Poetry Appreciation - 04 (The Eagle)

Appreciating Poetry

Poem-4

Read the following poem and do the activities that follow.

The Eagle

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;

Close to the sun in lonely lands,

Ringed with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;

He watches from his mountain walls,

And like a thunderbolt, he falls.

Questions:

a) Answer the following questions.

i. What does the eagle symbolize in the poem?

ii. How does the poet use similes and metaphors to describe the eagle’s power?

iii. How does the imagery of nature in the poem emphasize the theme?

iv. What feelings or emotions does the poet evoke through the eagle's actions?

v. How does the poem reflect the majesty of the natural world?

b) Identify 4 metaphors and 4 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 eagle symbolize in the poem?

The eagle symbolizes strength, power, and independence. It is portrayed as a solitary and commanding figure, standing alone in a high, isolated place. The eagle's ability to control its environment and its sudden, powerful movements reflect its dominance over nature.

ii. How does the poet use similes and metaphors to describe the eagle’s power?

The poet uses strong metaphors and similes to highlight the eagle's power and majesty. The metaphor of the eagle clasping the crag with "crooked hands" suggests the bird's firm grip and control over its environment. The simile "like a thunderbolt, he falls" conveys the eagle's speed and strength as it dives down, likening its movement to something powerful and sudden.

iii. How does the imagery of nature in the poem emphasize the theme?

The imagery of nature, such as the "lonely lands" and the "wrinkled sea," creates a sense of vastness and solitude, emphasizing the eagle’s dominance in a wild and untamed world. The contrast between the stillness of the eagle and the crawling sea beneath him highlights the bird’s superior position and control over its environment. This imagery supports the theme of power and majesty in the natural world.

iv. What feelings or emotions does the poet evoke through the eagle's actions?

The poet evokes feelings of awe and admiration through the eagle's actions. The image of the eagle standing high above the earth and then suddenly diving like a thunderbolt creates a sense of power, speed, and authority. This action makes the reader feel the intensity and majesty of the eagle's movements, stirring emotions of respect for the bird’s natural strength.

v. How does the poem reflect the majesty of the natural world?

The poem reflects the majesty of the natural world by focusing on the eagle, a symbol of power and grace. The eagle’s solitary presence in the high mountains and its control over the vast landscape beneath it show the grandeur of nature. The poet's vivid descriptions of the eagle and its surroundings remind us of the beauty and strength found in the natural world.

b) Identify 4 metaphors and 4 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.

Metaphors:

1. "He clasps the crag with crooked hands" – This metaphor likens the eagle’s talons to hands, showing its strong grip and control over the mountain.

2. "He watches from his mountain walls" – Here, the mountains are described as "walls," implying that the eagle is the ruler or protector of his high fortress.

3. "Ringed with the azure world" – The metaphor suggests that the eagle is surrounded by the blue sky, placing him at the center of his world, as though he is part of it.

4. "The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls" – The sea is described as "wrinkled" and "crawling," which conveys both its vastness and the slow, almost insignificant movement below the eagle’s powerful perch.

Similes:

1. "Like a thunderbolt, he falls" – This simile compares the eagle’s dive to a thunderbolt, emphasizing its speed and force.

2. "Close to the sun" – Though more metaphorical than a traditional simile, this comparison elevates the eagle to a nearly divine status, as though it is almost touching the sky.

3. "He stands...like a king" – This unspoken simile compares the eagle’s stance to that of a ruler surveying his kingdom, showing his authority over nature.

4. "Like a rock unmoved" – Implied here, the eagle's position on the mountain crag is steady and unshakable, like a solid, immovable object.

Purpose of their uses:The metaphors and similes in the poem enhance the eagle’s power and majesty. By comparing the eagle to human figures (like a king) and natural forces (like a thunderbolt), the poet elevates the bird to a symbol of strength and dominance. These comparisons help the reader understand the bird’s commanding presence in nature and the awe it inspires. The use of these figures of speech brings vivid imagery to the reader's mind, making the eagle's actions feel more intense and dramatic.

c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.

Reading the poem made me feel a sense of admiration and awe for the eagle and the natural world. The way the poet describes the eagle’s control over its environment, standing high in the mountains and watching everything below, makes me see the bird as a symbol of pure strength and independence. The line “like a thunderbolt, he falls” especially stood out, creating an image of powerful and swift movement that left me feeling excited and impressed.

The eagle's solitary position, "close to the sun," gives a sense of freedom and majesty, reminding me of how wild animals are part of something much larger and more powerful than we often realize. The contrast between the stillness of the eagle and the slow, crawling sea beneath makes me think about how some creatures have a special connection to the natural world, mastering their surroundings in ways that humans rarely do.

Overall, the poem left me feeling a sense of wonder for nature's beauty and power. It also made me think about how small and insignificant other elements of nature can seem when compared to something as majestic as an eagle. This short yet powerful poem stirred emotions of awe and respect for the natural world.

Theme of the Poem:

In "The Eagle" by Alfred Lord Tennyson, the poem describes an eagle holding tightly onto a rock with its sharp claws. It is high up in the sky, close to the sun, in a quiet, lonely place. The bird is surrounded by the blue sky and looks down at the sea, which looks small and slow from above. Suddenly, the eagle dives down quickly, like a flash of lightning. The poem shows how strong and powerful the eagle is.

Full Explanation and Vocabulary

Three-column analysis of "The Eagle" by Alfred Lord Tennyson with simple explanations and Bangla translations:

Line from the Poem	Easy Analysis	Bangla Meaning
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;	The eagle tightly holds the steep rock with its bent claws.	ঈগল তার বাঁকানো নখ দিয়ে খাড়া পাথরটি শক্তভাবে আঁকড়ে ধরে।
Close to the sun in lonely lands,	The eagle is high up in the sky, in an isolated place near the sun.	ঈগল অনেক উঁচুতে, একা একা সূর্যের কাছাকাছি অবস্থান করছে।
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.	The eagle is surrounded by the blue sky, standing proudly.	ঈগল চারপাশে নীল আকাশে ঘেরা, গর্বের সাথে দাঁড়িয়ে আছে।
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;	Far below, the sea looks like it's moving slowly, with waves like wrinkles.	তার নিচে সমুদ্র ঢেউগুলো আস্তে আস্তে চলতে থাকে, যেন ভাঁজ পড়েছে।
He watches from his mountain walls,	The eagle looks down from its high mountain, observing everything.	ঈগল তার উঁচু পাহাড় থেকে সবকিছু দেখছে।
And like a thunderbolt, he falls.	The eagle dives down quickly and powerfully, like a lightning bolt.	ঈগল বজ্রপাতের মতো দ্রুত এবং শক্তিশালীভাবে নিচে ঝাঁপিয়ে পড়ে।

Vocabulary

Key words/expressions from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Eagle", with their meanings in simple English and Bangla:

Word/Expression	Meaning (Simple English)	Bangla Meaning
Clasps	Holds tightly.	শক্ত করে ধরে।
Crag	A steep, rugged rock or cliff.	খাড়া পাথর বা পাহাড়ের ধারের অংশ।
Crooked	Bent or twisted, not straight.	বাঁকা বা বেঁকানো, সোজা নয়।
Hands	The claws or talons of the eagle.	ঈগলের থাবা।
Close to the sun	Very high up in the sky.	আকাশে অনেক উঁচুতে।
Lonely lands	Remote or isolated places.	নির্জন বা দূরবর্তী স্থান।
Ringed	Surrounded in a circular way.	বৃত্তাকারে ঘেরা।
Azure	Bright blue, like the sky.	আকাশের মতো উজ্জ্বল নীল।
Wrinkled	Having small folds or lines, like on an old face.	ভাঁজযুক্ত, যেমন বুড়ো মানুষের মুখের ভাঁজ।
Sea crawls	The movement of the sea is slow, like crawling.	সমুদ্রের ধীর গতিতে সরা, যেন হামাগুড়ি দিচ্ছে।
Mountain walls	The steep sides of a mountain.	পাহাড়ের খাড়া দেয়াল বা ধারের অংশ।
Thunderbolt	A sudden, powerful movement, like lightning.	বজ্রপাতের মতো দ্রুত এবং শক্তিশালী নড়াচড়া।
Falls	Comes down quickly, like diving.	দ্রুত নিচে পড়া বা ডুব দেওয়া।