Corrie. Joe Corrie was a Scottish miner, poet and playwright. Most of his works are radical in its nature. The poor situation of working class people is often seen in his works. 

                  Tell It Not In Gath is an irony on the tinsel nature of bourgeois values. The play tries to unveil the hypocritical facade of moral superiority adopted by the pillars of society. - ( The Human Person, Sexuality & Family, Politics & Law, Education & Culture, and Business & Economics. )    All characters in the play act as per their personal, selfish  interests. The another distressing thing the play shows is the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Not only that the play pin points the society's reaction against evils and the disheartening thing is it doesn't remain evil if it is done by the rich. 

Setting of The Play :  

            The scene starts in the sitting - room of the rectory at Little Padley. It is a large room. The furniture is not in a good condition. The fireplace is in the right wall hence the atmosphere feels warm. There are many chairs in the room. Against the right wall is a bookcase.  On the wall at the back are pictures of the parents of the Reverend Arthur Welsey. His father is depicted as a clergy, his mother can be seen as if lived her whole life as a victim of the poor situation caused by the church life. 

            Here one thing gets clear that Arthur Welsey has got priesthood as a family inheritance. Furthermore, the situation of Marjory is quite same as of Arthur Welsey 's mother. 

Main Characters in the Play :  

The Reverend Arthur Welsey : 

            He is a sixty year old priest. Who seems unhappy and discontented throughout the play. Usually behaves like a hero of the play. His job is to preach people.

Marjory / Mrs. Welsey : 

                   She is the wife of Arthur Welsey. She is some years younger than her husband. Normally we find her knitting.  When the couple argues, she says that she is not happy. Throughout the play she questions her husband regarding his profession. As it is leading them nowhere. Rather they dwell into poverty. At the end of the play she reveals that she had put money in betting and as a result of it she wins twenty thousand pounds for a shilling only. This act of her shows that she is more practical than her husband. 

Miss Oliver : 

             She is a member of the community council. A slim spinster of thirty five wearing a home made woolen dress.  

Miss Crundle : 

              A member of the community council. She looks stouter and ruddier. She has dressed in a tweed costume, collar tie and brogue shoes. Marden warns her about her profiteering Red Hotel Lion business. Before she joins the meeting, she was expected to attend the badminton tournament. 

Joseph Devinish : 

         He is a dapper little man of fifty five. Who joins the meeting with other community members. He is wearing a wing collar and bow tie with his smart suit. He sings in the choir and at local concerts. When meeting ends up being a chaos he says that it would have better to do choir practice. Marden considers him as a dishonest guy. 

Sam Marden : 

                    He seems the antagonist of the play. He is dressed in heavy clothes, with a stout gold watch chain. His trousers are rather baggy, his boots heavy. He is a grocer by profession but might be taken for a farmer. He has an air of being the most important person in the room. Moreover, he argues with Arthur upon who will lodge a case against gamblers. He sounds arrogant and threatening in his tone and nature. Furthermore, his nature becomes more cruel towards the ending of the play when Marjory, mistakenly informs him that he has won twenty thousand pounds on a football coupon things. Where he openly says that one can't do anything to a rich guy. Even he tries to bribe other community members. 

General Summary of the play : 

                   The play opens with the introduction of  Arthur and his wife Marjory. Arthur is reading a book and Marjory is busy doing knitting. They both are not happy in their lives. Arthur is somehow failed to reach for spiritual growth. He feels that he is failing as a preacher of the church. Whereas his wife Marjory, she feels that because of church life, they are not 'Free.' 

          Meanwhile, what happens next is Arthur and other community members have arranged a meeting at rectory. Which upsets Marjory. Which leads both couple to a verbal fight. Somehow meeting takes place. Where all the members try to suggest the solutions to prevent gambling done by the new setteled coal miners. They think that they have contaminated the village with evilness. Everyone thinks to file a police case against them. But the question arises of who will suit the case. As all have their own reputation and businesses connected with the coal miners. It means if they file a case against these miners they won't be the part of this prosperity which these community members possess. This whole incident leads to a heated debate between Arthur and Marden. This is the time where Marden says that whatever he has it is because of these coal miners. So he withdraws himself from lodging the case against these miners. This whole argument reveals the hypocrisy of all. Not only that they all seem  cruel and dishonest. 

            As play moves further, Marjory enters with excitement. She informs that Mr. Marden has won twenty thousand pounds on a football coupon things. ( Actually she herself has won the money but she misunderstood the conversation with the  Old John Sexton.) Marden is in shock as he caught red handed in front of all the members. However,  his behavior charges as he is now a rich guy. 

       At the end they all plan to leave now. Again Marjory appears,  she informs her husband that actually Mr. Marden doesn't get a  penny as the football coupon was of somebody else. Arthur seems disappointed with mankind and angry too.  This is where Marjory reveals her secret and informs her husband about the money she has won. 

       Undoubtedly Marjory convinces her husband and we can see a smile on her husband's face. Here the question arises of will they tell this to Gath....!  ? 

                            Curtain 

Major Themes of the Play : 

• Public life and Private life 
• Situation of a married Woman
• Morality and Practicality 
• Role of commons in the economic growth 
• Money Driven world 
• Faith vs Practicality 
• Secular life and Spiritual life 
• Bourgeois Values 
• Who's more evil ? Common people or Rich People 
•  ( Coal Miners or Community Members)  

Questions : 

1 Discuss the title of the play. Is it appropriate? 

2 Write a note on the themes of the play.

3 Money is a dominant motive in human affairs. Prove it. 

4 Write a  character sketch of Arthur Wesley. 

5 Who is the most honest character in the play according to you?  Give reasons for your answers. 

6. If you are given the chance to develop this play further, what scenes will you add? 

                  

                  

                    

On Dartmoor by Neil Grant

        On Dartmoor is  a one act play written by Neil Grant. The play appears to be a crime play, but actually it is a satire on a certain type of idealism with some comic incidents. In addition, play portrays the political conflicts between Europe and Russia. 

Setting Of The Play : 

              The setting of a story / play is important because it provides the reader with context on the time, place, and environment that the story takes place in. 

          The play takes place in a room of a bungalow on Dartmoor. Which is owned by two young girl friends, Muriel and Leonora. The room looks artistically furnished in a modernist way. It is apparent that both girls come from a well-to-do family. There are two doors in the house and windows on each side of the center door, with a telephone lying on table to the right of the centre door. 

Main Characters in the Play : 

( Both Girls consider themselves as an 'Integral Anarchists.') ( Anarchy : Click On it ) 

• Muriel Armstrong : She is a young, pretty and the athletic type between the two. She has written a book about  " 'orros o' prison life. " ( Horros of prison life.)  

• Leonora Ashley : Alike her friend, she is also a pretty young looking girl. 

• Bill Syme : He pretends to be an escaped prisoner. And succeeds in his intentions by playing emotional tricks over these both ladies. But in reality,  he is a crooked, clever thief. He is inept at English. ( May be intentionally )   (Class Conflicts)   

• Albert Read / Sergeant Read : A handsome looking young fellow in mackintosh and soft hat. He is the one who calls these girls to make  inquiry about the escaped prisoner. He is impudent and rude in his tone. ( Criticizing Police System / Government / Authority / Institutions ) At the end of the play, he disguises as police officer and interrogate the girls. Later on ransacks the room with his partner Bill Syme.

• Fred Lee : A timid, elderly, feeble-looking man in prison dress, half dazed with fright and fatigue.  He is the real escaped prisoner. Who ask the girls to safeguard him from police. But they jumps on him, overpowers him, hurls him to ground, almost suffocates him with cushion, and binds him brutally with scarf. He pleads for help. But both girls pound him as if he is a devil. 

• Two Servants 

( These characters never appear onto the stage. Whatever is said about them is how rich ladies treat their maid servants. The treatment of a maid is more like an object rather than a human being. May be these rich ladies have prejudices against these maid servants. Both Muriel and Leonora sounds arrogant when they talk about maid servants.)  

1.  Jane : A Housemaid, she has no views on any objects except pictures and boys.  But who suffers from incipient hysteria. 
2. Cook : She loves a gossip. A narrow minded woman, who reads The Morning Post. 

• Jackson : A Warder. 
• Joe Ridley : When Bill Syme narrates his story to Leonora and Muriel, Bill Syme mentions Joe Ridley as his prison mate. 

An Outline of the play : 

               When the play opens, Muriel is informed by the police about the escape of a criminal with instruction to inform them if the prisoner came that way. Whole event leads to an engaging talk between the two friends. Where we become familiar with their lifestyle and etc. Which is quite fastidious if we say so. In addition what happens subsequently seems quite natural to us. 

                  As the play moves further, the escaped prisoner enters their home. They, Muriel and Leonora, provide shelter to him.

 ( Escaped Prisoner / Bill Syme / A thief   ) Not only that they treat him as if he is a guest. Now they all seem happy. This is where we feel that the girls lack the knowledge of a real world. They are driven by the fake appraisal and sentiments used by the escaped prisoner. In their excitement, and in their ignorance of the real world, they fail to realize that the escaped prisoner is a crook.                

         At the initial part of the play, we observe that the both girls appear to be intellectual and smart.  But what we see next is totally opposite of it. In a way at some point of time, Bill Syme looks more intellectual than the both girls. It means both ladies are suffering from 'Idealism.' The escaped prisoner, Bill Syme, knows how to judge a person. The both girls, serve drink and food to him. Meanwhile Bill Syme narrates his past story to both of them. And provides the reason behind his punishment by telling the brutality of Police. ( This is where he succeeds in his cruel aim as the both girls consider themselves as an Integral Anarchists, it means they hate all types of rules and regulations. ( They feel that their should not be anyone to rule over them.) While citing the reason behind his crime  he says that " I caught her with that feller " ( What he is trying to say is that his wife had an affair with somebody else. ) That's why he killed her with a Hammer. Even Bill Syme provides the name of a judge. Who is the grandfather of Leonora. They all critically abuse the judge and consider him as a  barbarian and sadist. In addition, Bill Syme feels that it is better to live in France or Italy. (As per both ladies, the crime is a primitive act ! ) 

             What we see now is the escaped prisoner ask the both girls whether there is anyone at home or not. But fortunately there's no one at present. He gets money from the both girls ( They consider themselves as if they are expiators ! ) as he is wishing to go Plymouth. Which is his future escape plan. The escaped prisoner /Bill Syme praises Russia. In a way that's what the both girls were waiting to hear. Meantime, both ladies ask Bill  to change his convict dress and provide the old suit of her grandfather. 

          What happens next is they all are laughing heartily but suddenly they hear the noise of car outside. Bill Syme is frightenned now. ( Pretends ! ) The both girls hide him upstairs, remove the footprints and wipe everything. Leonora pretends to be reading on something. They sit down in their old positions. Even Muriel considers PM's speech as a rotten speech. ( As per the newspaper she is reading, PM has commented upon women's clothes !  ) Not only that she criticises England's poor performance in Ashes Tournament. ( Cricket Match between England and Australia) Here writer is criticizing the idle/ leisure people as they have nothing important to do. But they remain ready to suggest solutions for each problems. But the solution for a problem should be practical.  Which they can't provide. Which seems more clear when Leonora wishes to live in Kensington - a posh area in central London.  Which is famous for its over sophisticated, royal luxurious lifestyle. 

             While moving towards the end of the play,  suddenly somebody knocks at the door. Who introduces himself as detective Albert Read. (Sergeant Read). He is the man who had telephoned the girls. As soon as he enters in their house, he starts interrogating the both girls. Where we can sense that he already knows about their backgrounds. While answering detective, Leonora sounds polite in her manners whereas Muriel tries  to be aristocrat / authoritative in her tone. As he makes inquiry  further,  he goes upstairs and joins  his partner  Bill Syme there  to ransack the house. The both girls think that Sergeant is looking for the escaped prisoner. Whereas the both fellows escape after stealing jewellery and etc,. At this point the both girls realized that they have been tricked by a couple of crooks. They feel regret about their past behavior. They used to believe that with their Idealism, they can change the world. Which fails at the end of the play. What happens next in the play is the both  girls are crying and at the same time again somebody knocks at the door - a real convict / escaped prisoner. Who introduces himself as Fred Lee.  Who pleads for help and shelter but both ladies (Agitated)  start beating him in despair and frustration. The convict keeps pleading for help. Nobody comes. Moreover, they ignore the escaped prisoner and Muriel pounds him and binds him. While Leonora rushes to call police. 

                               Curtain ! 

Major Themes of the Play   : 

• Fake Idealism 
• Political Conflict between Europe and Russia 
• Anarchism 
• Representation of Police System 
• Class Conflict 
• Over Fastidious Nature 
• Ignorance of a real world 
• Behavior towards sycophants 
• Who is more knowledgeable : The girls or crooks 
• How an officious look plays vital role
• Impractical Idealism 
• Problems of idle rich 
• Grief of commons 
• Satire on aristocrats 
• The barbaric nature of civilized 
• The representation of human beings as sadists

Questions : 

1- State the theme of the play. 

2- Bring out the satire in the play. 

3- Do you find anything farcical in the play?  If so, point out and show its farcical nature. 

4- Describe the trick played upon the two ladies by the two thieves.  

           

      

        

Since There's No Help By Michael Drayton

 

         The sonnet( 61) 'Since There's No Help' is written by Michael Drayton.  (Click On It ) Who is considered as one of the famous poet of Elizabethan Age after Shakespeare and Sidney. That can be seen in the structure of this sonnet as it follows the format of Shakespearean sonnet. This sonnet is the part of the book named Idea's  Mirrors. Which was published in 1594. Here we shall see the general meaning of the poem.  

          The whole poem is centred around the theme of lovers' separation. Which can be seen in the title too. While reading the sonnet, we come across such words which follows the first person narrative techniques. Here one thing gets clear that it is the feeling of author/ narrator for his beloved.  

Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part; 

  Nay, I have done, you get no more of me, 

 And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart, 

    That thus so cleanly I myself can free; 

        In the very first quatrain poet says to his beloved that 'let's us kiss and part.' It means something has already happened in the past, which we don't know. What we know is that narrator and his beloved both are ready to depart. May be their future is not together. The lover shares his thought regarding his relationship with her. In addition, he is now glad to depart as that will make both of them free from everything. But the tone is full of melancholy. 

  Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows, 

      And when we meet any time again, 

      Be it not seen in either of our brows

    That we one jot of former love retain.  

     However,  the next quatrain has some hope.  Or we can say there's some indirect communication between them which only they can understand. Now, the narrator is ready to shake hands for the last time, probably before escorting her. Who tells his beloved to cancel all past vows.  It means, lovers know that how past memories can affect them.  So it is better to forget everything. Suddenly, there's certain change in tone as writer shows some hope for the future encounter. Again the lover tells his beloved that if they meet in future life, they will pretend as strangers. And for that he provides the reason also. Because, that can help them to reinvent their love for each other.  

Now at the last gasp of love's latest breath, 

When, his pulse failing, passion speechless lies, 

When faith is kneeling by his bed of death, 

And innocence is closing up his eyes,

Now if thou ( You) wouldst, when all have given him over, 

From death to life thou mightst him yet recover.  

    The next stanza sounds more seducing.  But with wooing intent. The lover tells his beloved that the love is almost dead now. There's no more passion.  And he regrets that there's no trust, faith anymore in this relationship. Or we can say that their relationship is without soul now. As we have reached at the concluding part of the poem, similarly, the lover expresses his final words by telling his beloved that the retrieval of this relationship is in the hands of his beloved. Which makes his stand clear.  

     In conclusion we can say that the end of the poem is some how optimistic as the beloved doesn't answer anything. Which makes narrator hopeful to revive his love.  

Rhyming Scheme : ABAB CDCD EFEF GG 

Personifications : "Faith" is kneeling... 

                                 "Innocence" is closing... 

Further Readings : 

 1. Since There's No Help 

           

        

My Friend, The Things That Do Attain by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

              The poem 'My Friend, The Things That Do Attain' speaks about the universal happiness of human beings. In addition, it shows the political influence of that time in which Henry Howard lived. Most importantly, his eminence lies as the founder of English Renaissance Poet and the member of the court life of that British period. In this present poem the narrator describes the elements through which one can attain the happiness in his or her life. Along with his poetic genius, he was a reckless politician with less circumspect and that becomes the reason of his execution by Henry- 8. 

               Inherently Henry Howard was a wealthy lad and that helped him to establish his career in the court life of that time. Unlike his father, he becomes the victim of political upheaval caused by the different parties. Eventually, what we are trying to see is that how Howard draws the attention of audience through his bitter experiences of past life. Furthermore, he provides valid, common, ingredients to seek happiness in this collosal world.  Here we shall see the detailed analysis of each stanza. 

        My Friend, the things that do attain 

            The happy life be these, I find : 

          The riches left, not got with pain ;

      The fruitful ground ; the quiet mind ; 

            The first stanza is focused upon how one can attain sublime happiness in the life by following the shared elements. The narrator describes that to become rich is necessary but the way should be more honest and peaceful. Which draws our attention towards prevailing inequality among the people. Especially economical one. In addition, speaker provides the positive consequences of that honest life. For example, hard work always pays the fruit. As here narrator has mentioned, fruitful ground and quiet mind.  

       The equal friend : no grudge, no strife ;

          No charge of rule, nor governance; 

            Without disease, the healthy life; 

             The household of continuance; 

 

  The next stanza is based on total four elements of one standard life.  The first one is about the importance of true and equal, friendship.  Not only that, the author emphasizes on the true attributes of friendship.  Like,  there shouldn't be any hypocrisy, grudge or strife among the friends. At the very next moment, the poem swings from individualism to utilitarianism.  In order to maintain peace in a country, every nation requires a calm political situation. And to establish that situation, government needs to stop interfering into the private life of common people for their selfish motives. In current time, some of the developing countries are the authentic examples of cruel dictatorship.  The narrator doesn't stop here, now his focus is on person's health.  As a healthy life is considered as the symbol of heaven. When we read about the author, we come to know that how his family plays pivotal role in his political career. Similarly,  the narrator also illuminates the family values and its importance for a  peaceful life. It seems that the poem is following the chronological order, isn't it ? ! 

            The mean diet, no dainty fare; 

          Wisdom joined with simpleness; 

           The night discharged of all care, 

      Where wine the wit may not oppress;     

  The third stanza is directly connected with the human body.  The narrator shares the core values of moderate food. And we know that gluttony is considered as something evil among all scriptures. The prime focus of this stanza is on the simple life and its benefits.  If person follows the simplicity in his life then he may never choose to be relax.  Or we can say person doesn't need to intake wine.  Which is dangerous for human body. So according to the narrator,  one should live more simple life which is full of wisdom. Like, Mahatma Gandhi. When we read books based on his life, it tells that he was a staunch follower of simple life.  That's what makes him great 'Politician.' 

         The faithful wife, without debate; 

      Such sleeps as may beguile the night; 

          Content thyself with thine estate, 

     Neither wish death, nor fear his might.  

  As earlier we have seen that the poem looks like a growing up story.  Likewise, the last stage of this poem takes us towards the blissful end of life. Here, the narrator has a message for a married couple. As the last stanza suggests that faithfulness is the crucial aspects of a spousal life. In addition, poet uses the irony by considering night as something beguile. The last two lines of the poem represents the core knowledge of writer's past life. It tells that once person has his own estate it is better to be content with what he has rather than to be more wolfish.  Not only that, the narrator considers this life more compassionate for everyone. In order to achieve that beauty, people should avoid the fear of death. Because once person win over the fear, he or she  can achieve anything in this world.  

Rhyming Scheme : ABAB CDCD  EFEF GHGH 

                                  4 QUATRAINS 

Ode On Solitude by Alexander Pope

    

   'Ode On Solitude' is a short poem written by Alexander Pope.  ( Click on it)  He was 12 years old while writing this poem. While focusing on its title, it has the word - 'Ode' which means,  A lyrical poem and can have a complex meter. Most importantly it is more like an admiration of something. This ode consist total five quatrains. Which we will see in details.  

        The poem sounds simple in its stature but it contains robust meaning in it. In the very beginning, the narrator familiarizes the reader about the happiness of a person who possesses his own land in a countryside. Here, the anonymous person inherits this  land from his forefathers. In addition the person is content with what he has. For instance the narrator says that there is pure air, green ground and other heavenly things, which is to live with nature, are here to please the person. The narrator describes the solitary life of a person and considers him as a lucky guy.  Which induces the importance of solitude in life. 

          The second stanza focuses upon the daily routine of a common grazier. It shows the independent life of a person. As he doesn't need to go outside to buy milk, bread, clothes and etc,. What we have been told here is that this grazier is far away from madding crowd and to survive, he owns his own herds, which provides milk and attire.  Not only that, he cultivates his own land to get enough yields.  As we move further in this poem, the author emphasizes upon the importance of trees.  Because the same trees becomes the shelter in heat and fire in the winter.

The third phase of this ode takes us into the life of people living in rural area.  Who have nothing to do with the mainstream of nation. They know the alluring desire of city life. However,  the narrator considers them as blessed. It shows the cycle of life. Where everything is connected with each other. For instance, the third stanza speaks about the peaceful, healthy and happy life of countryside. They haven't become the cog in a machine if we say so.  And that's how they are living their austere life.  

     These lyrics connect solitude with the innocence. The narrator describes the another quality of a  solitary life.  The people who have lived in solitude are more patient compared to others as this isolation provides them self introspection.  One can see the powerful insight of the writer as he considers this cycle as a meditation.  And to study hard one needs full isolation where you can obtain peace of mind which helps person to grasp the concept. Moreover, to create something new, a person requires ability to think and which should be free of all other obscurities. 

      The concluding lines are focused on the trivial nature of life. Here writer through the persona of an anonymous person tells us that nothing is stangnant. As a result of it one should live the life at fully. But the person doesn't want to be famous. What he wants is an unlamented death. He knows that how cruel this world is. At the end, the speaker sends one message to the audience. We can say that the last two lines are the epitome of the poem. Which reminds us the different aspects of solitude and loneliness. The narrator says that he is not stone hearted person but sometimes it is more preferable, to reinvent yourself, one should seek the solitude.  

Rhyming Scheme : ABABCDCDEFEFGHGH 

Background of the Poem. ( Click On It)  

Further Readings : ( Click On It ) 

1. Ode On Solitude 

2. Ode On Solitude 

3. Alexander Pope's disability and creativity