Song of the Open Road - Walt Whitman

              SECTION II - POETRY                                             

                   [POETRY AND APPRECIATION]               [14 Marks]

Q.3 A. Read the extract and complete the activities given below. [10]

                   [Seen extract from a poem of about 10-15 lines]

A1] Global understanding                                                      [02]

A2] Inference/Interpretative/Analysis                                  [02]

A3] Personal Response                                                           [02]

A4] Poetic Device                                                                    [02]

A5] Creativity (Compose 2-4 lines)                                       [02]

 

B.  APPRECIATION

    Read the extract and write as per the instructions.           [04]

     [Seen extract of 10-15 lines from another poem, not asked in Q.3A]

                                       

 

 

 

                                                 SECTION TWO

              2.1 Song of the Open Road

Q. Read the extract and complete the activities given  below.                                                                      [10 Marks]

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.

             A1. Factual Understanding

1. Pick out the lines showing that the poet is prepared to enjoy every  moment of his journey.

 

Ans

i)    Afoot and light-hearted I take to the Open Road,

ii)     Healthy, free, the world before me,

iii)  Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-  fortune,

iv)              Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

v)  Strong and content I travel the open road.

 

2.   Complete the following sentences based on the extract.

 

i.  On setting out for the journey, the poet considers himself......

ii.  The long brown path is...

iii.  As the poet travels the open road,he is .....

 

Ans: i. afoot and light-hearted.

ii.     leading the poet wherever he chooses.

iii.   strong and content.

 

             A2. Interpretation

1.  Explain the meaning of the following lines from the extract:

i)    “Henceforth, I ask for  no good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune”

 Ans:  The poet says that he does not wish luck on his journey, because he   believes in making his own luck. He wants to decide his own destiny as he   travels along the open road.

 

ii)      “Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticism,”

Ans: As the poet starts his journey on the road, he says that he is done with all the complaints, about being indoors and the everyday tasks of a routine life. He is done being irritable and critical.

 

2. Following are the activities of the poet related to his journey on the road. Divide them into two part as 'activities the poet will practise' and 'activities he will not practice'.

i.    Walking along the road though he does not know where it reaches.

ii.    Complaining about the  discomforts during the journey.

 iii. Postponing the journey

  iv.   Praying for good-fortune

Ans: All the above activities are the 'activities that the poet will not practice'.

 

3. Write down the traits the poet exhibit through the given line. One is       done for you.

i.      Henceforth,   I   ask   for   no   good-fortune-I   myself   am   good fortune: Self- confidence

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

Ans: determination and positivity

4. 'Healthy, free, the world before me'. Express your views       regarding the above line.

Ans: In the line 'Healthy, free , the world for me', the poet is trying to convey that the  world that lies ahead in his journey of life is healthy and free. In my view, the line is full of hope and optimism. It gives an idea of the world being free from all shackles of routine and monotony. It depicts a picture where the world, which the poet and encounters on his journey, is in better shape than the one   he has left behind.

 

 

 

 

 

A3.Personal Response

i)Which road will you choose as your career of life? Explain it.

Ans:- I will take care of my hobbies and interest, while choosing career. I will choose the job which will give me satisfaction and joy. My first choice will be happiness and fulfillment

 

A4.Vocabulary/Poetic Devices

1. The poet has used in many describing words such as 'healthy' in this poem. Make a list and classify them as.

i. For the world.....

ii. For himself......

iii. For the Road.....

Ans:

i. For the world

a)free                   b) healthy

ii. For himself

a)   afoot b)light hearted              c) strong                       d) content

iii. For the road

a)      long                         b)brown                           c) open

2. Write the meaning of the following words from the extract:

i.  afoot                          ii. whimper

    iii. querulous                                   iv .content

Ans:

i. on foot

ii. to make low sounds that express pain, fear or unhappiness iii. complaining in a whining manner

iii.       peacefully happy

 

3. What is the rhyme scheme of the extract?

Ans: The extract does not have a rhyme scheme as the poem is written in   free verse. The lines  are unrhymed and of varying lengths.

 

4. Identify and explain the figure of speech in the following lines from the extract:

i. "Afoot and light hearted I take to the open road,”

Ans:- a) Alliteration-The sound of 't' has been repeated in the line for poetic  effect.

 

b.Metaphor-The 'road' has been indirectly compared to the 'road of life'.

 

ii. "Healthy, free, the world before me, "

Ans:- A) Inversion: The words in the line have been rearranged for poetic effect. The correct order of the words should be "The healthy, free world for me".

iii. "The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose".

 Ans: a) Alliteration: The sound of 'I' has been repeated in the line for poetic effect.

b. Personification: The road has been given the animate quality of 'leading'. iv."Henceforth I   ask not good-fortune. I myself am good-fortune,”

Ans: a) Repetition: The word 'I' and   'good-fortune' have been repeated to emphasise that the poet believes in making his own luck.

v. "Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,"

Ans:

a.      Alliteration-The sound of 'n' has been repeated in the line for poetic effect.

b.     Repetition-The words 'no more' have been repeated to emphasise that the poet won't whine or postpone his journey anymore.

vi. "Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,"

Ans:

a.      Alliteration- The sound of 'k' has been repeated in the line for poetic effect.

b.  Consonance- The sound of the consonant   's' has been repeated in the line for poetic effect.

c.   

          A5. Poetic Creativity

Write four to six lines of Free Verse on the topic 'The road that leads   to my college’.

Ans:- The road that leads to my college.

 Give me my important knowledge,

I feel you every time I have a Courage,

The road that gives me a lot of knowledge.