Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Explain with reference to the context the following line.
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Solution
- Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.
- Context and Explanation: Tennyson says these words through Ulysses who makes his motto loud and clear in these words. The final line of the poem is Ulysses’ enduring challenge to readers as well. The challenge if the aged ones could push ahead with vigor and strength of will no matter how fragile their bodies are. To yield to age or weakness is to be less than fully human. It might be honorable to live a peaceful settled life in old age. But one would naturally miss out on the most exciting moments of life if one does not venture out, at least a little towards the unknown.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Have you ever visited a fort or a castle?
Why does the narrator say that the enemy was no threat at all?
Who had let the enemies in?
They seemed no threat to us at all.
Identify the figure of speech used in the following line.
A little wicked wicket gate.
How does the creeper appear on the tree?
Describe the garden during the night.
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
Dear is the Casuarina to my soul;
“And they have their exits and their entrances” - What do the words ‘exits’ and ‘entrances’ mean?
What is the first stage of a human’s life?
Which stage of man’s life is associated with the ‘shrunk shank’?
Pick out the word in ‘alliteration’ in the following line.
“And one man in his time plays many parts”
Read the given line and answer the question that follow.
Then a soldier,
full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth.
- What is the soldier ready to do?
- Explain ‘bubble reputation’.
- What are the distinguishing features of this stage?
Describe the various stages of a man’s life picturised in the poem “All the World’s a stage."
Complete the summary of the poem, choosing words from the list given below. Lines 1 to 32
Ulysses is (1) ______to discharge his duties as a (2) ______, as he longs for (3) ______. He is filled with an (4) ______thirst for (5) ______and wishes to live life to the (6) ______. He has travelled far and wide gaining (7) _______ of various places, cultures, men and (8) ______. He recalls with delight his experience at the battle of Troy. Enriched by his (9) ______he longs for more and his quest seems endless. Like metal which would (10) ______if unused, life without adventure is meaningless. According to him living is not merely (11) ______to stay alive. Though old but zestful, Ulysses looks at every hour as a bringer of new things and yearns to follow knowledge even if it is (12)______.
fullest, unquenchable, unattainable, experience, knowledge, king, matters, rust, adventure, unwilling, travel, breathing |
Complete the summary of the poem, choosing words from the list given below. Lines 33 to 42
Ulysses desires to hand over his (1) ______to his son Telemachus, who would fulfil his duties towards his subjects with care and (2) ______. Telemachus possesses patience and has the will to civilise the citizens of Ithaca in a (3) ______way. Ulysses is happy that his son would do his work blamelessly and he would pursue his (4) ______for travel and knowledge.
prudence, kingdom, quest, tender |
Why did Ulysses want to hand over the kingdom to his son?
Read the set of line from the poem and answer the question that follow.
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
- Though made weak by time and fate, the hearts are heroic. Explain.
- Pick out the words in alliteration in the above lines.
What is Ulysses’ clarion call to his sailors? How does he inspire them?
Fill in the blanks choosing the words from the box given and complete the summary of the poem.
Lines 1-25
The poet Carl Sandburg gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly (1)______ in directing a son who is at the threshold of his (2) ______.
Here the father motivates his son to be like a hard(3) ______and withstand life’s (4)______ and sudden betrayals. (5)______is like a fertile soil. We can make our life fruitful if we are gentle, and take life as it comes. At times(6)______ overtakes harshness. The growth of a (7)______can split a rock. One should have a (8) ______and strong will to achieve. Greed for(9)______has left men dead before they really die. Good men also have fallen prey in quest for (10) ______money. Time for (11)______is not a waste. When you seek knowledge never feel ashamed to be called a(12)______for not knowing, at the same time learn from your (13) ______and never (14)______it.
deep desire | manhood | gentleness | mistakes | easy |
leisure | fool | life | money | repeat |
tender-flower | rock | challenges | wisdom |
Lines 26-44
Do (15)______often, and do not hesitate to accept your shortcomings, avoid(16) ______to protect self against other people. Solitude helps to be (17)______and(18) ______ are taken in silent rooms. Instead of being one among many, be (19)______, if that is your nature. The son may need lazy days to find his (20)______abilities, to seek what he is born for. He will then know how free imaginations bring (21)______to the world, which (22)______ change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own, and (23)______to achieve like Shakespeare, the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov, and Michael Faraday.
changes | introspect | inherent | work | resents |
white lies | creative | final decisions | different |
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
Yet learning something out of every folly
hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
He will be lonely enough
to have time for the work
Who took the city of Ratisbon by storm?
Where was Napoleon standing on the day of attack on the city of Ratisbon?
What does the phrase ‘full galloping’ suggest?
What did the rider do when he reached Napoleon?
How did the young soldier face his end?
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
‘I’m killed, Sire!’ And, his Chief beside, Smiling, the boy fell dead.