Poetry Appreciation - 03 (Now We Are Six)

Appreciating Poetry

Poem-3

Read the following poem and do the activities that follow.

Now We Are Six

By A.A. Milne

When I was one, I ate a bun.

The old maid said it was good.

When I was two, I ate some stew.

That was very good.

When I was three, I went to sea

In a beautiful pea-green boat.

And when I was four, I went aboard

A ship that had a sail.

When I was five, I was alive

In a very nice little house.

And when I was six, I ate some sticks

That were very good for me.

Now I am six, I am six,

And I will always be

The very best of sixes

You can ever hope to see.

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Questions:

a) Answer the following questions.

i. What does the poem convey about growing up?

ii. How does the poet use metaphors to represent different stages of childhood?

iii. What is the significance of the speaker’s pride in being six?

iv. How does the poem reflect a child’s perspective on life?

v. How does the poem play with the concept of time?

b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.

c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.

Answer:

a) Answer the following questions.

i. What does the poem convey about growing up?

The poem conveys a sense of nostalgia and pride in growing up. It highlights different experiences and achievements at each age, showing how the speaker looks back fondly on their childhood milestones. The poem reflects the joy and simple pleasures of growing older and gaining new experiences.

ii. How does the poet use metaphors to represent different stages of childhood?

The poet uses metaphors like "a beautiful pea-green boat" to symbolize adventure and imagination in early childhood. The "ship that had a sail" represents exploration and curiosity. These metaphors capture the essence of childhood experiences, each age bringing its own unique adventures and joys.

iii. What is the significance of the speaker’s pride in being six?

The speaker’s pride in being six signifies a sense of achievement and identity. By declaring they are "the very best of sixes," the speaker embraces their current age with confidence and satisfaction. It reflects how children often take pride in their age and feel special as they reach new milestones.

iv. How does the poem reflect a child’s perspective on life?

The poem reflects a child’s perspective through its simple language, playful tone, and focus on everyday experiences. It captures the way children view their growth and achievements with excitement and importance. The speaker’s reflections on past ages show how children cherish their experiences and milestones.

v. How does the poem play with the concept of time?

The poem plays with the concept of time by reflecting on different ages and experiences in a linear fashion. Each verse represents a specific age and its associated activities, creating a sense of progression and change. The speaker’s pride in being six contrasts with the previous ages, highlighting the passage of time and how each stage is celebrated.

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b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.

Metaphors:

1. "A beautiful pea-green boat" – This metaphor represents the speaker’s adventurous spirit and imagination at age three. It symbolizes a whimsical and exciting experience.

2. "A ship that had a sail" – This metaphor represents exploration and discovery, capturing the sense of adventure that comes with being four years old.

3. "Some sticks that were very good for me" – This metaphor could symbolize simple pleasures or nutritious food, reflecting how even ordinary things can be meaningful.

Similes:

1. "Like when I was one" – This simile compares the speaker’s current experiences with their past experiences at one year old, highlighting the contrast between ages.

2. "Like when I was two" – This simile helps the speaker compare different ages and their corresponding experiences.

3. "Like when I was three" – This simile emphasizes the progression from one age to the next, showing how each age is unique.

Purpose of their uses:

The metaphors and similes help to convey the speaker’s experiences and growth at different ages in a vivid and imaginative way. By using metaphors like the "beautiful pea-green boat" and "ship that had a sail," the poet adds a sense of wonder and adventure to the childhood experiences described. The similes help to compare and contrast different stages of life, emphasizing the joy and significance of each age. Overall, these figures of speech make the poem more engaging and reflective of the child’s perspective on growing up.

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c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.

Reading this poem brought a smile to my face and a sense of nostalgia. The simple and playful language evoked memories of childhood and the joy of discovering new things. The way the speaker proudly recounts their experiences at different ages reminds me of how special each milestone in childhood can feel.

The poem’s cheerful tone and imaginative descriptions made me appreciate the little things that bring happiness in life. It highlighted how even ordinary experiences, like eating sticks or sailing in a pea-green boat, can be full of wonder when seen through a child’s eyes.

Overall, the poem left me with a warm, reflective feeling about the passage of time and the significance of each stage of life. It reminded me to cherish the simple joys and milestones of growing up and to embrace each age with pride and happiness.

Theme of the Poem:

In A.A. Milne's poem "Now We Are Six," the speaker reflects on the fun and simple experiences of growing up. At each age, from one to six, the speaker shares a memorable activity: eating a bun at one, stew at two, and going on adventures like sailing at three and four. At five, they lived in a nice little house, and at six, they humorously claim to have eaten sticks. The poem ends with the speaker proudly saying they are six now and will always be the best six-year-old anyone could ever hope to meet. The poem captures the joy and imagination of childhood.

Full Explanation and Vocabulary

Here’s a three-column breakdown of the poem with easy analysis and Bangla meaning:

Original Text	Easy Analysis	Bangla Meaning
When I was one, I ate a bun.	When I was one year old, I ate a bread roll.	যখন আমার বয়স এক ছিল, আমি একটি পাউরুটি খেয়েছিলাম।
The old maid said it was good.	An old woman told me it was tasty.	বৃদ্ধা বলেছিলেন এটি ভাল ছিল।
When I was two, I ate some stew.	At two years old, I ate some cooked meat and vegetables.	যখন আমার বয়স দুই ছিল, আমি একটু স্ট্যু খেয়েছিলাম।
That was very good.	It was also very delicious.	সেটিও খুবই ভালো ছিল।
When I was three, I went to sea	At three, I traveled on the sea.	যখন আমার বয়স তিন ছিল, আমি সমুদ্রযাত্রা করেছিলাম।
In a beautiful pea-green boat.	I went in a boat that was green like a pea.	আমি একটি সুন্দর মটর-সবুজ নৌকায় গিয়েছিলাম।
And when I was four, I went aboard	At four, I got on board a ship.	যখন আমার বয়স চার ছিল, আমি একটি জাহাজে উঠেছিলাম।
A ship that had a sail.	The ship had a large sail to move it across the sea.	জাহাজটির একটি পাল ছিল।
When I was five, I was alive	At five years old, I was full of life and happy.	যখন আমার বয়স পাঁচ ছিল, আমি জীবন্ত ছিলাম।
In a very nice little house.	I lived in a nice small house.	আমি একটি খুব সুন্দর ছোট বাড়িতে ছিলাম।
And when I was six, I ate some sticks	At six, I pretended to eat sticks, thinking they were healthy.	যখন আমার বয়স ছয় ছিল, আমি কিছু কাঠি খেয়েছিলাম।
That were very good for me.	I thought they were good for my health.	যা আমার জন্য খুবই উপকারী ছিল।
Now I am six, I am six,	Now that I am six years old.	এখন আমি ছয় বছর বয়সী।
And I will always be	I will always feel like I am the best six-year-old.	এবং আমি সবসময় ছয় বয়সী থাকবো।
The very best of sixes	I believe I am the best six-year-old.	আমি ছয় বছর বয়সীদের মধ্যে সেরা।
You can ever hope to see.	No other six-year-old is better than me.	তুমি যত ছয় বয়সী দেখবে তার মধ্যে আমি সেরা।

Vocabulary

Here’s a simplified table with key words/expressions from A.A. Milne's poem "Now We Are Six", with their meanings in simple English and Bangla:

Word/Expression	Meaning (Simple English)	Bangla Meaning
Aboard	On or in a ship or boat.	জাহাজ বা নৌকায় থাকা।
Alive	Living, not dead.	জীবিত, মৃত নয়।
Boat	A small vessel for traveling on water.	একটি ছোট জলযান।
Bun	A small, sweet bread roll.	একটি ছোট, মিষ্টি রুটি।
Good	Pleasant, enjoyable, or satisfactory.	ভালো, আনন্দদায়ক বা সন্তোষজনক।
House	A building where people live.	একটি ভবন যেখানে মানুষ বাস করে।
Pea-green	A color that is green like a pea.	মটরপাতার মতো সবুজ রঙ।
Sail	A large piece of cloth used to catch the wind on a boat.	নৌকায় বাতাস ধরতে ব্যবহৃত বড় কাপড়।
Sea	The large body of salt water that covers much of the Earth.	সমুদ্র: পৃথিবীর বেশিরভাগ অংশ জুড়ে বিস্তৃত লবণাক্ত জল।
Ship	A large boat used for traveling on water.	একটি বড় নৌকা যা জলপথে চলাচলের জন্য ব্যবহৃত হয়।
Sticks	Small pieces of wood.	ছোট কাঠের টুকরা।
Stew	A dish made by cooking meat and vegetables in liquid.	একটি খাবার যা মাংস ও সবজি তরলে রান্না করা হয়।
Very	To a high degree.	অত্যন্ত।
When I was ___	Describes what happened or what was done at that age.	আমি ___ ছিলাম যখন: সেই বয়সে কী ঘটেছিল বা কী করা হয়েছিল।
Now I am six	Currently, I am six years old.	এখন আমি ছয় বছর বয়সী।
The very best of sixes	The best age of being six.	ছয় বছরের সবচেয়ে ভালো সময়।