EXPLANATION WITH REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT - B.A. ENGLISH PART ONE NOTES

1. EXPLANATION WITH REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT
(POETRY & ONE ACT PLAYS)

1. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

(i) No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

(ii) And ere should wane the morning star,

I'd don my robe and scimitar,

And zebras seven should draw my car.

(iii) Will lie o' nights

In the bony arms

Of Reality and be comforted.

(i) 

No time to see ------- skies at night.

Reference 
(i) Poem: Leisure
(ii) Poet: William Henry Davies
Context
(i) Occurrence: Lines 7-8/14
(ii) Content: The speaker laments that modern man has drowned so much in the ocean of temporal charms that he has no time to see and enjoy the Nature like trees, animals, streams and Beauty. He concludes that such a sorrowful like is a poor life.
Explanation
     In these lines the speaker says that modern man has ceased to be imaginative and the reason is lack of time. He is so busy in his worldly pursuits that he has not time to observe the beauty of streams. He cannot understand how does the natural light of sun fall on the running water of the hilly streams. He cannot perceive how does this quickly flowing water strike against the pebbles and thus reflect a twinkling light like that of the stars shinning at night in the sky. In short, he cannot notice that these gushing streams are the 'galaxies of earth'.

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies. 

                                                                                          (Lord Byron) 

(ii)

And ere should ------- draw my car.

Reference
(i) Poem: Tartary
(ii) Poet: Walter De La Mare
Context
(i) Occurrence: Lines
(ii) Content: The speaker imagines himself the Lord of a Utopia, Tartary. He wishes to possess a bed of ivory, a throne of gold, peacocks in the court, tigers in the forest, fish in the pools, colourful lamps, musical instruments, a robe of  beads and objects of Nature.
Explanation
In these lines the speaker

(iii) 

Will lie o' nights ------- be comforted. 

Reference 
(i) Poem: New Year Resolutions
(ii) Poetess: Elizabeth Sewell
Context
(i) Occurrence: Lines 7-9/9
(ii) Content: The speaker expresses her three revolutionary resolutions before the dawn of the new year. She resolves to remain most of the time silent, think about what she is and face the realities with contention.
Explanation
     In these lines the speaker has personified Reality. She has given it the qualities of a husband. She has decided to spend her nights in the bony arms of Mr. Reality. In the beginning it was a very bitter and unpleasant practice because bony arms can give no joy or satisfaction to his wife. But the speaker is not an escapist. With the passage of time, she has become habitual to it. Now she has understood and comprehended the fact that 'truth is beauty'. Thus she is comforted in the bony arms because these give her self-satisfaction, blessed relief and spiritual exultation.

Since we cannot change reality

Let us change the eyes which see reality.

                                                                                   (Nikos Kazantzakis)

    

2. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

(i) Mountains, oceans, leaf and stone

Star shine, moon glow

You're all that I can call my own.

(ii) It is very good that we have rebels

You may not find it very good to be one.

(iii) Thus I entered, and thus I go

In triumphs people have dropped down dead.

3. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

(i) And the dead man answered,

'Talking brought me here'.

(ii) Then practice losing farther, losing faster;

Places and names and where it was you went.

(iii) The music in my heart I bore,

Long after it was heard no more.

4. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

(i) All the world's a stage

And all the men and women merely players.

(ii) A legacy of benefits --- may we

In future years be found with those who try

To labour for the good until they die.

(iii) In the morning glad I see

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

5. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

(i) So little happens, the black dog

Cracking his fleas, in the hot sun

Is history.

(ii) And on her dulcimer she played

Singing of Mount Abora.

(iii) My eye has permitted no change

I am going to keep things like this.

6. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

(i) Walked through a wood, saw the birds in the trees;

They had no politicians and sang at their ease.

(ii) And yet those voices:

If you were not afraid, you would kill him!

(iii) The fog comes

On little cat feet.

7. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

(i) I shall never go out, why should I? My life is already at an end. He is in his grave. And I have buried myself between four walls.

(ii) "Luka, tell them in the stables that Toby isn't to have any oats all to-day."

(iii) "Fortunately, I have other means of impressing you. The power of the purse goes a long way in this world.

8. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

(i) My dear uncle, this is holiday. Being in London is holiday.

(ii) There ain't no criminal classes, any more than virtuous classes. The rogues and the rulers may both come from the gutter, or the Palace."

(iii) Of course, I don't mean marriage in general. I mean marriage with John. He makes me feel all funny inside.