English Notes

“Heaven, If You Are Not Here On Earth” is written by K.V. Puttappa popularly known  by his pen name Kuvempu. He is considered to be the greatest poet of the 20th Century Kannada Literature. He is immortalized particularly for his contribution to Universal Humanism - Vishwa Maanavataa   Vaada. The poet here attempts to demystify human notion of heaven.  It is that blissful state that makes the poet realise the heavenly experience in the company of Nature on earth. He shares his emotions with readers. He finds divine creation all pervasive that he can’t stop glorifying the beauties on earth. So, Kuvempu wonders in this state, if Heaven is not on earth, where else can it be! As he finds it, the experience of God is within us - just an extension of good qualities. If we fail to imbibe these virtues, there can be no Gods. The most beautiful heavenly maids are amidst us and within. If we can see such nymphs right around us, then they are nowhere else. Nature’s creation...

Click for Questions and Answers Introduction Pablo Neruda is a Chilean poet, diplomat and politician. He has written in a variety of styles. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.  His poem To the Foot from its Child is a translation in English by Alastair Reid who is one of Scotland's foremost literary figures well-known for his poetry, prose and translation. Theme / Summary  To the Foot from Its Child is rich and deep in its meaning and message. The poem portrays the journey of a child or child's foot from its birth to its death. Neruda begins the poem stating that the child's foot is not aware of the reality but dreams to be a butterfly or an apple. Then the passage of time exposes the foot to such hardships of life that they teach the foot that it cannot become a butterfly or an apple.  It then loses the battle and remains condemned to live in the shoe. Here the poet shows how an individual is controlled by society. The foot then starts to understan...

Click for Questions and Answers William Butler Yeats is an Irish poet and one of the greatest poets in the English Language in the 20th century. He was awarded Nobel Prize for literature in 1923. He is one among the great love poets of the world. ''When You Are Old''  is a love poem addressed to the poet’s beloved Maud Gonne who was the most beautiful young lady of his time. She is believed to be the inspiration behind this poem.   The tone of the poem is one of melancholy. W.B. Yeats imagines her future years and his true love in future. He repents over her divergent attitude who fails to understand his spiritual love.  The poet begins the first stanza addressing her imagining her to be in her old age. The lady will be very old approaching her peaceful years. She then opens the book of poems penned by the poet. As she starts to read slowly, she is taken back in time to recollect her past when she had innocent looks in her eyes and sadness hidden in the lo...

Hello Students It's been a long while since I posted anything for that matter. Tight work pattern kept me astray. Now back on board. Hope, I can get along. Thanks for your patience, thanks for your sincere requests. I will now post much needed poetry section. Depending on your requirement, I'll decide the next course. To resume, here comes a summary of "When You Are Old" followed by two more poems from the mid-term exam portions and methods and techniques of writing good answers.  Regards SBT