UNIT 2.1 SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD

Unit 2.1  Song of the Open Road

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I

choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am

good-fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more,

need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous

criticisms,

Strong and content I travel the open road.

The earth, that is sufficient,

I do not want the constellations any nearer,

I know they are very well where they are,

I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens,

I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me

wherever I go,

I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them,

I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.)

-Walt Whitman

Summary:

Introduction of poem:

Poet is strongly influenced by democratic way of life. In this poem, poet is indicating a road as a democratic way of leading life in which everyone can walk freely where no place for any discrimination. Poet is a follower of liberty. Here road stands for mobility. He does not want to be stayed. Travelling is a fond of poet and he wants to travel with free mind. Road symbolizes the way of life. Poet suggests us to lead the way of life without any burden.

Explanation of poem:

Poet has planned without keeping burden in heart to take a walk on the road which is free for everyone. While walking on the road of life, world should be seems healthy and free from any discrimination between poor and rich people. Poet has many choices of road to walk but he decided to follow the road of life which he likes. He is confident about his decision and not asking for any help or support from anyone. While leading life on the decided road, poet will not cry for any demands like others. He is firm on his decision. He determined to walk on decided road. He will not postpone his plan. He has finished his indoor problems. He has faced with many complains and critics. He has finished with the bulk amount of jeers and criticism. Now he wants to be free from daily duties and walks on the road he decided. Poet’s determination is strong and he is content with himself. For him, Earth is sufficient, he need not any more things in his life. He doesn’t want to expect any more.

                Poet doesn’t want the company of any influential person. Influential persons are happy with themselves, and they are suitable for their followers. Poet does not want to follow any influential person. He is free and wants to deal his life in his own way. Poet considers company of old friends as delicious burden. It is sweet memories for him and he wants to carry with him forever. Though poet considers him free from any boundaries but he agrees that it is not possible for him to forget men and women with whom he spends quality of time in past days. Life of poet is filled with such men and women of past. In return journey poet decided to fill the life of his old friends with joy and experience. Poet wants to spreads the message of love and equality in the life of his friends.

(A1) (i) Pick out the lines showing that the poet is prepared to enjoy every moment

of his journey.

Ans:        1. The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

2. Strong and content I travel the open road

3. I do not want the constellations any nearer

4. Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

 5. I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return

(ii) By ‘old delicious burdens’ the poet means-

(a) the luggage

(b) the food he carries

(c) the stress he bears during the travels

(d) sweet memories of the past

Ans:  (d) sweet memories of the past

(iii) The poet is a person who is free from all inhibitions. Discuss how the

concept of ‘freedom’ is expressed in the poem.

Ans: In this poem Whitman expresses the way of freedom which is based on democracy. Road is referred as a space or way of life which is a symbol of freedom, equality and fraternity. It is open for everyone man can come together and associate with one another. Road can be used by everyone, there should not be any kind of social or economic discrimination.

(A2) (i) Following are the activities of the poet related to his journey on the road.

Divide them into two parts as ‘activities the poet will practice’ and

‘activities he will not practice’.

activities the poet will practice	activities poet will not practice
Walking along the road though he does not know where it reaches	Complaining about the discomforts during the journey
Carrying the fond memories of the good people	Postponing the journey
Reflecting and developing his own ‘self’	Praying for good fortune
	Creating contacts with famous and influential people
	Striving to achieve high and bright success

 (ii) Write down the traits the poet exhibit through following lines.

One is done for you.

(a) Henceforth, I ask for no good fortune-I myself am good fortune :

Ans: Self-confidence

(b) Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing-

Ans: Self sustainable

(c) I do not want the constellations any nearer-

Ans: self dependent

(d) I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them-

Ans: Responsible

(e) I am filled with them – I will fill them in return-

Ans: Self promising

(iii) 'Healthy, free, the world before me'.

Express your views regarding the above line.

Ans: Man is a social animal, he is bonded with society. He wants to develop himself in such world which is free from bad notions, prejudices and unwanted discriminations. The world must be healthy and free for which can approve and sustain the development of  all human kinds.

(A3) The poet has used many describing words such as 'healthy' in this poem.

Make a list and classify them as -

(a)     For the world

Ans: Healthy, Free, Constellation.

(b)     For himself

Ans: Afoot, Light hearted, Good fortune, Strong and Content.

(c)     For the road

Ans: Open , Long brown

(A4)

(ii) The road in the poem does not mean only the road to travel. The poet

wants to suggest the road of life. Explain the metaphor with the help of

the poem.

Ans: Implied comparison has been made between road and way of life. Poet wants to suggest the road of life which is free and healthy for the betterment of everyone. Road indicates the world as well as way of life that Poet  wants to lead in healthy and free atmosphere.

 (iv) There are certain words that are repeated in the poem.

For example, ‘no more’ (Line 7).

Find out other similar expressions. Explain the effect they have created in

the poem.

Ans:        1.Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am

good-fortune,

2.I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me

3. I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.

Repetition of words give musical qualities to the poem and it please the ears of readers. It is repetition figure of speech. Sometimes to express the intensity of the subject poet applies such repetitions. Poet makes poem rhythmic and musical with the help of such devices.

(v) The use of personal pronoun 'I' is evident and prominent in this poem.

Give reasons.

Ans: In this poem, pronoun ‘I’ is evident and prominent. Poet wants to express his own feeling about the way of leading life. Through pronoun ‘I’ Poet indicates his opinion about the world and his personal way of thinking. It indicates self confidence, self sustainable behavior of poet.

(A5) (i) With the help of the following points, write a poetic appreciation of the

poem ‘Song of the Open Road’.

• About the poem / poet and the title:

Walt Whitman, a well known poet, essayist and journalist of America broadly called a father of free verse. This poem is written in free verse to give intense pleasure to readers. The title of the poem ‘Song of the open Road’ is metaphoric and suggestive indicating mobility and way of life.

• The theme :

Poem is based on freedom, joy and optimism as well as wanting of democratic atmosphere with its components i.e. liberty, Equality and fraternity. Poet desired to walk smoothly with sweet memories of liberty rather than to stay at any place, on the road which is healthy and free for everyone to catch overall development of individual and Nation.

• Poetic style:

 Poem is written in free verse having no rhyme or a regular rhythm. Poem is free from limitations of regular meter and rhythm. Though poem does not consist any rhythm with fixed forms, it provides an artistic expression. Various poetic devices have been used to create a suitable effects which poet considered for poem

• The language/ poetic devices used in the poem:

Walt Whitman has used English language borrowing and incorporating words of other languages, especially French and Spanish. He effectively used such words in poem like querulous and constellation having French origin.

• Special features:

Poem is a best example of free verse. It is capable to captivate the mind of readers though having no regular rhyme and rhythm. Poem is suggestive and demanding the restoration of freedom joy and equality. Some lines like ' I know they suffice for those who belong to them’ indicates didactic tone of poet.

• Message, values, morals in the poem:

 Poem leads us to live a free life which should be far away from prejudices, and inequality. While dealing life we should choose or own path and spread the message of love, fraternity and equality. Poem focuses on Freedom, democratic values, openheartedness of human being and skill to overcoming obstacles with confidence.

• Your opinion about the poem:

According to me, Walt Whitman , a father of free verse, has promptly adapted the literary device free verse in this poem. Poem is very close and personal with the poet. Use of pronoun ‘I’ is very evident and prominent. Poets urge for liberty and equality is very praiseworthy. Poets optimism about healthy and free world has influenced the poem.

(ii) Write four to six lines of Free Verse on the topic ‘The road that leads to

my college’. Express that it is the road to knowledge and bright future.

You may begin like this: Every day I tread with the bag of books …

Ans: Everyday I tread with the bag of book

To Take the open road of college regularly

A symbol of knowledge.

with someinformative lectureMerry and discussion

To quit the thrust

Of bright future and to be a true citizen.

OR

Everyday I tread with the bag of books

To accomplish with college lecture

A way to get knowledge

Group discussion and gossips with friend

Ends the college day

Seeking  the bright future on the college road.

OR

Everyday I tread with the bag of books.

college on road I used to go

The road of knowledge with didactic lecture.

with new inspiration and task Everyday starts.

Promoting me to the bright future.

(iii) Write a blog on the following topic.

(a)     Man is free by birth.

Answer is remain. It will be uploaded shortly.

(iv)  Expand the ideas suggested in the following lines:

(a)     All roads lead to Rome.

Ans: Rome was known for its road infrastructure. This phrase refers to the road system of Rome which is attached to each others. Phrase indicates that same outcome can be reached with the help of many ideas. In general, to achieve some task, many persons use many ideas and many ways for the single outcome which stands as a waste of time and energy. Phrase suggest us to focus on the single way and give efforts on same direction. It reminds us the statement of greatest thinker Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. According to him, ‘If you want success, you must be a narrow minded’.

There are many different roads to reach the destination we should choice the suitable way. One can’t fulfill dream by applying many methods. Though there are lots of ways to complete the aim of life but we should focus on our decided way to get it. Phrase suggests us to fix on single way to overcome and conquer the problems of life otherwise there will be jack of all trades and master of none. Simply take any single route for your dream because all roads lead to Rome.

(b)     A man without liberty is a body without a soul.

Ans: liberty is as important to man as soul to the body. Body can’t function with the absence of soul. Soul makes body alive and functional. On the same side, liberty makes man alive and functional. Life without liberty is like an ocean without water.

Dr. Ambedkar strongly recommended the liberty as a human right in Indian constitution. Liberty has its importance in life of human being which can be traced by many fight of freedom as evidence. Liberty is a basic right of human. Liberty is a shaft for overall development. Social, economical, political, cultural etc. development can be achieved with the right of liberty only. A slave can’t be able to explore himself.

I would like to say that human without liberty is no more as fish without water.

(A6) (i) Take help from the sources available on the internet and make a list of

proverbs and quotations about ‘road.’

Ans:

1.        Hard roads require will of steel.

2.       Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.

3.       New roads new ruts

4.       The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.

5.       When within yourself you find the road, the right road will open.

6.       The road to success is not a path you find but a trail you blaze.

7.       Whatever road you've been given, enjoy that road.

8.       The road is long, we carry on, try to have fun in the meantime.

9.       The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.

10.   The wind sweeps the road clean.

(ii) Read the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

                                                                     By: Robert Frost

NON TEXTUAL ACTIVITIES:
FIND OUT THE INSTANCES OF PARADOX FIGURE OF SPEECH AND EXPLAIN IT.

1. Still here I carry my old delicious burdens.

EXPLANATION: BURDEN CAN NOT BE  DELICIOUS. IDEA IS ABSURD AND CONTRAST.

FIND THE EXAMPLES OF REPETITION AND METAPHOR FIGURE OF SPEECH FROM THE POEM AND EXPLAIN IT