Summary of the Poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear' – Rabindranath Tagore

 

Where the Mind is Without Fear – Rabindranath Tagore

About the Poet:

          Rabindranath Tagore born on 7^th May 1886, died on 7^th August 1941.  He was a Bengali poet, writer, music composer and painter.  He restructured Bengali literature, music and Indian art.  His mother tongue was Bengali.  His notable works: Gitanjali, Gharae-Baire, Gora, Jana Gana Mana, Rabindra Sangeet and Amar Shonar Bangla.  He was awarded Noble Prize for literature in 1913. 

Summary and Analysis:                                       

          The poem Where the Mind is Without Fear is in sonnet form but has thirteen lines. This poem is taken from the poet’s famous work Gitanjali (1912) collection of Psalms. For this, he has received the Noble Prize in 1913.  He pleads to God to have his people fearless and independent.  It is about the imaginary country the poet wishes to live in.  He has written this poem during British reign. So it describes the dreamy society after the independence of India which the poet wants.  He has written this poem in the view of Indian society but it has a universal appeal.

          In the first line, the poet imagines his society differently.  He wants all of his countryman should live without fear.  They have their heads straight up and face the situation fearlessly.  Poet wants to make sure all the citizen ought to get knowledge. A society should have the Educational institutions where everyone can obtain knowledge.  Knowledge makes people rational and unites them where no other foreign forces can divide.

          “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;”

          India has different classes of people, languages, religions, castes and races but people should unite under one name 'Indian' and they should rise against the common enemy, Britishers.  In India people must be honest with all.  To get personal advantage, no person can lie. The poet asks the almighty to industrialize his country and make his people economically stable.  Free from discrimination, honesty and hard work make the country perfect more than independence.  So the poet wishes the God to bless his people with these qualities. 

          People should be logic in what they do.  They should avoid following the superstitious act which has no reason to follow.  Therefore, Tagore asks God to make people act with reason and cope with new ideologies.

“Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening

          thought and action –

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”

God, wake my people from the longest sleep to lead them with your guidance of broad thinking.  Here the longest sleep is colonization and waking up is freedom.  The poet wants his country to be free of colonizers and people to act with their head straight and fearlessly as heaven of freedom.

         

         

Summary of The Diamond Necklace - Guy de Maupassant

 

The Diamond Necklace – Guy de Maupassant

Characters:

Madame Loisel / Matilda: young, charm, greedy.

Monsieur Loisel              : Simple, clerk at Ministry of Education.

Madame Forestier           : Rich, friend of Madame Loisel.

Summary:

          Madame Loisel lived in small house, not well furnished.  Appointed a young girl as maid.  Madame Loisel was not content with what she had.  She wanted to have delicious food like wings of chickens at any time she wants.  She also fonded of  jewelleries.  Since her husband was an ordinary clerk she could not fulfill all her desires. 

One day, Mr. Loisel brought her an invitation of Ministry of Education.  Initially she refused to accept the invitation due to not having fine attires to wear for party.   Mr. Loisel decided to spend his only savings that he had for purchasing a gun.  Still, Madame Loisel was not ready to attend the party because of jewellery.  Then as per her husband’s idea she approached Madame Forestier for the jewel.  Surprisingly, Mme. Loisel got a beautiful diamond necklace.

At the party, everyone attracted to Mme. Loisel, her necklace, her attire, and her charm.  That was the day Mrs. Loisel ever dreamt of.  It was the dream come moment for Mme. Loisel.  Everyone enquired about her whereabouts.  She had spent whole night at the party and returned home at early four.  She realized that she missed her necklace somewhere at the party.  Mr. Loisel went for the search and it was useless.  Mr. Loisel reported the police about missing diamond necklace.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Loisel wrote to Madame Forestier that she had broken the clasp of the diamond necklace, so she could return it back after few days as it went for repairment.  Mr and Mme. Loisel were in search of same diamond necklace at the end they found the look alike of that jewellery at Palais-Royal.  It was estimated at 40,000 francs, finally they paid 36,000 francs for it.  Mr. Loisel spent all the money (18,000 francs) his father left for him and he managed the rest by debt. 

After handover the newly bought diamond necklace Matilda returned home with heavy heart, thinking about the debt that she has to repay.  From that moment her life changed remarkably.  She stopped keeping maid, moved to low rented house, wearing simple clothes, doing all the households herself (got her nails dark), made her husband to do over duty. 

Ten years have passed.  It is completely new Madame Loisel, who had strong heart, messy hair then old clothes.  On the side walk, Mme. Loisel happened to meet Mme. Forestier for the first time since she had returned diamond necklace.  Mme Forestier could recognize her poor friend.  Mme. Loisel introduced herself and explained what she went through after the party. After hearing the poor story of Mme. Loisel, Mme. Forestier revealed that it was not even diamond but imitation.  Mme. Forestier said that not to worry about money and the things that the couple lost.  She also said they had saved thirty six thousand francs in ten years.    

Summary and Analysis of Francis Bacon's Of Studies

Of Studies- Francis Bacon

Summary and Analysis:

          Bacon illustrates the importance of studies. Man advances his position when he learns. Studies serve three purposes:

           i. Happiness

          ii. Ornaments oneself

          iii. Enables a person to handle situation.

          Man becomes lazy, when he has learned all and spends too much time in studying. At some point man judge people based on his knowledge to act accordingly, knowledge leaves him in solitude. Wisdom is hidden inside the people, studies are the tool to enrich and refresh the knowledge. Cunning people have high opinion on studies to take short cuts to acquire knowledge; simple man always admires; when the wise man applies it to lead peaceful life.  Studies make men to understand facts because he should not agree with wrong and argue the right. 

Bacon’s view on books:

            Some books meant for shallow reading, other meant for entertainment, few meant to have complete reading. It teaches values that people lack. Some people need other’s assistance to get an idea of a book.  Assisting to gain knowledge is advisable for the less significant things, one ought to read text rather than moving to summary. The new idea learned by reading must not mislead a person against people. A man must read text with proper understanding which serves the purpose of the author.

Bacon’s view on readers:

                “Reading maketh a full man; conference a

                  ready man; and writing an exact man”.

          Reading makes a man complete. People gain knowledge through reading and apply in life. If people discuss what they have learnt by reading that makes them ready.  Interaction makes the man ready to face the world.  People get new ideas, when they discuss what they have read.  Based on this people write a new idea this makes them exact.  Here the purpose of study is achieved.  People write better, when they have good memory. Some are in need of wit to share the knowledge with others.  Minimal reading makes people ignorant and they remain idle. 

Bacon’s views on different studies:

          History – makes people wise

          Poetry   - makes people humorous.

          Maths   - people learn logical techniques.

         Philosophy- makes people rational and enables to differentiate good and bad.

          Bacon compares physical and mental illness.  Body and mind acts as a main source, both need some workouts.  Bowling practices heals stone, shooting cures issues in breast and lungs, healthy stomach needs walk and head needs ride.  On the other hand, mental illness is cured by different disciplines.  A person who cannot concentrate is advisable to practice mathematics to have focus on things they handle. People who are not able to differentiate good and bad are need to undergo drills of schoolmen to enrich their wittiness. Some struggles in recognising facts to put forth his views to convince others ought to learn law.  Regular practice of law enables them to collect facts and argue in the way to grasp the attention of others. 

          Studies turn people to enjoy life. It enriches people with additional skills like writing, thinking and conferencing. Studies provide an additional glow to everyone’s personality. It helps to create or recreate a concept or idea. It refines personality and speech.

Summary and Analysis of Kamala Das's "A Hot Noon in Malabar

A Hot Noon in Malabar – Kamala Das

About the Poet:

            Kamala Das, born on 31^st March 1934 and died on 31^st May 2009.   She was known by one time pen name, Madhavikutty.  She was an Indian poet in English.  She was popular in Kerala based on her short stories.  She was a poet, novelist, short story writer.   Her notable works were Entekatha (autobiography), My Story, The Descendants.  Her awards: Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, Vayalar Award, Sahitya Academy Award, Asan World Prize, Asian Poetry Prize and Kent Award.

Background of the Poem:

            A Hot Noon in Malabar was a recollection of poet’s childhood.  The poet born and brought up in her paternal grandmother’s home in Malabar, Kerala.  She got married at her early age, settled in Calcutta.  Of course, she missed her grandmother’s house not only that but also Malabar and its people.  The poet described an ordinary day in Malabar, which experienced by the poet herself. 

Summary and Analysis of the Poem:

            The poem had single stanza with twenty three lines.  It described the passersby like beggars, fortune tellers, bangle sellers, Kurava girls and strangers with whom she spent her early summer days.  Kamala Das longed for her early days in Malabar and compared it with her present days in Calcutta.

            That was a hot noon in Malabar, beggars calling out the people for food.  They came along with fortune teller, who had caged parrots and cards.  Brown Kurava girls, were singing a song about their god while reading people’s palms.  These strangers were telling the people’s future using birds, fortune cards and wand.  Then came the bangle sellers, they spread the bangles at the porch’s cool black floor, it was in red, blue and green colour covered with dust.  The poetess heard the strange noise and noticed the cracked heels of bangle sellers.  The dusty bangles and the cracked heels show the struggled life, they round the village everyday to get bangles sold. 

                        “For all of them, whose feet, devouring rough

                          Miles, grow crack on the heels, so that when they

                          Clambered up our porch, the noise was grating”

It was another noon for strangers who walk long way through Malabar.  They looked into the house through the window to find the people.  They could not see anything as they were from bright sunlight.  When they found no one, they directly moved to the brick legged well to quench their thirst.  They had dark eyes, silent who rarely spoke with rigid rough voices.  These strangers would not move with people easily.  They waited for the chances and then mingle with other, which was strange.  

            “Their eyes, dark, silent ones who rarely speak

              At all, so that when they speak, their voices

              Run wild, like jungle-voices.”

A noon for wild men, wild thoughts, wild love.  Yes, it was a noon in Calcutta where the poet lived with her husband.  She enjoyed no people, not thoughts, nor love.  She longed for the hot noon in Malabar, though it was hot and dusty.  For the poetess living away from the Malabar was a torture, she longed for the hot noon in Malabar.  So, she always remembered the hot noon of Malabar.

Summary and Analysis of 'The Fear of Life and Death' by Sri Aurobindo.

The Fear of Life and Death- Sri Aurobindo

About the Poet:

                Sri Aurobindo born on 15^th August, 1872, dies on 5^th December 1950.  He joins the Indian movement for Independence from British rule.  He founds the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.  His famous philosophies are Integral Yoga, Involution, Evolution, Integral Psychology, Intermediate Zone and Supermind.  His disciples are Champaklal, N.K. Gupta, Amal Kiran, Nirodbaran, Pavitra, M.P. Pandit, A.B. Purani, D.K. Roy, Satprem and Indra Sen.  His famous literary works are The Life of Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga, and Savitri.

Summary and Analysis:

                Death resides with everyone, it is inside us. It wishes to encounter us one day.  Death lives every moment of our life and feels the same way as we do.  The poet questions the reader,

‘Why do you fear her?’

Her refers death.  Why does poet think death must be a woman?  It is just because, a woman can give and take lives.  The poet refers death as Lovely Maiden, she is beautiful, smiling face, cheerful. The Lovely Maiden is culling flowers in beautiful bower, which denotes that the Death is taking away the lives (soul) of people.  As we all know, death and birth are the common cycle of life.  Death takes the life and nature gives it back.  Therefore, embrace with love and do not fear of her.

“A kind and lovely maiden culling flowers

In a sweet garden  fresh with vernal showers,”

The Portress, once again the poet refers death as woman.  The lovely woman opens the gate of another world in where no one going to meet her again.  The poet asks again do not fear of death, it is not painful at all.  It approaches mildly. You cannot feel her when she touches you with her tender hands.  He raises another question, do you bother about your appearance? Yes, you may look horrible.  People look at you, they step away from you.  Of course, you are really dirty when she picks up you and leaves your body behind. 

“Is it because the flowerless stalk droops dull

And ghastly now that was so beautiful?”

 Afraid of your destiny?, Poet asks.  When Death meets, she takes you along with her.  To the eternity, where there is no beginning and end.  Do you (soul) scared of eternity?  It happens when people approaches something that they never feared of.  Therefore the poet asks the readers not to afraid of destiny after death.

“Or is it the opening portal’s horrid jar

That shakes you, feeble souls of courage bare?”

 Aurobindo answers all the questions that death moves the soul from one vessel to another.  He emphasizes the rebirth of the soul when he mention the robes (vessels).  Death is just a shifting agent, she knows what lies in the other side of the gate.  So, she dresses you with wedding garments for the grand entering. 

SYMBOLS:

            The poet constructs the poem with ample symbols and implied meanings.  These symbols are related to death and eternity.  He has used these kinds of mild and soft symbols to eradicate the fear of death that lies inside the people’s heart as a terrible thing.

1.      Lovely Maiden and Young Portress: Death

2.      Flower: Soul

3.      Stalk: Human body

4.      Horrid Jar: Eternity.

5.      Robes: human body.

Figure of Speech:

Oxymoron: The figure of speech, in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

            ‘Sweet Death’.

Personification: The figure of speech where non-living things are described to seem like people.  It represents a non-human thing as if it were human.

            ‘Lovely maiden’, ‘Young Portress’.

            Thus the poet advise the readers not to fear of death which is inevitable, it is common to Prince and Paupers.  Therefore do not be scared of death and ruin the present.

Summary and Analysis of Nissim Ezekiel's "Goodbye Party for Miss. Pushpa T.S"

Goodbye Party for Miss. Pushpa T.S

                                                                                     -Nissim Ezekiel

About the poet:

          Nissim Ezekiel, born on 16^th December, 1924, Bombay, British India.  He dies on 9^th January, 2004 (aged 79), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  He is a  poet, playwright, actor, art critic and editor.  He is a father of Indian English Poetry.  His genre is modern Indian English Poetry.  He is inspired by the writings of Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot.  He has implemented new techniques and innovative ideas in his works.  His notable works are Night of the Scorpion, Later Day Psalms.  He has won Sahitya Academy Award for the work Later Day Psalms in 1983.  He has received Padmashri in the year 1988.

About the poem:

This poem by Ezekiel is an attempt to expose the English language efficiency of Indians, it also highlights the postcolonial effects on the life of Indians.  People of Indian society are highly attracted towards the culture and language of Britishers.   While they attempts to speak English they commit mistakes in the form of syntax, grammar, etc., without their knowledge.  Native speakers are feeling high when they speak English and they think that it will gain them social respect.  Yet being a second language errors in English are quiet common. 

This poem also highlights the cultural and social concepts of India.   These aspects are given in a cheerful way.  This is an interesting poem in a humorous English i.e., Babu English of native Indians, who have English as their second language and their English has influence of Hindustani.

Summary and Analysis:

           The poem Goodbye Party of Miss Pushpa T.S., explains Miss. Pushpa’s farewell party in jovial manner.  The poem has seven stanzas, each stanza illustrates the Indian culture.  Every sentence, particularly vile humor.   The poem portrays typical Indian farewell function, where one can watch the unnecessary praising, greetings, pretenders and imposters.  The stanzas have maximum of seven lines and minimum of three lines. 

Nissim Ezekiel writes the poem in Indian English which is known as Babu English.  He leaves mistakes uncorrected on purpose to show the readers the way Indians are speaking.  Though it is a kind of attack on Indian English speakers, the author’s intention is to make the readers to enjoy his work. 

In first stanza, Miss. Pushpa’s friend speaks in farewell meeting.  He is addressing the gathering, calling them friends and sisters.  Miss. Pushpa leaves the country in two or three days.  Her colleagues wishing her bon voyage (happy journey).  Here he addresses the gathering as friends and sisters.  It is the typical Indian way of addressing the gathering.  Treating everyone as friends, especially ladies as sisters.  In the next line, the sentence ‘in two three days,’ has grammatical mistakes to expose Indian English.

In second stanza, the speaker’s speech goes on.   He talks on Miss. Pushpa’s sweetness and her smiling face.  Pushpa’s character is explained by the speaker.  The speaker divides Pushpa’s sweetness into two kinds, internal and external sweetness.  Here the internal sweetness refers her character and the external is her appearance.  In speaker’s view, Pushpa is a sweet package and he also comments that Pushpa smiles for no reasons while meeting people.

            “I don’t mean only external sweetness

              but internal sweetness.”  

In third stanza, he speaks on Miss. Pushpa’s wealthy family, her father’s profession, her place.  This stanza conveys that, Indians are more concerned about the family rather than the person.  They are so keen in knowing the person whether he is wealthy or not.   If the person is wealthier he would be respected and given attention, the poor gets rejected everywhere.   Therefore the wealthier Pushpa gets the farewell party.  The speaker is not sure about what he is going to talk.  It is notable that the speaker is not fully prepared for this meeting.

            “Miss. Pushpa is coming

              from very high family.”

In Fourth stanza, the speaker remembers the place Surat and he also recollects the memories of his own family with whom he has spent his early days in the same place.  He proudly mentions his uncle’s friends cooking, which is no way related to the Miss. Pushpa.   

            “of my uncle’s very old friend-

              his wife was cooking nicely…”

Fifth stanza contains three lines, the speaker remembers Pushpa and refers her as popular lady not only with men but among ladies also.  Here the speaker divides the society into two, men and ladies.  It seems they have societies of their own.  So, being popular in each society is something remarkable.  This stanza shows the gender discrimination in Indian society. 

The sixth stanza explains the obedience of Miss. Pushpa.  She always does the work, assigned to her.  She response her colleagues like ‘Just now only I will do it’.  The speaker calls it good spirit and appreciates it. 

In the final stanza, the speaker says Miss. Pushpa never said no to anyone.  She accepts anything that comes from her fellow mates.  Today, she is going to improve herself, let us wish her happy journey.  At the end, he invites Miss. Pushpa to give a speech.  Miss. Pushlpa is appreciated by everyone in her office.  All of them are wishing her bon voyage.  At last the speaker ends his speech and lets others to speak.  It is obvious that visiting foreign countries is more prestigious and makes the person respectable in Indian society. 

The goodbye party of Miss. Pushpa T.S. describes the farewell party, which is not really organized, speeches that is not prepared, errorful, discussed the irrelevant things in formal proceedings. 

Summary of Francis Bacon’s 'Of Revenge'

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon, popularly known literary figure. He has written number of essays with remarkable philosophical suggestions to lead successful life.

At the age of twelve, he goes to Cambridge University. He has no interest in promoting culture and speculates about human life. He disgusts with regular studies. He comments, “produced no fruit, but only jungle of dry and useless branches”.

In France, he studies practical subjects like statistics, diplomacy and becomes lawyer. He befriends with Lord Essex skillfully to advance his position in the court. King James titles him as “Baron Verulam, Viscount St. Albans”. Later he is imprisoned by the king for getting bribe. Then Bacon decides to devote his ability to literature and science.

Bacon’s first work “The Great Institution of True Philosophy” is incomplete. His other works are ‘The Atlantis, History of Henry VII, Psalms, Of Studies, Of Friendship, and Of Love etc...

        Bacon’s philosophy has been classified under three heads:

a.     Man in his relation to society

b.    Man in his relation to himself

c.     Man in his relation to God   

        Most of his essays suggest philosophical ideas include Politics, Religion, Treasure, Death, Medicine, Astronomy and History of Various Nations. 

Of Revenge:

        Revenge is not a civilized practice and creates disorder in society. People who wants to take revenge, stuck in past. There are two kinds of people. First, shows their true nature to understand easily as evil but later is in disguise to revenge people at the right time in the dark.

“It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence and forgives his enemy is magnanimous like a king” (Salomon) Quotes Bacon in his essay Of Revenge. Bacon mentions Job’s proverb like accepting good from God, must accept bad as well. As Job’s proverb goes, one must forgive the person who has done evil to feel the glory.

        It is good to have public revenge rather than private. Bacon refers historical figures Julius Caesar, Pertinex, Henry III to justify public revenge. The one who takes revenge is a witch that cannot change its nature.

Historical References of Public Revenge:

        Julius Caesar, the play written by William Shakespeare. It is one of the finest plays of Shakespeare. The play set in Rome in 44 BC. It portrays moral dilemma of Caesar’s friend Brutus.

        Caesar has friends and opponents as well. Many celebrates Caesar’s victories but few conspires against him. They want to stop Caesar from gaining more power. Somehow, they managed to convince Brutus to join the plot. At the end, they stab Caesar including his dearest friend Brutus which makes Caesar to say “you too Brutus” in shock.

         Caesar’s faithful follower Mark Antony swears to take revenge. He speaks in front of the mob to reveal the conspiracy that headed by Brutus and Cassius. Eventually, Brutus and Cassius flee and kill themselves, leaving Antony to rule.

        Pertinax, Roman Emperor who rules first three months of 193. He is the son of freed slave. He fights in wars of Rome. His success leads him high rank in military. After the death of Commodus, Pertinax rules the Rome. He reforms several methods of roman court one of them leads his assassination by the Guards.

        The Guards are killed by Septimius Severus, who rules after Pertinax. 

        Henry III king of France is killed by a catholic fanatic Jacques Clement. Henry IV murders Jacques Clement for the assassination of Henry III.

                In Bacon’s work, each word and sentence counts. Ideas are interlinked. His essays are argumentative and have number of proverbs. Thus, Bacon suggests philosophical ideas from various histories to lead successful life.