ENGLISH

Poems
Summary and paraphrasing
THE RAINY DAY (POEM)
 Summary of the poem:
This poem is just a channelling of the pain the poet is suffering.
Everyone experiences pain and that is just a part of life. The
comparison of rain and pain in life is a brilliant one because it shows
the momentary nature of both. Both of them are bound to happen for
some time. It also shows that both rain and pain and not the
replacement of anything, rather a temporary veil over the sun. 

This means that both happiness and the bright sun are still present
when dark times approach, both literally and metaphorically. Just let
them have their slice of time and then they’ll pass. But there’s another
part of the meaning of this poem that is often missed. It is conveyed in
the way the poem is written.

The first two stanzas are about thinking about the past, looking at what
has happened and what’s happening. It is about seeing the dark clouds,
the violent rain, and the thoughts of good old days clinging on. And that
is to be done. Everyone who gets into situations like these should look
and feel the rain. That is natural. But at the end of every thought
invoked by the rain, one must get back to the message from the last
stanza.
  Paraphrasing:
 stanza # 1 :
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

Rhyming scheme of the stanza:

The rhyming scheme of the stanza is AABBC
Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet is narrating an imaginary about a rainy day with cold
wind blowing very strong. He says it's a dark day which makes him feel
depressed he also tells that a vine is holding onto a decomposing wall while
at every strong blow the dead leaves fall down from the wine

 Stanza # 2:
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Rhyming scheme of the stanza:

The rhyming scheme of the stanza is AABBC
Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet is describing his life as a cold dark and depressed .He
recalls his past and remembers the hopes he had when he was youthful and
those hopes for a part in a blast.
 Or

In this stanza the poet tells about his own life and says that his life is very
dull and gloomy. He feels no pleasure and happiness even when it is raining
and those moments are usually charming and pleasing yet the poet is
disappointed and feel him cheerless. He thinks about his past an feels that
his memories are still attached to the past which was very hard, tough full of
miseries. When he probes into his past he feels helpless and his hopes are
still incomplete, therefore he feels his life depressing and dark.

 Stanza # 3:
Be still, sad heart! And cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Rhyming scheme of the stanza:

The rhyming scheme of the stanza is AABBC
Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet is comforting his heart by saying that my sad heart be
confident and strong .Stop feeling sorrow and discomfort by thinking about
your past .There is still hope waiting for us behind these clouds. Your fate
and destiny is common among all and there are some moments and days
that bring sorrow too and there must be some days “dark and
dreary”.
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THE MAN OF LIFE UPRIGHT (POEM)
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Summary:
The Man of Life Upright” is all about an honest man whose mind is always
cheerful. It is free from impiety and vanity. His silent days are spent in joys that do
not harm others. The man of life upright never loses hope nor the sorrows can
make him discontent. He does not need towers or armour for protection. Not even
vaults to shroud his guilt from God’s thunder. With unafraid eyes, he beholds the
horrific depths of the sea and the tremulous sky. He scorns comfort. The sky’s the
sole book for him and he seeks inspiration from heavenly things. His friends are
good thoughts and his wealth is a well-spent life. Additionally, the earth is a sober
inn and quiet pilgrimage for an upright man.

Paraphrasing:
 Stanza # 1:
The man of life upright
whose guiltless heart is free,
from all dishonest deeds.
or thoughts of vanity:
Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet tells about a man who lives a simple and
virtuous life .This peaceful and pious person has a sinless heart.
He is free from all kind of dishonesties. He never thinks of wrong
things or bad deeds.

 Stanza # 2:
A man whose silent days
in harmless joys are spent,
whose hopes cannot delude
Nor sorrow discontent:
Paraphrasing:
In these lines the poet says that a man who spends his life silently in this
world enjoys his life. Sorrow or any hope that can bring sorrow to not
distract his mind.
 Stanza # 3:
The man needs neither towers
Nor armour for defence
Nor secret vaults to fly
From thunder’s violence
Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet says that the man who is simple and virtuous does not
require any armour or strong and big towers of his protection or defence or
he neither needs any underground room for protection from this violent
world or from the world of violence.
 Stanza # 4:
He can only behold
With unaffrighted eyes
The Sorrow of the deep
And the terror of the skies
Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet say the pious man looks with unfrightened eyes the
happening and suffering of the world. He welcomes the thunder’s roaring
sounds. He can look only with silent eyes the deep sorrows and terror of
skies.
 Stanza # 5 :
Thus scorning all the cares
That fate brings,
He makes the heaven his book
His wisdom heavenly things:
Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet tells about the upright person and says that he does
not scold the anxieties that fortune has awarded to him . He makes heaven
his silent abode and book and wisdom brings him comfort in life and this
wisdom is his heavenly thinks.
 Stanza# 6:
Good thoughts his only friends
his wealth a well spent age ,
the earth his sober in
and quite pilgrimage:
Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet tells us about the upright person and says that good
thoughts are his only friends. His well spent age is his wealth and the earth
is his humble place of staying or living and that's his silent welfare for this
world.
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____________________
“HOPE”IS A THING WITH
FEATHERS
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Summary:
Hope is the thing with feathers" (written around 1861) is a popular
poem by the American poet Emily Dickinson. In the poem, "Hope" is
metaphorically transformed into a strong-willed bird that lives within
the human soul—and sings its song no matter what. Essentially, the
poem seeks to remind readers of the power of hope and how little it
requires of people. The speaker makes it clear that hope has been
helpful in times of difficulty and has never asked for anything in return.
"Hope is the Thing with Feathers" is one of a number of poems by
Dickinson that breathes new life into an abstract concept by using
surprising imagery and figurative language.
Or
The speaker defines “Hope” as a feathered creature that dwells inside
the human spirit. This feathery thing sings a wordless tune, not
stopping under any circumstances. Its tune sounds best when heard in
fierce winds. Only an incredibly severe storm could stop this bird from
singing. The “Hope” bird has made many people feel warm. The
speaker has heard the bird’s singing in the coldest places, and on the
weirdest seas. But in the speaker’s experiences, even the most extreme
ones, the bird has never asked for anything in return.
Paraphrasing:
 Stanza # 1:
Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
Paraphrasing:
In the case of the first stanza , the narrator feels that hope can be deemed as
a bird with feathers, singing in its own tune merrily. It may not speak any
specific language, yet it’s certainly present within human souls. Just as
importantly, Emily Dickinson voices that hope is an eternal spring, as it’s a
vital constituent of human beings, enabling us to conquer unchartered
territories.
 Stanza # 2:
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
Paraphrasing:
In the case of the second stanza, the poetess elucidates the expansive power
hope wields over us. It gets merrier and sweeter as the storm gets mightier
and relentless. The poetess deems that no storm can sway hope and its
adamant attitude. According to the poetess, it would take a deadly storm of
astronomical proportions to flatten the bird of hope that has kept the ship
sailing for most men.
 Stanza # 3:
I’ve heard it in the chilliest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
Paraphrasing:
In the last stanza, the poetess says that hope is eternal .Hope exists in the
most difficult conditions either we are on land or in the far sea .Hope gives
us courage to continue our struggle and fight against disappointment it
overcomes fear and survives in the most difficult situations. Despite all
these blessings it never demanded anything from us in return.

______________________________
DAFFODILS
______________________________
Summary:
The speaker says that, wandering like a cloud floating above hills and
valleys, he encountered a field of daffodils beside a lake. The dancing,
fluttering flowers stretched endlessly along the shore, and though the
waves of the lake danced beside the flowers, the daffodils outdid the
water in glee. The speaker says that a poet could not help but be happy
in such a joyful company of flowers. He says that he stared and stared,
but did not realize what wealth the scene would bring him. For now,
whenever he feels “vacant” or “pensive,” the memory flashes upon
“that inward eye / That is the bliss of solitude,” and his heart fills with
pleasure, “and dances with the daffodils.”

 Stanza # 1:
I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Paraphrasing:
These lines have been taken from the poem daffodils by William
Wordsworth. In these lines the poet says that he was roaming about lonely
as a cloud that floats high over valleys and hills when suddenly his eyes
caught the scene of a large number of golden daffodils they had grown
beside the lake and under the trees. The daffodils are moving in air it seems
that they were dancing in the pleasant air.
 Stanza # 2:
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
Paraphrasing:
In these lines , the poet compares the daffodils with stars and says that
they were countless in number and their continuity resembles with the
stars that shine with a light that keeps changing from bright to faint and
faint to bright on the Milky Way. The daffodils extended along the bark
on the Bay in a continuous line.
 Stanza # 3:
The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

Paraphrasing:
In this stanza the poet says that the waves of the lake were also moving and
dancing happily but the dance of the daffodils was superior to that the poet
felt a great happiness of the golden side of the dancing daffodils .
 Stanza # 4:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Paraphrasing:
In these lines the poet says that very often whenever the he lies down on
his couch and he is with a Free State of mind and has time to think about
different matters, the memory of daffodils suddenly appears in his
imagination. The memory of daffodils serves as a source of extreme
happiness to the poet in his loneliness. If it fills the poets heart with
pleasure. As a result his heart also seems to be dancing with the dancing
daffodils
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__________________
STOPPING BY THE WOODS ON A
SNOWY EVENING

Summary:
The speaker thinks about who owns the woods that he or she is
passing through, and is fairly sure of knowing the landowner.
However, the owner’s home is far away in the village, and thus he is
physically incapable of seeing the speaker pause to watch the snow
fall in the forest. The speaker thinks his or her horse must find it
strange to stop so far from any signs of civilization. Indeed, they are
surrounded only by the forest and a frozen lake, on the longest night
 of the year. The horse shakes the bells on its harness, as if asking if
the speaker has made a mistake by stopping. The only other sound
besides the ringing of these bells is that of the wind and falling
snowflakes, which the speaker likens to the feathers of goose down.
The speaker finds the woods very alluring, drawn both to their
darkness and how vast and all-encompassing they seem. However,
the speaker has obligations to fulfil elsewhere. Thus, though he or
she would like to stay and rest, the speaker knows there are many
more miles to go before that will be possible.
Paraphrasing:
 Stanza # 1:
Whose words these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his words fill up with snow.

Paraphrasing:
The narrator is traveling through woods and wondering who owns these. He
knows the person and his house isn’t anywhere nearby but in a village.
He is deciding to stop there for a while because he is struck by the beauty of
falling snow and the way it is filling up the woods. Its owner lives
somewhere else so he can not see the narrator stopping in his woods.
 Stanza # 2:
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the words an frozen lake
the darkest evening of the year
Paraphrasing:
He is now contemplating what his horse might be thinking. It must be
weird for the little horse that its owner is standing in the middle of
woods because they must be always stopping in some farmhouse. It is
winter so the time is the darkest evening of the year. They have stopped
in the wilderness which is between the woods and frozen lake.
 Stanza # 3:
He gives his harness bells A shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sounds the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake
Paraphrasing:
Now we know why the narrator thought of his horse because the
horse has now shaken its harness bell. It must be thinking whether
it is some mistake. The bell is the only sound in such a stillness
apart from the sound of easy wind and softly falling snowflakes. 

 Stanza # 4:
The words are lovely, the dark and deep ,
But I have promises to keep ,
and miles to go before I sleep,
and miles to go before I sleep.

Paraphrasing:
The narrator is commenting upon the beauty which he is witnessing.
He is almost refreshing himself in Nature but the world to which a
human belongs beckons him again. He is reminded of those promises
which he has made. He must take leave from this beauty of Nature
and the epiphanic pleasure which comes from it. It becomes a
universal statement about human life which can not halt for beauty
alone; living comes with responsibilities.
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THE OLD WOMAN
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Summary:
The poem 'The Old Woman' is written by Joseph Campbell. The
poem is divided into 3 stanza. The meaning of the  poem is deeper
than any romantic poem. The poem is very simple, realistic poem.
The poet has given  the description  of old lady by different
 comparisons . It s very natural to see beauty in young women ,
but t is very understanding to describe the beauty of old woman.
It requires great imaginative power to see beauty in old age.
Paraphrasing:
 Stanza # 1:
As a white candle
In a holy place, 
So is the beauty
Of an aged face.

Paraphrasing:
In the first stanza , the poet compares the old lady with the white
candle. As the white candle in the holy place gives light and guided the
person who comes there. It is the symbol of holy figure. Likewise the old
lady’s face compared with the white candle. The old lady guides others by
the using experience. She enlightens the life of others. Moreover, white
candle is a symbol of beauty. The poet finds beauty in her face.

 Stanza # 2 :
As the spent radience
Of the winter sun,
So is a woman
With her travail done.
Paraphrasing:
In the second stanza, the poet compares the old lady with the spent radiance
of the winter’s sun. It means passing of time, and as the sun travels more
and more in the sky it spends its radiance more and more. Through the time
passes , she has gathered a wide experience of life. Moreover , at the
sunshine the sunset looks beautiful due to radiance. Here, the same thing for
the old lady. Here wide range of experience is an extra ornaments in the life
of old lady. It adds charms in her beauty.
  Stanza # 3
Her brood gone from her,
And her thoughts as still
As the watersUnder a ruined mill.
Paraphrasing:
                In the final stanza, the poet compares the old woman with the
ruined water of the mill. They neither vanished nor runs away. So here the
same position for the old lady. Her broods have gone away from her in old
age and , her thoughts are still as ruined waters of the mills. It means it
suggests steadiness and maturity in the life of old lady.i
i