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Question
Write an appreciation of the poem, ‘The Inchcape Rock’.
Solution
Appreciation of the poem ‘The Inchcape Rock’
About the poem, title: The title of Robert Southey's poem "Inchcape Rock" refers to folktales about a real reef in Scotland known as Inchcape Rock or the Bell Rock. This reef is located in the North Sea, off the coast of Angus Country. The Inchcape rock is a ballad. Abbot too expressed his good moral character, and Sir Ralph express his evil character. Robert Southey was a poet Laureate of England from 1813 to 1843. Some of his poems including Inchcape Rock are very popular with school children.
Theme of the poem: Southey was inspired by the legend of a pirate who stole the bell from Inchcape Rock, which had been placed by the Abbot of Aberbrothok. The poem's central theme is that those who do wrong will face appropriate consequences. As you sow, you shall reap.
Poetic devices used in the poem: Inchcape Rock is a ballad. It consists of 17 stanzas, each with four lines. Each stanza has the same rhyme scheme: AABB. The poet used a variety of figures of speech in the poem, including simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, and inversion. The story is presented in simple language. The poet has used many old English words.
Poetic style: The poet has used eloquent and narrative techniques to augment the effect of |the poem. The poem 'The Inchcape Rock’, provides a fine verbal image of the calm atmosphere of the sea. Then the Inchcape Rock is presented with the old Abbot's plan of putting a bell. This way the ballad slithers from one incident to another very smoothly providing a vivid picture into the reader's mind.
Special features / Novelties: The poem is written in a very simple language therefore it is easy to understand. The poet has used narrative and descriptive techniques to develop the poem. The poet provides a verbal image of the calm atmosphere and the Inchcape Rock is the symbol of goodness.
Message/Values/Morals in the poem: This poem conveys the message that no one should intentionally cause harm to others. If they do, they will face punishment in the end. In other words, "As you sow, you shall reap." Our work pays us back.
Your opinion about poem: This is a didactic poem in which the poet tells a legendary story about the Inchcape Rock. The abbot attached a bell to the rock to warn passing ships of its danger. But the Rover became jealous and cut the bell, and he was eventually punished for his wrongdoing. As a result, the poem "As you sow, so shall you reap" conveys a powerful message.
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Discuss in pairs and groups the following expressions. Take the help of your teacher.
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Narrate in groups the scene described in the beginning of the poem.
Complete the following statement:
The Abbot of Aberbrothok placed a bell on the Inchcape Rock because _______.
Complete the following statement:
The mariners were grateful to the Abbot of Aberbrothok because _______.
Complete the following statement:
The result of the thick haze that covered the sky was that ______.
Complete the following statement:
The Rover in frustration pulled his hair and cursed himself because ______.
Given below are the events that give the theme of the poem in a jumbled form. Arrange in a proper sequence as per their occurrence.
- The waves were so small that they did not move enough to ring the bell at the Inchcape Rock.
- The Abbot of Aberbrothok had placed the bell on a buoy on the rock.
- There was a thick haze spread over the atmosphere.
- Ralph bent over from the boat.
- Sir Ralph cursed himself in despair and in his frustration tore his hair.
Describe the qualities of the Abbot of Aberbrothok in your own words.
‘Jealousy’ is the most incurable defect. Justify.
‘But the Rover’s mirth was wickedness’. Explain this line in your own words with the help of the poem.
The poem begins with:
‘Without either sign or sound of their shock,
The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock.’
It ends with:
‘Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock.’
On the basis of these lines explain the change in mood of the poem.
Read the given extract and complete the activities given below:
No stir in the air, no stir in the sea,
The Ship was still as she could be;
Her sails from heaven received no motion,
Her keel was steady in the ocean.
Without either sign or sound of their shock,
The waves flow’d over the Inchcape Rock;
So little they rose, so little they fell,
They did not move the Inchcape Bell.
The Abbot of Aberbrothok
Had placed that bell on the Inchcape Rock;
On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung,
And over the waves its warning rung.
When the Rock was hid by the surge’s swell,
The Mariners heard the warning Bell;
And then they knew the perilous Rock,
And blest the Abbot of Aberbrothok.
A1. Complete the web. (2)
A2. Give reasons. (2)
Abbot of Aberbrothok placed a bell on the Inchcape rock because _____________________
A3. If you were Abbot of that era, what would you do to make the ship safe from crashing at Inchcape rock. (2)
A4. Complete the table. (2)
| Examples | Figure of Speech | Explanation |
| 1.The Ship was still as she could be. | _______________ | _______________ |
| 2. No stir in the air, no stir in the sea. | _______________ | _______________ |
A5. Compose a short poem. (2)
No stir in the air, no stir in the sea,
____________________________________
____________________________________
Her keel was steady in the ocean.
On the deck the Rover takes his stand,
So dark it is they see no land.
Quoth Sir Ralph, “It will be lighter soon,
For there is the dawn of the rising Moon.”
“Canst hear,” said one, “the breakers roar?
For methinks we should be near the shore.”
“Now, where we are I cannot tell,
But I wish we could hear the Inchcape Bell.”
They hear no sound, the swell is strong,
Though the wind hath fallen they drift along;
Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock,
“Oh Christ! It is the Inchcape Rock!”
Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair,
He curst himself in his despair;
The waves rush in on every side,
The ship is sinking beneath the tide.
Read the given extract and write a poetic appreciation of the poem with the help of the following points.
- About the poet and the title
- The theme
- Language/poetic devices used in the poem
- Special features
- Your opinion about the poem
Read the following extract and complete the activities given below:
|
‘Canst hear’, said one, ‘the breakers roar? Sir Ralph the rover tore his hair; But even in his dying fear |
A1. Rearrange the following incidents as per their occurrence in the poem: (2)
- Sir Ralph the Rover cursed himself in despair.
- The vessel strikes with a shivering shock.
- The mariner wished to hear the Inchcape Bell.
- Ralph the Rover heard one dreadful sound.
A2. Complete the tree diagram to describe the reasons that resulted in the sinking of the ship. (2)
Mistakes in the following Questions
A3. Accept any reasonably correct answer: (2)
A4. Poetic device: (2)
The figure of speech – ‘Inversion’ the word order is changed for rhyme. Correct order should be:
‘The Rover could hear one dreadful sound.’
A5. Composing lines: (2)
[Accept any reasonably correct answer/lines]
Appreciation:
Read the extract and Write the appreciation of the poem:
They hear no sound, the swell is strong;
Though the wind hath fallen, they drift along,
Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock,-
O Christ! It is the Inchcape Rock!'
Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair;
He curst himself in his despair;
The waves rush in every side,
The ship is sinking beneath the tide.
But even in his dying fear
One dreadful sound could the Rover hear,
A sound as if with the Incheape Bell,
The Devil below was ringing his knell.
