Class 12th English Poem 2.2 Indian weavers:
Introduction -
Hello scholars, Welcome to HSC exam guide. Indian weaver is the second (2.2) poem in the class 12th textbook. In this article, you will learn this poem very easily. Here I have given a summary, theme, poetic devices; full appreciation of the poem.
“Indian weaver'' is a short, meaningful poem written by famous Indian poetess Sarojini Naidu. The poem has been taken from her first collection of poems; “The Golden Threshold”, published in 1905.
Through this poem the poetess has stated three different stages of human life, she has used various symbols, poetic devices, and figures of speech in the poem to convey the theme of the poem. Each stanza indicates the moods related to these stages.
About the writer:
Sarojini Naidu was a well-known Indian poet. She was a political activist, feminist. She was the first Indian woman who became the president of the Indian national congress. She was also an independence activist. Her work in Indian English Literature is remarkable.
Works:
The Golden Threshold (1905);
The Bird of Time (1912)
Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity. (1916)
The Broken Wing (1917)
The Sceptred Flute (1928)
The Feather of the Dawn (1961)
Title of the poem:
The title of the poem is apt for the theme as it dedicates to the hard work of Indian weavers. Indian tradition is closely related to fabric. The poetess highlights it through this poem.
Summary/ Explanation -
Indian weaver in this poem, the poetess talks about three types of garments that the weaver waves at particular times of the day. The poem is divided into 3 stanzas and each stanza denotes a particular time and garment; the morning, the evening, the moonlight night. The poem is in the form of a discussion where the poetess is asking questions and the weaver is answering.
First stanza:-
Weavers, weaving at break of day,
Why do you weave a garment so gay?......
Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild,
We weave the robes of a new-born child.
At break of day means in the morning, the weavers are weaving a garment. They are very happy and enthusiastic. The garment that they are weaving is blue and the poet compares it with the wing of a bird; wild halcyon.
The poetess asks the question to them why they are weaving this blue garment early in the morning with such great happiness. The weavers reply that they are weaving this robe for a newborn baby.
Second stanza:-
Weavers, weaving at fall of night,
Why do you weave a garment so bright?........
Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green,
We weave the marriage-veils of a queen.
At fall of night means in the evening, weavers are weaving a garment that is very bright. The garment has bright colors like purple and green. the poetess compares it with the plumes of a peacock
The poetess asks them why they are weaving such a bright and colorful cloth. The weavers answer that they are weaving a marriage dress for a bride. In the poem, the bride is called a queen. Because every girl feels that she is the queen of her partner.
Third stanza:-
Weavers, weaving solemn and still,
What do you weave in the moonlight chill......
White as a feather and white as a cloud,
We weave a dead man’s funeral shroud.
In the moonlight chill means in the coldest night the weavers are still busy in their job. But at this time they are very serious and calm. They are weaving a garment that is white. The poetess compares the whiteness of the cloth with the witness of feathers and clouds.
The poetess enquires them what they are weaving in this cold unpleasant atmosphere. The weavers reply to her that they are weaving cloth for a dead person’s funeral.
Other Topics
Song of the open Road line by line explanation
On Saying please Summary with Marathi translation
25 Figures of speech Explanation with examples
Difficult words:
Weaving –the craft of forming fabric by knitting the threads
Break of day – the morning
Gay - with happiness or with fun
Halcyon – kingfisher (a bird)
Robe – dress of the baby
Plumes – feathers
Marriage-veils – cloth used to cover face (especially while marriage ceremony)
Solemn – serious
Still – silent
Shroud – white cloth which used to cover a dead person.
Fall of night- the evening
Moonlight chill- a deadly night that is cold and unpleasant
Theme:
The theme of the poem is the life cycle of human beings. The poem represents three stages of life; childhood, adulthood, and old-age (death) all three stages are indicated by the events of weaving a garment. In the first stanza, the morning indicates the new beginning of life, that is birth. In the second stanza, The evening ( marriage) indicates adulthood. Finally, in the last stanza, dark night indicates old age.
Poetic Style:-
Indian Weavers this poem consists of 3 stanzas Each stanza has four lines that represent the theme of the poem/ the stanzaic pattern of the poem is Quatrain The poem follows ‘aa, bb’ rhyme scheme. The language used in the poem is highly figurative. Many poetic devices like figures of speech, imagery, symbols are used in the poem.
Poetic devices used in the poem Indian Weaver:
The essence of life is represented through the use of various symbols, imagery, and figures of speech.
Symbols:
1) The particular time of a day metaphorically symbolises human life.For example:-
- The morning ( at break of day) -Symbolises birth
- The evening ( at fall of night ) - symbolises the time period of youth
- Night ( moonlight chill) - symbolises old age as well as death; the final
- Blue color mentioned in the first stanza symbolises the happiness of childhood.
- Purple green colour stands for new beginnings and responsibilities in youth days.
- Lastly, white indicates colorlessness in the life of old age.
Imagery
Imagery means the use of words that provide a ‘mental picture’ or image.
- The poet has painted the picture of Indian weavers who weave tirelessly at different times of the day.
- Similarly the line ‘Weavers weaving at break of day’ creates images of early morning and weavers weaving cloth.
- ‘The plumes of a peacock, purple and green,’ creates a beautiful picture of a peacock.
Figure of speech:
Alliteration:
- 'Weavers, weaving at fall of night,'
- 'We weave the robes of a new-born child.'
- 'Weavers, weaving at fall of night,'
- 'We weave the marriage-veils of a queen.'
- 'Weavers, weaving solemn and still,'
- 'We weave a dead man’s funeral shroud'
These are the examples of alliteration as the initial letter of the words is repeated that gives rhyme to the poem.
Repetition
'White as a feather and white as a cloud,'
The word ‘White as’ repeated.
Simile:
- 'Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild,' The blue coloured cloth is directly compared with a wing of wild halcyon.
- 'Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green,' The bright garment is directly compared with purple & green coloured plumes of peacock.
- 'White as a feather and white as a cloud,' The whiteness or purity of a funeral shroud is directly compared with the whiteness of feathers and clouds.
Metaphor:
The weaving time of weavers in the poem is a metaphorical representation of the life cycle of human beings.
Interrogation:
- Why do you weave a garment so gay?......
- Why do you weave a garment so bright?........
- What do you weave in the moonlight chill......
The poem is in the discussion form where the poetess asking the question and weavers ate answering.
Special features:
The poem is in discussion form. It is a fine example of figurative language and use of poetic devices. The poem dedicates the hard work of the craftsmen.
The message of the poem:
The poem shows that life is full of ups and downs. Everyone has to go through these stages for their final destiny, which is salvation.
The poem also highlights the hard work of Indian weavers and forces us to think about their condition. Though they make clothes for every event of life they are neglected.
Marathi Translation ( मराठी भाषांतर)
“Indian weaver'' हि कविता सरोजिनी नायडू यांनी लिहिलेली आहे. या कवितेमध्ये कवयत्री जीवनाच्या तीन टप्प्यावर भाष्य करीत आहेत. तसेच विनाकरी वर्गाच्या कष्टाचे वर्णन आपणास या कवितेमध्ये दिसून येते.
कविता ही तीन कडव्यांमध्ये विभागली असून प्रत्येक कडवे हे चार ओळींचे आहे. तसेच प्रत्येक कडवे ही विनकामाची वेळ व मानवी जीवनाचे टप्पे मांडतात.
पाहिले कडवे:
सकाळच्या वेळी विणकर हे आपले वस्त्र विणण्याचे काम करताहेत. ते खूप आनंदी आणि उत्साही आहेत. त्यांनी विणलेले वस्त्र निळे आहे आणि कवीने त्याची तुलना किंगफिशर ( मराठीमध्ये खंड्या ) या पक्ष्याच्या पंखांशी केली आहे.
कवयात्री विणकऱ्याना प्रश्न विचारते की ते इतक्या सकाळी-सकाळी, इतक्या आनंदाने व उत्साहाने हे निळ्या रंगाचे कपडे का विणत आहेत? विणकर उत्तर देतात की ते हा झगा नवीन जन्मलेल्या बाळासाठी विणत आहेत. त्यामुळेच ते खूप खुश देखील आहेत. या कडव्यामध्ये मानवी जीवनाची सुरुवात कवयत्री ने दर्शविली आहे. दिवसाची सुरुवात हे त्याचे रूपक आहे.
दुसऱ्या कडव्यामध्ये, संध्याकाळच्या वेळेस विणकऱ्यांचे खूप चमकदार असे कापड विणण्याचे काम चालू आहे. हे कापड जांभळया आणि हिरव्या रंगाचे अगदी मोराच्या पिसऱ्या सारखे सुंदर आहे.
कवयित्री विकऱ्याना विचारते की ते इतके चमकदार आणि रंगीबेरंगी कापड का विणत आहेत? विणकर उत्तर देतात की ते वधूसाठी लग्नाचे कपडे विणतात. कवितेत वधूला राणी म्हणटले आहे. कारण प्रत्येक मुलीला असे वाटते की ती आपल्या जोडीदाराची राणी आहे. या कडव्यामधे व्यक्तीचे तारुण्य जिवन दर्शविले आहे. यातील रंग हे कर्तव्य व जबादारी चे प्रतीक आहेत.
तिसऱ्या आणि शेवटच्या कडव्या मध्ये, विणकर चांदण्या रात्री, थंडगार व भायान अशा वातावरणात अजूनही त्यांच्या कामात व्यस्त आहेत. परंतु यावेळी ते खूप गंभीर आणि शांत आहेत. ते पांढरे शुभ्र कपडे विणत आहेत. कवयत्री म्हणते की ते कापड एखाद्या पांढऱ्याशुभ्र पक्षाच्या पंखाप्रमने आणि ढगांसारखे स्वच्छ पांढरेशुभ्र आहे.
कवयित्री त्यांना या वातावरणात ते इतक्या उदासीनते ने काय विणत आहेत याची चौकशी करतात. विणकर तिला उत्तर देतात की ते मृत व्यक्तीच्या अंत्यसंस्कारासाठी कापड विणत आहेत. म्हणजेच हे कडवे मानवी जीवनाचा अंतिम टप्पा मृत्यू , मोक्ष किंवा वयस्क जीवन की जे या पांढऱ्याशुभ्र कापडा प्रमाणे रंगहीन झाले आहे, त्याची जाणीव करून देतात.
Ice Breakers
A) Artisans are also called craftsmen. They are creators of diverse goods and use their hands to create unique, functional and also decorative items using traditional techniques. Now complete the web given below:
Answer:
B) List the seasons/occasions when we need:
Answer:
C) Let’s play a game. The teacher will ask the students some questions. Students will understand that there are some exceptions to the general rules. Let’s start.
Answer:
D) We have often seen the picture of Gandhiji spinning on his charkha. Discuss the reasons behind this. One has been given for you.
Answer:
- To give rural people an opportunity to earn their livelihood.
- To encourage the people to be independent.
- To promote Indian handicraft skills.
- To be united for the betterment of India.
E) Name some tools used by the weavers.
Answer:
- Loom
- Weaving Comb
- Weaving Yarns
F) Name some types of yarns used by the weavers.
Answer:
- Linen
- Silk
- Cotton
- Rayon
- Nylon
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