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On Children Summary

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Introduction

Kahlil Gibran is a Lebanese-American poet who brings out high philosophy of life in his simple and beautiful poetic essays. His “On Children” is a critique of the usual expectations of parents about their children. Through this poem he offers to guide parents on the essence of parenting with love much against the mundane expectations.

Summary / Theme

In this poem, a mother approaches the Prophet to know about his perspectives on children. He captures the attention in his shocking declaration, “Your children are not your children”. He beautifully brings up the concept of Life’s creations and its aspirations. Contrary to the accepted notion of parents making claims, the prophet says that they are just biological means and the children do not belong to them. Children live with their parents but they do not belong to them. Parents may give their love to children and they should never force their ideas on children. Children have their own ideas and identity. The Prophet says that parents have a biological bond with the children now. However, souls of the children lie in future which cannot be reached by parents. So, the advice here to parents is they shall not pressurise children with their thoughts.

Parents are suggested rather to follow the ways of children than trying to change children to be like them. The Prophet says that this is because Life keeps moving forward and never retracts. He further substantiates his philosophy by making metaphorical references. Parents are compared to bows and children are compared to arrows. The archer, God himself sets His eyes on the target which is infinite and sends His arrows swift and far by bending the bow with His might. Parents should take delight in this act of bending that involves great strain. The Prophet strikes a perfect conclusion by referring to the Law of creation where God loves both the bow and the arrow as they complement each other on Life’s infinite journey. Kahlil Gibran stresses here the importance of children’s individual views and independent ideologies not influenced by their parents.

Conclusion


The poem concludes that when parents raise their children without expectations, they facilitate children in reaching their goal. They should be happy for their struggles because God loves parents when they take pains with gladness. This way parents become stable and the children reach their destination.



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Comments

  1. Unknown24 July 2016 at 21:09

    can you plz provide the question answer for this lesson

    ReplyDelete
  2. FASHION CHIC 💄💋👠👝💍12 September 2016 at 07:58

    can u please post answers of 'Everything I need to know I learned in the forest' and 'I believe that books will never disappear'

    ReplyDelete
  3. Suresh B.T.23 September 2016 at 21:58

    Sure, I'm working on them. You can expect soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown7 September 2021 at 06:09

      This summary helps a lot. We doesnt get proper summary in other sources. But this person has talent to write this.

      Delete
    2. Suresh B.T.16 September 2021 at 08:03

      Thanks for your words.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9 January 2023 at 07:14

      i want to know how to write an answer in 2nd pu, like what format or what the teachers expect us to write.

      Delete
    4. Suresh B.T.18 January 2023 at 22:28

      Hi
      Thanks for your comment. Please check with my Questions and Answers. It may help you. Just click on the link.

      Delete
  4. Suresh B.T.23 September 2016 at 21:58

    Sure, I'm working on them. You can expect soon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown12 December 2016 at 20:15

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  6. Unknown12 December 2016 at 20:16

    i want to be fluent native speaker, so guide me how can i improve my language.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suresh B.T.14 December 2016 at 15:47

      Thanks...
      Follow BBC Radio and TV Services. Watch more English movies...Read English Classics

      Delete
    2. Suresh B.T.14 December 2016 at 15:48

      Thanks...
      Follow BBC Radio and TV Services. Watch more English movies...Read English Classics

      Delete
  7. Unknown26 March 2017 at 09:55

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Unknown26 March 2017 at 09:56

    THANKU SO MUCH SIR

    ReplyDelete
  9. Suresh B.T.26 March 2017 at 11:13

    U r wlkm. Tcr... All d Best...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unknown11 October 2017 at 06:32

    its really helpful notes

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dhanush Biligiri12 November 2017 at 05:03

    Thanks a lot to whoever started this good work, a much needed page for people who dont get enough resources from the teachers
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    ReplyDelete
  12. Suresh B.T.12 November 2017 at 21:44

    Thanks for the appreciation...

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  13. Unknown7 January 2018 at 12:04

    Nice job

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  14. Suresh B.T.7 January 2018 at 21:41

    Thanks, indeed...

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  15. Unknown21 June 2018 at 10:33

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  16. Unknown21 June 2018 at 10:33

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  17. Unknown16 July 2018 at 04:19

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  18. Unknown16 July 2018 at 05:09

    thank u so much sir

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  19. Unknown17 July 2018 at 19:22

    Its more usefull for me. Thankyou sir..

    ReplyDelete
  20. Prathik jain25 July 2018 at 21:15

    Can u plz say me the answer for this question
    Why should the bow perform its duty out of gladness according to 'on children'

    ReplyDelete
  21. Unknown30 August 2018 at 04:44

    I managed to score well by just studying these ....thanks a lot

    ReplyDelete
  22. Unknown8 September 2018 at 22:54



    I'm full use... Thanks sir

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  23. Unknown3 October 2018 at 19:40

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  24. Unknown28 October 2018 at 19:54

    Thanks a lot ..one of the best

    ReplyDelete
  25. Unknown25 November 2018 at 23:33

    Could you please send me the your children are not your children discuss the Prophet's view

    ReplyDelete
  26. Unknown23 February 2019 at 16:49

    It is very helpful thank u

    ReplyDelete
  27. Unknown16 March 2019 at 12:29

    Thank you sir

    ReplyDelete
  28. Unknown16 March 2019 at 23:43

    It's very easy to understand sir....

    ReplyDelete
  29. Unknown17 March 2019 at 01:41

    Thank you so much sir

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  30. Unknown17 March 2019 at 06:18

    Tqsm Sir 🙏the best notes to refer and it's also very handy

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  31. Suresh B.T.17 March 2019 at 08:32

    Thank you..

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  32. AmitKarnamBlogs17 March 2019 at 10:41

    Thank you sir for starting this website, it's really very handy and the content delivery is also awesome!! THANK YOU SIR.!!

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  33. Unknown28 May 2019 at 07:09

    Tq sir u r notes is very useful for tests in clg sir once again tq sir

    ReplyDelete
  34. Unknown6 July 2019 at 06:18

    Thank you so much

    ReplyDelete
  35. Suresh B.T.9 July 2019 at 07:53

    Thanks, indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Unknown18 July 2019 at 10:53

    Hi Sįr...your content is very beneficial and good marks are achieved .Especially the notable ,impressive words added ...helps in fetching more marks.....thankyou!!!

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  37. Suresh B.T.19 July 2019 at 10:10

    Hi
    Always a pleasure to hear positive notes! Thanks for encouraging my attempt.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Unknown21 July 2019 at 10:02

    Hii sir, you are the who's probably provising the best note all chapters till the date . Thanks a lot sir.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Unknown21 July 2019 at 10:02

    Thanks sir

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  40. Unknown31 July 2019 at 08:48

    Super

    ReplyDelete
  41. Unknown2 August 2019 at 08:58

    Thank u sir

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  42. Unknown9 August 2019 at 08:55

    Thanq very much sir this helped me a lot and ty onece again

    ReplyDelete
  43. Unknown15 August 2019 at 06:27

    Thnku SIR Uar notes is very much helpful to us....

    ReplyDelete
  44. Unknown29 November 2019 at 05:51

    Thanks you so much sir 🙏

    ReplyDelete
  45. Unknown14 February 2020 at 02:00

    Can we write these answers in 2 puc boards 2020?? because my teacher gives some answers which are similar to these and give some answers which are different

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suresh B.T.14 February 2020 at 06:50

      Hi
      Thanks for your question. Yes, you can follow your teacher. At times MCQs vary in their answers. Only questions that have an accurate point to seek answer will get one correct answer. You can surely write these answers in the Board Exams.

      Delete
  46. Unknown30 April 2020 at 07:22

    Why is.?
    It should be kahil Gibran was a Lebanese....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suresh B.T.2 May 2020 at 07:31

      Hi
      Thanks for the question. Grammatically you are right, but contextually the writer is relevant to all times. So, the Present Tense is used.

      Delete
  47. P30 May 2020 at 00:45

    Sir what can we write for the question'how the parnts cant control the desires of the children'

    ReplyDelete
  48. Best30 May 2020 at 06:45

    Excellent article. Very interesting to read. I really love to read such a nice article. Thanks! keep rocking. 화상영어 추천

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  49. Unknown11 September 2020 at 01:15

    Thank u sir

    ReplyDelete
  50. Unknown11 September 2020 at 01:17

    Thank u sir

    ReplyDelete
  51. Unknown11 September 2020 at 01:17

    Thank u

    ReplyDelete
  52. Unknown2 September 2021 at 10:06

    It's been really useful...

    ReplyDelete
  53. Chandrapal Singh Deora24 September 2021 at 07:03

    Really good summary. It's better than other sources.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Unknown19 October 2021 at 02:15

    Great work sir 👏 👍

    ReplyDelete

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