Appreciation of Poems: Complete Summary, Themes and Analysis for Class 12 English

Appreciation of Poems

Comprehensive analysis of themes, styles, and literary devices.

Money

About poem, poet and title

'Money'.
A Reflective Poem.
Welsh poet William Henry Davies.

The theme

i. Money and Personal Happiness.
ii. Meaning of Real Happiness.

Poetic style

Consisting of five stanzas.
Use of Exclamations to show strong feelings.
Skillful use of imagery and symbols.

Language and poetic devices

Effective use of 1st person. Simple and narrative.
Use of Alliteration, Antithesis, Metonymy and Simile. Use of different rhyming scheme in each stanza.

Special features

Direct comparison between the life of rich and poor people.

Message, value, morals

'Contentment is the greatest form of wealth'.
'Happiness comes after satisfaction'.
'Money can buy happiness but not contentment'.

Own opinion

I'm of the opinion that real wealth can be measured not by what you have but by what you are.

12th English Board Papers

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• English - March 2019 Set A View
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Father Returning Home

About poem, poet and title

'Father Returning Home'.
Taken from 'Travelling in a Cage'.
Dilip Chitre, a bilingual poet.

The theme

i. Loneliness and world-weariness of old man.
ii. Monotonous life of old man.
iii. Isolation from man-made world.

Poetic style

Consisting of 25 lines.
Skillful use of long lines with strong use of imagery. Presented in depressed tone.

Language and poetic devices

Simple & straight-forward language.
Use of 1st and 3rd person. Descriptive words are used. Effective use of Alliteration, Simile and Onomatopoeia.

Special features

Poem communicates the apathy of society towards old people. Poet sketches his father's image.

Message, value, morals

Love your parents and treat them with loving care. One person caring another represents life's value.

Own opinion

I find this poem highly applicable to today's modern world. Strong message is conveyed with simplicity. I salute the poet's keen observation of modern society.

Small Towns and Rivers

About poem, poet and title

'Small Towns and Rivers'.
Taken from the collection 'The River Poems'.
Indian poetess Mamang Dai.

The theme

Description of poet's hometown 'Pasighat'.
Need to preserve the natural goodness.
'Life and death'. 'Mortality and Eternity'.

Poetic style

Free verse. Consisting of seven stanzas.
The river symbolically depicts nature and its permanence.

Language and poetic devices

Simple and creative language is used to depict the attractiveness of nature. Use of Metaphor, Simile, Antithesis, Repetition and Personification.

Special features

The poem is based on the beliefs and ideology of the tribal people from North East India. Various natural elements are skillfully mentioned in the poem.

Message, value, morals

We should protect nature and its elements. It is our responsibility to preserve and tend to the world in which we all live.

Own opinion

I think, the poem presents a contrast between the mortal humans and the immortal nature.

Indian Weavers

About poem, poet and title

'Indian Weavers'.
Short and meaningful poem.
Indian poetess Sarojini Naidu.

The theme

i. Life of weavers.
ii. Three stages of human life.

Poetic style

Consisting three stanzas.
Colourfully presented.
Depiction of human life and human actions.

Language and poetic devices

Use of artistic language, easily understood.
Use of Alliteration, Metaphor, Imagery and Inversion. Use of rhyming with the scheme- aabb

Special features

The journey of human life with three stages.
Effective use of images and symbols.
Reveals hard life of weavers.

Message, value, morals

We must keep working.
Life is momentary-live happily.
Death is the final truth of human life.

Own opinion

I think, the use of birds and colours really made the poem rather beautiful. The poetess has a keen observation of every aspects of human life.

She Walks in Beauty

About poem, poet and title

'She Walks in Beauty'.
A Short Lyrical Poem.
English romantic poet Lord Byron.

The theme

Inner beauty and outer beauty.
Beauty and harmony of mind and body.
Balance between light and dark.

Poetic style

Consisting of three stanzas.
All stanzas are well-balanced to present the idea of Beauty. Written in Iambic Tetrameter.

Language and poetic devices

Presented in rich and impressive language. Use of Simile, Antithesis, Alliteration and Personification. The poem follows a rhyme scheme of 'ababab'.

Special features

Byron has given this poem a romantic feel and touch to make it an eternal literary piece.

Message, value, morals

Outer Beauty attracts, but inner Beauty captivates. External Beauty is a gift but an internal Beauty is an accomplishment.

Own opinion

According to me, Beauty is not in the Face, Beauty is a Light in the Heart. I think, everything has Beauty but not everyone sees it.

Have You Earned Your Tomorrow

About poem, poet and title

'Have You Earned Your Tomorrow'.
An Inspirational Poem.
American poet Edgar Guest.

The theme

Urge to be thoughtful in day-to-day life.
The real value of life.
Life is beautiful, lead it together.

Poetic style

Consisting of four stanzas.
Use of many questions to convey an idea.
Presented in appealing style.

Language and poetic devices

Use of simple language.
Effective use of Interrogation and Alliteration.
Use of aabb rhyming scheme.

Special features

Uplifting poem that teaches the way to create glory in one's life.

Message, value, morals

One should do good to others.
'Live and let others live'.
Be a good human being, a warm hearted person.

Own opinion

Obviously the poem teaches us good manners. I think the poem tests our compassion and kindness towards others. Really, it's inspiring!

Song of the Open Road

About poem, poet and title

'Song of the Open Road'.
Taken from the collection 'Leaves Of Grass'.
American poet Walt Whitman.

The theme

i. Freedom.
ii. Mobility.
iii. Journey of Life.

Poetic style

Free verse.
Consisting four stanzas.
Use of personal pronouns.

Language and poetic devices

Use of artistic language, easily understood.
Use of Repetition, Metaphor, Paradox and Inversion. No rhyming scheme.

Special features

The word 'road' is symbolic.
It is compared with human life.
It is the sign of mobility.

Message, value, morals

We must believe in our strength.
Freedom is the real life.
Life is dynamic-live happily.

Own opinion

I think, we should not depend on luck. Everyone is the creator of his own life. We must face the difficulties in the journey of life. Life is challenge.

The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet | Q&A, Summary, and Analysis

Answer the questions - The Last Lesson | by Alphonse Daudet | Prose

A. Answer the following questions in two or three sentences:

1. Why did Franz dread to go to school that day?

Franz’s teacher M.Hamel told him that he was going to ask questions on participles. But Franz did not know the first word about participles. So he dreaded to go to school that day.

2. What were the various things that tempted Franz to spend his day outdoors?

Warm and bright outdoors, chirping of the birds at the edge of the woods, and the drilling of the Prussian soldiers in the open field at the back of the saw mill were the various things that tempted Franz to spend his day outdoors.

3. Why was the narrator not able to get to his desk without being seen?

Class had already begun. His classmates were in their places and M.Hamel was walking up and down. So the narrator was not able to get to his desk without being seen.

4. What was Franz sorry for?

Franz was sorry for not learning his lessons.

5. Why were the old villagers sitting in the last desk?

The old villagers were sitting in the last desk to honour and thank M.Hamel’s forty years of faithful service and showing their respect for the country.

6. What were the thoughts of the narrator’s parents?

The narrator’s parents preferred him to work on a farm or at the mill so as to have a little more money.

7. Why does M. Hamel say that we must guard our language?

When people are enslaved, as long as they hold their language, it is as if they had the key to their prison. M. Hamel says that we must guard our language.

8. M. Hamel was gazing at many things. What were they?

M. Hamel was gazing at everything in that little school room.

9. When and how did M. Hamel bid farewell to the class?

When the Church clock struck 12, M.Hamel bid farewell to the class. He wrote “Vive La France” on blockboard and told the students that the school dismissed and let them go.

B. Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words:

1. We appreciate the value of something only when we are about to lose it. Explain this with reference to the French language and M.Hamel.

Lesson : The Last Lesson

Author : Alphonse Daudet

Theme : Importance of mother tongue - condition of France after the Franco-Prussian war.

Characters : M.Hamel, Franz, Village people

Outlook : Mother tongue - important - people - attend the class - M.Hamel - taught - last lesson

Two districts of France, Alsace and Lorraine were taken over by the Prussians during Franco-Prussian war. The people were compelled to leam German instead of French. When they knew, French will no longer be taught to them, they realized its importance. Suddenly they developed an inclination towards learning French. The students, the village people, old Hauser, the former mayor, the former post master, and several others were present in the class. They wanted to attend the last French lesson. They eagerly brought their old form primers to leam the language. The French teacher M.Hamel said that the French language was the most beautiful, clearest and logical language in the world. He advised them to guard their language. He explained the lesson with all patience. The whole class keenly learned their last French lesson. Thus they appreciate the value of their language, only when they are about to lose it. With this reference we can understand that we appreciate the value of something only when we are about to lose it.

ESSAY

• Introduction
• Late realisation
• The last lesson
• Importance of French
• Conclusion

Introduction

In this lesson ‘The Last Lesson’ the author clearly depicts the condition of France after the Franco-Prussian war. Two districts of France, Alsace and Lorraine were taken over by the Prussians. The French were compelled to learn German language.

Late realisation:

When they knew French will no longer be taught to them, then only they realized its importance. Suddenly they developed an inclination towards learning.

The last lesson:

The students, the village people, old Hauser, the former mayor, the former post master, and several others were present in the class. They wanted to attend the last French lesson. They eagerly brought their old form primers to learn the language.

Importance of French:

The French teacher M.Hamel said that the French language was the most beautiful, clearest and logical language in the world. He advised them to guard their language. He explained the lesson with all patience. The whole class keenly learnt their last French lesson.

Conclusion:

Thus they appreciate the value of their language, only when they are about to lose it. With this reference we can understand that we appreciate the value of something only when we are about to lose it.

Moral: if you are late you may lose some valuables

2. Give an account of the last day of M.Hamel in school.

Lesson : The Last Lesson

Author : Alphonse Daudet

Theme : M.Hamel’s class - Importance of mother tongue - condition of France after the Franco- Prussian war.

Characters : M.Hamel, Franz, Village people

Outlook : M.Hamel - best dress - Quiet classroom - villagers - last lesson - not scold Franz - could not speak - long live France.

The French teacher M.Hamel was dressed in his Sunday’s best. Instead of noisy classroom everything was as quiet as Sunday morning. The village people, old Hauser, the former mayor, the former post master, and several others were present in the class. They gathered there in order to honour and thank M.Hamel’s forty years faithful service and of showing their respect for the country. M.Hamel did not scold his student Franz, though he was late to the class. Franz was sorry for not learning his mother tongue properly. M.Hamel said that it was the last French lesson. M.Hamel said that the French language was the most beautiful, clearest and logical language in the world. He also said that they must guard their language. At last he overcame with his emotions, he could not speak and so wrote “Vive La France” on the black board. He told the students that the school was dismissed and let them go. Thus the last lesson brought the importance of need of mother tongue in the students and the village people through M.Hamel.

ESSAY

• Introduction
• M. Hamel and his class
• Villager’s tribute
• Franz’s realization
• Hamel’s announcement
• Hamel’s emotions
• Conclusion

Introduction

In this lesson ‘The Last Lesson’ the author clearly depicts the condition of France after the Franco-Prussian war.

M. Hamel and his class:

The French teacher M.Hamel was dressed in his Sunday best. Instead of noisy classroom everything was as quiet as Sunday morning. The village people, old Hauser, the former mayor, the former post master, and several others were present in the class.

Villager's tribute:

They gathered there in order to honour and thank M.Hamel’s forty years faithful service and of showing their respect for the country.

Franz’s realization

M.Hamel did not scold his student Franz, though he was late to the class. Franz was sorry for not learning his mother tongue properly.

Hamel’s announcement

Mr. Hamel said that it was the last French lesson. Mr. Hamel said that the French language was the most beautiful, clearest and logical language in the world. He also said that they must guard their language.

Hamel’s emotions

At last he overcame with emotions could not speak and wrote “Vive La France” on the black board. He told them that the school was dismissed and let them go.

Conclusion:

The Last lesson brought the importance of need of mother tongue in the students and the village people through M.Hamel.

Moral: Never give up your mother tongue, Never lose your identity.

Summary

Q3. (A) Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (11)

We often hear this statement that “many of our young people spend more time before their T.V. sets, than they do in their classrooms or with their textbooks. “A bit exaggerated though it may sound, it is nearly true and our teenagers are being considerably influenced by the electronic media, particularly the T.V. The television has become the single most powerful influence in the lives of many of our youngsters today. Too often this happens to us much before we realise it ourselves.          I am in no way trying to deny the many advantages of T.V. or minimise its manifold contributions to our world. On the other hand, I consider T.V. as one of the greatest scientific achievements of our times, bringing people closer than ever before.         Television’s use of the modern satellite technology brings today even the remotest regions of the world to us in seconds, making the world a small (global) village. As we know, television also provides us with a fuller and more impressive coverage of current events than any other media.        The T.V. does serve. In addition, as medium of education as well as entertainment. Besides, helping us to learn subjects taught in schools, college in greater depth, it enables us (National Geographic, Discovery channel etc.) to see and appreciate from close quarters (without having to go there, which is very expensive or even impossible for most of us) the wonders of God’s creation in any part of the world.

B. Summary:

Write a summary of the above extract with the help of the following points and suggest a suitable title: (4)

Clues: T.V. - Misunderstanding - influence on youngsters - advantages - other benefits.

Ans.

‘The Greater Influence of Television on Youngsters’

The passage explains us about the merits and demerits of Television. It also emphasise on the powerful influence of T.V. on youngsters. Television’s use of the modern satellite technology made this entire world into a global village. It also sharpens our mind with the day to day current updates. Appart from education and entertainment,  The T.V. serves as medium of education as well as entertainment. Besides, helping us to learn subjects taught in schools, college in greater depth, it enables us to see and appreciate from close quarters the wonders of God’s creation in any part of the world. We do agree with the statement that many of our young people spend more time before their T.V. sets because of the following reasons.

Almost every home has a T.V. set. Almost full control on T.V. as well as on Remote control is there in the hand of children & young people. It relaxes us from various tiny things & routine work.