To Celia by Bert Janson- Poem / Poetry Appreciation / Exercises on Poem / Question-Answer on Poem / Theme and Summary of Poem / Poem Analysis

To Celia

—Bert Janson

DRINK to me only with thine eyes,

And I will pledge with mine;  

Or leave a kiss but in the cup             

And I'll not look for wine.       

The thirst that from the soul doth rise     :          

Doth ask a drink divine;          

But might I of Jove's nectar sup:      

I would not change for thine.    

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,      

Not so much honouring thee        

As giving it a hope that there    

It could not withered be;          

But thou.thereon dids't only breathe.        

And sent'st it back to me;         

Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,          

Not of itself but thee.   

Theme:

Ans. Failure in love can make us drunkard sometimes. The poet has lost his love and has been habituated to drinking. The frustrated poet will again come to normal life if he regains his love. The poem reflects here the aftermath of failure in love.

Paraphrasing

1. DRINK to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine;

   • Drink to me only by gazing at me, and I will respond by looking back at you.

2. Or leave a kiss but in the cup And I'll not look for wine.

   • Or if you leave just a kiss in the cup, I won’t ask for wine anymore.

3. The thirst that from the soul doth rise: Doth ask a drink divine;

   • The thirst that comes from the soul seeks something divine, not just a regular drink.

4. But might I of Jove's nectar sup: I would not change for thine.

   • If I could drink the nectar of Jove (the divine drink of the gods), I wouldn’t exchange it for your drink.

5. I sent thee late a rosy wreath, Not so much honouring thee As giving it a hope that there It could not withered be;

   • I recently sent you a wreath of roses, not just to honor you, but hoping that it would not wither, signifying its everlasting beauty.

6. But thou thereon didst only breathe. And sent'st it back to me;

   • But you just breathed on it and sent it back to me.

7. Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, Not of itself but thee.

   • Since then, the wreath has grown and continues to smell, and I swear it doesn’t smell of itself, but of you.

Short Answer Questions

Short Answer Questions with Detailed Answers:

1. What does the speaker ask Celia to do in the first line of the poem?

   • The speaker asks Celia to drink to him only with her eyes, suggesting a deep, non-physical connection and an expression of affection through gazing.

2. How does the speaker respond if Celia drinks to him with her eyes?

   • The speaker responds by pledging with his own eyes, which shows that he reciprocates her affection in a silent, non-verbal manner.

3. What would the speaker prefer instead of wine?

   • The speaker would prefer a divine drink that comes from the soul, rather than just regular wine, indicating that he values a deeper, spiritual connection.

4. What is the significance of Jove’s nectar in the poem?

   • Jove’s nectar represents the divine and perfect drink of the gods. The speaker says he would not trade it for the drink Celia offers, implying that her affection is more valuable than anything else.

5. Why did the speaker send Celia a rosy wreath?

   • The speaker sent Celia a rosy wreath as a gift, not only to honor her but also to give her a symbol of everlasting beauty, hoping it would not wither.

6. What happened to the wreath after Celia sent it back?

   • After Celia breathed on the wreath and sent it back, it continued to grow and smell, and the speaker swears that the fragrance now smells of her, symbolizing her influence on the wreath and on him.

7. What is the meaning of the wreath continuing to grow and smell of Celia?

   • The wreath continuing to grow and smell of Celia symbolizes that her influence and presence are everlasting, even after she has returned the gift, as if her essence has become intertwined with it.

8. What does the speaker imply about Celia’s effect on him?

   • The speaker implies that Celia’s effect on him is profound and lasting, as her presence has the power to influence not just his emotions but also physical things like the wreath.

9. What kind of relationship does the poem suggest between the speaker and Celia?

   • The poem suggests a deep, emotional, and possibly unspoken relationship between the speaker and Celia, based on spiritual connection and mutual respect, rather than physical affection.

10. What is the overall mood of the poem?

    The overall mood of the poem is one of romantic longing and admiration, with a focus on spiritual and emotional connection rather than physical love.

Multiple-choice questions based on the text:

10 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. What does the speaker ask Celia to do in the poem?

   • a) Speak to him

   • b) Drink to him with her eyes

   • c) Write him a letter

   • d) Sing for him

     
     

     Answer: b) Drink to him with her eyes

2. What does the speaker promise in return if Celia drinks to him with her eyes?

   • a) To sing for her

   • b) To pledge with his eyes

   • c) To send her a gift

   • d) To kiss her

     
     

     Answer: b) To pledge with his eyes

3. What does the speaker prefer over wine?

   • a) A kiss

   • b) A divine drink

   • c) A conversation

   • d) A dance

     
     

     Answer: b) A divine drink

4. What does Jove’s nectar symbolize in the poem?

   • a) Wealth and power

   • b) Divine and perfect drink

   • c) Physical attraction

   • d) A fleeting moment of pleasure

     
     

     Answer: b) Divine and perfect drink

5. Why did the speaker send Celia a rosy wreath?

   • a) To honor her

   • b) To ask for a kiss

   • c) To apologize

   • d) To show affection and hope for its everlasting beauty

     
     

     Answer: d) To show affection and hope for its everlasting beauty

6. What does Celia do with the wreath?

   • a) She wears it

   • b) She sends it back after breathing on it

   • c) She throws it away

   • d) She keeps it forever

     
     

     Answer: b) She sends it back after breathing on it

7. What is the result of Celia breathing on the wreath?

   • a) The wreath dies

   • b) The wreath continues to grow and smells of Celia

   • c) The wreath changes color

   • d) The wreath becomes a symbol of their love

     
     

     Answer: b) The wreath continues to grow and smells of Celia

8. What is implied about the relationship between the speaker and Celia?

   • a) It is based on physical attraction

   • b) It is based on emotional and spiritual connection

   • c) It is based on mutual friendship

   • d) It is based on intellectual conversations

     
     

     Answer: b) It is based on emotional and spiritual connection

9. What is the speaker’s attitude towards Celia?

   • a) Indifferent

   • b) Angry

   • c) Deeply admiring and affectionate

   • d) Disappointed

     
     

     Answer: c) Deeply admiring and affectionate

10. What is the tone of the poem?

11. a) Joyful and playful

12. b) Melancholy and reflective

13. c) Sarcastic and bitter

14. d) Romantic and affectionate

    
    

    Answer: d) Romantic and affectionate

Summary of "Solitude" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:

In "To Celia" by Ben Jonson, the speaker expresses his deep admiration and affection for Celia. He asks her to drink to him with her eyes and promises to respond with his own eyes. He suggests that he would prefer a divine drink over wine, symbolizing that his desire comes from the soul. The speaker sent Celia a wreath of roses, not just to honor her but also to symbolize everlasting beauty. However, when Celia returns the wreath after breathing on it, the speaker notices that the wreath continues to grow and smells of her, suggesting that her influence on him and his emotions is enduring.

Theme

The theme of "To Celia" revolves around the power of spiritual connection and admiration. The poem emphasizes the deep emotional bond between the speaker and Celia, where affection transcends physical acts and is rooted in the soul.

Bangla Translation (Summary)

বেন জনসনের "টু সেলিয়া"-তে, বক্তা সেলিয়ার প্রতি তার গভীর শ্রদ্ধা এবং স্নেহ প্রকাশ করেছেন। তিনি তাকে তার চোখ দিয়ে পান করতে বলেন এবং নিজের চোখ দিয়ে সাড়া দেওয়ার প্রতিশ্রুতি দেন। তিনি পরামর্শ দেন যে তিনি মদের চেয়ে ঐশ্বরিক পানীয় পছন্দ করবেন, যা প্রতীকী যে তার আকাঙ্ক্ষা আত্মা থেকে আসে। বক্তা সেলিয়াকে গোলাপের মালা পাঠিয়েছিলেন, কেবল তাকে সম্মান জানাতে নয় বরং চিরস্থায়ী সৌন্দর্যের প্রতীক হিসেবেও। যাইহোক, যখন সেলিয়া পুষ্পস্তবকটি শ্বাস নেওয়ার পরে ফিরিয়ে দেন, তখন বক্তা লক্ষ্য করেন যে পুষ্পস্তবকটি ক্রমাগত বৃদ্ধি পাচ্ছে এবং তার গন্ধ পাচ্ছে, যা ইঙ্গিত করে যে তার এবং তার আবেগের উপর তার প্রভাব স্থায়ী।

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Vocabulary (30 words):

1. Pledge - to make a promise or vow

2. Thirst - a strong desire or craving

3. Nectar - a drink of the gods, symbolizing something divine or perfect

4. Rosy - having the color of roses

5. Wreath - a circular arrangement of flowers or leaves

6. Honor - to show respect or esteem

7. Hope - expectation of something good

8. Withered - dried up or shriveled

9. Breathe - to exhale or inhale air

10. Scent - a distinctive smell

11. Soul - the immaterial essence of a person

12. Divine - related to the gods, heavenly

13. Drunk - intoxicated by a beverage

14. Cup - a vessel used for drinking

15. Change - to alter something

16. Return - to send back or give back

17. Smell - to perceive through the nose

18. Drink - a liquid consumed for refreshment

19. Sick - unwell, not in good health

20. Gaze - to look at something steadily

21. Pine - to long or yearn for something

22. Chariot - a two-wheeled vehicle, often used in ancient times

23. Tangible - capable of being touched

24. Charm - the power to attract or influence

25. Swear - to make a solemn promise

26. Enduring - lasting or continuing over time

27. Everlasting - lasting forever

28. Familiar - well known, easily recognized

29. Influence - the power to affect someone or something

30. Adoration - deep love and respect