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Question
Appreciation:
|
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, The earth, that is sufficient, |
Read the given extract and write the appreciation of the given poem based on the following aspects.
- About the poem, significance of the title.
- Form of the poem, theme and its significance.
- Poetic style, language features, poetic devices.
- Inspirational message, values, morals reflected.
- Your opinion and critical evaluation of the poem.
Solution
"Song of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman is a famous travel poem that celebrates freedom and breaking away from a boring, routine life. The poem encourages readers to take to the open road and explore life’s opportunities. Whitman sees the road as a symbol of endless possibilities, allowing people to go wherever they want.
The poem is written in free verse, meaning it doesn’t follow a rhyme scheme and the lines are of different lengths. Whitman uses simple poetic devices like alliteration, antithesis, consonance, inversion, metaphor, paradox, and repetition. A unique feature is the use of parenthesis in the fourth stanza, which feels like a side note rather than part of the main topic. Imagery is also used to make the poem more vivid and appealing.
The main message of the poem is that we shouldn’t be tied down by routine. Instead, we should embrace life with a free and adventurous spirit. I like this poem because it inspires me to step out, be free, and leave my worries behind. Its message feels timeless and relevant even today.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Discuss with your partner, the preparations you would like to make for the journey chosen.
Discuss the ways in which you would overcome the problems/ hindrances/ difficulties you face during your journey.
During every journey we have to observe certain rules. Discuss your ideas of the journey without any restrictions. You can begin like this
- I would go alone / with selected friends/ _______
- _______
- _______
- _______
Pick out the lines showing that the poet is prepared to enjoy every moment of his journey.
By ‘old delicious burdens’ the poet means-
The poet is a person who is free from all inhibitions. Discuss how the concept of ‘freedom’ is expressed in the poem.
Choose the mode of travel that you would like the most for a journey.
- Airways
- Waterways
- Railways
- Roadways
Give reasons for your preference.
- __________________
- __________________
- __________________
Following are the activities of the poet related to his journey on the road. Divide them into two parts as ‘activities the poet will practice’ and ‘activities he will not practice’.
- Walking along the road though he does not know where it reaches
- Complaining about the discomforts during the journey
- Postponing the journey
- Praying for good fortune
- Carrying the fond memories of the good people
- Creating contacts with famous and influential people
- Striving to achieve high and bright success.
- Reflecting and developing his own ‘self’
Write down the traits the poet exhibit through the given line.
Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing.
Write down the traits the poet exhibit through the given line.
I do not want the constellations any nearer.
Write down the traits the poet exhibit through the given line.
I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them
Write down the traits the poet exhibit through the given line.
I am filled with them – I will fill them in return.
‘Healthy, free, the world before me’. Express your views regarding the above line.
With the help of the following points, write a poetic appreciation of the poem ‘Song of the Open Road.
- About the poem/poet and the title
- The theme
- Poetic style
- The language/poetic devices used in the poem
- Special features
- Message, values, morals in the poem
- Your opinion about the poem
Read the expression ‘old delicious burdens.’ A burden cannot be delicious. The poet has used this combination of words to express that he has many sweet memories of the people and places which he would like to remember forever. The poet has used seemingly contradictory expressions to convey the meaning that his heart is full of sweet memories of good and kind people. Though he wants to be free from any type of attachment, he wants to cherish these sweet memories in his heart forever.
The expression contains opposite ideas that make it seem absurd or unlikely, although it may be true. This is called ‘Paradox.
Free Verse: Free Verse is a poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm. The features of Free Verse are -
It is a literary device that is free from limitations of the regular meter or rhythm, does not rhyme with fixed forms, and still it provides an artistic expression. In this way, the poet can give his own shape to a poem as he desires and can use various poetic devices to create the effect he considers suitable for the piece.
As Free Verse gives greater freedom for choosing words and conveying their meanings to readers, it is free from the artificiality of a typical poetic expression. This technique is commonly used in modern poetry.
Remember -
- Although Free Verse requires no meter, rhyme or other traditional poetic techniques, it is the use of internal pattern of sounds, the choice of exact words and their chosen places are the factors which attribute the Free Verse, its lyrical or rhythmic beauty.
- Free Verse is completely different from ‘Blank Verse’ which essentially has to occur in iambic pentameter. Blank verse is poetry written with regular metrical but unrhymed lines. It is described as ‘the most common’ form of English poetry which has been influential since the 16th century.
Read the given extract and complete the activities given below:
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.
The earth, that is sufficient,
I do not want the constellations any nearer,
I know they are very well where they are,
I know they suffice for those who belong to them.
(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens,
I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go,
I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them,
I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.)
A1. Pick out the two lines which describe the phrase ‘good fortune’. (2)
- ____________________________
- ____________________________
A2. ‘Still here I carry my old delicious burdens’ Give reasons for this statement. (2)
A3. Name and explain figure of speech used in the following line. (2)
‘The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose’
A4. Express your own views regarding the following line. (2)
‘Song of the open road’
A5. Compose four lines on ‘Journey of life’. by using rhyming word. (2)
Read the extract and complete the activities given below:
|
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, |
A1. Complete the web diagram about the qualities needed on the journey of life: (2)
A2. Analyse the line-I asked not good fortune, I myself am good fortune. (2)
A3. Personal response: (2)
Explain the importance of long path/road in man's life.
A4. Poetic Device: (2)
Identify and explain the figure of speech in the following line.
"Still here I carry old delicious burdens."
A5. Poetic creativity: (2)
Complete the given lines using your imagination.
There is no way leading back.
I moved forward.........
Read the extract and complete the activities given below:
| Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, Henceforth I whimper no more. postpone no more, need nothing, Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, Strong and content I travel the open road. The earth, that is sufficient, I do not want the constellations any nearer, I know they are very well where they are, I know they suffice for those who belong to them. (Still here I carry my old delicious burdens, I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go, I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them, I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.) |
A1. Complete the web diagram about 'a man satisfied with his life': (2)
A2. Analyse the line - I do not want the constellations any nearer. (2)
A3. Personal response: (2)
The poet is a person who is free from all inhibitions. Elaborate the concept of freedom expressed in the extract.
A4. Poetic Device: (2)
Explain the metaphorical concept of 'road' used in the extract.
A5. Poetic creativity: (2)
Compose two to four lines on 'The Road that leads to my college'.
