RIDA KHAN 22/101

Professor Deeksha Yadav Ma’am

Indian Writing In English Translation
18 April, 2024
ASSIGNMENT TOPIC – “When my play was with thee” by Rabindranath Tagore And
“Playthings” by Rabindranath Tagore

The main objective of this assignment is to compare a text in the syllabus with any other text
out of the syllabus. I am choosing “When My Play Was With Thee” by Rabindranath Tagore
from the syllabus and comparing it with “Playthings” by Rabindranath Tagore

Beyond Innocence: Unveiling the Layers of "When My Play Was With Thee"
"When My Play Was With Thee," a poignant examination of the human condition that
explores the loss of childhood innocence and the following awakening to a world full of
wonder and reverence, was written by Nobel Prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Tagore's collection Gitanjali (Song Offerings) contains this poem. This seemingly
straightforward poetry captures the essence of a child's faith and the emergence of a more
sophisticated knowledge of the sacred through vivid imagery and a carefully considered
change in perspective.

The poem opens with a proclamation of unrestrained happiness and a feeling of

unquestioning friendship. Presumably a child, the speaker addresses an affectionate "thou," a
figure purposefully left unexplained. Due to its vagueness, "thou" can refer to a variety of
people, including friends, parents, and even celestial beings. Still, the emphasis is on the
unrestrained amusement that the speaker and the "thou" share. Words like "comrade,"
"boisterous," and "glades" conjure up images of uncontrolled and a close relationship based
on shared experiences.

The opening stanza's main theme is the play itself. The speaker paints a vivid picture of being
woken up from sleep by the pronoun "thou" and going on happy adventures with them. The
voyage itself is what is important, not the destination. As they run "from glade to glade," they
imply to an unrestricted universe of limitless wonder and opportunity.

The absence of exploration is an essential aspect of this initial innocence. "I never questioned
who thou wert" emphasizes the speaker's total acceptance and trust. Labels and definitions
are unnecessary. The bond, which is based only on shared experience, goes beyond
intellectual understanding.

The second stanza of the poem makes a subtle significant change. Childhood carefree
playfulness gives way to awe and a growing awareness. When the line "Now, when the
playtime is over" appears, the viewpoint dramatically changes. The speaker recognizes the
passing of a particular stage and the shift from an unrestrained playful atmosphere for
children to one of more mature understanding.

The striking image, "The world with eyes bent upon thy feet stands in awe with all its silent
stars," emphasizes this transition even more. In this instance, the intimate play is less
important than a larger, more universal experience. The image of the world is one of
reverence, its attention focused on the feet of the "thou," who has evolved into a more
transcendent being. The "silent stars," which stand for the vastness of the universe, further
emphasize the speaker's sense of wonder and awakening to the larger picture of life.

An unanswered question, "What is this sudden sight that is come upon me?" hangs over the
poem's conclusion. The speaker's struggle with the new viewpoint is evident in this question.
A sense of wonder and a desire for greater understanding have taken the place of childhood
innocence and unwavering faith.

The poem "When My Play Was With Thee" acknowledges the intricacies of faith with great
insight rather than being a lamentation poem. It honours the innocence of childhood while
realizing that a more thoughtful and introspective relationship with God is unavoidably going
to occur. The poem encourages readers to reflect on their own spiritual journeys and the
persisting value of youthful wonder, even in the face of its unavoidable loss, through its
powerful imagery and symbolic terms.

A Broken Twig and a Broken Dream: Unveiling the Loss of Innocence in Rabindranath
Tagore's "Playthings"
"Playthings" by Rabindranath Tagore explores the fleeting world of childhood and its
inevitable passage into maturity. This poem examines how time passes inevitably and how
ephemeral youthful pleasures are. In contrast to the complexity and obligations of maturity,
the poem considers the purity and simplicity of infancy. Tagore captures the spirit of childish
play and the sense of freedom and wonder it offers with vivid imagery and expressive
language. But as the poem goes on, there is a subtle change in tone that implies a melancholy
sense of nostalgia and an understanding of how fleeting childhood pleasures are. In the end,
"Playthings" asks readers to consider the passing of time and the value of preserving happy
and innocent times even in the face of adversity.

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Play and Loss in Tagore's Poems
The Bengali polymath and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's poems "When My Play
Was With Thee" and "Playthings" poignantly depict the fleeting nature of childhood. Both
poems examine the ubiquitous themes of lost innocence, adult disenchantment, and the
persistent power of memory, although having different approaches. Through exploring
children's imaginative worlds and comparing them with adult realities, Tagore forces readers
to reflect on the paradoxical nature of growing up. In his poems "When My Play Was With
Thee" and "Playthings," Rabindranath Tagore explores a similar process of growing up and
losing the carefree delight of childhood through the idea of play.

The poem “When My Play Was With Thee” emphasizes the speaker's previous relationship
with God while examining themes of spontaneousness and childish innocence. Dancing and
music are used to express harmony with the divine and metaphorically depict the spiritual
experience. The poetry also alludes to the conclusion of playtime, suggesting a change in the
speaker's spiritual development. A great spiritual awakening is indicated by a startling vision
or revelation that leaves the speaker speechless. The description of the universe and its stars
in awe of the divine presence represents cosmic reverence, suggesting that the spiritual
experience has universal importance. The poem marks a new phase in the speaker's spiritual
development as it moves from a carefree reflection to a profound spiritual insight.
Similarly, the poem “Playthings” also explores the transformation of carefree childhood to
busy adulthood by creating a contrast between the priorities of an adult and a child. On one
hand when the speaker must put his attention and mind to build his life and face the realities
of the world as an adult, the child only has one thing on his mind which is his play and as
children we do not really care about the material of play. Even a broken twig is bringing joy
and amusement to the child. The poem depicts a child playing with toys, unaware of the
passage of time or the impermanence of their happiness. However, as the child will grow
older, their toys will be discarded and forgotten and replaced with “costly playthings” such as
gold and silver which implies towards the idea of taking financial burden which is hardly a
choice but an expected part of adulthood, symbolizing the loss of innocence and the harsh
realities of adulthood.

Themes like time, change, and the transient aspect of existence are all present in both works.
"Playthings" takes a larger approach, examining the universal experience of growing up and
coming to terms with life's realities, whereas "When My Play Was with Thee" concentrates
more on interpersonal relationships and the effects of time on them.

In terms of style, Tagore's use of symbolism in both poems is remarkable. In "When My Play
Was with Thee," the speaker's childhood buddy serves as a reminder of how time has stolen
his carefreeness and innocence. Similar to this, in "Playthings," the toys stand in for the
simple pleasures and short-lived childhood years.
Both poems provide a hint of hope despite their depressing themes of innocence lost. At the
end of "When My Play Was With Thee," the poet asks, "What is this sudden sight that is
come upon me?" The speaker's struggle with the new viewpoint is evident in this inquiry. A
sense of wonder and a desire for greater understanding have taken the place of youthful
innocence and unwavering faith. A similar idea is hinted at in "Playthings". The mature
orator acknowledges that he or she has forgotten "the play of that day." But the sentence "I
forget that I too am playing a game" adds a confusing element. Perhaps the speaker, though
an adult, is still engaged in a “game” of sorts – game of life, with its own set of rules and
challenges.
Readers of every generation and background can relate to "When My Play Was With Thee"
and "Playthings" since they both examine the fleeting nature of youth. The poems express
how everyone has experienced the loss of the carefree world of childhood play and the mixed
feelings of nostalgia that come with it. Tagore's themes serve as a reminder to readers that
although innocence inevitably fades, the capacity for imagination to alter and the need for
wonder endure until adulthood.

In conclusion, Tagore's "Playthings" and "When My Play Was With Thee" both deeply
examine the loss of youthful innocence, a common human experience. Both poems give a ray
of hope even as they recognize the depressing parts of growing up. Even after maturing, the
child's creative spirit still serves as a roadmap for adults as they navigate life. These poems
stand as everlasting monuments to the enduring power of memory and the bittersweet beauty
of growing up due to Tagore's expressive language and poignant themes.