How wealth accumulate

Summary
Capitalism is a kind of system in economy where the production of goods, their trade, profit
and loss are controlled by private ownership where state has no authority It is contrary to
socialism and is strongly condemned by various thinkers. G.B. Shaw is one of those thinkers
who attacks capitalism through his works like How Wealth accumulates and Men Decay. G B
Shaw's an essay How Wealth accumulates and Men Decay' is a short essay which is
extracted from his book 'The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism" which
was published in 1928. In the essay Shaw demonstrates the ill effect of Capitalism on the
human mind. Shaw explains his point of view by giving the example of pin makers. They had
complete knowledge of making, buying and selling the product door to door in earlier times.
Shaw praises the knowledge of the pin makers. The skill that was required of them in order
to sell their product was of great significance. They had all the necessary knowledge of their
work from its very inception to selling it to the customers was something that was unique to
the makers of the product. However, with the introduction of Capitalism, the concept of
division of labour is also introduced. Where workforce of something as small as pin making
was distributed among eighteen men, with everyone doing little bit of a job without any
knowledge of what the unique features of the finished product. Although this system made
the society rich in terms of money but it turned 'men into mere machines doing their work
without intelligence. The author becomes critical of the Adam Smith who was a famous
economist. Adam smith boasted that it took eighteen men to make a single pin, each man
doing a tiny bit of the job and passing the pin to the next man, consequently the rise in the
rate of pin manufacturing and pins became cheap. But for author none of the eighteen
workers was skilful and knowledgeable enough make the whole pin. The traditional pin
makers were more efficient and skilful hence itresulted in The degradation and decay. More
over working men were replaced by machines and pins came to hemade in hundreds of
millions. Now-a-days only those who design the machines know anything shout pin
manufacture: the workers involved oreed not be. & B. Shaw quotes that *one-tenth so the
ligent and skilful and accomplished as the old pin maker". Pin become so cheap that a single
pin has almost no value and same is the case with workers both became worthless. The
capitalism is reading us to accumulate wealth and making us rich but actually making the
society unskilled and Ise less. Not only this, such kind of wealth accumulation is making man
morally corrupt. This accumulation of wealth with the help of capitalist market where
progress, development and Advancement are just catchphrases, where humankind is losing
its skill and knowledge of the work they are performing. G. B. Shaw holds the same opinion
in case of cloth makers, In the conventional and traditional way of cloth making they had the
knowledge of how clothes could be made from shearing the sheep to the finished product,
the modern people is unable to even make a connection between the animal and the
finished product. They are unaware of the fact from where the raw product has come and
how it is processed to the final product. The knowledge is replaced by machines and man
has no more significance left except for being a unskilled, dumb, part of the making process
which has led towards disastrous results for the humankind. Apart from Huge amount of
production and money The capitalist system, for Shaw has also produced a great deal of
universal ignorance of how things are made and done for the humans. The humans have
been reduced to thoughtless beings. They are living in illusion that they growing fast,
developing to superhuman and accumulating great wealth. The large scale production of
goods if seems good if observed from the surface but deep down it caused ignorance and
helplessness. The people living in remoteness away from so called centres of civilization i.e.
industrial area are more skillful and efficient than the people who live here in the industrial
areas. Shaw quotes the example of Eskimos.
He again criticised the so called civilised society by saying that if these people don't fill their
empty minds with all the 'romantic nonsense' of films and novels they would surely die. It
works as marijuana does for an addict .For Shaw they are becoming ignorant fed on nothing
but romantic nonsense out of illustrated newspapers and novels and plays and films.' G.B.
Shaw mocks Capitalism for being the crusader of ignorance but still boasts of the spreading
knowledge, enlightenments, and prosperity. The wealth accumulated at cost of ignorance
and darkness is nothing but disaster in disguise and it justifies the title of the essay which
has been taken from a poem Deserted land' written in 1770 by Oliver Goldsmith. The poem
speaks how Industrial revolution brought the exodus of people to the urban centres in search
of jobs as a result of the Industrial Revolution. It destroyed the ideal way of life, the rural way
of life. Shaw holds the opinion that Oliver Goldsmith was a visionary and a far-sighted
economist who had foreseen that the switch to mass production by means of industrial
revolution would lead to increase of wealth of people to a considerable level. But at the same
time, people would become lazy, greedy, selfish and would work for their selfish motives.
This would make them morally corrupt The consequence of reduction in working hours
would result in more leisure time and boredom. This leisure time would be spent in
degrading manners and there will be spread of futile practices. Moreover, Capitalism results
in accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few people. As a consequence social inequality
grows as an evil that leads to exploitation Ofiweaker and poorer. In addition the limited
sources on carth would subject to endless consumption and would destroy eco-system.
People would waste time, and become lazy and immoral.Authoralso oFerel solution to
problem raised due to faulty capitalist system. Shaw suggest, that feting back to the
traditional system of working would not help. however using machines an thal soliny we are
saving a plenty of time The time saved should be used to enhance creativi Ithereshould be
equal distribution of saved time among the workers and everyone should get equa
opportunity to raise his intellectual level of mental faculties.
Question & Answer
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& TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Q. 1. What is writer trying to convey through the analogy of pins ?
Ans. In the essay Shaw demonstrates the ill effects of Capitalism on the human mind. Shaw
explains his point of view by giving the example of pin makers. They had complete
knowledge of making, buying and selling the product door to door in earlier times. Shaw
praises the knowledge of the pin makers. The skill that was required for them in order to sell
their product was of great significance. They had all the necessary knowledge of their work
from its manufacturing to selling it to the customers. It was something that was unique to the
makers of the product. However, with the introduction of machines, the concept of division of
labour also introduced. Where workforce of something as small as pin making was
distributed among eighteen men, with everyone doing little bit of a job without any
knowledge of what the unique features of the finished product.
Q. 2. What does Shaw disapprove of in Adam Smith's theory ?
Ans. Adam Smith showed excitement and enthusiasm for the arrival of new way of
manufacturing of pin He applauded the advent of industrial revolution where production of
goods at large scale was seen as a great success. The author became critical of the Adam
Smith who was a famous economist. Adam smith boasted that it took eighteen men to make
a single pin, each man doing a tiny bit of the job and passing the pin to the next man,
consequentially there was a huge rise in the rate of pin manufacturing and pins became
cheap. But for author none of the eighteen workers was skilful and knowledgeable enough to
make the whole pin The traditional pin makers were more efficient and skilful hence it
resulted in the degradation and decay. More over working men were replaced by machines
and pins came to be made in hundreds of millions.
What is the significance of title wealth accumulates and men decay" where the title of play
had been taken.
Q. 3. In what way can we call Goldsmith a far- sighted economist?
Ans. The Calls Goldsmith a far sighted economist. The author mention about a famous
poem
'Deserted Village which had lines:
"Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay."
Shaw opined that Goldsmith had foreseen that the switch to mass production based on
machines would add to the wealth of people in a significant way. But At the same time,
people would become lazy, greedy, and utterly bored. They would, then, indulge in degrading
ways to spend their leisure hours.
Prose
21
O. 4. How have machines made men less intelligent and resourceful?
Ans. The author feels that man only operate the special purpose machine. He has no idea
how machine is designed. He is unaware how the raw materials are purchased, and the
finished products are sold. He has become ignorant and unskilled.
O. 5. When and how did an unmarried woman acquire the name 'spinster??
Ans. In the essay the author expresses that in the older time the process of making clothes
fom shearing of sheep to turning it to a garment ready to put on was performed by men and
women of the household. The woman was associated to the process to such an extent that
the unmarried woman was called spinster. Author draws our attention to the fact that the
unmarried women are still regarded as spinster.
O. 6. Shaw is not happy with the capitalist system. Why?
Ans. G. B. Shaw is not satisfied with the outcome of capitalist system. It detached man from
knowledge, skill, environment and from morality too. The author accuses capitalist system
for spread ofignorance and immoral practices. A fewer people are accumulating wealth and
majority is suffering.
The only motive of man is to gain profit, no matter at what cost. The natural resources and
labour class are exploited.
Wealth is accumulated but at the cost of degradation of the humans.
READ THE TEXT CAREFULLY AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW
Q. 1. ' …being fed by the spare food of capitalist as an engine is fed with coal and oil'.
In what context does the writer say this? Explain.
Ans. Giving the example of manufacturing of pins the author says that the wealth is being
created but man has become machine. He has become unskilled and ignorant. He has to
survive on the earning from this capitalist system like a machine running on oil and coal. The
author actually talks about the degradation of value of man and his skill. He is comparing
man to lifeless machine who has to work without using the faculties of brain.
0. 2. 'Man serious thinkers....have asked..
... What have they asked and why?
Ans. In the essay 'How Wealth Accumulates and Men Decay commenting on the capitalist
system, the author questions whether it an advancement or a degradation. Shaw names
serious thinkers like John Ruskin, William Morris and Oliver Goldsmith who showed their
concern about reducing workers to unskilled fellows and their degradation. We are
accumulating wealth but sacrificing knowledge and skill. Thinkers like Ruskin and Morris felt
availability of goods at very less prices would encourage wasteful consumption.
Q3. 'Capitalism spread ignorance. Discuss with reference to the essay.
Ans. One of the drawback of capitalism is that it leads to ignorance. According to G. B. Shaw
the knowledge is replaced by machines and man has no more significance left except for
being a unskilled, dumb, part of the making process which has led towards disastrous results
for the humankind.
Apart from Huge amount of production and money the capitalist system has also produced a
great deal of 'universal ignorance of how things are made and done for the humans. The
humans have been reduced to thoughtless creatures on earth. They are living in illusion that
they growing fast, developing as super humans and accumulating great wealth. The large
scale production of goods seems good if observed from the surface but deep down it caused
ignorance and helplessness.9. 4. 'And when they travel they are surprised to find that
savages and Esquiman, and Vilagers who have to make everything for themselves are more
intelligent and resourceful!' Discuss.
OWnS. These lines are from CB. Shaw's essay How wealth Accumulates and Men Decay,
These lines can be seen in the concluding paragraph of the essay. The author says the
world capitalism is ridiculous. It boasts of spread of knowledge and enlightenment but
doesn't realises tho it is spreading ignorance of helplessness. The people living in capitalist
setup will be surprised know that savages and Eskimos are more intelligent and resourceful.
They are more independent and knowledgeable than the people from cities living under the
influence of capitalism.
O. 5. How did machines take over the control of manufacturing from men?
Ans. Machines were specifically designed to automate the many steps of the production
process.
One single human operator of such a machine could do the work of many more workers.
The result was, no doubt, high production at low cost, but a steep fall in the ability of the
workers to utilize their innate skills, and be creative. Thus, the machines made the men
running them their slaves.
& ANSWEK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN 250 WORDS EACH
(Examination Oriented Questions)
0?1. Discuss how capitalism spread ignorance?
Ans. One of the drawbacks of capitalism is that it leads to ignorance. According to G. B.
Shaw the knowledge is replaced by machines and man has no more significance left except
for being a unskilled, dumb, part of the making process which has led towards disastrous
results for the humankind. Apart from Huge amount of production and money the capitalist
system has also produced a great deal of universal ignorance of how things are made and
done for the humans.
The humans have been reduced to thoughtless creatures on earth. They are living in illusion
that they growing fast, developing as super humans and accumulating great wealth. The
large scale production of goods seems good if observed from the surface but deep down it
caused ignorance and helplessness.
Q. 2. In your own words sum up Shaw's main line of argument in the essay.
Ans. Capitalist system has its own merits although criticised for various reasons by G.B.
Shaw.
It brought large scale production of goods which resulted in abundant availability and
cheaper rates Further it generated employment for a lot of people. With the advent of
capitalist system there is generation of enormous wealth. Due to replacement of man with
machine there is reduction of labour and manual work and machine do work faster than
man. Undoubtedly, the capitalist system has numerous advantages, but on other hand, there
is inequal distribution of wealth. More than ninety percent of wealth goes to ownership while
labourers get only a meagre amount. As a consequence social inequality prevails that leads
to exploitation. One more drawback of capitalism, it leads to ignorance. According to G. B.
Shaw the knowledge is replaced by machines and man has no more significance left except
for being a unskilled, dumb, part of the making process which has led towards disastrous
results for the humankind. Apart from Huge amount of production and money the capitalist
system has also produced a great deal of universal ignorance of how things are made and
done for the humans. The humans have been reduced to thoughtless beings. They are living
in illusion that they growing fast, developing to superhuman and accumulating great wealth.
The large scale production of goods it seem good if observed from the surface but deep
down it caused ignorance and helplessness.Now-a-days only those who design the
machines know anything about pin manufacture; the workersinolved need not be. The
production of pin at such a large quantity involving the concept of vision of labour improved
the speed of production and made pins quite cheaper but it didn't impress
the author G.B. Shaw.
O. 3. Shaw uses cluster of images that are associated with women. Discuss the relevance of
these images, with reference to Shaw's article.
Ans. Shaw used a number of images of women in his works whether it is Saint Joan or
Pygmalion. His portrayal of women characters is remarkable. In the essay the author used
various terms related to women. He expresses that in the older time the process of making
clothes from shearing of sheep to turning it to a garment ready to put on was performed by
men and women of the household. The woman was associated to the process to such an
extent that the unmarried woman was called spinster. Author draws our attention to the fact
that the unmarried women are still regarded as spinster. He says the entire process of
manufacturing garments, from shearing the sheep to turning out the finished and washed
garment ready to wear, had to be done by the men and women of the home, especially the
women; hence, an unmarried woman is still referred to as a spinster. But, with introduction of
industries and capitalist system the whole scenario is changed now. Nothing remains of all of
this but sheep shearing, and even that, like cow milking, is done by machinery, as does
stitching. Give a woman a sheep today and ask her to make you a woollen outfit; notonly will
she be unable to do so, but she will most likely be unaware of any relationship between
sheep and clothing.
When she buys her garments, she understands the difference between wool, cotton, and
silk, flannel and merino, and maybe even stockinet and other wefts; but she knows very
nothing about how they are created, what they are made of, or how they got to be in the
shop waiting for her to buv. And neither is the store assistant from whom she purchases. The
individuals who make them know even less; many of them are too impoverished to have a
large selection of fabrics when they buy their own outfits. As a result, the capitalism system
has fostered practically universal ignorance of how things are made and done, while also
causing them to be manufactured and done on a massive scale.
Then he also gave the reference of pin money. It's the money wives got from their husbands
to buy the decorative pins for their dresses. The pins were quite costly during those days,
and therefore, the amount was called 'pin money
Q. 4. Innumerate eight to ten basic points expressed in essay.
Ans. G.B. Shaw is one of those thinkers who attacks capitalism through his works like How
Wealth accumulates and Men Decay. G B Shaw's an essay How Wealth accumulates and
Men Decay'is a short essay which is extracted from his book The Intelligent Woman's Guide
to Socialism and Capitalism" which was published in 1928. In the essay Shaw demonstrates
the ill effect of Capitalism on the human mind through following points:
Shaw praises the knowledge of the pin makers
Shaw explains his point of view by giving the example of pin makers. They had complete
knowledge of making, buying and selling the product door to door in earlier times. Shaw
praises the knowledge of the pin makers. The skill that was required of them in order to sell
their product was of great significance. They had all the necessary knowledge of their work
from its very inception to selling it to the customers was something that was unique to the
makers of the product.Division of labour
jision atladboton ofCapitalism. threconceprofdivision flabouriteennieroduced.M.ha won. With
disintediat as smal as pin making was distributed am ora ures erin en, with cren.
NotE ite bi orajob without any knowledge of what the unique features at the finished prod.
doing linlebiturer made ine society rich interns of money but it turned men into mere machi.
doing their work without intelligence'
Criticism of Adam Smith
The author becomes critical of the Adam Smith who was a famous economist. Adam sm
boas The auli took orghteen men to make a single pin, each man doing a tiny bit of the job
an passing the pin to the next man, consequently the rise in the rate of pin manufacturing
and pi passing the p, Bu for author none of the eighteen workers was skilful and
knowledgeable enoug ho rake the whole pin. Now-a-days only those who design the
machines know anything about vane acturesher vorkers invol ed need notbe Pin become so
cheap that a single pin hasalmost. value and same is the case with workers both became
worthless.
The capitalism is leading us to aceumulate wealth and making us rich but actually making h
society unskilled and useless
The knowledge is replaced by machines
The knowledge is replaced by machines and man has no more significance left except fo
being a unskilled, dumb, part of the making process which has led towards disastrous results
for th humankind. The author feels that man only operate the special purpose machine. He
has no ide how machine is designed. He is unaware how the raw materials are purchased,
and the finishe products are sold. He has become ignorant and unskilled.
The people living in remoteness are more skilful and efficient.
The people living in remoteness away from so called centres of civilization i.e. industrial are
are more skilful and efficient than the people who live here in the industrial areas. Shaw
quotes th example of Eskimos
Capitalism, the crusader of ignorance
G.B. Shaw mocks Capitalism for being the crusader of ignorance but still boasts of the
spreadin knowledge, enlightenments, and prosperity. The wealth accumulated at cost of
ignorance and darknes is nothing but disaster in disguise and it justifies the title of the essay
which has been taken from poem 'Deserted land' written in 1770 by Oliver Goldsmith. Shaw
holds the opinion that Olive Goldsmith was a visionary and a far-sighted economist who had
foreseen that the switch to mas production by means of industrial revolution would lead to
increase of wealth of people to
for their selfish motives.
considerable level. But at the same time, people would become lazy, greedy, selfish and
would wor
Social inequality grows as an evil
Capitalism results in accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few people. As a consequenc
social inequality grows as an evil that leads to exploitation of weaker and poorer. In addition
the limited sources on earth would subject to endless consumption and would destroy
eco-system People would waste time, and become lazy and immoral.
Solution to the problem
Author also offered solution to the problem raised due to faulty capitalist system. Shaw
suggest that getting back to the traditional system of working would not help. however, using
machines and technology we are saving a plenty of time The time saved should be used to
enhance creativity opportunity to raise his intellectual level of mental faculties.
5. Discuss literary style of G.B. Shaw.
Ans. George Bernard Shaw was a well-known Irish play wright who established The London
scholof Economics. He penned mutsio and literature criticism, as well as highly polished
journalistio wellas essays, novels, and short tales. All of his writing focused on social issues
with a little fouch
Goes, but his greatest talent was for theatre Puring his career, Shaw created over sixty
plays, as of humour to ensure that the audience paid attention and found his work relevant.
He frequently tilised his art to make statements about education, religion, marriage,
government, healthcare, and the class structure.
An Unsocial Socialist, Cashel Byron's Profession, Immaturity, Love among the Artists, and
The Irrational Knot were all written by George Bernard Shaw. In addition, he penned two
well-known short stories, The Black Girl in Search of God and The Miraculous Revenge. 1
Manifesto, Vote! Vote!! Vote!!!, and The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and
Capitalism are among the essays Shaw wrote. He wrote numerous plays, including
Pygmalion, Major Barbara, and Man and Superman.
Style of Writing
George Bernard Shaw's work was always a strong social criticism. He was a Fabian socialist
who strove to raise awareness of major social issues His work is typically funny and witty,
which he was cautious to accomplish in order to disguise his message as enjoyable and
fascinating. He keeps his audience intellectually engaged by providing engaging
conversation and narrative lines.
They are also heavy on monologues, and the protagonists frequently engage in intellectual
disputes with one another. He aims not just to entertain, but also to educate.
Pygmalion, Heartbreak House, Major Barbara, Saint Joan, and Man and Superman are
among George Bernard Shaw's five most productive and well-known plays. Pygmalion is a
comedy about a conceited upper-class guy attempting to 'civilise' a cockney girl into a lady of
refinement.
Heartbreak House, inspired by Anton Chekhov and displaying how he thought society lacked
purpose, which he portrayed by his characters' stagnant and gloomy conditions that are only
eased by chaos and tragedy. Major Barbara has a lot more conversation than the others and
is about a fight between reality and fantasy. Barbara works for the Salvation Army and fights
to help the most disadvantaged while rallying them against large manufacturers such as her
own affluent father.
Saint Joan shows Joan of Arc as intelligent, vivacious, and in direct communication with
God. Shaw frequently utilised strong, empowered female leads. Finally, Man and Superman
is both lengthy and humorous. The characters are intelligent yet flawed, and they have
difficult, fascinating, and sophisticated ideas. On the surface, the plot revolves on a man who
want to remain single and a lady who wishes to marry him. But go deeper, and the narrative
becomes about Shaw's vibrant philosophy about life, society, and human nature. It is
considered that a dialogue that takes place during Act III is one of the most intellectually
engaging conservations in theatrical history.
Conclusion
George Bernard Shaw is and will always be a well-known and unquestionably prolific writer
in modern literature. He adapted his manner so that he could convey and share his message
about social issues that were important to him while also keeping the audience interested
and delighted.
His writing was used as an instructional tool to raise awareness about important societal
issues, and he serves as an example for both authors and socialists.6. Is the title of essay
appropriate? How is it suitable?
Ans. G. B. Shaw's an essay 'How Wealth accumulates and Men Decay is a short essay
which is extracted from his book The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism
which was published in 1928. In the essay Shaw demonstrates the ill effect of Capitalism on
the human mind. Shaw explains his point of view by giving the example of pin makers. They
ha complete knowledge of making, buying and selling the product door to door in earlier
times. Shaw praises the knowledge of the pin makers. The skill that was required of them in
order to sell their product was of great significance. They had all the necessary knowledge of
their work from its very inception to selling it to the customers was something that was
unique to the makers of the product.
However, with the introduction of Capitalism, the concept of division of labour is also
introduced Where workforce of something as small as pin making was distributed among
eighteen men, with everyone doing little bit of a job without any knowledge of what the
unique features of the finished product. Although this system made the society rich in terms
of money but it turned men into mere machines doing their work without intelligence'
The wealth accumulated at cost of ignorance and darkness is nothing but disaster in
disguise and it justifies the title of the essay which has been taken from a poem Deserted
land' written in 1770 by Oliver Goldsmith. The poem speaks how Industrial revolution
brought the exodus of people to the urban centres in search of jobs as a result of the
Industrial Revolution. It destroyed the ideal way of life, the rural way of life. Shaw holds the
opinion that Oliver Goldsmith was a visionary and a far-sighted economist who had foreseen
that the switch to mass production by means of industrial revolution would lead to increase
of wealth of people to a considerable level. But at the same time, people would become lazy,
greedy, selfish and would work for their selfish motives. This would make them morally
corrupt The consequence of reduction in working hours would result in more leisure time and
boredom. This leisure time would be spent in degrading manners and there will be spread of
futile practices. Moreover, Capitalism results in accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few
people. As a consequence social inequality grows as an evil that leads to exploitation of
weaker and poorer. In addition the limited sources on earth would subject to endless
consumption and would destroy eco-system. People would waste time, and become lazy
and immoral.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. What is the writer trying to convey through the
analogy of pins?
Ans. The writer uses the analogy of pins to convey how pin-makers before industrialisation
and capitalism knew three trades- buying, making, and sell-ing. They knew how the pin was
made, com-pletely. Moreover, each one could make the complete pin. Production was very
slow, but the pin-makers knowledge and skill were, considerably, high.
aisloos
Q.2. Why does Shaw disapprove of Adam Smith's
theory?
Ans. Adam Smith hired eighteen men in making a single pin. Each man did his bit of work,
leaving the remaining bits of job to be done by others.
This, surely, increased production and profits. But none of the workers could make a whole
pin. They became less capable and knowledgeable than the old pin makers. This theory or
system caused their decay. That is why, Shaw does not approve of Adam Smith's theory.Q.3.
In what way, can we call Goldsmith a 'far sighted
economist?
Ans. In his poem The Deserted Village', Goldsmith asserts that when wealth increases in the
industrial and capitalist society, workers rot. He warned through his poem that the principles
of mutual profit would not exist under capitalism. The industrialists would think only of their
profits. The workers would rot away and feel helpless.
Goldsmith's apprehensions have proved valid.
Hence, we can call him a 'arsighted' economist.
Q.4. How have machines led to men becoming less
intelligent and resourceful?
Ans. Machines produce pins by the hundred million.
Even sticking them into pink paper is done by machines. The result is that the workers have
become less intelligent. They do not know how to make a pin. They also do not know how a
pin is made. They have no role in the production. They are helpless to deal with their
problems in the capitalist system. They have become less intelli-gent. They are also less
resourceful.
Q.5. When and how did an unmarried woman acquire
the name 'spinster??
Ans. Spinster is an old-fashioned word. It means an unmarried woman. In the past, before
industrial-ism, the whole work of making clothes had to be done in the countryside by men
and women, es-pecially, by women of the household. This is how an unmarried woman
acquired the name 'spin-ster' before industrialisation in England. To this day, a woman, who
is not married, is called a spinster.0.6. Shaw is not happy with the capitalist system.
Why?
Ans. Shaw is not happy with the capitalist system.
There are reasons for it. Firstly, capitalism makes the workers rot away as they do not know
how to do a thing or how a thing is done. Secondly, it alienates them from the production
process. What they earn is much less than what they, actually, deserve. They suffer
exploitation.
They become
less intelligent and resourceful. They earn huge profits for the capitalist, but still their position
is lowered. Lastly, they have no control over and understanding of the capitalist system.
Q.7. 'Capitalism spreads ignorance.' Discuss with ref.
erence to the essay.
Ans. Capitalism raises production and profits. As a result of this, capitalists feel satisfied. But
it spreads ignorance. Workers are turned into mere ma-chines. They operate machines
without any involvement in the production. They do not know what they do. Nor do they
know, how they do their job. They, therefore, lose their skill and intelli-gence. They can't
make anything themselves. Their employees also do not understand the machines that they
buy. In the light of the facts stated, it becomes very clear that capitalism leads to ignorance
and helplessness.
9.8. What was the consequence of the Division of Labour?
Ans. No doubt, the Division of labour increased the mechanical efficiency of the workers by
doing the same job again and again. The production of pins increased manifold. Pins
became plentiful and cheap. The capitalists earned huge profits and the country was
supposed to grow richer. But theworkers became merely mechanical agents without using
their intelligence.
Q.9. Who has replaced Adam Smith's eighteen flesh
and blood men?
Ans. Now-a-days, Adam Smith's eighteen men of flesh and blood are replaced by machines
of steel.
Machines turn out a hundred million pins a day.
Workers do not know how to make pins with their own hands. The result is that the modern
workers in pin manufacture are not as skilful as the old pin-makers were. Profit has
increased and wealth accumulated, but the condition of the workers has deteriorated.
Q.10. Why does G.B. Shaw call capitalist system a
funny thing?
Ans. Capitalist system is a funny thing, because it spreads ignorance and helplessness on
the one hand and yet it boasts of the spread of education and enlightenment. Today there
are millions of wage-workers, who are unable to do anything.
They are ignorant as to how things are made, sold and profit is made thereby.
Q.11. Are books and encyclopedias helpful to the
worker?
Ans.
Books are made and printed in millions every day, but they contain old and out of date
material.
Fresh and original ideas are not given in them.
Their study does not sharpen the intelligence of readers. What is worse the workers feel too
tired to read a book. They go to the cinema halls for leisure.
Q.12. What has capitalism deprived a worker of?
Ans. The growing capitalism has increased production and made many things cheap, and
led to the accumulation of wealth in a few hands. But it hasdeprived workers of their thinking
power, fu knowledse about production and marketing of vari. ous finished articles and their
capacity and skin to produce a whole thing.
Q.13. What does a tired worker need?
Ans. A tired worker needs illustrated papers, novels, plays and films to feed his mind. His
mind is filled with romantic nonsense and rubbish. Shaw hates the low tastes of modern
people and says that with such low tastes the modern worker has become a mere lunatic
living in this world of capitalism.
0.14. How does G.B. Shaw end his essay?
Ans. G.B. Shaw ends his essay striking a note of warn-ing. If we do not use our mental
faculties wisely, we may become idiots and foolish people incapable of thinking rightly. If we
depend too much on the romantic and foolish knowledge derived from the stud of illustrated
magazines and books, etc., we mav become dangerous mad men, romantic and insane type
of people for being removed from reality or sanity.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Is the title of the essay appropriate? How is it
suitable?
Ans. Industrial Revolution gave the world a new economic system called Capitalism. Under
this system industry is controlled by a few individuals, whose sole aim is to earn more and
more profit, the capitalist to replace human labour with ma-chines. Human beings are
reduced to the status of mere button-pushers. As a result they hardly know how the
machines work and how things are being made. This has resulted in universal igno-rance
among the workers. Their jobs do not require any skill.
In "How Wealth Accumulates and Men Decay?"
George Bernard Shaw remarks that capitalism spreads ignorance'. He gives two examples
to prove his point.
Let us take one of the examples. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, a pin-maker used to
purchase the raw material himself, make the pins and sell them direct to his customers. He
had the knowledge of what raw material to purchase, the skill to make the pins at his finger
tips. There is no doubt that he could make only a small number of pins everyday and the
pins were, naturally, costly.
The modern factory worker makes millions of pins everyday and sells them extremely cheap.
But, unfortunately, the working of the machines he uses to make pins is beyond his
understanding.
Therefore, there is no doubt that wealth has in-creased, but it has in no way benefitted the
worker.
He has lost his skill.
Moreover, the worker does not enjoy any satisfac-
al
tion of having made something worthwhile. He is tnot, mentally, involved in it. He is, simply, a
cog
in the wheel of the machines.
Thus the modern worker has been turned into a mindless ignorant living machine, with no
sense of participation and no joy of having created any-thing. His ignorance and
helplessness have been increased. He has completely been alienated from his
surroundings. He has lost self respect and the feeling of being a useful citizen. He has no
firsthand knowledge of things. He is caught in a system which is beyond his understanding
and con-trol. His mental faculties remain unused. Although wealth has increased yet he has
been rendered helpless and useless. It has a degrading effect on him. He has decayed. The
title is, therefore, most apt and appropriate.
Q.2. Discuss how capitalism spreads ignorance.
Ans. Before industrialism or capitalism, workers did things themselves. The things produced
were in small quantities. They were costlier as well. But the workers knew how to make
things and how things were made. They had complete understand. ing of buying the
material, making the things and selling them. But with the coming of capitalism the workers
have lost touch with production. They, merely, sit at machines watching machines doing
everything. They don't know how to make things.
They do not know how things are being made by machines. They are suffering from
ignorance and
'helplessness. Men, who were once capable and skilled, are now rendered, helplessly,
ignorant.
They are no more resourceful too.
Thousands of property dealers and millions of wage workers are not aware of how things are
made unless somebody tells them. They are helpless victims of ignorance being spread by
capitalism.
When they travel and meet villagers, Esquimaux and savages, they feel smaller. They know
less than the three categories of people mentioned. It is, simply, because they get things
produced by machines while they savages, Esquimaux and villagers- have to do things
themselves. This is how Shaw exposes the claims of capitalism that it spreads education
and knowledge when the fact is that it simply spreads ignorance of helpless-ness.In short,
the modern industrial worker is dependent on the capitalist. It is he who provides him with
the raw material and tells him what to make on the machines which work automatically
producing huge quantities of things at a very cheap rate. The worker has paid heavily for this
increase in wealth because he himself has been turned into a mindless ignorant living
machine.
The workers simply follow instructions and guide-lines. They fill their imagination with the
romantic stuff they get from cinema, illustrated news-papers, novels and plays. They have
been reduced to lunatics fed by romantic nonsense. They do not use their mental faculties.
They work for money and their work does not involve the exercise of their minds and
faculties. G.B. Shaw, therefore, rightly says that capitalism spreads ignorance.
Q.3. In your own words sum up Shaw's main line of
argument in the essay.
Ans. Shaw's main line of argument in the essay 'How Wealth Accumulates and Men Decay'
is that under capitalism men decay, especially intellectu-ally, though wealth increases. The
system of capitalism deprives the workers of practical know-989 edge of making things for
themselves. As a result of it their mental faculties rot away. They become less intelligent and
less resourceful. They do not have a sense of dignity as a useful member of the
2110
society.
Shaw says that the workers lose control over the method of production. They are replaced
by ma-chines. Production increases manifold. Profits rise
у Пото
very high wealth accumulates but workers decay because they lose their skill and
intelligence. The capitalists provide them with the raw material and tell them what to make
on the machines which work automatically producing huge quanti. ties of things at very
cheap rates. The workers are turned into mindless ignorant living machines, with no sense of
participation and no joy of having created anything. They do not use their brains and mental
faculties with the result that in due course of time they become idiots or extremely
foolish men.
The system forces them to depend too much on the romantic and foolish knowledge derived
from the study of illustrated magazines, books, etc. or by seeing films. They may end as
dangerous mad men, romantic and insane type of people for removed from reality or sanity.
Thus capitalism leads to the workers' humiliation, decay, exploitation and degradation. The
writer strikes a note of warning that if people fail to use their mental faculties properly, they
might end as idiots or lunatics in the real world.
Q.4. Shaw uses a cluster of images that are associ ated with women. Discuss the relevance
of these images, with reference to Shaw's article.
Ans. G. B. Shaw has used a cluster of images in "How Wealth Accumulates and Men
Decay?" These images are associated with women, and have great relevance to Shaw's
article. These images are pins, spinster, and making of clothes, etc. Before industrialism,
pins were costly. Women could not afford to buy them. A woman's dress allowance was,
therefore, called pin-money. But after the coming of industrialism or capitalism, pins are
being poured out by machines by millions. Every woman can now buy them easily, for they
aren't costly at all. But, when women are asked how the pins they use are made, they have
nothing to say.They are, totally, ignorant of how pins are made.
Again women buy clothes and wear clothes quite comfortably. But when you ask them to
make clothes, they won't be able to do that. In fact, they do not even know, whether there is
any connection between sheep and woollen clothes. Their ignorance or helplessness is the
result of the spread of capitalism. Formerly, the whole work of making clothes, from the
shearing of the sheep to the turning out of the finished and washed garment ready to put on,
had to be done in the countryside by men and women of the household, especially, the
women. That is why, to this day, an unmarried woman is called a 'spinster'. But under
capitalism, women do not know how clothes are made and what they are made of.
Thus, the cluster of images that are associated with women are of great relevance in the
context of G.B. Shaw's article "How Wealth Accumulates and Men Decay?"

To students

Glossary
Mortar-a mixture of lime, cement, sand, and water used to bond bricks stones in construction
ofbuildings
Miasma-A highly unhealthy, polluted and unhealthy smell or vapours
Epidemic-a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular
time.
Havoc-disaster
Scripture-sacred writings, writing of holy books of religion e.g. Writing contained in Bhagvad
Geeta, The holy Bible etc.
Inculcate-infuse, instil, fix, imprint, impress
Perdition-catastrophe, devastation, destruction, ruin.
Tangible-something concrete, real, felt by touch.
Loaves-plural of loaf, loaf of bread, bread slice.
Pauper-a very poor person.
Indigenous-native, home- grown, locale.
Opiate-narcotic, intoxicant, a drug derived from opium.
Foul-unfair, filthy, dirty.
Beelzebub-Prince of devils in Bible.
Satan- Devil in Bible
Sanyasi-A hindu religious mendicant, friar
Dissipation-extravagance ,living lavish life style
Self restraint-self-controlled, full of patience.

Summary
no Students' is an excerpt from Solected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, The Voice Of Truth,
The iven prose piece is mentionadios Section XI, tiled 'Baste Education And Students, rut S
The pround niles for sundent ITos the ident behaviourofnstudent that makos him a completo
individente
catrt8 stia sCenitlio ilic aca an von ora сонан ини тико потасотрас тому сия), во
Significance Of Character
suitiatined, md tie dos and doris that a student must keep in mind are vel oxplaned.
The author begins with a comment on character development, stating that character is not
something physicnl that oan loo built with mortar and stones. Itis something that must be
created by She individual, and no teacher can infuse character from books. Character is
something that comes fo you from your experiences and is something that is within you. The
author prioritises truth and purity over knowledge and learning. Moral impurity is spreading
liko a contagious discase among students, and it is spreading like an epidemic. All
knowledge from books, scriptures, and other sources is useless if students do not apply it in
their daily lives.
Mahatma Gandhi feels the same way about teachers. He believes that failing to impart truth
and purity in students is a betrayal. All knowledge education is meaningless unless moral
values are
instilled.
Knowledge without character is a power for evil only
Mahatma Gandhi emphasises the importance of character in addition to knowledge.
"Knowledge without character is only a power for evil, as seen in the cases of so many
talented thieves and
"gentlemen rascals in the world," he wrote. A thief has sufficient knowledge, but he lacks
moral character and is prone to wrongdoing. These thieves are morally rotten creatures
portraying as gentlemen. Their knowledge would be detrimental to society. Such knowledge
is useless and serves only to invite disaster.
Utilisation of Vacation
Mahatma Gandhi advises students on how to maximise their vacation time. He outlines
specific ways for them to make use of their free time. The author proposes that students run
day and night schools in order to provide education to those who do not have access to it.
Students should go to Dalit villages to educate and instil the value of hygiene in them.
Reading the moral stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to children and teaching
them devotional songs would be a good way to spend vacation time while also doing a great
service to humanity. Dalits are referred to as Harijan by Mahatma Gandhi, which means
"God's people." He also advises students to help these Harijans by providing medical
assistance and conducting censuses to learn about their plight of the underprivileged section
of society.
Sense Of Responsibility
Mahatma Gandhi regards a sense of responsibility as an essential component of a student's
personality. Students are the nation's future leaders, and they must lead a country that is
struggling with issues such as poverty. It is the responsibility of students to contribute to the
solution of the nation's problems. The author believes that when students leave their schools
or colleges and enter the public domain, their enthusiasm of student life fades. They become
consumed with the pursuit of bread and butter and lose sight of their responsibilities to the
nation. He attributes this type of situation to our flawed educational system. He goes on to
criticise the educational system, claiming that it lacks purpose. It has no relevance in terms
of the needs of a poverty-stricken country. The education we received has no application in
our daily lives, whether at home or in the village.
Views about addiction
Coffee, tea, cigars, and cigarettes, according to Mahatma Gandhi, are not necessary for our
survival. They play no role in our lives and pose health risks. They make us their slaves and
should be avoided. The author emphasises that instead of using intoxicating beverages and
substances to stay awake in order to perform extra duties, one should sleep, which is a
healthy choice. Cigarettes contain harmful substances derived from opium, which we
become accustomed to. 'How can a single student foul his mouth by converting it into a
chimney?' he wonders. By avoiding these wasteful habits, we can save both our health and
money.
Addiction stimulates criminal tendencies
In his concluding paragraph, Mahatma Gandhi illustrates association of crime with addiction.
He gives an example of a drunkard in Leo Tolstoy's story who was hesitant to commit crime.
But he becomes aggressive as he puffs at cigar and executes murder. Tolstoy spoke from
experience and he knew an intoxicated man is prone to criminal tendencies. Author
compares cigarette to Beelzebub while alcohol to Satan. Both Beelzebub and Satan are
described as devils in the Bible.
The life of student is a life a Sanyasi
In his final words, the author expresses his knowledge of Hindu beliefs, stating that a student
should live the life of a Sanyasi. Students should be humble, disciplined, and devoid of all
luxuries.
His devotions must be limited to his studies on the path of truth and purity. He is not allowed
to marry, drink, smoke, or engage in any form of voluptuousness. His actions should be a
model of self. control and discipline. He has no interest in so-called worldly pleasures and
must stick to the path of a true Sanyasi.
Question & Answer
& SHORT ANSWER TYPE
Q. 1. What are Mahatma Gandhi's views about significance of character.
Ans. In the beginning of the given passage, Mahatma Gandhi stresses upon the importance
of character in students life. All the worldly knowledge is worthless if it is without a moral
character. It is something that comes through practice and is beyond the knowledge of
books. Character outweighs the knowledge, learning and scholarship on the scale of being
valuable.
Q. 2. "You are the hope of future'. To whom Mahatma Gandhi addresses? Explain?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi addressed students, stating that students are the country's future.
Students are the country's future leaders, and they must lead a country dealing with issues
such as poverty. It is students' responsibility to contribute to the solution of the nation's
problems.
Q. 3. What are Mahatma Gandhi's opinions about the education system?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi believed that when students leave their schools or colleges and enter
the public domain, their enthusiasm of student life fades. They become consumed with the
pursuit wend and butter and lose sight of their responsibilities to the nation. He attributes this
type of bruation to our fased educational system. He goes on to criticise the educational
system, claning.
Suatitlaoks purpose. It has no relevance in terms of the needs of a poverty-stricken country.
The bducation we received has no application in our daily lives, whether at home or in the
village.
O. 4. What are Mahatma Gandhi's recommendations for students to spend their
vacations?
Ans. The author proposes that students run day and night schools to educate those who do
not have access to education. Students should visit Dalit villages to educate and instil the
importance of hygiene. Reading the moral stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata to
children would be a fun way to spend vacation time.
O. 5. Who is sanyasi? According to the Gandhiji who should live the life of sanyasi?
Ans. A sanyasi is a hindu religious saint, a mendicant or friar who foregoes all worldly
desires in order to pursue religion. Gandhiji demonstrated his understanding of Hindu beliefs
when he stated that a student should live the life of a Sanyasi. He is not permitted to marry,
drink, smoke, or engage in any form of sensuality. His behaviour should be an example of
self-control and discipline. He has no interest in so-called worldly pleasures and must remain
true to his Sanyasi path.
O. 6. What are M.K.Gandhi's opinions about smoking and addiction?
Ans. Cigarettes contain harmful opium-derived substances, which we have grown
accustomed to. According to Mahatma Gandhi, coffee, tea, cigars, and cigarettes are not
necessary for our survival. They have no place in our lives and are hazardous to our health.
They treat us as slaves and should be avoided.
O. 7. There is mention of Beelzebub and Satan in the essay. In what context Mahatma
Gandhi mentions them and why?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi compares cigarette to Beelzebub while alcohol to Satan. Both
Beelzebub and Satan are described as devils in the Bible. According to Mahatma Gandhi,
coffee, tea, cigars, and cigarettes are not necessary for our survival. They have no place in
our lives and are hazardous to our health. They treat us as slaves and should be avoided.
& LONG ANSWER TYPE
Q. 1. What are Mahatma Gandhi's advises to the students mentioned in the essay?
OR
Write a summary of the essay "To students by M.K.Gandhi in your own words.
Ans. M.K. Gandhi addresses students in a concise and clear manner. The author prioritises
truth and purity over knowledge and learning. He states that character is not something
physical that can be built with mortar and stones. It is something that must be created by the
individual, and no teacher can infuse character from books.
Mahatma Gandhi feels the same way about teachers. He believes that failing to impart truth
and purity in students is a betrayal. All knowledge education is meaningless unless moral
values are instilled. Author proposes that students run day and night schools in order to
provide education to those who do not have access to it, during their vacations. Students
should go to Dalit villages to educate them. Reading the moral stories of the Ramayana and
the Mahabharata to children and teaching them devotional songs would be a good way to
spend vacation time. Students are the nation's future leaders and must lead a country that is
struggling with issues such as poverty. Mahatma Gandhi regards a sense of responsibility as
an essential component of a student's personality. The author believes that when students
leave their schools or colleges, their enthusiasm of student life fades. He attributes this to
our flawed educational system. The education we received has no application in our daily
lives, whether at home or in the village. It has no relevance in terms of the needs ofa
poverty-stricken country. The author emphasises that instead of using intoxicating beverages
and substances to stay awake in order to perform extra duties, one should sieep. By
avoiding these wasteful habits, we can save both our health and money. Author compares
cigarette to Beelzebub while alcohol to Satan. Mahatma Gandhi illustrates association of
crime with addiction. Tolstoy spoke from experience and ne knew an intoxicated man is
prone to criminal tendencies. In his final words, author expresses his knowledge of Hindu
beliefs, stating that a student should live the life of
a Sanyasi.
Q.2. "Knowledge without character is only a power for evil, as seen in the cases of so many
talented thieves and 'gentlemen rascals in the world,". Explain.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi emphasises the importance of character in addition to knowledge.
"Knowledge without character is only a power for evil, as seen in the cases of so many
talented thieves and 'gentlemen rascals in the world," he wrote. A thief has sufficient
knowledge, but he lacks moral character and is prone to wrongdoing. These thieves are
morally rotten creatures portraying as gentlemen. Their knowledge would be detrimental to
society. Such knowledge is useless and serves only to invite disaster.
Mahatma Gandhi in the essay lays stress on character development, stating that character is
not something physical that can be built with mortar and stones. It is something that must be
created by the individual, and no teacher can infuse character from books. Character is
something that comes to you from your experiences and is something that is within you. The
author prioritises truth and purity over knowledge and learning. Moral impurity is spreading
like a contagious disease among students, and it is spreading like an epidemic. All
knowledge from books, scriptures, and other sources is useless if students do not apply it in
their daily lives.
Mahatma Gandhi feels the same way about teachers. He believes that failing to impart truth
and purity in students is a betrayal. All knowledge education is meaningless unless moral
values are
instilled.
Q. 3. According to Gandhiji, what is more valuable than knowledge and why?
Ans. The author prioritises truth and purity over knowledge and learning. Moral impurity is
spreading like a contagious disease among students, and it is spreading like an epidemic. All
knowledge from books, scriptures, and other sources is useless if students do not follow the
path of truth and moral purity. Mahatma Gandhi gives us the example of thieves. A thief has
sufficient knowledge, but he lacks moral character and is prone to wrongdoing. These
thieves are morally rotten creatures portraying as gentlemen. Their knowledge would be
detrimental to society. Such knowledge is useless and serves only to invite disaster. All the
worldly knowledge is worthless if it is without a moral character. It is something that comes
through practice and is beyond the knowledge of books.
Character outweighs the knowledge, learning and scholarship on the scale of being
valuable. M.K Gandhi addresses students in a concise and clear manner. He states that
character is not something individual, and no teacher can infuse character from books.
physical that can be built with mortar and stones. It is something that must be created by the
J. 4. Write an essay on the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
Ans. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, well known as Mahatma Gandhi and regarded as the
sailer of the Nation, Was born on October 2 1569, or Forbaradar, Countal, India. Karan
chand.
Candhi was a lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the alias for the
nationalist Famehi, his father, was the Chief Minister divan of Porbanadar Putiba;, brs
mothers nas. movement opposing British rule in India. Gandhi is worldwide revered for his
nonviolent resistance concept, generally known as satyagraha, to accomplish political and
social development. I: .. born in Gujarat and attended the Inner Temple in London to study
law. He returned to India in 1915.
Afer successfully organising a civil disobedience action for South African Indians. He visited
several places in India. He returned to India in 1915. After successfully organising a civil
disobedience action for South African Indians. In India, he travelled to several sections of the
nation, attempting to understand the issues of farmers, peasants, and urban labourers and
organising rallies on their behalf. In 1921, he assumed charge of the Indian National
Congress, rising to become its most famous leader and an iconic figure in Indian history. In
1930, he organised the Dandi Salt March, and in 1942, he organised the Quit India
Movement. Apart from his position in the Indian National Movement, he has made significant
contributions to the upliftment of Dalits. Gandhi had a critical role in preventing Hindu-Muslim
riots before and after the country's division. Nathuram Godse shot him to death Gandhi
produced several books and articles, the bulk of which are compilations of his essays and
lectures on truth and ahimsa, swadeshi and charkha, or addresses to women, students, and
princes. Gandhi was recognised for his writing abilities. Gandhi's writing style, like his
personality, is straightforward and efficient. He never boasts of high style, fancy vocabulary,
or poet's language in his work. His words always had an impact on readers. He wrote about
his nation's expectations, his hopes and faith, as well as his sufferings and disappointments.
He employed straightforward, uncomplicated, and exact language that was free of ambiguity
in his work.
Q. 5. According to Mahatma Gandhi's what is the failure of education system ?
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi sees flaws in the education system of the country. He believed that
when students leave their schools or colleges and enter the public domain, their enthusiasm
of student life fades. They become consumed with the pursuit of bread and butter and lose
sight of their responsibilities to the nation. He attributes this type of situation to our flawed
educational system. He goes on to criticise the educational system, claiming that it lacks
purpose. It has no relevance in terms of the needs of a poverty-stricken country. The
education we received has no application in our daily lives, whether at home or in the village.
Mahatma Gandhi regards a sense of responsibility as an essential component of a student's
personality. Students are the nation's future leaders, and they must lead a country that is
struggling with issues such as poverty. It is the responsibility of students to contribute to the
solution of the nation's problems. The author believes that when students leave their schools
or colleges and enter the public domain, their enthusiasm of student life fades. They become
consumed with the pursuit of bread and butter and lose sight of their responsibilities to the
nation. He attributes this type of situation to our flawed educational system. He goes on to
criticise the educational system, claiming that it lacks purpose. It has no relevance in terms
of the needs of a poverty-stricken country. The education we received has no application in
our daily lives, whether at home or in the village.
36
Q. 6. Write an Essay on Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts on Education.
Ans. Mahatma Gandhi thought that education is one of the most essential factors in the
growth of an individual, community, and nation. A nation with educated residents may
develop at a far faster rate than one with an illiterate populace. He thought that education
was the key to a decent life for every youngster in India.
Gandhi Ji defied the Indian educational system.
Mahatma Gandhi desired that every youngster attend school and pursue an education. He
didn't waste any time in spreading the significance of education. He did not, however, follow
the Indian school system. His educational perspective was vastly different from the one used
in our nation. While Indian schools concentrated on academic knowledge, Gandhi ji
advocated emphasising practical knowledge. He thought it was a better method to pique
people's attention and provide a complete comprehension of the subject. He also thought
that pupils needed to be taught social skills and the need of supporting one another in order
for the country to flourish. He felt that schools should attempt to instil a sense of patriotism in
kids.
Gandhi ji desired free and compulsory education.
Gandhi thought that education was the path to a better way of life. He advocated for the right
to basic education. Gandhi thought that education was the path to a better way of life. He
advocated for the right to basic education. He was fully aware of his fellow Indians' social
and economic conditions. He was aware that, while many people desire to send their
children to school, many are unable to do so. As a result, he advocated for making education
free for pupils until the age of 14. He also advocated for universal education so that no one
suffers from a lack of information.
Gandhi it wished to see our country flourish with educated young because he thought
education had the capacity to teach an individual the right way.
SHORT / MEDIUM ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. According to Gandhiji, what is the real aim,
education?
Ans. According to Gandhiji, the real aim of education should be to build up the moral
character of st dents. All education, all scholarship and all know. edge must be directed
towards the activity invol ing the shaping of character. Students without character are
students incapable of self-study and self-discipline without which character building remains
a useless exercise.
Q.2. How can students lead a pure life as per
Gandhiji?
Ans. Gandhiji advises the students to be truthful. They should not tell lies under any
circumstances. They should keep nothing as secret between their teachers and themselves.
They must be true to them-selves, bear no ill-will to anyone and must not indulge in speaking
ill of others. Truthful dealing is the only secret of a pure life.
Q.3. "Students cannot afford to have party politics."
Explain.
Ans. Gandhiji advises the students to shun power poli-
tics. They must not waste their time and energy in political demonstrations. Once they are
engaged in politics, their studies suffer and they cease to be students fit enough to be the
citizens of tomorrow.
Q.4. Comment on the theme of the essay "To Stu-
dents."
Ans.
The essay "To Students" is Gandhiji's address to the students. It tells us about his faith in the
values of love, truth, non-violence and rural upliftment. As per Gandhiji, the true aim of
education must be to build the moral character of students. He urged the students to
overcome their weakness by means of self-control and self-disci-pline. According to
Gandhiji, students must think about the well being of Indian masses in addition to their
personal well-being. Every student must take up some sort of social work to uplift the rural
areas. They should steer clear of participating in political activities and rather, divert their
energy to practise the ideals of truth and non-violence.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. What is the importance of character develop-
ment according to Gandhiji?
Ans. Gandhiji believes that the aim of all knowledge must be the building up of character. He
opines that the most essential condition for building a solid education is the purity of
personal life. Students must search within and take care of their personal character. They
must know their thoughts and feelings and improve themselves accordingly.
They cannot build a good personal character unless they have pure thoughts and feeling.
S.0
Gandhiji urges the young boys and girls to take their stand firmly on Truth and Innocence.
These two virtues form the basis of all great faiths of the world. With the help of these two
virtues, students will be able to become bold, courageous and straight forward. He also calls
upon boys and girls to have faith in God and themselves. To ensure such faith, they must not
allow even a single sinful or evil thought to creep up into their hearts.
No sinful act is done unless it is urged by a sinful thought. This is the gist of the teachings of
the Bhagavad Gita, the Quran and the Sermon on the Mount.
Character development is the most important part of students' education. To achieve it,
teachers must set a good example. Their own lives must be noble and virtuous,
well-organised and well-disci plined. If the teachers are truthful and virtuous, they can inspire
students to build a strong char acter which is the solid basis of a sound educa tion. Cursed is
the teacher who pretends to be what he actually is not.
All study of Shakespeare and Wordsworth is of no use if the students do not attend to the
most essential aspects of their education, that is, character building. When they think and act
in the disciplined manner without being affected by their thoughts and actions, they pave the
way to char-acter-building.
Therefore, building one's character is the most important part of a students' education. It can
be achieved through truth, innocence, self-discipline and mastery over thoughts and
feelings. Without building their character, students cannot serve their country.
0.2. What suggestions are given by Gandhiji to students regarding rural work?
Ans. The essay «To Students" is Gandhiji's address to students. It tells us about his faith in
the values of truth, love, non-violence and rural upliftment.
He urges the students to think not only of their individual well-being but also that of Indian
society as a whole. Students are advised to take up the social work of uplifting villages.
Gandhiji says that ours is a rural civilization. The majority of our population lives in villages.
In view of our vast area, vast population and warm cli-mate, we are destined for a rural
civilization.
Gandhi believes that it is impossible to do away with the rural civilization. He advises the
Indian youth to settle down to villages. They should spend their vacation in villages around
their schools and colleges and try to get devoted to the service of the village folks.
TIG
He calls up professors to keep students free from the study of prescribed text books during
their vacation so that they can get involved in research on villagers and their problems.
Professors should suggest to the students to go on excursions in the village and make
themselves fully aware of the problems which the villagers face. Students should educate
the villagers about the need for personal cleanliness as well as the cleanliness of their
surroundings. They can make their outings educative for themselves as well as for the
village-folk whom they must befriend during their stay in the villages. Infact, it will be more
educative than their literary studies.
Besides, this will prove to be a source of amusement for the students. Their stay in the
villages will be a better education than the mere know-edge they get from books. It will help
them famil-jarize themselves with the plight of the villagers and make them see how their
problems can be solved in the best possible way.
Q.3.
Discuss Gandhiii's views about students and poli-tics.
Ans. Apart from advising students to work for the wellbeing of Indian society as a whole,
Gandhiji urges them to shun politics in order to be able to serve their motherland. Students
should keep themselves away from active politics and devote their entire energy in practising
the ideals of truth and non-violence.
Gandhiji says that he has often written a lot against strikes by students. Politics has little or
no room in the world of students. They must not waste their time and energy in political
demon-strations. It is only on the rarest of occasions that they may take part in politics, but
they cannot make it a routine. They have to serve Indian masses, especially those in our
villages. It is in order to ensure their success in the activity aimed at the well-being of Indian
society that they must shun politics. Their involvement in power politics is something they
should keep themselves away from to perform their part in national reconstruc-tion,
especially to strengthen rural civilization.
Gandhiji, further, says that students cannot afford to have party politics. They may hear all
political parties as they read all sorts of books, but they must accept only the truth of each
political party. They should have nothing to do with the rest. The moment they start getting
involved in political trickery, they will cease to be students.
It will be difficult for them to serve the country in its time of danger of difficulty. They should
think many times before rejecting his advice to shun politics.

Where the mind is without fear

Summary
This poem was written in pre-independence times in British ruled India. Indians were
struggling for freedom and were slave to a foreign power. Rabindranath Tagore, in his poems
wanted India to free from all bonds of slavery. This poem gives us insight of Tagore's vision
of an ideal freedom.
The poem is rich in both religious and patriotic touch. The poet prays to God for the freedom
from foreign rule. He wants his country to be a free country where a man can go anywhere
without any fear in his mind. The further says he wants his country to be a place where one
can live with dignity holding his head high. A sense of self-respect and pride must be a part
of his feelings. He wants his country a place where knowledge is free for everyone. To
knowledge poet means education. Apart from the freedom from British rule poet wants his
country free from all social evils. He wants his country to be a place where there is no
boundaries between man due to caste, creed, region and religion. A place, where there is a
state of complete harmony exists. The poet prays to the God to bless his country with kind of
thoughts and expressions that leads to perfection. It should be a country where light of
reason enlightens the minds. People think rationally free from old and orthodox beliefs and
rituals. Minds to be filled with future oriented notions. The poet prays to the God to lead his
country to a freedom which is not only a physical or political aspect but also a freedom of
mind.
His country should be a place where people live with a fearless spirit.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Originally named Prarthona, it was featured in Tagore's 1901 poetry book Naibedya
(Offerings) as 'Chitto Jetha Bhaiyashunyo' in the selection of his Bangla poems Gitanjali
(Song Offerings), which was released in 1910. Two years later, in 1912, the Indian Society,
London published Tagore's own translation of Gitanjali into English, maintaining the Bangla
title. The English version of 'Chitto Jetha Bhaiyashunyo' - Where the Mind is Without Fear' -
is therefore Tagore's own rendition, but mainly explanatory in sharp contrast to its Bangla
form, which is constructed in regular, rhyming lines with beautiful and gloomy cadences.
The poem Where bentidis without fear' by Rabindranath Tagore is a prayer to God. "Where
the mind is without fear" is translated version of Bengali poem named Chitto Jetha
Bhoyshunyo.
The original poem was published in 1910's Gitaniali.and the translated version of the poem
published in 1912. The translation of the poem from Bengali to English was done by Tagore
himself. The poem 4 ноголноло вавідеь конінесоито Ворово торсовола. об пок опалана
сти мов на ано ралоно воінитой Геол із по з51 рост осноз со пту а песос о Позоло роз
- у sac tip nim line post pras to the Anigis со толобелое соиз. не ростов мисте сосо
composed poems imepreyerforcountyinpre independence lines. The poem is perfect camp,
of a blend of mysticism, patriotism, fancy and vision.
a band per is vilten in free verse without any styme scheme. ohere are many figures,
snechie respeltion, Metaphor Aliteration, etc. An important Figure of Speech is Personican,
which is visible in the following line:
ohis visible ess stiving stretches is arns towards perfection'? Here, ive can actually visual,
'tireless striving stretching its arms to reach its goal.
In the poem, Tagore adresses God as 'my Father and asks Him to awaken his country int
heaven of rection, where there is total freedom of good thoughts, good words and good
actions. i wishes for a country where people are free from fear, where knowledge is free to
all individuals an people from all castes and religions are united. Let's have a look on each
line to get an idea o
figures of speech used in the poem.
1. Where the mind is without fear and head is held high.
Figures of Speech: Alliteration.
Explanation: The sound of 'w' and h' is repeated for poetic effect.
2. Where the world has not been broken up into fragments.
Figures of Speech: Alliteration
Explanation: The sound of 'w' and 'b' is repeated for poetic effect.
3. Narrow domestic walls.
Figures of Speech: Metaphor
Explanation: Narrow domestic walls are indirectly compared to narrow minded divisions in
the society.
4. Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection.
Figures of Speech: Personification
Explanation: Non-living object striving is given human qualities of being tireless and
stretching.
5. Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way.
Figures of speech: Metaphor
Explanation: The figure of speech is metaphor because reason has been compared to 'a
clear stream'.
6. Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit.
Figures of Speech: Alliteration
Explanation: The sound of letter d is repeated for poetic effect.
7. Where the mind is led forward by thee.
Figures of Speech: Synecdoche
Explanation : Here mind(part) stands for citizen(full).
8. Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Figures of Speech: Apostrophe
Explanation: A direct address has been made to the Father(god) who is not present there)
Question & Answer
& SHORT ANSWER TYPE
6.1. What docs the poct pray to the Almighty for ?
5 Or
Ins. The poet prays to the Almighty for a 'heaven of freedom for his country where people
5.
would be Tearles.krovreason and the, dignilted, hard working. logical courted where pe of. 2.
What are reason' and 'dead habit compared to
F
is. The post compares 'reason' to a clear stream and 'dead habit' to harmful old customs
and rituals.
0. 3. What does the poet wish for ?
Ito
Ans. He wishes people to be open-minded, progressive and use their thinking abilities so
that and they can taste frecdon pie are slise, the poct wishes that his country awakens into
heaven at no reton, where the people are all truly free and total freedom of good thoughts,
good words and
good actions exists.
O. 4. How is the world broken into fragments?
Ans. The narrow domestic walls which caused barriers of caste, creed, religion, language,
communalism and gender discrimination made the world broken into fragments.
O. 5. Explain what the 'tireless striving' should, be for.
Ans. The poet wants his countrymen to strive without getting tired to achieve perfection
leaving behind prejudices and old traditions. This will help to achieve our goals and gain
success.
O. 6. Where come out from the depth of truth.' Explain in your own words.
Ans. The poet wished that in his country or rather in the world, People must not lie and they
should be honest in their thoughts and action. The words spoken by them must come from
the very core of the heart.
O. 7. Who is 'Thee in the poem? What does the poet appeal to Thee to do?
Ans. Thee refers to the almighty God. The poet appeals to the almighty God that his country
should win such freedom in which the people live fearlessly and their head is held high with
pride.
He also wants freedom from illogical and impractical things, superstitious, blind faith,
narrow-mindedness, caste, class, gender differences etc.
Q. 8. What qualities does the poet wish to inculcate in his countrymen?
Ans. The poet wished that his countrymen must be fearless, broad-minded, to be not divided
by religion, caste, class and colour. He wants his countrymen to be honest with logical
thinking and not to be lost in old traditional habits, superstitions, blind-faith. Poet wants his
countrymen to forever broaden their outlook.
&LONG ANSWER TYPE
Q. 1. What is the structure of the poem ?
Ans. Because the poem is written in free verse, there is no predetermined rhyme system.
Apostrophe, Consonance, Metaphor, Personification, and Synecdoche are the figures of
speech employed in the poem. Alliteration is used in the line "Into the bleak desert sand of
dead habit," Where the sound of the letter " d' is repeated for poetic impact. The poem's
major concept is about theposts hope of independence for his nation. He wishes and prays
for a general awakening ofthe People of the country, not only political freedom. This poem is
both a prayer to the Almighty and a cal to the people to break free from the shackles of
colonial tyranny.0.2. Summarize "Where the mind is without fear" in your own words.
Ans. "Where the mind is without fear " is translated version of Bengali poem named Chitto
Jetha Bhoyshuryo. The original poem was published in 1910's Gitanjali and the translated
version of the poem published in 1912. The translation of the poem from Bengali to English
was done by Tagore himself. The poem is full of patriotic feelings for the country. It reveals
Tagore's vision of a new and awakened India. "Where the mind is without fear" is the 35th
poem of Gitanjali. It is one of the Tagore's well composed poem. The poet prays to the
Almighty to make his country a heaven where everyone feels free. It is a simple prayer for
country in pre-independence times. The poem is perfect example of a blend of mysticism,
patriotism, fancy and vision.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote this poem during the pre-independence period, when India was
a British colony. The poem's underlying topic is ultimate freedom; the author wishes for his
country's population to live in a free state. According to the poem, the poet is expressing his
beliefs that there should be a country where people live without fear and with pure dignity.
They should not feel oppressed by any power. The concept of democracy appears to be
warmly received here. Following that, education should be available to all, regardless of
caste, creed, religion, or other factors. In general, there should be no social strata that
prevent individuals from pursuing an education. The second call is for the people of the land
to live together, free of social obstacles such as casteism, regionalism, and religion, among
others, In the following words, the poet states that individuals must avoid superstitions and
strive for perfection in their skills and knowledge. Finally, the poet begs God to awaken his
country in all of the circumstances he stated previously.
Q3. Write the critical appreciation of the poem.
Ans. Originally named Prarthona, it was featured in Tagore's 1901 poetry book Naibedya
(Offerings) as 'Chitto Jetha Bhaiyashunyo' in the selection of his Bangla poems Gitanjali
(Song Offerings), which was released in 1910. Two years later, in 1912, the Indian Society,
London published Tagore's own translation of Gitanjali into English, maintaining the Bangla
title. The English version of 'Chitto Jetha Bhaiyashunyo', Where the Mind is Without Fear', is
therefore Tagore's own rendition, but mainly explanatory and prosaic in sharp contrast to its
Bangla form, which is constructed in regular, rhyming lines with beautiful and gloomy
cadences.
The poem 'Where the mind is without fear' by Rabindranath Tagore is a prayer to God
"Where the mind is without fear" is translated version of Bengali poem named Chitto Jetho
Bhoyshunyo. The original poem was published in 1910's Gitanjali.and the translated version
of the poem published in 1912. The translation of the poem from Bengali to English was
done by Tagore himself. The poem is full of patriotic feelings for the country. It reveals
Tagore's vision of a new and awakened India. "Where the mind is without fear is the 35th
poem of Gitanjali. Is one of the Tagore's well composed poem. The poet prays to the
Almighty to make his country a heaven wher everyone feels free. It is a simple prayer for
country in pre-independence times. The poem is perfect example of a blend of mysticism,
patriotism, fancy and vision.
The poem is written in free verse without any rhyme scheme. There are many figures o
speech e.g. Repetition, Metaphor, Alliteration, etc. An important figure of speech is
Personification which is visible in the following line
"Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection'. Here, we can actually
visualize
'tireless striving stretching its arms to reach its goal.
jeansen freedoms) wice cop it are ficector of toco throughts sona to avalas fis count o in.
Juishes ora our tastes and religions ire dron fear wuhere knowledge sties and sod ections
Ho foures of speech used in the poem.
people romal used in thie peons are unitedl. Let's have a look of cace inalindividualsand
0.4. Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
What does Tagore wants to convey in these line?
Ans. In these words, Tagore sees the future expansion of individual, social, and national
spaces, which semed fair considering that the poet was writing in 1901, when India was
suffering anderts.
*oppression of British empire. By then, the colonialrulers had been openly utilising
oppressive methods. humiliating the residents with hardship and exploitation, and continually
creating in them a sense of inferiority as is always the case in a colonial scenario. Indians
were vividly aware that their fundamental iberiesand rights were being severely and unfairly
limited as they began to establish their independence and restore their dignity. The mention
of dread thus implies a set of emotions that includes worry, despair, most importantly, a
sense of hopelessness. The phrase - Where knowledge is free; requires critical examination.
When Tagore dreams of making knowledge available to everybody, he iS actually reminding
us of a huge injustice that has been committed on the majority of humanity since the dawn of
civilization. Throughout history, knowledge has been regarded the purview of a privileged
few, and it has been used to not only rule and control others, but also to enslave and maim
hem. Tagore advises against selfishness and mutual discord in the third line. Divisiveness
and selfishness are both the result of narrow-mindedness and selfishness of heart. It can
onlv be eliminated byopening the human mind, which will occur when information is free.
Tagore fought against all types of barriers throughout his life, including regional, religious,
political, and intellectual, certain that only knowledge based in truth and wisdom can help us
liberate ourselves from prejudice and spiritual meanness.
Q. 5. Describe the style of poem.
Ans. It is an eleven-line poem with no discernible rhyme pattern. It is understandable
because the poem has been translated from its original Bangla language. It is written in a
very simplistic manner, therefore the uniqueness appears in this translated form. It's a fairly
basic poem with no hidden meanings. Typically, a poem includes numerous linguistic
decorations such as metaphor, exaggeration, irony, and others; but, in this poem, Where the
Mind is Without Fear, the author has chosen to make things simple and quickly conveying to
the readers, even younger readers. It is in a single series of simple lines that leads to the
poem's last line. Indeed, the entire poem is one phrase divided into pieces by a semicolon (
at the end of each line. The poet appears to be in a prayerful stance. As a result, there are
no such pauses to give readers the impression that the poet is pondering about what to write
next. The poem is claimed to have sprung totally from the poet's heart, without any filtration
of feelings or concepts. Because the poem is written in free verse, there is no predetermined
rhyme system. Apostrophe, Consonance, Metaphor, Personification, and Synecdoche are
the figures of speech employed in the poem. Alliteration is used in the line "Into the bleak
desert sand of dead habit" where the sound of the letter 'd' is repeated for poetic impast. The
poem's major concept is about the poet's hope of independence for his nation. He wishes
and prays for a general awakening of the people of the country, not only political freedom.
This poem is both a prayer to the Almighty and a call to the people to break free from the
shackles of colonial tyranny.
QUESTION ANSWERS
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1.
What did the poet wish for in the poem "Where the Mind is Without Fear"?
Ans. The poet wished his country to get freedom from
the hands of the British rulers. The external rulers were here to fulfil their own cause. So they
didn't care about the sufferings and poor governance his countrymen received. He was
concerned about the progress of the nation, and he knew that only a free country can be
progressive. So in short, it is the poet's patriotic nature that made him think and wish about
the freedom of the country.
Q.2.
Who is 'thee' in the poem? What is the poet's appeal to 'thee?
Ans.
Thee refers to the Almighty God. The poet appeals to the Almighty God that his country
should win such freedom in which the people live fearlessly and their head is held high with
pride. He also wants freedom from illogical and impractical things, superstitions, blind faith,
narrow. mindedness, caste, class, gender differences etc
Q.3. What qualities does the poet wish to inculcate
in his countrymen?
Ans. The poet wants his countrymen to be fearless, broadminded and confident to pursue
their excel lence. He also wants them to be laborious and put in endless efforts to achieve
the best in their work. He wants his countrymen to forget the differences made on caste,
creed, religion, gen-der, outdated practices etc. These are the qualities that the poet wants
to inculcate in his coun
trymen.
Q.4. What should people keep on widening?
Ans. People should keep on widening their thoughts and actions; they should not be narrow
in their mentality. People should have a broad mind and a broad heart. They should enrich
their thinking day by day. The poet wants that their minds should be. led forward to
ever-widening thoughts and actions by the Almighty.
9.5. What is the mood of the poem "Where the Mind is Without Fear"?
Ans. Tagore was really worried about the future of his country. And he went on to write this
poem in the form of a prayer to the Almighty to lift his nation to a heaven of freedom. So we
can say that the poem is in a reflective mood, where the poet has become thoughtful and
philosophical. The free verse pattern, the long single complex sentence, and the use of
metaphors all contribute to that serious tone of the poem.
0.6. Explain "Where knowledge is free".
51
Ans. In the phrase "Where knowledge is free", the poet means to say that in a truly
independent and free country knowledge should be open to all. Everyone should have free
access to knowledge. It should not be restricted to some portion of the society based on their
class, caste, gender or any other barrier. Also, children should not be forced to learn
something. They should be given the freedom to choose what they learn, when they learn
and how they learn. Real knowledge comes freely from Nature itself. We get that from the
world around us, from our experiences. This is Tagore's view of knowledge.
Q.7. What was the poet's purpose of writing the poem "Where the Mind is Without Fear"?
Ans. Tagore felt sorry that his fellow countrymen were not good enough to enjoy the freedom
even if they would get that. They were afraid of the British suppression. They did not have
the sense of self-dignity. Most were ignorant, lazy and supersti-tious. The class and caste
system kept the people away from each other. So, the poet wanted to express his feelings
and thoughts by praying to the Almighty (God) for the good of his countrymen.
He wanted people to come out from the darkness of all evils. His vision was to see his
country as a heaven of freedom' where people are knowl-edgeable, truthful, rational,
broadminded, fearless and hardworking.
9.8. Discuss the theme of the poem "Where the
Mind is Without Fear".
Ans. The poem is about true freedom. According to the poet, true freedom is an inner
possession of man and it can be realized only with God's help. I means moral and spiritual
upliftment of the people under divine guidance. Freedom should give India courage and
should induce her people to pursue the path of knowledge and truth. It should liber. ate her
from narrow prejudices and superstitions and make her people sincere in word and action
Men and women of India must make a supreme mental and spiritual effort to achieve this
true freedom with God's help and guidance. This true freedom is true patriotism and it is
something more than narrow nationalism.
Q.9. What message does Tagore give through the poem "Where the Mind is Without Fear"?
Ans. In the poem the poet's message is very clear. If all the people of a nation are not wise
enough to lead a happy and peaceful life free from all evils, they cannot enjoy their freedom
well. So to the poet, only political freedom is not so important unless you are fearless, self
dignified, knowledge-able, truthful, hard-working and broad-minded enough to enjoy it fully.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Sum up the main ideas in the poem "Where the
Mind is Without Fear".
Ans. "Where the Mind is Without Fear" is a pre-inde pendence poem in which the poet
sincerely urges to God to awaken his fellow beings to realize the essential need to live in a
free and united country.
He wants his countrymen to awake and enjoy the life of full dignity and honour. His
countrymen should not be superstitious or believers of blind faith rather they should lead the
life of enlightenment and education. He wishes the people to be honest, open-minded and
industrious. Then only they would stretch their 'arms towards perfec-tion' and the nation can
actually achieve the apex of success. They need to use their reasons over their blind faiths
and must be ready to accept new thoughts and ideas. He requests God to free his country
from manipulation, corruption, and sla-very. He yearns for an awakened country where there
would be freedom of the mind and expression of ideas.
The poem invokes the deep patriotic feelings. Our country is subjugated by castes, creed,
superstitious beliefs and biased ideas.. Tagore earnestly appeals to God that an independent
country would be where people's head is high' and 'knowledge is free'. His country should
not be divided and fragmented into pieces due to the narrow thoughts of its citizens. They
should express their words not from the mind but from 'the depth of truth' and heart.
He urges God to guide his countrymen for moral awakening to fight for their rights against
British inhumane rules; liberate them from the fear of oppression, repression, and
subjugation; and unshackle the chains of fear and direct them to the paths of progress and
prosperity. They should be confident not confined. There should not be injustice and
inequality in the country on the basis of caste, creed, and gender. Countrymen should be
unprejudiced and open-minded accepting the new challenges and changes. They should
lead their lives with decency and dignity. To conclude "Where the Mind is Without Fear a
poem in which Tagore reveals his personal quest for the Divine and is characterized by a
variety of original themes both in thought and expression.
Therefore, this poem is remarkable to a great extent which expresses the intensity of the
feeling o freedom. His poem is universal in its appeal and envisions the heaven of freedom'
and happier fu ture for mankind.

The world is too much with us

Glossary
Powers: Spiritual powers.
Sordid: Unpleasant and mean.
Sordid boon: Shameful gain;
tarnished pleasing. This phrase is an oxymoron, a form of paradox that juxtaposes
contradictory
words.
Late and soon: Our fixation on materialism has been a problem in the past and will continue
to be a problem in future.
Pagan: a person who is not a believer in any of the established religions of the world and
worships nature.
Suckled Outworn: Brought up in an outdated religion.
Lea: Meadow.
Forlorn: Lonely and unhappy.
Proteus: In Greek mythology, a sea god could change shape at will and possessed complete
knowledge of the past, present and future.
Triton: In Greek mythology, a sea god who had the body of a man and the tail of a fish. He
used a conch - the spiral shell of a mollusk - as a trumpet.
Summary
William Wordsworth is supposed to be a devotee of the nature. He is considered highest
priest of the nature. His poem 'The World Is Too Much With Us ' is written as a reaction to
the industrial revolution. It appeared in his collection of poem The Poems In Two Volumes in
1807. The poem is written in sonnet form. The form of poem is inspired from Italian sonnet
which later on came to known as Wordsworthian Sonnet.
In the poem, the poet laments and complains that man has been driven away from nature
and has no time to spend with it. The poem begins with the poet declaring that we are too
preoccupied with our daily routines. We are chasing money to earn and spend. Our jobs,
financial responsibilities, and materialistic needs dominate our lives. We are rushing from
one duty to the next, and we have forgotten about our emotional needs. Man has lost touch
with both nature and himself. William Wordsworth appears to be irritated by the growth of
industries and capitalism, which leads man to pursue only materialistic needs. Man is being
dragged away from nature and its splendour.. Materialism is a byproduct of capitalism, which
is a byproduct of the industrial revolution. Materialism is destroying human values and
emotions. According to the poet, man has become blind to nature's beautiful sights and
pleasures. The moonlight reflection on the ocean is still visible in the calm and composed
windless night. It resembles flowers with their petals folded up in the cold. All of these lovely
sights are still waiting for man to visit and refresh himself. But, in the glare of materialism,
man has become blind.
Nature's music falls on his deaf ears and goes unheard. It is not the fault of nature, but of
man, who is missing out on the endless pleasures of nature's company.
In the final lines, the poet wishes he had been raised in a culture where there is a tradition of
worshipping many Gods. According to the poet, man has become blind to nature's beautiful
sights and pleasures. He would rather be a Pagan, who loves nature and worships many
Gods such as the god of the sea, the god of the wind, and so on. Wordsworth would be able
to enjoy the sight of the sea-god Proteus rising from the sea as a Pagan. He would be able
to see the sea-god Triton blowin his twisted horn while standing in the meadows.
The loss of human values pains William Wordsworth deeply. Man has become selfish and
greedy, and in his pursuit of wealth, he has forgotten his moral obligations. Human beings
are becoming machines as a result of the Industrial Revolution and capitalism, and they
have lost thei sentiments and emotions.
PARAPHRASING
The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our
powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
EXPLANATION
51
According to the poet, people in the world are preoccupied with physical aspects of life.
vaterialism has been apretsemasawillmostlikely continue to be so in tie intaraspects of fire.
Merested in nature's sweet scuses and gentle touches. IVe don' tlove the scene when lople
aren't iner blossom to the moon because the gains of physical pleasures are a shameful
gain. Thee bares neonlight falling on the sea is unappealing to materialists. Winds make a
lot of noise during the day. but at night they sleep like flowers. Even this isn't appealing For
this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not. Great God! I'd rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So right I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.
EXPLANATION
Wordsworth laments the fate of modern man. He is unable to appreciate nature's splendour.
He doesn't have time to appreciate nature's music. It's all because of his desire for wealth.
Wordsworth laments the state of affairs. As a result, he would prefer to be a Pagan, who
loves nature and worships many Gods such as the god of the sea, the god of the wind, and
so on. Wordsworth would be able to enjoy the sight of the sea-god Proteus rising from the
sea as a Pagan. He would be able to see the sea-god Triton blowing his twisted horn while
standing in the meadows.
ANALYSIS
Lines 1-2
The world is too much with us: late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our
powers
Wordsworth begins The World is Too Much With Us with the phrase "the world," and the
reader quickly realises what that phrase means in this context. He is discussing the
materialistic world and its concerns such as money, possessions, and power. And he
concludes that it is "too much with us," implying that we are far too concerned with worldly
matters. He expands on this idea by claiming that by wasting our time, minds, and energy on
"getting and spending," we "waste our powers." In other words, people have more power
than they realise because they are so focused on getting and spending. They are consumed
by their desire for more money, and their time is accounted for by their actions of acquiring,
spending, and caring for their possessions. Money and worldly possessions, he believes, are
far more important to people than they should be
Lines 3-4
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
The speaker compares Nature to "The World" in these lines. He demonstrates that, while
people spend their time accumulating worldly possessions, the true beauty of the earth
cannot be*wred He roveals that very few things that people see in Nature are actually tiers.
Wo have fiven our hearts away," he laments. He believes that instead of enjoying nature,
which is not ours de Ein, we are filled with greed and pursue wealth and worldly possessions
rather than enjoying nature, The speaker then goes on to describe the natural wonders that
people miss out on because they are so preoccupied with money and possessions.
Lines 5-7
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
The speaker describes the beauty of nature that most people miss out on in these lines from
The World Is Too Much With Us. He talks about the sea, the wind, and the flowers.
Personification is used in his descriptions of these parts of nature to help the reader connect
with each one. The sea
"bares her bosom to the moon," implying a bond between the moon and the sea. "Howl" the
winds
This imbues the wind with human emotion.
The flowers are "sleeping." Giving these elements of nature human characteristics allows the
reader to feel a connection with nature. It paints a picture of nature and helps the reader
realise what he is missing out on by being preoccupied with worldly possessions.
Lines 8-10
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not. - Great God! I'd rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
These are the speaker's final exclamations that "we are out of tune" with nature because we
are so preoccupied with material wealth. The speaker swears an oath here that he would
rather be a poor pagan than be so distracted by worldly wealth that he is unable to enjoy
life's true beauties.
He prays to God and even declares that he would rather be a pagan than be disconnected
from nature.
Lines 11-14
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.
In the concluding lines the Poet illustrate how it is better to be pagan instead of getting
alienated from nature.A pagan is a person who holds the religious belief other than those of
the main religion.
The poet says that if he were a pagan, he could see the presence of gods and goddesses in
Nature.
He could see sea gods like Proteus rise up from the sea and hear Triton, another sea god,
blow his twisted horn.
Triton was a pagan god who was said to be capable of calming the sea. This implies that the
speaker takes a long enough look out at the sea, enjoying nature, to see Triton and Proteus.
After first appealing to God and swearing that he would rather be a pagan than be alienated
from nature, the speaker refers to these two pagan gods.
Question & Answer
& SHORT ANSWER TYPE
O. 1. In what way is the world too much with us?
Ans. We are over busy in our daily routines and worldly affairs. The poet says that the men
around him aren't finding the pleasure in the beauties of nature. They are after money and
their materialistic needs. They are looking their happiness in earning money and spending it
on worldly goods. The real pleasure is embodied in the lap of nature but they are ignorant to
the beaviesof
O. 2. What are the powers that man is wasting?
Ans. The poet holds the opinion that we waste our mental and physical energy making and
spending money. Materialism has become our priority in the modern age. We are losing
connection with mother nature which is actually a degradation of man.
O. 3. What is the 'sordid boon'?
Ans. The phrase sordid boon' is an example of the figure of speech called oxymoron. It is a
form of paradox that places two contradictory words side by side. In the context of the poem,
'sordid boon' means a shameful gain. We have compromised with our values and morality.
We lost our inner powers and love of nature in exchange for materialistic needs.
O. 4. What does the poet mean when he says 'We are out of tune?
Ans. We are all so preoccupied with earning and spending money that we fail to appreciate
nature's many splendours. Beautiful things include flowing streams, mountains, lakes, birds,
and flowers, among other things. Money's cruel gifts have crushed our feelings and
emotions. We don't listen to music made by the wind. These winds occasionally cease to
blow and become silent. They convey a message of peace and tranquillity to us. But we are
completely lost in money making. We are all so preoccupied with earning and spending
money that we have lost sight of the various beauties of nature. Beautiful things include
flowing streams, mountains, lakes, birds, and flowers, among other things. The typical
monetary gifts have.
Q. 5. Why does Wordsworth wish to remain a pagan?
Ans. A pagan is a person who holds the religious belief other than those of the main religion.
The poet says that if he were a pagan, he could see the presence of gods and goddesses in
Nature.
He could see sea gods like Proteus rise up from the sea and hear Triton, another sea god,
blow his twisted horn.
Q. 6. «
...... Are up - gathered now like sleeping flowers"? What is the comparison
made here ?
Ans. The sea waves are taking a break. As a result, they are calm and quiet. They appear
peaceful as they rest after blowing hard for a long time, similar to flowers sleeping. The
comparison emphasises the beautiful sights and scenes that can be found in abundance in
the Kingdom of the World of Nature. People today are so preoccupied with amassing and
spending wealth that they have lost touch with the natural world.
Q. 7. "It moves us not". What doesn't move the poet anymore?
Ans. People in the modern world are concerned with money. They yearn for wealth. Their
main goal is to have a lot of material things. They are uninterested in Nature and its
splendour. As a result, its beauty has no effect on them. They don't have much time to
appreciate it. He feels sorry for modern man for being moved by the beauty of the sea
bathed in moonlight or the music produced by the wind.
Q. 8. "A pagan suckled in a creed outward"? Explain.
Ans. William Wordsworth, a poet, prefers to be in tune or harmony with nature. He does not
want to follow a religion like Christianity if it takes him away from nature. He wants to be a
Pagan so he can see mythological gods like Proteus, who can take many forms, and Triton,
another sea
god.
Q. 9. "Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn". What are the sights that make the
poet happy?
Ans. Wordsworth is a devotee of nature and is regarded as priest of mother nature. The
sight of flowing streams, mountains, lakes, birds, and flowers enchants him. We are not
moved by the beauty of the sea in the moonlight. We don't listen to the music created by the
wind. The silent winds occasionally send him a message of peace and tranquillity. But we're
completely lost when it comes to making and spending money. However, as a pagan, he
would see sea gods such as Proteus and Triton. This would bring him into contact with
nature. As a result, he would feel less lonely.
& LONG ANSWER TYPE
0. 1. Wordsworth has been described as a nature poet. Would you agree that this is an apt
description?
Ans. The poet adores nature in his sonnet "The World is Too Much With Us," which he calls
a sublime force, a healer and preacher. If one has faith in nature and her influences, one's
suffocated self begins to feel warmth and gain energy. The poet has always emphasised
returning to nature in his nature poems, which are usually meditative. The poet sought
solace and relief from the hollowness of the materialistic world in nature. Wordsworth's love
for quiet beauty and natural influences is evident in the sonnet. This sonnet contains two
beautiful images, one of a sea bathing in moonlight and the other of winds sleeping like
flowers at night. He was affected and influenced by the beauty of nature. This sonnet
contains two beautiful images, one of a sea bathing in moonlight and the other of winds
sleeping like flowers at night. The nature deities of Greece and Rome influenced and
affected him. He was adamantly opposed to materialism, which irritated him greatly.
O. 2. "The World is Too Much With Us", late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste
our powers". Do you agree with the poet when he says, "The World is too much with us" ?
Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. In this sonnet the poet talks about the selfishness and greed of man which led him to
disapprove the ideal value system. Sensual pleasure and materialism has become his
priority. Man has compromised with value and sold himself for the sake of sensual pleasure.
He has distanced himself from nature. He is obsessed with materialistic world so much that
he is denying rest in the lap of nature. The secular world has corrupted its attitude. Nature
calls man, but man is denying the call Man is bound in the shackles of materialism and
physical pleasure. We expend our energy on physical pleasures and lose all sense of
appreciation and reverence for nature. The World is indeed too much with us. We moderns
are no better than the people of the nineteenth century. We have become materialistic in our
outlook. Our only concern is money. We've focused our efforts on acquiring material
possessions. We are blindly accumulating wealth and spending it on materia.
Bains. Asa resul, we've los our imagination, love of nature, and spir and spending, We are
far too прокоро ні присів ть посоломот а тол п насть бекту метов омо в авствтонино
patialin has separated gusted by the towing nattral beaus. We've grovn apathetio tomard
mate Wordsworth is disgusted by the growing indifference to God and nature. As a resurvard
and focus on the beautiful aspects of nature.
not
-gan sea
o.. Even though this sonnet has been written wore than two centuries ago, it has a prat
relevance today and we can identify with what Wordsworth has to say: Just.
Ans. In the poem, the poet laments and complains that man has been driven away from
nature
that and has no time to spend with it. The poem begins with the poet declaring that we are
too preoccupied with our daily routines. We are chasing money to earn and spend. Our jobs,
financial responsibilities,
sight and materialistic needs dominate our lives. We are rushing from one duty to the next,
and we have
y the
forgotten about our emotional needs. Man has lost touch with both nature and himself.
William
silent
Wordsworth appears to be irritated by the growth of industries and capitalism, which leads
man to
henit
pursue only materialistic needs. Man is being dragged away from nature and its splendour.
"The
oteus
World is too much with us," a popular Wordsworthian sonnet, refers to man's changed
manners and
ly.
attitude toward nature, which can no longer provide them with delight or joy. Wordsworth
adored nature and referred to it as the great healer and preacher. The modern man appears
to be so engrossed in materialism that the finer and more beautiful things of nature hold no
appeal for him.
The sonnet was written over two centuries ago, but it is still relevant today. Humanity is
possessed
this is by aspects of physical and material culture. A man may find pleasure in these physical
developments, but suffocation exists, and man is greatly overpowered by strains. This
materialistic physical civilization
e calls has obsessed man, who has become self-centered, selfish, and deaf to nature's
beauty. From a ocated practical standpoint, modern man is not content. The finer and nobler
things in life have been eluding ture in him. Man has sold his soul for money.
QUESTION ANSWERS
SHORT / MEDIUM ANSWER IYPE QUESTIONS
0.1. Give two examples of nature imagery in the poem.
Ans. Two examples of nature imagery in the poem are.
(i) This sea that bares her bosom to the moon.
The sea exposes her bosom to the moon. The surface of the Sea is visualized as a
beloved's breasts, and the moon is visualized as a lover (in) «The winds that will be howling
at all hours, And are up - gathered now like sleeping flowers", Just as flowers fold their
petals and go to sleep at night in the same way strong winds blow all day long. They are
tired now. They have become calm and quiet like sleeping flowers.
0.2. What does the poet mean by a 'sordid boon'?
Ans. The phrase 'Sordid boon' is an example of the
figure of speech called oxymoron. It is a form of paradox that places two contradictory words
side by side. In the context of the poem "The World is Too Much with Us" means a shameful
gain. We have lost our inner power and love of Nature in exchange for money and material
possession. Our only concern is to amass wealth and material comforts. Wordworth calls
money and material possessions we run after a shameful or a sordid blessing because for it
we have become indifferent to Nature. We hardly find time to look around and enjoy the
beauties and charms of Nature.
What kind of glimpses would the poet like to have?
Ans. The poet would like to have the glimpse of the Pagan gods Proteus (the Greek god of
the sea) rising from the sea and hear Triton (another sea god in the ancient Greece) blowing
his wreathed horn. He laments the modern man's fate. Man does not have time to enjoy the
beauties of Na-ture. The more he earns and spends money because of his involvement in
material pursuits, the more separated he gets from Nature.
Q.4. Why does the poet want to be pagan?
Ans. The poet wants to be a pagan because as a pagan, he'd be able to enjoy the sight of
the Sea God Proteus rising from the sea. He would also be able to see the sea - god Triton
blowing his twisted horn. He doesn't mind at all being a non Christian (pagan) enjoying such
wonderful sights and scenes that enrich the vast kingdom of Nature.
Q.5. In what way is the world too much with us?
What are the powers that we are wasting?
Ans. The poet, William Wordsworth, says that the people of the world are so much
engrossed in materialistic activities that they hardly find time to look around and enjoy the
beauties and charms of Nature. We are too obsessed with money and material objects to
enjoy the sights and sounds of Nature at her best.
People today are deeply pre-occupied with materialistic activities. Their only concern is to
amass wealth and possess material comforts. As a result of their lust for material gains, they
are losing their powers of divinity. They are losing their contact with the natural world.
They have lost their spiritual and moral powers in exchange fo money and material
possessions.
9.6. "It moves us not." What doesn't move the post
anymore?
Ans. People in the world of modern times are deeply pre- occupied with materialistic
activities. Their only concern is to amass wealth and possess material comforts. They have
become money. minded. They feel restless for wealth. Their main motto is to possess
material things in plenty.
Their finer sensibilities are lost. They are indif. ferent to Nature; they never turn their eyes to
the glorious sight of the sea in the light of the silvery moon. Natural sights and sounds mean
nothing to the modern people who find nothing better than the worship of the god of wealth.
Beauty in nature doesn't move the people in the world of modern times. They've hardly any
time to appreciate beauties of the world of Nature.
Q.7.
"A pagan suckled in a creed outworn." Explain.
Ans. Wordsworth is fed up with the modern world and its love of money and wealth. He
condemns modern man's hankering after material gains with no time left for enjoying the
beauties of Nature. He, therefore, wishes to give up Christianity and follow the pagan creed.
He prefers to be a pagan, who worships an outdated religion so that when he looks at the
ocean, as he is doing now he might feel less sad and lonely. Sights of Nature make him
happy. If he were a pagan, he would see wild mythological gods like Proteus and Tri-ton.
Proteus can take many shapes while Triton looks like mer - man. Such sights too would
make him less sad. The poet would rather give up his Christian faith than his faith in Nature.

Q.8. Wordeworthis "The World is too Much With Ugh is a beautiful sonnet (a poem of 14
lines). Give its rhyme - scheme and the message contained in it.
Ans. This is one of the many excellent sonnets Wordsworth wrote in the early 1800s. The
present sonnet takes the form of a Petrarchan sonnet First 8 lines form the octave and the
final 6 lines form sestet. The rhyme scheme of octave is ABBAABBA and sestet follows the
rhyme scheme CDCDCD. This relatively simple poem states that modern age has lost its
connection to nature and everything meaningful. Human beings are too occupied with the
material and have lost touch with the spiritual and with nature. He wishes that he were a
pagan raised according to a different vision of the world so that standing on this pleasant
sea, he might see images of ancient gods rising from the waves, a sight that would cheer
him greatly. Proteus rising from the sea and Triton blowing his wreathed horn. On the whole,
this sonnet offers an angry summation of the familiar Wordsworthian theme of communion
with nature, and states precisely how far the early 19th century was from living out the
Wordsworthian ideal.
Physical pleasures and we are deprived of all sense of appreciation and worship for nature.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Write a note on the central idea of the poem.
Ans. "The World Is Too Much With Us" is a highly reflective poem. It is a sonnet, a poem of
14 lines with a definite rhyme scheme. It shows Wordsworth's love of Nature and higher
value of life. Unfortunately, modern man is too lost in
caring money and spending it on luxuries to be care to appreciate Nature and her powers.
He spends so much of time in hankering after mate rial things and in worshipping Mammon,
the god of wealth that he finds no time for turning to Nature and thinking of refining his
sensibilities.
His lust for wealth has made him totally indiffer. ent to the sights and sound of Nature that
are so inspiring as well as beneficial to a life of quiet and calm, a life free from stress and
strain. The ancient Greeks and Romans (- Pagans) were hap-pier, though less sophisticated,
because they regarded the various objects of Nature as divine creations. They could enjoy
the sights like the sight of the sea-god Proteus rising in the sea-waves and the sounds like
the blowing of his twisted horn by another sea-god, Triton.
Q.2. Write a note on Wordsworth's attitude towards
nature.
Ans. Wordsworth has rightly been described as a nature poet. His love for nature is deep
and intense.
To him, nature is the best companion of man. In the company of the natural sights, he feels
real peace and harmony. In the sonnet "The World Is Too Much With Us", Wordsworth's
intense love of nature is revealed. Here he laments the evils of materialism. Growing greed
for money and blind running after material possessions have made people too busy to find
time to be in tune with nature.
Wordsworth condemns the modern materialistic civilization and admires the primitive
religion. He prefers to be a pagan so that he can be happy by being in harmony with nature,
and also by worshipping nature. People are so lost in money making that they hardly find
time to see Nature rich in real beauty. They have sold their souls. In the process, they've lost
their finer sensibilities, love of Nature, and powers of divinity as well. They are hardly
concerned with Nature and her charms.
Wordsworth rightly says: "Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; /Little we see in
Nature that is ours." Wordsworth decides to be a pagan enjoying and worshipping nature
and her beau-
ties.
Wordsworth is, indeed, a lover of nature. He loves sights like the moon beams falling on the
sea surface and feels delighted. He feels highly excited at the sight of the sea waves, calm
and quiet at night, looking like the beautiful flowers fallen asleep. He wonders why people
have given their hearts away, in pursuit of material posses-sions, from Nature. He calls their
preference a
'sordid boon'. While standing on the pleasant sea, he would love to have the sights of the
pagan gods like Proteus and Triton. To this end, he is ready to give up Christianity. This
shows beyond doubt his deep love for the world of nature that makes him less forlorn.
Q.3. Comment on the title of the poem.
Ans. The title of the poem "The World is Too Much With Us" is quite apt and appropriate. It is
suggestive and suitable too. This sonnet by William Wordsworth is philosophical piece. Its
focus is on modern man who is excessively lost in the pursuit of wealth. He is anxious only
about earning and spending money. He hardly finds any time to turn to Nature. His too much
interest in material pursuits has turned him completely indifferent to the charms and beauties
of Nature. Thus, the poet suggests that modern people run after material possessions
instead of appreciating Nature and y about such trends in the modern world. happy hat
instead of being a Christian lost teeterial things, he would prefer to be a Pagan.
Pagan, he would be free to worship Nature and eniov glimpses of sea-god Proteus within the
ri ing sea-waves and hear the music of the sea-god Ins on blowing his twisted horn. He
would be thrilled by the music of the winds blowing very loudly before getting tired and falling
asleep like the flowers at night. The contrast between the world of materialism and
accompanying greed and the quiet and calm world of Nature forms the main idea of the
poem. It is high time we gave up material pursuits and turned to Nature. This is
Wordsworth's message, and its relevance to us is undeniable. We must start thinking of the
need for refining our sensibilities.
The title has a direct bearing on the main theme of the poem. Hence the title "The World is
Too Much With Us" is the most suitable title.
Q.4.
"The world is too much with us; later and soon, I Getting and spending, we lay waste our
pow-ers." Do you agree with the poet when he says,
"The World is too much with us?" Give reasons for your answer."
Ans. The world is, indeed, too much with us. We of the world of modern times are in no way
better than the people of the 19th century. We have become materialistic in our outlook. Our
only concern is money. We've focussed our energies on running after material things. We
are blindly after accumulating wealth and spending it on material gains.
As a result, we've lost our imagination, love of nature, and spiritual powers. We are too
deeply concerned with materialism to think of nature.
We've lost all touch with the world of nature. Our attachment to materialism has alienated us
from the world rich in natural charms. We've become apathetic to Nature.
People today are ever ready to attend to worldly calls. They are ever willing to sacrifice their
spiritual heritage at the altar of materialism. We are hankering after wealth in season and out
of sea-son. It has become a consuming passion with us.
As a result of our obsession with materialistic pursuits, we have forgotten God and nature.
We have hardly any time for praying and meditating.
We have stopped to see anything worthwhile in offering our prayers to God. Worship of
Nature and admiration of her beauties are things of the world of Paganism.
Wordsworth is disgusted with the growing indifference to God and Nature. He, therefore,
prefers to be a pagan enjoying Nature. He urges the people to say good-bye to the
materialistic tendencies and pay heed to the beautiful aspects of Nature.
Q.5. Even though this poem has been written more than a century ago, it has a great
relevance today and we can identify with what Wordsworth has to say. Justify.
Ans. Wordsworth's most popular sonnet titled "The World Is Too Much With Us" was written
in the 19th century, more than a century ago. But still it has a great relevance to the world of
today. We identify with what Wordsworth says about the contemporary society of his times. It
is a strong condemnation of materialism, and a plea for return to nature.Went century
people. Like them we run are laterial pursuits. We have made money mal, the main motto of
our liveseason hanker an wealth in season and out of season, All our tin and energies are
focussed on growing richer y hook or by crook. For material prosperity and success in
worldly pursuits we continue to sac lice our finer sensibilities. We have no time to enjoy
human relationships. Fellow feelings and concern for the underprivileged are missing. We
are mainly concerned with ourselves.
As a result of our worship of wealth and materia possessions, we have become completely
insensi. tive to the beauties of nature. We use our time and energy in running after
possessions to such an alarming extent that we don't even think of natural objects, fellow
feelings and finer sensibili-ties. It is as if there were nothing worthy of appreciation in Nature.
Our sensibilities and imaginative as well as spiritual powers have got blunted as a result of
our excessive greed for money and worldly possessions. "Little we see in Nature that is
ours." This is what people of Wordsworth's times were heard to say, and this is what we think
of Nature in the present times.
To sum up, people today are in no way different from those of the 19th century as they have
given their hearts away in exchange for material pos-sessions. It is so disgusting to be
apathetic and indifferent to nature that almost calls us to enjoy its beauties and charms. We
have stopped to be in harmony with nature. The sooner we relearn the importance of nature,
the better for us. The relevance of the poem to our times is really great.0.6.
«The World Is Too Much With Us" is a strong expression of Wordsworth's disillusionment. Do
Ans.
you agree? Give reasons to support your answer.
«The World Is Too Much With Us" is Wordsworth's strong criticism of modern people's
attitude towards Nature and finer sensibilities. Today, people love money so much that they
spend much of their time in earning and spending it. The industrialised society has made him
run after wealth and other material possessions. He thinks of nothing but money and other
material matters.
It appears as if he has nothing better to do than just worshipping Mammon, the god of
Wealth. He has become indifferent to Beauties of Nature'.
Finer values of life seem to have lost all their significance for him. Kinship with Nature is now
a thing of the past. Wordsworth is deeply sad to note how modern man has virtually sold his
soul for money. The music of the winds and the glorious sights of the sea-gods do not attract
him any longer. There was a time when the beautiful sights like the sight of the sea bathed in
the moon light were enjoyed by all. Flowers, streams, seas and brooks, etc., had a greatly
inspiring impact. But now it is only money and luxuries of life that we care for. It amounts to a
great spiritual loss, a great moral decline as well. Wordsworth's disappointment or
disillusionment with the ways and preferences of modern man is quite obvious. It is so
intense that he would not mind giving up Christianity and becoming a Pagan. This would
help him to communicate with Nature. Wordsworth's message is straight and clear. Modern
people should give up excessive love of material things to be able to love Nature and enrich
themselves morally as well as spiritually.

Mending walls

Glossary
57
Abode-house
Airy-light or delicate
Alter-change
Aster-a flower that blooms in the autumn
Beholden-obligated
Bracken-a large fern
Clasp-a tight grip
Coat-to influence or manipulate with gentle persuasion
Consign-entrust
Coasteronetup ofpop)b agoeing to take par in an unlawful or inmonia.
Copse-a group of small trees
Daft-foolish or crazy
Dalliance-a trifling or pointless action
Dappled-spotted or speckled
Daunting-intimidating
Din-a series of loud noises
Distraught-emotionally agitated or upset
Diverged-extending in different directions
Emulous-ambitious
Enamel-a smooth or glossy substance
Ether-a colorless liquid that serves as an anesthetic
Fav-fairy
Feeble-weak
Fixity-stability or permanence
Foot-A poetic term for a small group of syllables
Harbour-to shelter or hide
Idle-inactive
Inconsolable-unable to be comforted
Kin-family members
Languor-lack of energy
Linger-to delay or dawdle
Loftiness-elevated in height and dignity
Mar-to damage or deface
Obscure-unclear or unnoticeable
Orchis-orchid
Perish-die
Pique-attract or excite
Precipitate-to cause in a violent or sudden manner
Queer-odd
Ravel-entangle
Reckless-irresponsible
Rife-common
Rueful-regretful
Serthe a farm tool used for mowing
Shroud-burial wrapping
Sidelong-sideways
Snarl-growl
Spade-a tool used for digging Staid-restrained or calm
Subdue-to bring under control
Suffice-satisfy, especially a need Swale-a low-lying stretch of land
Taciturn-silent
Taut-drawn tightly
Undergrowth-low-lying trees or shrubbery
Verily-in reality
Wages-money that is paid in exchange for daily or weekly labor
Wend-to go one's way
Whippoorwill-a small North American bird with white, gray, or black plumage
Whither-an archaic term meaning "where"
Wist-an archaic term meaning "know" witch hazel-a small tree with flexible branches
wither-to shrivel up zephyr-a light Spring breeze
Summary
The poem "Mending Wall" is written by American poet Robert Frost. It was published as the
opening poem in Frost's second collection of poetry, North of Boston, in 1914. The poem
derives its inspiration from the rhythms and rituals of life in rural New England, where Frost
resided at that time. The poem explains how the speaker and a neighbour meet every spring
to repair a stone wall between their homes. This ceremony raises several critical
considerations throughout the poem, as the speaker analyses the purpose of human borders
and the worth of human labour. There are certain forces that hate walls. It forces the frozen
ground beneath a wall to expand, causing the highest stones of the wall to fall off in the heat
of the sun. This causes cracks in the wall large enough for two people to pass through side
by side. Then there are the hunters who break down the wall, which is something altogether
else. I regularly had to come and replace the locations where hunters had left not a single
stone in place while trying to flush out the rabbits that hide in the wall to quiet their howling
dogs. Nobody has seen or heard how these wall gaps are formed. We only discover them in
the spring when it is time to fix the wall. We only find them when it's time to repair the wall in
the spring. I approach my next-door neighbour, who lives on the other side of a hill, and we
decide to walk along the wall, filling in the gaps as we go. He walks on one side of the wall
while I walk on the other, and we exclusively deal with the stones that have fallen from the
wall on our side. Some resemble bread slices, while others are spherical like balls, so we
hope they stay put, balanced on top of the wall, saying, "Don't move till we're gone!" Our
fingertips chafe as we pick up the stones. It's just another outside activity, with each of us on
our own sides of the fence. There is no need for a fence. There are just pine trees on my
neighbor's side of the boundary wall, and an apple orchard on mine. I assure him that my
apple trees will not cross the fence and eat his pine cones. But all he adds is, "Good fences
are essential to have good neighbours." Because it's spring and I'm feeling nasty, I'm
considering asking my neighbour, "Why are these necessary?" Isn't that only true when
you're trying to keep your neighbor's cows out of your fields? This region is devoid of cows. If
I were to build a wall. I'd want to know what was going in and what was going out. If were to
build a wall. I'd want to know what I was keeping in and out, as well as who would be
offended. There is a power that despises walls and seeks to pull them down." I might
propose that the wall breaches are caused by Elves, but it's not really Elves, and I want my
neighbour to figure it out on his own. I saw him, like an ancient warrior, picking up stones
and tightly gripping them by the top with each hand. He travels in absolute blackness, not
only the gloom of the woods or the trees above. He does not want to think beyond his
predetermined views about the world, and he loves having so eloquently expressed these
notions. So he repeats himself: "Good fences are required to have good neighbours."
EXPLANATION
Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun, And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
In these lines, the poet opines that there may be something nearby that repeatedly breaks
down the wall. Perhaps the groundwater has frozen, causing the consequent ice to expand
and develo cracks in the wall, causing the boulders at the top to slide down. The crack
eventually widens to the point where two persons may walk in the same direction through it
side by side.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone, But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them
there.
In these words, the poet opposes the concept that hunters broke down the wall. He has
repair® the stones after hunters changed them to allow rabbits to emerge out of their holes
for their hound something unseen and unheard.
to catch. The breaches that have suddenly emerged on the wall, however, have been
caused
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
The poet describes the wal as being between to areas separated by a hill in these lines. I
gap of the wallis reported to the farmer on the other side of the hill. A day is set for them to m
and stroll along the wall, each on his side inspecting the damage.To each the boulders that
have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls we have to use a spell to make them
balance: shay where you are until our backs are turned!'
in these lines, the poet writes that he and his neighbour each take it upon themselves to
replace he rocks that have fallen on his side of the slope. However, this is challenging since
the stones are not always the same size or form. Some are oblong, some are round, and
only magio can put them
in place.
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh. just another kind of out-door game, One on aside. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
In these lines, the poet claims that hauling up the big boulders has made his and his
neighbor's hands chafed. It's as if they're engaged in a game where each team only has one
opponent. Because the two farmers produce different types of plants, the wall appears to be
a toy rather than a necessity.
The poet cultivates apples, while his neighbour cultivates pine trees.
Mv apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'.
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder If I could put a notion in his head:
The poet writes in these words that he has attempted to convince his neighbour that his
apple trees would never encroach on his pines, but the neighbour remains sceptical. His
reasoning for erecting the wall is that all decent neighbours are separated by high fences.
However, in the spring, the poet becomes mischievous and attempts to persuade his
neighbour to agree with him in a different way.
'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows?
But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was
like to give offense.'
The poet asks his neighbour in these lines why nice fences make good neighbours. Fences
frequently produce plants, which attracts cows. However, there are no cows where the wall
dividing heir fields has collapsed. In reality, the poet wants to understand exactly what he is
keeping out and what he is guarding by erecting the wall, and he may not like the concept of
it being erected.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down.' I could say Elves' to him, But it's not elves exacily, and I'd rather He said
it for himself. I see him there Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top In each hand, like an
old-stone savage armed.
In these words, the poet speculates once more that the wall may have been demolished by
elves But he refuses to tell his serious neighbour, believing that the guy would come to the
same conclusion on his own. As the neighbour works on constructing the wall, the poet
imagines him as an uncouth and uncivilised stone age dweller whose weapons are the very
stones that make up the wall.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me - Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying, And he likes having thought of it so well He says
again, "Good fences make good neighbors."
In these lines, the poet implies that his neighbour has a connection to darkness, but not
merely the darkness generated by the shade of trees in the forest. The neighbour cannot
argue with his father when he says that good fences contribute towards neighbourly peace.
Critical Appreciation
As the title suggests "Mending Wall" is a poem on the necessity of borders. The labour it
takes to keep them up and how they impact human interactions. The speaker and the
speaker's neighbour spend the most of the poem repairing the wall that separates their
farms. They discuss the role of the wall and how it impacts their relationship as they go. The
speaker says that the wall is literally unnecessary. Borders isolate individuals, causing harm
to potentially pleasant relationships. However, the neighbour claims that barriers really
promote relationships by allowing individuals to treat each other honestly and avoid
confrontation. The poem does not take sides in the discussion, leaving readers to determine
for themselves which image of human society is most persuasive. Furthermore, the speaker
feels that barriers actually harm people's relationships. This is due to the fact that walls
offend people by insulting them by implying mistrust and isolation. As a result, the speaker
questions the neighbour why they need to keep fixing the wall at all. The neighbour responds
simply and repeatedly: "Good fences make good neighbours." " He feels that a good
neighbour creates clear boundaries and, as a result, avoids conflicts from occurring between
neighbours. The prospect of future disputes seemed to torment the neighbour. In fact, he
appears to consider such confrontations as an unavoidable part of life and as such, it is
critical to take precautions to avoid them.
According to the speaker, the task of "Mending Wall" has become a ritual for them. Ever
year, the speaker and his neighbour go around the wall together, repairing the portions
destroyed by frost or hunters the previous year. It's exhausting labour; at the end, their
hands are chapped. The difficulties of the task, as well as the necessity to repair it every
year, prompts the speaker to wonder why- and whether-- it is essential to keep rebuilding the
wall. More broadly, the act of mending the wall represents human work. Though the speaker
and the neighbour continue to rebuild the wall, the poem questions the worth of effort for the
sake of labor- and wonders if an alternative relationship to work is possible. The behaviour is
symbolic of a well-known fable, the Sisyphus Myth. Sisyphus, the king of Corinth, was
sentenced to spend forever dragging a rock up a hill as punishment for his cunning and
deception. When he got to the top of the hill, the boulder would roll back down and he'd have
to start over. The task that the speaker and his neighbour conduct in
*Mending Wall' has a Sisyphean quality to it: each year, they rebuild the same wall--a wall
that ernesno mathigile wali complete by love ed our is edfous and useless the spraka
propose. is seroease fixing the or the fence that treveve, the neighbour demands that icy
contruess sat, glimme lie hier or a connon purposeates "good no ehbours: but the too reine
to do so., working together for a common purpose.
The poem presents an unstated question about the possibilities of change as the speaker of
Mending Wall" and the neighbour argue the political and practical purpose of ihe warater of
building. The speaker claims that the neighbor's idea that fences are required to keep people
in lock is out of date, comparing him to a *old-stone barbarian." Despite of his old fashioned
deas, cheneighbour remains powerful in the present, voicing a firmly held notion that society
mustlias. individuals in tiny ways to keep them from lashing out in huge ways. Thus, the
poem invites readers in consider whether the argument between the speaker and his
neighbour can ever be rectified, more simply, if society itself can change? The author uses
daily used, plain English, but the speaker inclearly an educated, orator. The neighbour, on
the other hand, is rigid and traditional. In the poem, he simply says one thing, and then he
repeats it again. His speech is straightforward and simple.
This aspect of the neighbor's personality is highlighted by the speaker. His refusal to think
extensively or profoundly, or to question his own opinions is pointed out. Instead of
reasoning things out for himself the neighbour relies on his father's conventional knowledge.
As a result, the speaker perceives the neighbour to be like an ancient stone savage armed
STRUCTURE OF THE POEM
The poem is 45 lines long and is not broken into stanzas. The poem "Mending Wall" is
written in blank verse, or unrhymed iambic pentameter, with no stanza breaks. The poem is
rich in literary devices. The most prominent of these is the metaphor of the wall, which
represents the barrier that separates individuals. Another metaphor is the loaves' and 'balls
of the stones. A nice simile is the neighbour being compared to an ancient stone barbarian.
This comparison gets much more powerful when he is depicted as travelling in the dark.
Personification occurs when the poet speaks of a hidden power that opposes the existence
of the wall. The wall, stones, spring, darkness, and so on are all symbols. The wall, stones,
spring, darkness, and so on are all symbols. A wall represents a barrier, whereas boulders
are obstacles themselves. Spring is a season that evokes pleasant emotions The spring
repairing season is well named. Ignorance is represented as darkness. These symbols have
a poetic impact.
The sentence "To each the rocks that have fallen to each" has parallelism, a figure of speech
with identical word order and structure in their grammar.
Pun is another literary technique utilised. The word 'offence sounds like a fence in the line
"And to whom I was prone to give offence."
The juxtaposition of opposites is a paradox. "Something there is that doesn't love a wall and
'Good fences make good neighbours are paradoxes. The sentences 'Something there is that
doesn't love a wall' and 'Good fences make good neighbours' are full of fantastic paradoxes.
There is an allusion in the form of a mention to 'elves,' the little magical beings from folklore
and myth.
All of these literary methods enrich and beautify the poetry. There is no specific pattern in
terms of rhyming system.
Finally, the poem addresses an important issue and sends a compelling message. The
poem's artistic worth is enhanced by its humour and conversational tone. The extensive use
of poetic elements serves to highlight the theme and message. As a result, 'Mending Wall
becomes a cry to
peace and friendship.Question & Answer
& SHORT ANSWER TYPE
O. 1. Why does the poet meet his neighbour beyond the hill at spring?
Ans. The poet approaches his neighbour beyond the hill in the spring so that they might fix
the cracks developed in the wall someday by picking up broken stones and re-fixing them.
Q. 2. How does the poet and his neighbour mend the gaps in the wall?
Ans. According to the poet, the task of "Mending Wall" has become a ritual for them. Every
year, the speaker and his neighbour go around the wall together, repairing the portions
destroyed by frost or hunters the previous year. The poet and his neighbour patch the holes
in the wall by travelling along either side of it, picking up fallen stones and re-positioning
them on the wall.
Q. 3. Why does the poet argue that there is no need of a wall in between his estate and that
of his neighbour?
Ans. According to the speaker, the wall is literally unnecessary. Borders isolate people.
jeopardising potentially pleasant relations. The neighbour, on the other hand, thinks that
boundaries really strengthen relationships by allowing people to treat each other honestly
and avoid confrontation.
The poet claims that there is no need for a wall between his land and that of his neighbour
because his region is densely forested and the poet's is densely forested. The poet's apple
trees will never visit his location to consume the pine cones.
O. 4. How does the neighbour justify the need for walls or fences?
Ans. The neighbour defends the necessity for barriers by claiming that nice fences create
good neighbours. The next-door neighbour is rigid and conservative. He merely expresses
one thing throughout the poem, and then repeats it. He is refusal to think deeply or to
examine his own beliefs.
The neighbour relies on his father's conventional wisdom rather than puzzling things out for
himself.
Q. 5. Why does the poet consider the spring season mischievous?
Ans. The poet thinks the spring season to be naughty since it is during this season that
cracks in the walls are discovered. He believes that the Spring Season causes the frozen
earth beneath the wall to expand. Because of this expansion, the wall breaks, causing the
higher stones to fall to the sides.
Q. 6. What are the contrasting views presented in the poem?
Ans. The poet has one point of view, while his neighbour has another. The poet believes that
a fence or wall between neighbours is unnecessary, especially when the author's section has
apple trees and the neighbour's area has pine trees. There is no way the apple trees will
invade the neighbour's property and eat the pine cones. However, the neighbour believes
that good fences make good neighbours.
& LONG ANSWER TYPE
10. 1. Bring forth the symbolic significance of the "wall" in the poem "Mending Wall." Ans.
The poem "Mending Wall" is rich in utilisation of literary devices. Numerous poetic devices
have been used in the poem but the most prominent of these is the metaphor of the wall,
which represents the barrier that separates individuals. The wall in the poem "Mending Wall
represents the boundaries between neighbours. True, there is something in nature that
despises bariers. It causes the frozen earth beneath the wall to expand. As a result of this
expansion, the bal cracks, causing the higher stones of the wall to slide down to the sides
and create raps, This poses continues, and if the wall is not repaired in time, it will collapse.
People was to keep Porain things in and some things out by crecting a wall. "Is it bencficial
to have a wall between aeighbours?" asks the poet. The poem does not take sides in the
debate, instead allowing readers ho decide for themselves which depiction of human
civilization is more convincing Furthernore, the speaker believes that boundaries are
detrimental to people's relationships. This is related to he fact that barriers insult individuals
by expressing mistrust and isolation. As a result, the speaker challenges the neighbour
about the necessity of continuing to repair the wall, "Good fences make
1) good neighbours," the neighbour says simply and frequently. He believes that a good
neighbour establishes clear boundaries and, as a consequence, prevents problems between
neighbours. The thought of future tussles seemed to trouble the neighbour. In fact, he
appears to regard such confrontations as an inescapable part of life, and as such, taking
efforts to prevent them is vital.
0. 2. 'My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines'. Explain.
Ans. The poet believes that a fence or wall between neighbours is unnecessary, especially
when the author's section has apple trees and the neighbour's area has pine trees. The poet
has attempted to convince his neighbour that his apple trees would never encroach on his
pines, but the neighbour remains sceptical. His reasoning for erecting the wall is that all
decent neighbours are separated by high fences. However, in the spring, the poet becomes
mischievous and attempts to persuade his neighbour to agree with him in a different way.
There is no way the apple trees will invade the neighbour's property and eat the pine cones.
Robert Frost has brilliantly conveyed two seemingly disparate topics in "Mending Wall." He
begins by stating that there is something that does not like barriers. It causes the frozen
earth beneath the wall to expand. As a result of this expansion, the wall fractures, causing
the higher stones of the wall to slide down to the sides and create gaps. Sometimes the
spaces are large enough for two persons to walk side by side. This implies that there should
be no barriers between individuals. People, on the other hand, segregate themselves by
creating barriers. Gender, religion, isms, races, status, and income are all examples of these
barriers. These barriers were constructed by humans and should be removed.
Q. 3. What is central idea of the poem "Mending Wall".
Ans. The famous American poet Robert Frost wrote "Mending Wall." It was published as the
opening poem in Frost's second collection of poetry, North of Boston, in 1914. The poem
derives its inspiration from the rhythms and rituals of life in rural New England, where Frost
resided at the time. It's a lively and interesting poetry on human boundaries or limitations and
their societal advantages. The poem tells the story of two neighbours who meet each year in
the spring to repair the stone wall that separates their fields. The poem explains how good
fences breed nice neighbours and how people may maintain long-lasting relationships with
their neighbours by erecting such barriers. Because of its basic yet profound matter, it has
garnered huge popularity as a result of its global publishing "Mending Wall? is a poem on the
necessity of borders and the labour it takes to keep them up. The poem does not take sides
in the discussion, leaving readers to decide for themselves which image of human society is
most persuasive. According to the speaker, the task of repairing the wall has become a ritual
for them. Borders isolate individuals, causing harm to potentially pleasant relationships. But
the neighbour claims that fences really promote relationships by allowing individuals to treat
each other honestly and avoid confrontation. radical use. The poem invites readers to
consider whether the argument between the speaks no ractical hour can ever be rectified if
society itself can change. The speaker claims that it. and his nes idea tat fences are required
to keep people in check is out of date, comparing him neighbourone barbarian ". Despite of
his old-fashioned ideas, the neishbour remains powerful the present. The task that the
speaker and his neighbour conduct in "Mending Wall° has a Sisyphean quality to it. Each
year, they rebuild the same wall--a wall that serves no practical function
Q. 4. Give a short summary of the poem "The Mending Wall".
Ans. The poem "Mending Wall is written by American poet Robert Frost. It was published as
the opening poem in Frost's second collection of poetry, North of Boston, in 1914. The poem
derives its inspiration from the rhythms and rituals of life in rural New England, where Frost
resided at that time. The poem explains how the speaker and a neighbour meet every spring
to repair a stone wall between their homes. This ceremony raises several critical
considerations throughou the poem, as the speaker analyses the purpose of human borders
and the worth of human labour, There are certain forces that hate walls. It forces the frozen
ground beneath a wall to expand, causing the highest stones of the wall to fall off in the heat
of the sun. This causes cracks in the wall large enough for two people to pass through side
by side. Then there are the hunters who break down the wall, which is something altogether
else. I regularly had to come and replace the locations where hunters had left not a single
stone in place while trying to flush out the rabbits that hide in the wall to quiet their howling
dogs. Nobody has seen or heard how these wall gaps are formed. We only discover them in
the spring when it is time to fix the wall. The author and his
-neighbour, repair rhe wall every year. There is no need for a fence. There are just pine trees
on my neighbor's side of the boundary wall, and an apple orchard on mine. I assure him that
my apple trees will not cross the fence and eat his pine cones. But all he adds is, "Good
fences are essential to have good neighbours"
Q. 5. Give a detailed account of literary devices used in the poem "Mending Wall".
Ans. Robert Frost is known for his figurative language. His poems like 'Road Not taken',
"Home Burial" and "Mending wall" are perfect examples of his mastery over the poetic
language.
The poem "Mending Wall " is 45 lines long and is not broken into stanzas. The poem
"Mending Wall" is written in blank verse, or unrhymed iambic pentameter, with no stanza
breaks. The poem is rich in literary devices. The most prominent of these is the metaphor of
the wall, which represents the barrier that separates individuals. Another metaphor is the
'loaves and 'balls' of the stones. A nice simile is the neighbour being compared to an ancient
stone barbarian. This comparison gets much more powerful when he is depicted as
travelling in the dark. Personification occurs when the poet speaks of a hidden power that
opposes the existence of the wall. The wall, stones, spring, darkness, and so on are all
symbols. The wall, stones, spring, darkness, and so on are all symbols.
A wall represents a barrier, whereas boulders are obstacles themselves. Spring is a season
that evokes pleasant emotions. The spring repairing season is well named. Ignorance is
represented as darkness. These symbols have a poetic impact.
with identical word order and structure in their grammar.
QUESTION ANSWERS
SHORT
ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1.
Why does the poet say that there is something
"that doesn't love a wall"?
Ans. The poet says that there is something that does not love the wall because nobody sees
or hears anybody breaking the wall. But every spring sea-son, the poet finds the wall is
broken. So it is obvious that there is something that does not love a wall and wants to see it
broken. It is this
'something' that makes the ground under the wall swell, causing the stones of the wall to fall
down on to either side.
c2. What ature cosigns in the poem which show that nature does not love a wall?
Ans. The poet begins the poem with the line: "Some. thing there is that doesn't love a wall'.
What the poet means to say is that there is some myste-rous power in nature that does not
like raising walls between the neighbors. This power makes the ground swell under it. As a
result of it, some upper boulders of the wall fall on the ground and create a wide gap.
Sometimes, the cause of fall of the wall is known. It is done by hunters who are after rabbits.
But sometimes, it is unknown.
Some supernatural force creates a gap in the wall. No one has ever seen them being made.
But with the onset of spring, when they meet to mend the wall, they notice these gaps. All
these things show that nature doesn't love a wall.
Q.3. Why does the poet consider the spring season
mischievous?
Ans. The poet considers the spring season mischievous because it is in that season when
gaps are found in the walls. He thinks that Spring Season makes the frozen ground under
the wall expand. Because of this expansion, the wall gets cracks, making the upper stones
of the wall fall down on to the sides.
0.4. Explain the simile used in the poem for the tasks of mending the wall.
Ans. The Poet says that the task of mending a wall is the same as that of an outdoor game
in which there are only two players, one on each side. By using this simile, he brings out the
idea that there is no need of a wall between the two farms.
This process is nothing more than a game especially at a place where wall is useless.
Q.5. What is the irony in the poem "Mending Wally Ans. The greatest irony in the poem
"Mending Wais perhaps is that even when the speaker realise that there should be no wall
between the neigh. bors he continues to help build the wall. As the poem progresses, the
speaker discusses how an kinds of natural forces, including the land and animals, conspire
every winter to knock down the
wall
Q.6. Explain the line "He is all pine and I am apple
orchard".
Ans. The poet says that he has an apple orchard and his neighbor has a farm of pine trees.
There is a wall that divides both these farms. The poet says that there is no need of wall
between their farms.
One has grown pine on his side and the other has an apple orchard. Trees cannot trespass
into other man's farm. He says that his apple tree will not get across the wall to eat the cones
under the pines. Trees cannot intrude as cows can. So there is no need of a wall.
Q.7. What impression do you form of the speaker
and why?
AnS.
The speaker is a person who is a lover of human-ity. He makes a plea to demolish all kind of
barriers. In his view all walls that divide are unnecessary. The speaker says that these walls
are not made by God, but by man. Walls are a barrier between man and man. They are a
symbol of savage thinking and darkness of heart. The speaker advises us to demolish all
kind of walls.
By examining his point of view, we can say that the poet is a great lover of humanity.
Os. Why does Ftost say that his neighbor "moves in
darkness"?
Aas. While reparing the wall between their estates frost suggested to his neighbor that the
wall was unnecessary because his apple trees could not eat his neighbor's pine cones. But
the neighbor insisted that good fences make good neighbors.
Watching him come up to the wall, carrying a big stone in each hand the poet felt for a
moment that he was like a savage armed with weapons of the stone-age. Then it struck
Frost that his neighbor's savage like appearance was not merely physical. His views about
the necessity for walls show that his mind was also in darkness. He could not think of
breaking barriers between men to maintain universal brotherhood.
0.9. Bring out the significance of the wall in the poem "Mending Wall"
Ans. When we read the poem superficially, it is merely an account of two farmers, one of
whom wants to build a boundary wall between their respective properties. According to him,
"Good fences make
good neighbors". The other, the poet himself, does not consider the fences at all necessary
at that particular place. But the poem is not as simple as that. The fence or wall here has a
symbolic sig-nificance. It symbolizes national, racial, religious, political and economic
barriers which divide man from man, and come in the way of mutual understanding and
universal brotherhood. "Mending Wall" is a symbolic poem in which the poet symbolizes the
conflict between the new trend of bringing down barriers between men and nations, and the
Old view that for good neighborly relations, fences and walls are essential.
0.10. What is the tone of the poem "Mending Wall"y Ans. The poet's tone here is quite
mysterious when he suggests that some natural or supernatural force is tearing down the
wall without being seen of heard. However, this tone changes to one of mis. chief when he
tries to convince his neighbor not to rebuild the wall. He could have been hostile towards his
neighbor's stubborn refusal to listen to him, but he is not. Instead, he chooses to listen to his
neighbor speak about the utility of fences and go about his own business every spring.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. According to the speaker, there is no need for a wall between the two farms. Why?
Ans.
"Mending Wall» is a poem based on a small inci-dent. The poet narrates his annual
experience with his neighbor whose farm of pine trees adjoins the poet's apple orchard. The
poet says that every year some portion of the wall falls down.
Sometimes, the cause is known and sometimes it is not known. The poet and his neighbor
meet every year and repair the wall. This is repeated in a never-ending process. The
opening line of the poem brings out the idea that all walls are un-natural, as they divide. The
poet says that it is not only he who does not love a wall but perhaps there is some
mysterious force that also does not like the idea of the raising of a wall. The force makes the
ground swell under the wall. As a result of it every year some portion of the wall falls down.
The poet says that there is no need of walls between two farms. He stresses this idea by
arguing that he grows apple in his orchard and his neighbor has all pine trees. Trees can not
intrude, trespass as cows can. He says that his apple trees will never move over to his farm
to car the cones under his pines. The poet says that there may be a need of walls if either of
them cows. Cows could go into other man's field and can spoil his crops. But neither of them
has cows. so, there is no need of any wall between both farms. But the poet's neighbor does
not agree with his idea. He says only that good fences make good neighbors. It is a
stereotyped response. The neighbor refuses to examine the true purpose of his father's
saying. He is so conventional that he does not even want to listen to why there is no need of
a wall. He just wants to stick to old convention. The poet wants the wall to be demol-ished.
Wall is a symbol of every kind of barrier that man has created between each other. The
poem brings out the idea that all walls are unnecessary and we should demolish them.
0.2. Discuss the theme of the poem "Mending Wall".
Ans. Following are the major themes of the poem
"Mending Wall":
grit
Borders and Limits:
"Mending Wall" is a poem about borders and limi-tations. The speaker and the speaker's
neighbor are involved in an argument about rebuilding a wall that divides their properties.
They argue about the role of the boundary wall and its effects on relationships. The wall
seems practically and politically unnecessary to the speaker of the poem.
He is of the opinion that walls separate people and harm their otherwise smooth relations.
How-ever, the neighbor has the view that walls strengthen and improve relationships
because they allow people to treat each other fairly and prevent
conflict. According to him, walls make people stay in their limits. The poem itself doesn't
decide who is correct. The poem ultimately allows its readers to decide for themselves which
vision of the hu. man community is most persuasive and livable.
Customs, Traditions and Modernity:
Throughout the poem, the poet indirectly raises the question of the possibility of change. The
speaker is of the opinion that his neighbor's ideas are outdated. The speaker calls his
neighbor an
"old-stone savage armed." He considers him a primitive man with a stone in his hands as if
he is fighting a battle. The poem makes the readers think if the debate between the speaker
and his neighbor will ever resolve. The speaker keeps on objecting to the activity but he still
reconstructs the wall.
The speaker uses simple, every-day language. He seems an educated man. He is clearly a
loquacious figure. Also, he has enough knowledge of philosophy when he cites the writings
of Henry David Thoreau by referring to "cows." The speaker also refers to the mythical
"Elves" that they might be the reason for the damage of the wall. The speaker uses the blank
verse in a rough but observable fashion to convey ideas to the reader. On the other side, the
neighbor of the speaker is an old-fashioned man. He says only one sentence in the poem
and repeats it. He speaks directly and in an unpretentious manner. The speaker emphasizes
the unwillingness of his neighbor to think broadly. The speaker objects to his neighbor for
relying on received wisdom. The only job that the neighbor is concerned about is the
reconstruction of the wall. He has not improved beyond the primitive level.According to this
contrast, the speaker of the poem is a modern figure. The speaker admires himself for
coming out of the darkness of the primitive state. He looks down upon his neighbor who is
still moving in the darkness. The speaker of the poem believes that he has got an
enlightened and peaceful way of life. Yet it is the speaker who lets his speaker know that the
wall needs repair. In this way, this poem suggests that as long as the people hold old ideas
and beliefs, society itself will be affected by them. The society will be unable to refuse those
notions that its people hold. It is hard to demolish the beliefs of the past completely and to
bring change for the future.

The gift of magi

Glossary
surt don
Sterling -Excellent or exceptional
Whirl-To rotate rapidly
Meretricious-Seemingly attractive and flashy, but lacking in real meaning and value
Instigate-To initiate or incite an action or event
parsimony-Extreme frugality or cheapness; unwillingness to expend money or resources
scrutiny-Careful study or examination
laborious-A task or process requiring extensive time and effort; arduous and grueling
Patent-Obvious or recognizable tumble-To fall suddenly
sentiment-An attitude, judgment, or opinion of something; a feeling or emotion proclaim-To
announce publicly
panting-To breathe quickly with the mouth open
mendicancy-The state of living on charity; the practice of begging appertain-to relate or apply
to
truant-A student who leaves or stays away from school without explanation or permission
imputation-An accusation
coax-To gently persuade or urge (usually by flattering); cajole
pier glass-A full-length mirror that usually fits between windows to fill wall space
depreciate-To decrease in value over time; to disparage agile-Ability to move quickly and
effortlessly
Magi-Known in Christian tradition as the three wise men who visited and offered gifts to
Jesus after his birth
Summary
Della Dillingham Young has one dollar and eighty-seven cents with which she has to buy her
husband a Christmas gift. She is upset about her savings which are not sufficient to buy a
decent gift. Her husband's name is James Dillingham Young and Della calls him Jim. The
young couple is managing their life with a meagre earning because Jim's earnings have
been reduced from thirty dollars a week to only twenty dollars. Della's sorrow let her to throw
herself upon her "shabby couch. She lives in her cheap and worn-down apartment. She had
a keen desire to gift her husband Jim a nice gift. She wanted him to feel special on the eve
of Christmas. However, with only one dollar and eighty-seven cents it is impossible to have a
decent gift. With a heavy heart, Della decided to sell her hair to get money for gift. The
young couple have two valuable things in the house. One is Della's hair and the other Jim's
gold watch. Jim received gold watch from his father.
Della walks to Mrs. Sofronie's Hair Goods store with a "brilliant sparkle" in her eyes. Mrs.
Sofronie offers her twenty dollars for Della's beautiful hairs. Della agrees to sell her hair. She
spends the next two hours searching for the perfect gift. Eventually Della decides upon a
simple but a modest platinum watch chain. She feels that the watch chain is a magnificent
piece and undoubtedly precious. It will suit Jim perfectly.
Della reaches home with satisfaction. She tries to style her shorn hair but the results were
disappointing. She finds herself a "Coney Island chorus girl" and worries that Jim will be
upset that her hair is gone. When she hears Jim approaching the apartment, she stays
beside the door and prays that he will still find her attractive.
Jim reaches home and he stares at Della in a mysterious way. He almost goes blank. Della
throws herself in his arms explains her reasons. She assures Jim that her hair grow "awfully
fast?. Story takes twist when Jim opens his gift. He sold his gold watch to get her a set of
fancy combs that she wanted for ages. He recommends they put away their presents and
have dinner.
The narrator brings the story to a close by relating both of them to biblical Magi. The magi,
three wise men who brought gifts to the new born Christ child. They were the first to give
Christmas gifts. They were wise and their gifts were wise. The narrator says of all who give
and receive gifts Jim and Dell are wisest of them. Their gifts are gifts of love and
self-sacrifice. They are modern day magi.
THEME
VALUE
"Gift of the Magi" is a short story of a couple Della and Jim who are struggling with poverty
and are facing difficulties in their life. An eight dollar-flat, a shabby couch, and the broken
bell, they all signal us their circumstances. But it is also evident from the story that when Jim
arrives home they had a custom of hugging each other. Their relationship isn't affected by
their poverty. Again when Della chooses gift for Jim she selects a simple but modest gift
which is made up platinum. It is because of value, they value their relation and emotions
instead of materialistic things.
LOVE
The short story's central theme is love between two main characters, Della and Jim. Both of.
them facing difficult situations due to poverty but still their love is making life easy. Della
keeps saving the money to buy a gift for Jim. Although she failed to save enough money but
she tries other options. So, she didn't let poverty to stop her to get a gift for his beloved
husband. Poverty tried to limit her expression of love. At the conclusion of story we find that
both the gift they brought were useless. But they sacrificed their most prized possessions for
each other it is expression of love in itself. Their love wins over materialistic possessions.
Their gift to each other is love.
SACRIFICE
In the beginning of story there were two prized possessions in the young family. Each
member of the family has one, Della's hair and Jim's watch. But both sacrificed their
belongings in order to buy Christmas present for each other. The gifts they got for each other
turned out to be useless.
They vield nothing but lose their precious belongings. The significance of the magi is
summed up in the last paragraph, as the narrator compares Della and Jim to the magi who
invented the art of gift wine suggesting thathe value ofa sin lesinthe iment, the levelof
generosty, and the sace. behind it, rather than its material value.
Question & Answer
& SHORT ANSWER TYPE
Q. 1. How did the Magi want to celebrate their Christmas ?
Sis., The Magi wanted to celebrate Christmas by presenting gifts. This excharige of gifts on
the hols. casions makes life most lovable. They were wise people and their gifts were also
wig.
Therefore, those who exchange gifts are wise like the Magi.
0. 2. How much Jim and Della were attached to each other in the story?
Ans. Jim and Della shared a cordial bond of love for each other. They were deeply attached
each Ans. in he story. They had great love and respect for each other. They were so poor
that they each lot uy tils to celebrate Christmas. At last, they decided to sell their beautiful
valuable thing. to earn money to buy gifts for each other.
Q. 3. Why did they sell their beautiful valuable things?
Ans. They were so poor that they could not buy gifts to celebrate Christmas. They were ins
helpless condition. At last, they decided to sell their beautiful valuable things to earn money
to buy gifts for each other. It was a sign of great love and sacrifice for each other. Though
their gifts were humble yet they seemed to contain all the wealth into them.
Q. 4. Describe the story in your own words.
Ans. Della and Jim had great love for each other. They were so poor that they could not buy
gifts to celebrate Christmas. Della sold her beautiful hair to buy gold watch chain for Jim
while Jim sold his valuable watch to buy combs for Della. They sacrificed for each other and
won hearts of each other.
Q. 5. What is the moral of the story?
Ans. The moral of the story is that exchange of gifts on the holy occasions makes life most
lovable. It also teaches the moral lesson that the spirit of sacrifice for one another creates
feelings of respect and affection. It is the greatest virtue to sacrifice for others.
Characters
DELLA
Della Dillingham young is the young wife of Mr. James Dillingham. Despite her poverty, she
is happy with her husband. The poor financial situation of the family hardly stands in the way
of their love and passion for each other.
Della Dillingham never expects anything from her husband but his love and as her feelings
are reciprocated by her James she has no reason to complain, the family lives in a small
apartment which has a valuable possession to prove but both are certain things in it that they
would have to change for the world. Mrs. Della Dillingham has long, soft, lustrous hair that
any woman can be jealous of despite all the jewellery she walks past. Mr James Dillingham
has a Wrist watch he inherited from his four parents and hates the past. With every action he
and Mr. Dillingham take, she be author inaround tire corner Shiehainstantandste can do
anyting to makelimkaps». 5. coastests dos p in as were unstocessit,telies there smitenu.
олаоестоолот , вы
jAmaloesvelhapeacamnetohorinine, an idea teres filed with ears streaming down
ser-ONeder. soy to handle at this time cha sold her hairs to get a gin for her busband. ladly
she buys a nice chain for her husband. It is so prety and a perfect gif for lim, with this mahis
right hand ho can hinkthat she home when he is to return to his beloved. She real wit this go
isdone at first, but to tans to atshe can grow her hair ou and has no opinion slows her ze
what damnitrofine snot itory and shie stays in the secne from beginnfice. Deta
led
[IM fim is a young man of 22 years old. His full name is Jim Dillingham Young. Jim's work is
not
fat good. He is the only breadwinner for the Dillingham Young family (i.e. he and Della and
he spears to work long hours but his wages are meagre. And it's been getting worse lately.:
While he used to make $30 a week, he now makes only $20. He and Della struggle to pay
for their small apartment. So if Jim seems a little tired, serious, overworked and maybe a
little underweight, there's
a good reason why.
He looked thin and very serious. He was only twenty-two years old and had a family to
support!
He needed a new coat and he didn't have gloves. The only thing that keeps Jim going is his
love for Della. We're not exposed to his feelings half as much as Della's, but all the evidence
points to him being as devoted to her as she is to him. Like Della, Jim gives up his most
prized possession to find the perfect gift for those he loves. And it's not just her looks, though
he cares about her : "Make no mistake, Dell,» she said, "about me." I don't think there's
anything in the way of a haircut, a shave, or a shampoo that can make me like my girl less."
Why does Jim love Della so much ? Probably partly because she loves so much. You may
have noticed that Della is also a little nervous.
Jim is definitely the sensible one in the relationship. While she responds to his gift with
screams and wails, he only responds to hers by rolling on the couch and smiling.LONG
ANSWER TYPE
Q. 1. Bring out the relation between Della and the queen of Sheba.
Ans. O' Henry presents a very ironical yet pleasing contrast between Della and Queen
Sheba.
Della is young and very beautiful. Though she is poor she lives happily with her husband.
Her beautiful hair fell about her rippling and they shine like a cascade of brown waters. Her
hair reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment of her. On the other hand, the
Queen of Sheba is a biblical character. She was a very rich and powerful queen. She came
to King Solomon with a wealth of spices, gold, and jewels to test for herself whether King
Solomon was truly wise or not. In the story, the writer tells that if Queen Sheba had lived in
the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window someday iust
to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts.
And queen Sheba would have been ealous of Della for not being able to possess such
beautiful hair.
Q. 2. Bring out the relation between Jim and King Solomon.
Ans. O' Henry presents a very ironical yet pleasing contrast between Jim and King Solomon.
Jim isthe husband of Della. They are very poor. Jim could not earn enough money to buy
even a Christmas gif for his wife. Hence he sold his most treasured possession, a watch,
and then h Doristmas a for Della. On the other hand, King Solomon is a biblical character
Qucen of Sho bought kin so onon with a wealth of spices, gold, and jewels to test herself
whether King carne to Wins sse ornot In the story; the writer tells that if King Solomon had
been the janitor, wi Sit his irasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his
watch every time he passer just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.
0.3. Show how the 'twist in the tale makes the story of Jim and Della a moral lesson.
Ans. "The Gift of the Magi" is one of the best stories of O' Henry. It tells a story about Jim
and Della who are very poor. They are so poor that they can not even afford gifts for each
other. Bu they loved each other very much. So they sell off their most precious possessions
to buy Christmas gifts for each other. And the sad part is none of them know about the
sacrifice when they were being made. On the eve of Christmas, Della parts with her beautiful
hair. For Jim, Della's long and lovely hair was beautiful enough to make the Queen of Sheba
jealous. On the other hand, Jim parts with his watch, a family heirloom which even King
Solomon might have been envious of. The ironie «twist in the tale is that both of them trade
off the very treasures each of them possessed and for which the gifts were meant. And they
had to wait one more year to use their gifts. The story ends with a moral lesson of what
constitutes the true spirit of gifts giving on Christmas. Selflessness had a desire to see the
loved ones who receive the gifts happily are the inherent themes of the story.
Sacrifice complements the beauty of the story. What makes the story more beautiful is both
the lovers made sacrifices to see and please the other.
Q. 4. Examine the significance and appropriateness of the title of the story.
Ans. The title of the story "The Gift of the Magi" is appropriate enough in the sense that the
story talks about sacrifices made by two wise people to buy and present gifts to their loved
ones on Christmas Day. The Magi are the three wise people who came from the East to
Jerusalem. They were guided by a star to see the infant, Jesus. They carried precious gifts
for Christ. Likewise, Jim and Della are guided by their wisdom. They did not let the
Christmas go without presenting gifts to each other, even though they lacked money. Like
the Magi sacrificed a lot to complete their journer and to see the infant Jesus, Jim and Della
to sacrificed their most treasured possessions just to make and see each other happy on
Christmas Day.
Q. 5. How did the next two hours pass by for Della?
Ans. After reaching home, Della got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to
work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. Then she said silent prayers
about the simplest everyday things. When she heard Jim's steps on the stairs, she
whispered: "Please God. make him think I am still pretty". After that, she went into the
kitchen to prepare dinner and when she was done, she waited for Jim's arrival fearing and
hoping that Jim doesn't get angry about her new look with short hair.
R6. Is the title of the story The Gift of the Magi' appropriate? Justify.
Ans. Yes, the title of the story The Gift of the Magi' is appropriate enough. The Magi wer the
wise men, who brought gifts to the Babe in the Manager. They invented the art of givin
Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the
privileg of exchanges in case of duplication. Likewise, the story too tells a chronicle of two
foolish childre in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of
their house. Bu
the story of wise gifts.
ironically their gifts were the wisest ones. Hence, the title of the story is apt enough for it to
tell
Why did Jim's expression torrily Della ?
77
Sis Jim's cxpression terified Della because afer reaching home, Jim stopped inside the door,
sopsion in them that she could not read, and itterrified fie.
. 8. What moral lessons are stressed upon in The Gift of the Mast ?
Ins. "The Gift of the Magi' is one of the best stories ofO'Henry. It tells a story about Sin our
they loved each other very much. So they sell off their most precious possessions o buy
Christmas gifts for each other. And the sad part is none of them know about the sacrifie why
lity were being made. On the eve of Christmas, Della parts with her beautiful hair For sin,
ellen long and lovely hair was beautiful enough to make the Queen of Sheba jealous. On the
other hand, lin parts with his watch, a family heirloom which even King Solomon might have
been civanus Solomon might have been envious of. The ironic 'twist in the tale is that both of
them trade off he very treasures each of them possessed and for which the gifts were
meant. And they had to wait one more year to use their gifts. The story ends with a moral
lesson of what constitutes the nue spirit of gifts giving on Christmas. Selflessness and a
desire to see the loved ones who receive the gifts happily are the inherent themes of the
story. Sacrifice complements the beauty of the story. What makes the story more beautiful is
that both the lovers made a sacrifice to see and please the other.
0. 9. Based on the events, attempt a justification of the story as an example of comic irony.
Ans. In 'The Gift of Magi' the author O' Henry uses the comic irony with a view to
emphasizing the moral of the story Jim and Della, two key characters of the story, had to sell
off their precious possessions to buy gift for each other on Christmas Della in order to a fine,
rare and sterling gift for Jim sold her long and beautiful hair. Finally, she bought a platinum
fob chain, simple and chaste in design, for Jim's gold watch. On the other hand, Jim sold his
precious gold watch to buy an expensive tortoiseshell comb for Della's beautiful hair. The
ironic twist in the story is that both Della and Jim sold off the very treasures each possessed
for which the gifts were meant. A faint smile spread across the lips of the reader with this
ironic twist in the plot. but his irony makes the story of Jim and Della a moral lesson that the
selflessness a desire to add the appiness of the one who receives the gift and the spirit of
sacrifice are the essence of gift-giving n Christmas.
"The Gift of the Magi" is about Jim and Della who are very poor. They are so poor that they
an not even afford gifts for each other. But they loved each other very much. So they sell off
weir most precious possessions to.buy Christmas gifts for each other. And the comic irony is
that one of them know about the sacrifice when they were being made. On the eve of
Christmas, ella parts with her beautiful hair. On the other hand, Jim parts with his watch, a
family heirloom hich even King Solomon might have been envious of. The ironic twist in the
tale is that both of em trade off the very treasures each of them possessed and for which the
gifts were meant. is is the ultimate comic irony of the story: Jim sold his gold watch but Della
had bought him a a, worthy of his watch. Similarly, Jim bought a set of combs for Della who
sold her hair to y him a gift. And comically they had to wait one more year to use their gifts.
& ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Q. I. What did Della say to Jim for cutting off her hair ?
Ans. Della began to explain the condition ofher cuting the hair he asked cm not to be angry
with her. He had her hair out offand sold because she could not have lived the Christmas
witho giving him a gif. She assured him that the hair would grow again and requested him
not to mind fo That, She had no other option except her hair to buy him a good gift. She
asked him to say "Mers, Christmas and to be happy.
0. 2. How does the narrator express the pride of the couple for their possessions?
Ans. Della and Jim had two prized possessions. One was Jim's gold watch, passed on in his
family since his grandfather. The other was Della's hair. Both of them were proud of their
watch and hair. She even imagined depreciating the Queen of Sheba by showing her long
hair to her. In the same way Jim was also too much proud of his gold watch, which could not
be even compared to the treasures of King Solomon.
Q. 3. What was the financial condition of the two young couples ?
Ans. The financial condition of the two young couples was very bad. the couple has very little
money and lives in a modest apartment. After paying all of the bills, all Della has left is $1.87
to pur toward Jim's Christmas present. In the same way, her husband Jim too had not
enough money to buy his wife a gift. The couple was going through a hard time. Once,
James had been paid $30 a week. But now he has been paid $20 only a week.
Q. 4. O' Henry calls Della and Jim 'Two foolish children'. Do you think they are really foolish
? Why or why not?
Ans. Though Della and Jim's decision happens to be a foolish one, yet they cannot be
regarded as fools for whatever they have done was out of their love for each other. Both of
them loved each other so much that they wanted to keep each other happy and present
some nice gifts on Christmas Eve. In doing so, they had to lose their most precious
possessions.
Q. 5. Show how the twist in the tale makes the story of Jim and Della a moral lesson.
Ans. The twist in the tale makes the story of Jim and Della a moral lesson. The narrator says
that the story compares these two 'foolish children with the magi. The narrator tells us that
the magi were wise men, who invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Since they were
wise, their gifts must have been wise too. The narrator intones, Of all, those who give gifts,
Jim and Della were the wisest, which means that they must be the magi. They unwisely
sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house.
½2. 6. Discuss the themes of the story.
Ans. A literary theme is the central concept or underlying meaning explored by a writer in a
novel, short tale, or other piece of literature. A story's theme can be communicated through
characters,
short story The Gift of Magi.
setting, dialogue, narrative, or a mixture of all of these components. There are various
themes in the
" The Gift of Magi" is a short story of a couple Della and Jim who are struggling with poverty
and are facing difficulties in their life. An eight dollar-flat, a shabby couch, and the broken
bell, they all signal us their circumstances. But it is also evident from the story that when Jim
arrives home they had a custom of hugging each other. Their relationship isn't affected by
their poverty. Agal when Della chooses gift for Jim she selects a simple but modest gift
which is made up platinum. I is because of value, they value their relation and emotions
instead of materialistic things.The short story's central theme is love between two main
characters, Della and Jim. Both of them facing difficult situations due to poverty but still their
love is making life easy. Della keeps saving the money to buy a gift for Jim. Although she
failed to save enough money but she tries other options. So, she didn't let poverty to stop her
to get a gift for his beloved husband. Poverty tried to limit her expression of love. At the
conclusion of story we find that both the gift they brought were useless. But they sacrificed
their most prized possessions for each other. it is expression of love in itself. Their love wins
over materialistic possessions. Their gift to each other is love.
In the beginning of story there were two prized possessions in the young family. Each
member of the family has one, Della's hair and Jim's watch. But both sacrificed their
belongings in order to buy Christmas present for each other. The gifts they got for each other
turned out to be useless.
They yield nothing but lose their precious belongings. The significance of the magi is
summed up in the last paragraph, as the narrator compares Della and Jim to the magi who
invented the art of gift giving, suggesting that the value of a gift lies in the intent, the level of
generosity, and the sacrifice behind it, rather than its material value.
SHORT / MEDIUM
ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Discuss the symbols used by O'Henry in "The
Gift of the Magi"
Ans. O'Henry has used some strong symbols to develop the story's plot and engage the
readers. Della's hair is a symbol of the beauty of love. The looking glass is also a symbol
that symbolises both poverty and longing. Della longs for a beautiful gift while watching the
glass and often watches it waiting for Jim to return. The two gifts they bring for each other
are symbols of the strength of love, sacrifice and wisdom. Magi is a metaphor for the true
love between the couple and their wise gifts. The author also uses similes like comparing
Della's hair with a queen's jewels and Jim's watch with a king's treasures.0.2. Why was Della
crying at the beginning of the story?
Ans. At the beginning of the story, Della was crying because she had only one dollar and
eighty-two cents to use to buy her ausband Jim a gift for Christmas and it was Christmas eve
which left her with very little time to think of something.
Q.3. What are some facts about Madame Sofronie in the story "The Gift of the Magi"?
Ans. Madame Sofronie was the owner of a hair shop which sold "hair goods of all kinds."
She was large, white and chilly. Her manner was direct and to-the-point. She didn't give off
any signs of being impressed by Della's gorgeous hair, and casually offered to buy it for
twenty dollars. a
9.4. What was Jim's reaction to Della's hair?
Ans. Della thought that Jim's reaction meant that he did not like her hair cut, did not think
that she was beautiful anymore and would no longer love her. In reality, he was just shocked
and surprised because it made his present for her worthless.
9.5. Why did Jim say that their presents were too nice to use just at present?
Ans. The presents were indeed too nice to use at present because both Jim and Della were
now unable to use them. Della had sold her hair and therefore, couldn't use the combs, and
Jim had sold his watch and so, was unable to use his new chain for the watch.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
2.1. Bring out the elements of humour and pathos in the story "The Gift of the Magi." ns. The
elements of humour and pathos are harmo niously mixed in the story "The Gift of the Magi
The poor household condition of Jim and Della is really pathetic. Once they were prosperous
but now they are reduced to poverty. With great economy, Della counts thrice the money
which she had saved and every time it turns out to be one dollar and eighty seven cents.
What a pity!
The sum is too small to buy any decent gift for her husband on the approaching Christmas
day. We are ourselves reduced to tears when Della flings herself on the sofa and sheds
bitter tears.
Mixed with pathos is the humorous touch pertaining to the poor condition of the house.
There is, no doubt, a letter box fixed outside the house, but it is too damaged now to allow
any letter to go in.
There is a card bearing the name 'Mr. James Dillingham Young' but the letters are blurred
and indistinct now.
The way in which they make a sacrifice is very pathetic, indeed. Although Della and Jim
have a little money yet each has something very pre-cious. Jim has a gold watch which he
has inherited from his grandfather and which ordinarily he would not like to part with. Della
has beautiful curly hair which is her pride and glory.
There is a bitter irony and joke when the author remarks that Della with her glossy hair would
have put the Queen of Sheba to shame and Jim with his watch and wisdom would have
surpassed King Solomon. Della sells her glossy hair for twenty dollars and buys a chain
which is really worthy of Jim's watch. On the other hand, Jim sells his watch and buys a set
of gold combs for the glory hair of his dear wite.
The looks of Della without her curls presents a mixed feeling of humour and pathos. Without
her curls, Della looks like a truant school boy. Jim is shocked to see her without her glossy
curls. He asks her what has happened to her curls because he has bought a pair of gold
combs which she so strongly desired some time back. But inspite of the fact that she does
not look attractive without her hair, he continues to love her. She smilingly says, "My hair
grows so fast, Jim." The situation grows highly ironical and funny when the gifts are actually
exchanged. Both the husband and wife look puzzled and feel disapointed.
Jim asks Della to keep aside the guts and bring meal because their gifts are too nice to be
used at that time.
0.2. Discuss the use of irony in "The Gift of the Magi".
Ans.
"The Gift of the Magi" is a classic example of irony in literature. Irony is a literary technique in
which an expectation of what is supposed to occur differs greatly from the actual outcome. In
this case, Jim and Della sacrifice their most treasured possessions so that the other can fully
enjoy his or her gift. Jim sells his watch to buy Della's combs, expecting her to be able to use
them. Della sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his watch. Neither expects the other to have
made that sacrifice.
The irony here works, both on a practical and on a deeper, more sentimental level. Both
Della and Jim buy each other a gift that ultimately seems financially foolish. Being poor, they
can't afford to waste money on things they can't use. However, what they get is something
they don't expect: a more intangible gift that reminds them how much they love each other
and are willing to sacrifice to make each other happy.Verbal Irony: O'Henry has applied
verbal irony when describing the only prized possessions of both characters. Firstly, he
compares Della's hair with the jewels of Queen of Sheba that even the queen would be
envious of the beauty of her hair.
On the other hand, he describes King Solomon who, despite being wealthy, would be
anxious to hold Jim's watch in his hsnds. However, in the end, both sacrifice their only prized
possessions to buy gifts for each other. Their gifts are useless but all that matters is love,
intimacy, and sacrifice of those gifts.
Dramatic Irony: Dramatic irony in the story occurs when Della opens up Jim's present and
finds a tortoise comb. For a short moment, she forgets that she has cut her hair and now it is
useless for her.
Situational Irony: The most significant and main use of irony which is focused on in this story
is the situational irony that occurs at the end of the tale. Situational irony is when we expect
a certain thing to happen only to be surprised when sorething entirely different takes place.
We can see the situational irony in operation when we realise that both Jim and Della have
sold what was most precious to them. h
However, a deeper irony exists in the story. Although we are tempted to dismiss Jim and
Della and their actions as "foolish"yet the author insists that they are, infact, actually wise
because through their self-sacrifice and love they represent the original spirit of the Magi.
Thus, Jim and Della, although apparently "foolish" in the eyes of the world, ironically come
closest to the original spirit of present giving.0.3. What is the theme of the story "The Gift of
the Magi"?
Ans. The story's setting at Christmas time makes it popular story for the holiday season. Its
major theme is the difference between wisdom and fool. ishness, or having or not having, a
sense of judge. ment and understanding.
Both Jim and Della behave impulsively, sacrific. ing their greatest treasures without thinking
about the consequences and focussing instead on making one another happy. From an
entirely practical perspective, this doesn't make much sense be cause they can't enjoy the
gifts that are supposed to make them happy. Jim and Della are thinking about the present
moment and the material possessions that give us pleasure. What they foolishly don't
realise, however, is that they've given each other a greater gift: their sacrificial love.
The lesson they ultimately learn is that their love for each other is worth more than all of the
material possessions money can buy. Love is one of the major themes of this story.
O'Henry has also tactfully interwoven the theme of inner and outer beauty. Throughout the
story one can see the author praising Della's hair and Jim's watch. Similarly, there are also
the glimpses of outer beauty occurring in the prized gifts they bought for each other.
However, all those things possess only outer beauty as those are only material objects. The
inner beauty lies in both chat-acters and the love they have for each other. In gains victory.
the end, the objects of outer beauty fail but love gain victory.
0.4.
Justify the title of the story "The Gift of the Magi".
AnS.
A good title of a short story must throw light on the theme of the story. It must be connected
with the development of the plot directly or indirectly, and must be concise and precise. The
author
'Henry, through the title, is alluding to the practice of exchanging gifts at Christmas.
According to a popular myth, when Christ was born, the three wise men of the East, called
the Magi, guided by a star, went to the manger in which the newly-born Christ was lying.
They offered gifts to him.
The gifts of the wise men showed their love and devotion to Christ. The practice of giving
gifts at Christmas than started.
Jim and Della purchased Christmas gifts for each other. But in a fit of emotion they disposed
of what was most dear to them. They wanted to give each other a worthy gift at Christmas.
Their gifts must reflect the love and devotion they had for each other. Neither had enough
money to buy a proper gift. So Della sold her beautiful hair for twenty dollars. She bought a
platinum chain for Jim's gold watch. It was a wonderful example of sacrifice a wife could
make for her husband. Simi-larly, Jim had bought for his wife a set of combs which Della had
seen in a Broadway window. To buy such expensive combs he had sold his gold watch
which had belonged to his father and his grandfather.
Both the combs and the chain had been bought after so much sacrifice. It did not matter that
they were now useless. Their gifts reflected their sincere love and devotion. Even Jesus
Christ would be proud of such gifts. So their gifts were the
wisest gifts in the spirtua sender m and Dell were wise, the Magi of the modern age. This a
the significance of the title of the story "The Gin of the Magi?. Real wisdom lies in love and
devo. tion. Jim and Della were immensely devoted to cach other. So the author is Justified in
saying that, "of all who give gits, these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts,
such as they are the wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. they are the Magi? This justilies
the tile of the story itself.
Q.5. Attempt a character-sketch of Della.
Ans. Della was a poor lady. Her husband Jim's income was not much. They lived from hand
to mouth in a cheap flat. Della was quite satisfied with her lot. She never complained of
poverty. Now and then, her extreme poverty made her feel sad and shed bitter tears silently
and secretly.
She had beautiful glossy hair. She was proud of her shining curls. When she let her hair fall
about her, it would present a rippling and shining cascade of brown waters. It reached below
her knee and made itself a dress for her.
Della loved her husband the most. She was ever ready to make any sacrifice for his sake.
On Christmas, she wanted to give him something rare and wonderful as a present,
something worthy of the honour of being owned by her dear husband. But as ill luck would
have it, she had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents in all.
She was an economical lady. For months together she went on saving every penny she
could.
She bargained with the grocer, the vegetable seller and the butcher and saved one dollar
and eighty seven cents with great difficulty.she sold her beautiful curls for twenty dollars to
buy a decent present for her husband. Although she had saved one dollar and eighty-seven
cents yet this sum was not sufficient to purchase a decent gift for Jim. So she went to the
market and sold her precious curls for twenty dollars.
She purchased a beautiful platinum fob chain for the gold watch of her husband.
The way in which she disposed of her beautiful hair showed that she was a highly emotional
lady. No doubt she had the highest regard and respect for her husband, but she ought to
have used due caution and not acted hastily even in her state of utter helplessness.
Without her glossy curls she looked ugly. She feared that her husband might not like her.
When Jim returned home and cast a glance at his wife, he was simply shocked. He was
taken aback to see her hair gone. She almost looked like a truant school boy. He simply
started at her fixedly.
Della tried to console her husband. She said to him, "Jim, darling don't stare at me like that. I
had my hair cut off and sold to buy a decent Christmas present for you. It'll grow out again.
My hair grows awfully fast. Say, "Merry Christmas!
Jim, and let's be happy". Having said this, Della presented him the Christmas gift of a fob
chain which she had got by sacrificing her most prized possession. This showed that Della
was a selfless and loving wife.
2.6. Draw a character sketch of Jim.
Ans. Jim was the short name of Mr. James Dillingham foung. He was, once, very
prosperous, but had now fallen on evil days. He lived in a cheap flat and made both ends
meet with great difficulty. He had a gold watch which he nad inherited from his grandfather.
He was very proud of it.
He loved his wife Della the most. He wanted to give her a Christmas git which should be
worthy of her. But he had not enough money with which he could buy her a decent
Christmas gift.
He went to the market and sold his precious possession. He did not say anything to his wile,
but went to the market and sold his gold watch.
With the money he thus got he purchased a pair of gold combs for the glossy hair of his wife.
He was simply shocked to see the hair of his wife gone. She had already sold her hair to pur.
chase a fob chain for his gold watch. No doubt Della tried to console him by saying, "My hair
grows awfully fast." But he felt disappointed.
When the gifts were actually exchanged, the situation became highly ironical. Della
presented to Jim as a Christmas gift a fob chain for his gold watch which he had already
disposed of. Jim offered her a pair of gold combs for her glossy curls which she had already
sold. Thus, the fob chain was as useless now as the pair of gold combs.
Both Jim and Della were the Magi, the wise people. They purchased gifts which were most
precious and which, they thought, would prove most useful to each other. But the irony of
circumstance upset their plans and made them appear foolish. But the author insists that
they are, infact, actually wise because through their self-sacrifice and love they represent the
original spirit of the Magi.