Questions Answers

1. Fill in the blanks choosing the words from the box given and complete the summary of the poem.

Lines 1-25

The poet Carl Sandburg gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly (1) wisdom in directing a son who is at the threshold of his (2) manhood. Here the father motivates his son to be like a hard (3) rock and withstand life’s (4) challenges and sudden betrayals.(5) Life is like a fertile soil. We can make our life fruitful if we are gentle, and take life as it comes. At times(6) gentleness overtakes harshness. The growth of a (7) tender flower can split a rock. One should have a (8) deep desire and strong will to achieve. Greed for(9) money has left men dead before they really die. Good men also have fallen prey in quest for (10) easy money. Time for (11) leisure is not a waste. When you seek knowledge never feel ashamed to be called a(12) fool for not knowing, at the same time learn from your (13) mistakes and never (14) repeat it.

Lines 26-44

Do (15) introspect often, and do not hesitate to accept your shortcomings, avoid(16) white lies to protect self against other people. Solitude helps to be (17) creative and(18) decisions are taken in silent rooms. Instead of being one among many, be (19) different, if that is your nature. The son may need lazy days to find his (20) inherent abilities, to seek what he is born for. He will then know how free imaginations bring (21) changes to the world, which (22) resents change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own, and (23) work to achieve like Shakespeare, the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov and Michael Faraday.

2. Based on your understanding of the poem answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

a) How would the poet’s advice help his son who is at the threshold of the manhood?

The Poet’s advice help his son to withstand life’s challenges and sudden betrayals.

b) A tough will counts.’ Explain.

A strong will helps the poet’s son to withstand life’s challenges.

c)        What happened to the people who wanted too much money?

Too much money has killed men and left them dead before their burial.

d) What has twisted good men into thwarted worms?

The money gained in dishonourable way has twisted good men into thwarted worms.

e) How would his being alone help the boy?

If the poet’s son is strong, his being alone will help him be creative.

f) Where are the final decisions taken?

The final decisions are taken in silent rooms.

g)  What are the poet’s thoughts on ‘being different’?

The poet thought instead of being one among many, his son should be different, if it is his nature,

h) Why does the poet advise his son to have lazy days?

The son may need lazy days to find his inherent abilities, to seek what he is born for.

i) The poet says 'Without rich wanting nothing arrives’ but he condemns ‘the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs.’ Analyse the difference and write.

Without rich wanting nothing arrives. In this line the poet says that one should have a deep desire and strong will to achieve what he wants. But he condemns ‘the quest of lurce beyond of few easy needs. Here he says that the money gained in dishonourable way has twisted good men into thwarted worms.

3. Here are a few poetic devices used in the poem.

a. Antithesis- It is a literary device that emphasises the idea of contrast.

e.g. The growth of a frail flower in a path up has sometimes shattered and split a rock. Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed.

b.Transferred Epithet- It is a figure of speech in which an epithet grammatically qualifies a noun other than the person or a thing, it is actually meant to describe.

e.g. and left them dead years before burial:

Let him have lazy days seeking his deeper motives.

Bringing changes into a world resenting change.

c. Repetition- It is a figure of speech.

e.g. Tell him to be alone often and get at himself and above all tell himself no lies about himself

4. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow.

a)“Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.”

i) How should one face life?

One should face life with hardwork that withstands all struggles.

ii) Identify the figure of speech in the above line.

Figure of speech; Life is hard - Metaphor

b)“Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy.”

And this too might serve him.

i) Why does the poet suggest to take life easy?

Life is like a fertile soil. If we are gentle, we can make our life fruitful.

ii) Identify the figure of speech in the above line.

Figure of speech: Life is a soft loam - Metaphor

c) Tell him solitude is creative if he is strong

and the final decisions are made in silent rooms.

i) Can being in solitude help a strong human being? How?

Yes, Being in solitude can help a strong human being. Because it helps him one to be creative, if he is strong.

ii) Identify the figure of speech in the above line.

Figure of speech; silent rooms -personification

d) Tell him time as a stuff can be wasted.

Tell him to be a fool every so often

i) Why does the poet suggest that time can be wasted?

Time for leisure is not a waste. Time is just a stuff. So the poet suggests that time can be wasted.

ii) Identify the figure of speech in the above line.

Figure of speech: time as a stuff - Simile

e) Tell him to be a fool ever so often

and to have no shame over having been a fool

yet learning something out of every folly

hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies

i) Is it a shame to be a fool at times?

No, It is not a shame to be a fool at times.

ii)) What does one learn from every folly?

We should learn something from our mistakes and also we never repeat it.

f) -----------------------Free imaginations

Bringing changes into a world resenting change.

i) How does free imagination help the world?

Free imaginations bring changes to the world, which resents change.

ii) Identify the figure of speech.

Figure of speech: world resenting change - Transferred Epithet

e) And this might stand him for the storms

Pick out the alliterated words from the poem and write.

Stand - Storms

Additional questions:

a. A father sees his son nearing manhood.

What shall he tell that son?

i. Who motivates whom?

The father motivates his son.

ii. Why does father advise his son?

The father advises his son because his son is at the threshold of his manhood.

b. and serve him for humdrum monotony 

and guide him among sudden betrayals

i. Explain the phrase ‘humdrum monotony’.

‘Humdrum monotony’ means boring routine.

ii. How can he guide?

He can guide to be careful among betrayals.

c. ‘Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy 

And this too might serve him.

i. Which is compared to life?

Life is compared to a fertile soil.

ii. How can our life make fruitful?

If we are gentle, our life can make fruitful.

d. The growth of a frail flower in a path up 

has sometimes shattered and split a rock.

i. What does a frail flower do in a path?

A frail flower sometime can shatter and split the rock.

ii. Where does frail flower grow?

Frail flower grows in the path.

iii. Mention the figure of speech in the above line.

Figure of speech: ...a frail flower ... split a rock - Antithesis

e. So does a rich soft wanting.

Without rich wanting nothing arrives.

Tell him too much money has killed men

i) What do you mean ‘rich soft wanting’?

One should have strong desire and strong will to achieve.

ii)Which has killed men?

Too much money has killed men.

f. and left them dead years before burial: 

the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs

i. What do you mean the phrase ‘quest of lucre’?

‘Quest of lucre’ means earning money in dishonor way.

ii. What does money do men?

Too much of money has killed men and left them dead before burial.

g. Tell him to be alone often and get at himself 

and above all tell himself no lies about himself

i. Does the father motivate telling lies?

No, the father does not motivate telling lies.

ii. How do telling lies describe?

The father advises his son not to tell lies even though it protects him.

iii. Mention the figure of Speech

Figure of speech: Repetition

h. and the final decisions are made in silent rooms.

Tell him to be different from other people

i. Where are final decision made?

Final decisions are made in silent rooms.

ii. What does the poet want his son to be?

The poet wants his son to be different from others.

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

a) and guide him among sudden betrayals

 and tighten him for slack moments.

Context : These lines are taken from the poem “A Father to his Son” written by “Carl Sandburg”

Explanation : Here the father motivates his son to be like a hard rock and withstand life’s struggles and sudden betrayals. At the time of slack moments, he encourages his son.

Comment : The poet gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly wisdom in directing a son who is at the threshold of his manhood.

b) Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed.

Context : This line is taken from the poem “A Father to his Son” written by “Carl Sandburg”

Explanation : The father motivates his son to be like a hard rock and withstand life’s struggles. He asks his son to be gentle. He compares life to fertile soil. If we are gentle, we can go easy on it. If we are gentle, we can make our life fruitful. He insists gentleness overtakes harshness.

Comment : The poet gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly wisdom in directing a son who is at the threshold of his manhood.

c) Yet learning something out of every folly

hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies

Context : These lines are taken from the poem “A Father to his Son" written by “Carl Sandburg”

Explanation : Here the father advises his son what we should learn from our mistakes. He says we should learn something from our mistakes and at the same time we should not repeat them.

Comment : The poet gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly wisdom in directing a son who is at the threshold of his manhood. 

d) He will be lonely enough

 to have time for the work

Context : This line is taken from the poem “A Father to his Son” written by “Carl Sandburg”

Explanation : The Poet’s son may need lazy days to find his inherent abilities to seek what he is born for. He will then know how free imaginations bring changes to the world, which resents change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own.

Comment : The poet gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly wisdom in directing a son who is at the threshold of his manhood.

6. Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words each.

a) Explain how the poet guides his son who is at the threshold of manhood, to face the challenges of life.

The poet Carl Sandburg gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly wisdom in directing a son who is at the threshold of his manhood. Here the father motivates his son to be like a hard rock and withstand life’s challenges and sudden betrayals. Life is like a fertile soil. We can make our life fruitful, if we are gentle. We should take life as it comes. At times gentleness overtakes harshness. The growth of a tender flower can split a rock. One should have a deep desire and strong will to achieve. Greed for money has left men dead before they really die. Good men also have fallen prey in quest for easy money. Time for leisure is not a waste. When you seek knowledge never feel ashamed to be called a fool for not knowing, at the same time learn from your mistakes and never repeat it.

b) How according to the poet is it possible for his son to bring changes into a world that resents change?

The poet asks his son to introspect often, and do not hesitate to accept his shortcomings. He tells him to avoid white lies to protect himself against other people. He assures solitude helps him be creative, and the final decisions are taken in silent rooms. Instead of being one among many, he wants him to be different, if it is his nature. He believes his son may need lazy days to find his inherent abilities, to seek what he is bom for. He will then know how free imaginations bring changes to the world, which resents_change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own, and work to achieve like Shakespeare, the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov and Michael Faraday. Thus the poet thinks it is possible for his son to bring changes into a world that resents change. Because he believes that his son starts introspecting him.

ESSAY

• Introduction

• Father’s Motivation

• Father’s advice 

• Father’s belief

• Conclusion

Introduction:

This poem's Father to his Son’ is a father’s advise to his son who is at the threshold of his manhood. Through this poem the father motivates his son how to get worldly wisdom.

Father’s Motivation:

The father motivates his son to be like a hard rock and withstand life’s challenges and sudden betrayals. Life is like a fertile soil. We can make our life fruitful if we are gentle, and take life as it comes. At times, gentleness overtakes harshness. The growth of a tender flower can split a rock. One should have a deep desire and strong will to achieve.

Father’s advise:

The father tells his son that good man also have fallen prey in quest for easy money. When we seek knowledge never feel ashamed to be called a fool for not knowing. At the same time we should learn from our mistakes and never repeat them. He tells him to avoid white lies to protect himself against other people. Instead of being one among many, he wants him to be different.

Father’s belief:

He believes his son may need lazy days to find his inherent abilities, to seek what he is born for. He will then know how free imaginations bring changes to the world, which resents_change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own, and work to achieve like Shakespeare, the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov and Michael Faraday.

Conclusion:

The poet thinks it is possible for his son to bring changes into a world that resents change.

Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice.