ENGLISH ELECTIVE- XI
Book- Selection from English Verse
Poem -The Brook
Alfred Tennyson
SUMMARY OF THE POEM
The poem “ The Brook” tells us about its journey as it flows towards its destination, a river which is full
of water. ‘The brook’ rises suddenly from a place which is visited by water-birds like a coot and heron.
It flows with a lot of noise down the valleys. It crosses several hills, ridges, villages, towns, bridges and
farms to reach its destination. The brook makes a chattering sound when it flows over stones. It forms
bubbles and whirls. While flowing it twists and turns. It erodes it’s embankments gradually. Pieces of
foam are formed on the surface of the brook. The flowers sailing on its surface are like the happy
experience of its journey. The greedy trout in it represents its unhappy experience. Grayling fish
represents those experiences which are neither happy nor sad. The rays of sun reflects through its clear
water. The brook passes through valleys, forests and plains. Finally, it reaches its destination, the river,
which is full of water.
Stanza- wise Explanation of the Poem
(Line 1-4)
I come from haunts of coot and hern,
I make a sudden sally
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation-The brook says that it starts from a place which is often visited by waterbirds like coots
and herons. There it suddenly burst out of the earth and starts it's journey. When it flows through
long grass, the sunlight makes its water shine. The brook then flows down a valley making a lots of
noise.
(Line 5-8)
By thirty hills I hurry down,
Or slip between the ridges,
By twenty thorpes, a little town,
And half a hundred bridges.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook" written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- The brook says that it hurries down through thirty hills. It slips between the edges of
mountains quickly. It passes through twenty small villages, a small town and fifty bridges. The poet
wants to convey that the brook leaves behind many things but it continues its journey.
(Line 9-12)
Till last by Philip's farm I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- -The brook says that till last it flows near Phillip's farm. And after that it joins a big river
filled with water. The poet compares man's life with brook. Men may take birth or die and depart
from this world but the brook will flow forever. It is immortal.
(Line 13-16)
I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles,
I bubble into eddying bays,
I babble on the pebbles.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- When the brook flows, it makes different kinds of noises and sounds at different places.
On the stony paths, it creates a chattering sound. When it flows in spiral movement, it makes bubbles.
On pebbles it moves noisily.
(Line 17-20)
With many a curve my banks I fret
By many a field and fallow,
And many a fairy foreland set
With willow-weed and mallow.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- The brook says that when it flows, it takes away many turns. It flows through many
fields, uncultivated lands and a foreland. The poet describes this foreland as a fairly land. There are
beautiful flowers and plants like willow-weed and mallow.
(Line 21-24)
I chatter, chatter, as I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- In these lines the brook describes it's journey through the valley. When it flows it makes
different kinds of noises and sounds. It is full of joy. It ever progresses to reach the brimming river.
The poet compares journey of men and that of a brook. Men are born, grow up and die. But the brook
is eternal and flows forever. Its life has no end.
(Line 25-28)
I wind about, and in and out,
With here a blossom sailing,
And here and there a lusty trout,
And here and there a grayling,
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- The brook says that sometimes it moves in and sometimes out. Sometimes there is a
flower sailing on its surface and sometimes there is a greedy fish in its fresh water. This is like good as
well as a bad experience in men's life. Here and there grey-coloured fish are also seen. In these lines
the brook describes different types of experiences of its journey.
(Line 29-32)
And here and there a foamy flake
Upon me, as I travel
With many a silvery water break
Above the golden gravel,
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- The brook says that when it travels, flakes of foam are formed on its surface. When the
brook flows over small golden stones, many silver waves appear on the surface of the brook.
(Line 33-36)
And draw them all along, and flow
To join the brimming river
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation-The brook says that when it flows, it takes away all things floating on its surface. It flows
continuously to join the brimming river. The poet brings out difference between journey of men and
that of the brook. The journey of men is very short, but the brook goes on forever. The brook’s life has
no end.
(Line 37-40)
I steal by lawns and grassy plots,
I slide by hazel covers;
I move the sweet forget-me-nots
That grow for happy lovers.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- The brook flows by grassy stretches. It passes by land covered with hazel trees. Forget-me-
nots are low growing plants with blue flowers. They grow near the bank of the brook dancing with joy.
These flowers are a sign of faithfulness and friendship. Hence they are often associated with lovers. The
lovers often go to the side of the brook for these flowers.
(Line 41-44)
I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,
Among my skimming swallows;
I make the netted sunbeam dance
Against my sandy shallows.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- The brook uses the words 'slip', 'slide', 'gloom', 'glance', to describe its movements.
Swallows skip on the surface of its water to eat insects. The brook glides among these skimming
swallows. Where the water is not deep, the rays of the sun appear like a net. It seems as if they are
dancing on the sand at the bottom of the brook.
(Line 45-48)
I murmur under moon and stars
In brambly wildernesses;
I linger by my shingly bars;
I loiter round my cresses;
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- The brook says that in quiet nights it moves murmuring and passes over thorny bushes.
When the brook moves slowly over numerous pebbles and uneven land it makes a soft sound. The
brook says that it spends more time in shingly bars. It loiter round when it touches the cresses in its
water. It seems as if the brook is talking to itself.
(Line 49-52)
And out again I curve and flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go;
But I go on for ever.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem, "The Brook"written by Alfred
Lord Tennyson. In this poem the poet compares the life of men with that of the brook.
Explanation- The brook passes through wilderness, the shingly bars and the water cresses. But it leaves
them behind and flows in graceful curves to join the brimming river. It overcomes all obstacles to reach
its goal. Here the poet compares the journey of men and that of the brook. Men’s journey ends with his
death but the brook is eternal and flows forever. It’s life has no end.
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM
In this poem the poet has described the journey of ‘The brook’ with the help of series of pictures. The
poet compares journey of men and that of the brook. Men are born, they grow up and die. But the
brook is eternal. It flows day and night. Its life has no end. It overcomes all obstacles to join the
brimming river. Finally, it reaches its destination.
OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS:
1 Who is the writer of the poem?
Ans. Alfred Lord Tennyson.
2 Whose life is compared with the brook?
Ans. Man’s life is compared with the brook.
3 Where does the brook spring from ?
Ans. The brook springs from a place visited by waterbirds.
4 The poem has many examples of alliteration. List two examples?
Ans. Two examples of alliteration in the poem are ;
‘Sudden Sally’ and ‘Field and Follow’
5 How many hills and bridges does it pass during its journey?
Ans. The brook passes thirty hills and fifty bridges during its journey.
6 Name the different things that can be found floating in the brook.
Ans.Flowers and foamy flakes.
7 Where does it finally meet the river?
Ans. It finally meets the river near Phillip’s farm.
8 What are coot and heron?
Ans. Water birds.
9 The brook passes through ___________ villages.
Ans. Twenty.
10. Whose life is short: Brook’s/Man’s?
Ans. Man’s life is short.
COMPILED BY: VAISHALI CHAND, LECTURER IN ENGLISH, GSSSS CIVIL LINES PATIALA
