Ins & Outs of English

English 1st Paper

Question: No. 11 ■ Theme Writing
Textual
1. Dreams THEME
-D. H. Lawrence
All people dream, but not equally. The main idea of the poem is that everyone has different
Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their dreams. People who dream without being aware or
mind, intentional about their dreams cannot make them come
Wake in the morning to find that it was vanity. true, but those who dream consciously and purposefully
But the dreamers of the day are dangerous people, can turn their dreams into something meaningful and
For they dream their dreams with open eyes, successful.
And make them come true.
2. Dreams THEME
-Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams The poem says it's important to keep our dreams. If we
For if dreams die lose them, life becomes hard and doesn't change. Dreams
Life is a broken-winged bird are necessary for our happiness and growth, as they make
That cannot fly. life exciting and meaningful. The poem tells us to value
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go our dreams and work towards them because they bring
Life is a barren field hope, inspiration, and purpose. Without dreams, life can
Frozen with snow. be boring and without chances. So, the poem says to
always hold onto our dreams in our hearts.
3. Those Winter Sundays THEME
-Robert Hayden
Sundays too my father got up early The poem is about a father who does a lot for his family,
and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold, but his efforts go unnoticed. He wakes up early to make
then with cracked hands that ached the house warm and cozy. However, nobody thanks him
from labor in the weekday weather made for what he does. The poem shows that the family
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him. doesn't appreciate his hard work, and it feels cold and
I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking. distant. The speaker gradually realizes they didn't
When the rooms were warm, he’d call, understand or appreciate their father's love. Love is
and slowly I would rise and dress, depicted as strict and lonely in the poem.
fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love’s austere and lonely offices?
4. The lake isle of Innisfree THEME
-William Butler Yeats
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, The poet is tired of city life and desires the peacefulness
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made: of Innisfree, a place without noise and chaos. He plans to
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey- construct a clay and reed cabin there and cultivate a
bee; garden with nine rows of beans. Innisfree offers serene
And live alone in the bee-loud glade. moments, with dark nights, sunny noons, and harmonious
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes evenings. The poem emphasizes the importance of
dropping slow, finding true peace, as modern society's fast-paced

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Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the industrial progress has caused people to lose touch with
cricket sings; nature, leading to a hectic and frenzied existence.
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
5. A Minor Bird THEME
-Robert Frost
I have wished a bird would fly away, The speaker initially wishes for a bird to stop singing near
And not sing by my house all day; their house due to their frustration. However, they come
to realize that the fault lies within themselves, as the bird
Have clapped my hands at him from the door
is not to blame for its natural song. The poem suggests
When it seemed as if I could bear no more.
that there is something inherently wrong in wanting to
The fault must partly have been in me. silence any form of expression.
The bird was not to blame for his key.
And of course, there must be something wrong
In wanting to silence any song.
6. Because I could not stop for death THEME
-Emily Dickinson
Because I could not stop for Death— The theme of the poem is the gentle acceptance of death.
He kindly stopped for me— Death is personified as a kind companion who stops for
The Carriage held but just Ourselves— the speaker. As they journey together in a carriage, they
And Immortality. pass by scenes of life's different stages, such as a school
and fields. The poem conveys the idea that death is a
We passed the School, where Children strove
natural part of life and should be embraced with serenity
At Recess—in the Ring—
and grace.
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain—
We passed the Setting Sun—
7. My Heart Leaps Up When I Behold THEME
-William Wordsworth
My heart leaps up when I behold The theme of the poem is the enduring connection
A rainbow in the sky: between childhood and adulthood. The speaker expresses
So was it when my life began; their joy and wonder at the sight of a rainbow, comparing
So is it now I am a man; it to the profound emotions they experienced in their
So be it when I shall grow old, youth and continue to feel as an adult. They emphasize
Or let me die! the importance of maintaining this childlike spirit
The Child is father of the Man; throughout life, as it brings meaning and harmony to their
And I could wish my days to be existence. The poem highlights the transformative power
Bound each to each by natural piety. of nature and the significance of embracing one's inner
child.
8. To the Moon THEME
-Percy Bysshe Shelly
Art thou pale for weariness The poem explores the theme of feeling tired and alone
Of climbing Heaven, and gazing on the earth, after spending a long time observing the sky and the
Wandering companionless earth. The speaker is weary from seeking knowledge and
Among the stars that have a different birth,— being by themselves among the stars, which are different
And ever changing, like a joyless eye from us. The ever-changing heavens reflect their unhappy
That finds no object worth its constancy? and unsatisfied life, as they search for something
meaningful. The poem touches on feeling disappointed,
lonely, and the difficulty of finding true happiness.

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9. Ah Sun-flower THEME
-William Blake
Ah Sun-flower! weary of time, The theme of the poem "Ah, Sun-flower!" can be
Who countest the steps of the Sun: described as the longing for a transcendent realm beyond
Seeking after that sweet golden clime the weariness of time. It portrays a yearning for a serene
Where the travellers journey is done. and everlasting destination, where both youthful passion
and innocence find fulfillment. The sunflower,
Where the Youth pined away with desire, symbolizing hope and aspiration, seeks to rise above
And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow: mortality and journey towards a blissful realm.
Arise from their graves and aspire,
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.
10. The Tyger THEME
-William Blake
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright The theme of the poem "The Tyger" revolves around the
In the forests of the night, awe-inspiring and mysterious nature of creation. It
What immortal hand or eye contemplates the origins of a magnificent and fearsome
Could frame thy fearful symmetry? creature, questioning the divine entity responsible for its
In what distant deeps or skies existence. The poem delves into the depths of the
Burnt the fire of thine eyes? universe, pondering the extraordinary forces that shaped
On what wings dare he aspire? the tyger's features. It explores the contrast between
What the hand, dare sieze the fire? beauty and terror, raising profound inquiries about the
And what shoulder, & what art, intentions and motives behind the creation of such a
Could twist the sinews of thy heart? majestic yet fearsome being.
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
11. She Walks in Beauty THEME
-Lord Byron
She walks in beauty, like the night The theme of the poem is about the exceptional beauty
Of cloudless climes and starry skies; of a woman. This beauty is both internal as well as
And all that's best of dark and bright external. The poet here expresses his feeling when he saw
Meet in her aspect and her eyes: the striking beauty and grace of the extraordinary
Thus mellowed to that tender light beautiful woman. The poet describes her as so innocent,
Which heaven to gaudy day denies. pure and heavenly. She is also compared to the beauty of
One shade the more, one ray the less, the night and. cloudless starry skies. To the poet, she is a
Had half impaired the nameless grace simple and perfect woman whose mind is at peace and
Which waves in every raven tress, full of love.
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

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But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
12. I Died for Beauty THEME
-Emily Dickinson
I died for Beauty - but was scarce Beauty, truth and failure are the key factors of the poem.
Adjusted in the Tomb Again, the tune of the poem is that one should not waste
When One who died for Truth, was lain one's entire life to reach a goal that will only end in
In an adjoining Room - failure. It is also implied that the ultimate failure of a long
sought-after goal is death.
He questioned softly "Why I failed"?
"For Beauty", I replied -
"And I - for Truth - Themself are One -
We Brethren are", He said -

And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night —

We talked between the Rooms -
Until the Moss had reached our lips -
And covered up - Our names -
13. I Have Seen Bengal’s Face THEME
-Jibanananda Das
I have seen Bengal’s face, that is why I do not seek This poem expresses the poet's pure love for his native
Beauty of the earth any more: I wake up in the dark land. The poet provides a picturesque description of the
And see the dawn’s magpie-robin perched under the transparent beauty and grace of his land. He is reluctant
parasol-like huge leaf to see anything more after he has seen the unique beauty
Of the fig tree – on all sides I see mounds of leaves of of this country. In his view, the country is full of attractive
Black plum – banyan – jackfruit – oak – pipal lying still; sight, sound, shade, the song of birds, fields and rivers.
Their shadows fall on the spurge bushes on zedoary The ancient people and even the mythical character
clumps; Behula observed this beauty of nature. The poet also -
Who knows when Chand near Champa from his hints at the sadness of the people at the end of the poem.
madhukar boat
Saw such oaks – banyans – gamboge’s blue shades
Bengal’s beauty incomparable.
Behula too someday floating on raft on Gangur’s water –
When the fullmoon of the tenebrous twelfth night died
on the river’s shoal –
Saw countless pipals and banyans beside the golden
corn,
Alas, heard the tender songs of shama – and one day
going to Amara.
When she danced like a torn wagtail in Indra’s court
Bengal’s river field, wild violets wept at her feet like
anklet bells.
14. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner THEME
-ST Coleridge
Water, water, every where, Despite the overwhelming amount of water, the narrator
And all the boards did shrink; laments the absence of drinkable water. The poem
Water, water, every where, highlights the irony of being surrounded by water but
Nor any drop to drink. lacking access to it in a consumable form. The theme
emphasizes the importance of clean and accessible water,
raising awareness about the scarcity of this essential
resource.

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Non-Textual
1. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening THEME
-Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know , The theme of the poem is the conflict inherent in every
His house is in the village, though; human mind between the realism and the materialistic
He will not see me stopping here beauty. Man is always on its continuous journey to death
To watch his woods fill up with snow. but he has to perform his studies before death. Frost
My little horse must think it queer
focuses mostly on the theme on nature, and how the
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake speaker’s duties keep him from stopping and enjoying
The darkest evening of the year. the beauty of nature.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.
2. THE SAND OF DEE THEME
-Charles Kingsley
“ O Mary , go and call the cattle home, The general theme of the poem is the pathetic death of a
And call the cattle home , girl who drowned in the tide of the river. The poem is
And call the cattle home saturated with pathos and tragic intensity. The poet here
Across the sands of Dee;” vividly describes the gluttonous habit of the western
The western wind was wild and dank with foam,
And all alone went she. wind that devoured a little girl Mary when she went out
The western tide crept up along the sand to call her cattle across the sands of Dee. After the storm
And o’er and o’er the sand, the boatman found her dead body and buried her.
And round and round the sand,
As far as eye could see.
The rolling mist came down and hid the land:
And never home came she.
“Oh! Is it weed , or fish, or floating hair----
A trees of golden hair,
A drowned maiden’s hair
Above the nets at sea?
Was never salmon yet that shone so fair
Among the stakes on Dee.
They rowed her in across the rolling foam,
The cruel crawling foam,
The cruel hungry foam;
To her grave beside the sea ;
But still the boatmen hear her call the cattle home
Across the sands of Dee.

3. TO DAFFODILS THEME
-Robert Herrick
Fair Daffodils, we weep to see The short lived nature of life and the fleeting passage of
You haste away so soon; time are the two major themes of the poem. The poet
As yet the early rising- sun compares human life with the life of daffodils as humans
Has not attain’d his noon. have a very short life in this world like daffodil flowers
Stay, stay,
that only come out in spring. And thus, the feature of
Until the hating day
Has run transience of the daffodils and humans centralizes the
But to the even-song; theme of this poem.

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And, having pray’d together, we
Will go with you along.
We have short time to stay, as you,
We have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
As you, or anything
We die
As your hours do, and dry
Away
Like to the summer’s rain
Or as the pearls of morning’s dew,
Ne’er to be found again
4. I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD THEME
-William Wordsworth
I wondered lonely as a cloud The general theme of the poem is the poet’s love of
That floats on high o’er vales hills, nature. The poem exposes the spiritual, uplifting and
When all at once I saw a crowd, sound-cleansing features of nature. The poet depicts
A host, of golden daffofils; that the daffodils represent nature which has the
Beside the lake , beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze magical power to relieve the agonies of human beings.
Continuous as the stars that shine Another fact is that the poet can feel the joyous memory
And twinkle on the milky way, of the daffodils at any time he wants after his returning
They stretched in never-ending line from the county side.
Along the margin of bay;
Then thousands I saw at a glance ,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
5. HOME THEY BROUGHT HER WARRIOR DEAD THEME
-Lord Alfred Tennyson
Home they brought her warrior dead: The poem depicts human psychology in a dramatic way.
She nor swoon’d nor utter’d cry Excessive sorrows can make a man speechless. When the
As her maidens, watching, said, dead body of the hero was brought back to home, his
“She must weep or she will die”. widow became thundered with grievance. In the poem,
Then they praised him , soft and lowm,
Call’d him worthy to be loved the widow was also speechless and lost her hope to live
Truest friend and noblest foe: but finally came into sense with the motherly affection
Yet she neither spoke nor moved. to her child.
Stole a maiden from her place
Lightly to the warrior stepped
Took the face-cloth from the face;
Yet she neither moved nor wept
Rose a nurse of ninety years
Set his child upon her knee-
Like summer tempest came her tears-
“Sweet my child, I live for thee”

6. OZYMANDIAS THEME
-Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveler from an antique land The general theme of the poem is the futility of worldly
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone power and health. Life is full of sound and fury but it has
Stand in the desert. Near them on the stand , no significance. The broken statue of mighty king
Half sunk, shatter’d visage lies, whose frown Ozymandias symbolizes the futility of autocratic power
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read and pride of material wealth on this earth. The poet
Which yet survive, stamp’d on these lifeless things, depicts a subtle irony in the poem as nothing remains
The hand that mock’d them and the heart that fed. beside the statue though his boastful words are still
And on the pedestal these words appear: shown on the pedestal.
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, yet Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains: round the decay

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Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
7. TIME, YOU OLD GIPSY MAN THEME
-Ralph Hodgson
Time, you old gipsy man The main theme of the poem is the speaker's plea to
Will you not stay, Time, personified as an old gipsy man, to stay for a day.
Put up your caravan The speaker offers various treasures and promises of joy
Just for a day? in an attempt to convince Time to linger, questioning
All things I’ll give you
Will you be my guest? why Time always hastens away.
Bells for your jennet
Of silver the best,
Goldsmiths shall beat you
A golden ring,
Little boys sing,
Oh, and sweet girls will
Festoon you with May.
Time, you old gipsy,
Why hasten away?

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