To Daffodils
Robert Herrick
Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon;
As yet the early-rising sun
Has not attain’d his noon.
Stay, stay,
Until the hasting day
Has run
But to the even-song;
And, having pray’d together, we
Will go with you along.
We have short time to stay, as you,
We have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
As you, or anything.
We die
As your hours do, and dry
Away, Like to the summer’s rain;
Or as the pearls of morning’s dew,
Ne’er to be found again.
Theme: The theme of To Daffodils by Robert Herrick centers on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. Using the short-lived beauty of daffodils as a metaphor, the poem reflects on how human life, like the flowers, is brief and passes quickly. Herrick emphasizes the importance of recognizing life’s transience and cherishing the moments we have before they fade away.
Another Model
Ans. Man is short-lived like daffodil, a flower. Life span of daffodil, which blooms early morning and withers away before sunset, is as short as man's life. The transience of daffodils and men is similar to summer's rain and morning's dew drops. In fact, nothing is perennial in the world.
Theme: We have a short span of life on this earth. Sometimes life ends sooner than we wish.
So, we don’t have much time to accomplish our goals or fulfil life long dreams. Once life is gone, we can’t bring it back. So, it is better to live life to its fullest and try to make a difference while we can.
Summary: In To Daffodils by Robert Herrick, the speaker laments the brief life of daffodils, which bloom for only a short time before withering away. He compares the flowers’ short lifespan to the fleeting nature of human life, emphasizing that both are temporary and fragile. The poem reflects on the inevitability of death, drawing a parallel between the daffodils’ fading beauty and the swift passage of time for people. Ultimately, it encourages an appreciation of life’s transience and a recognition of its impermanence.
Paraphrasing
Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
Beautiful daffodils, we are sorrowful to watch you wither and fade.
You haste away so soon;
You leave or disappear very quickly, as if you don’t stay long enough to enjoy your full beauty.
As yet the early-rising sun
Even though the sun has just risen early in the day,
Has not attain’d his noon.
It hasn’t yet reached its peak in the sky, the time when it’s directly overhead (midday).
Stay, stay,
Please, stay just a little longer.
Until the hasting day
Until the day, which is quickly moving forward,
Has run
Has passed or reached its end.
But to the even-song;
Until the evening, when the nightfall begins (symbolized by the "even-song" or twilight).
And, having pray’d together, we
After we’ve spent our time together, reflecting or praying,
Will go with you along.
We will join you in your journey, walking along with you in your final moments.
We have short time to stay, as you,
Just like you, daffodils, we, too, have a short time to live.
We have as short a spring;
Our lives are brief, much like your spring season that passes quickly.
As quick a growth to meet decay,
We grow quickly, only to experience decay, or death, just as rapidly.
As you, or anything.
Just like you, or anything else in nature that grows and fades so quickly.
We die
We, too, will die.
As your hours do, and dry
Our lives, like yours, will end, and we will wither away as you do.
Away, Like to the summer’s rain;
Just like how the summer rain falls and disappears quickly, we too will be gone just as suddenly.
Or as the pearls of morning’s dew,
Our existence is fleeting, like the tiny drops of dew that appear in the morning but vanish with the sun.
Ne’er to be found again.
Just like dew or rain, once we are gone, we will never return, and we are lost forever.
Short Answer Questions
Short Answer Questions:
What do the daffodils symbolize in the poem?
The daffodils symbolize the fleeting nature of life and the inevitable passing of time.
Why does the speaker weep in the poem?
The speaker weeps because the daffodils are fading too soon, representing the sadness of life’s brevity.
What is the relationship between the daffodils and the human life cycle?
The daffodils mirror the short and transient nature of human life, both quickly growing and decaying.
What does the speaker ask the daffodils to do?
The speaker asks the daffodils to stay a little longer before they fade away.
How does the speaker compare the life of humans to the daffodils?
The speaker compares human life to the daffodils, saying both have a short existence, growing quickly and meeting decay soon.
What does the “short spring” in the poem refer to?
The “short spring” refers to the brief period of time in life, similar to how the daffodils bloom quickly and then fade.
What happens to the daffodils as the day progresses?
The daffodils fade away, just as the day moves from morning to evening, symbolizing the passing of time.
What does the speaker mean by “ne’er to be found again”?
It means that just like the dew or rain that disappears, once the daffodils or humans are gone, they cannot return.
How does the speaker view the daffodils’ death?
The speaker sees the death of the daffodils as a natural process, but it is sorrowful because it represents the inevitable decay of life.
Why does the speaker want to join the daffodils in their journey?
The speaker wants to join the daffodils because he recognizes the commonality between the transient nature of their lives and human life.
Multiple-choice questions based on the text:
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
What do the daffodils symbolize in the poem?
a) The eternal cycle of life
b) The fleeting nature of life
c) Hope and renewal
d) The seasons of the year
Answer: b) The fleeting nature of life
Why does the speaker ask the daffodils to stay?
a) Because they are beautiful
b) Because they remind him of childhood
c) Because their lives are too short
d) Because he wants to enjoy them longer
Answer: c) Because their lives are too short
What does the phrase “ne’er to be found again” refer to?
a) The return of the daffodils in the next spring
b) The death of the daffodils
c) The appearance of the morning dew
d) The end of the poem
Answer: b) The death of the daffodils
How does the poem reflect the concept of mortality?
a) Through the eternal cycle of nature
b) By comparing human life to the daffodils' fleeting existence
c) By celebrating the beauty of the daffodils
d) By focusing on the happiness of the flowers
Answer: b) By comparing human life to the daffodils' fleeting existence
What does the speaker mean by "short time to stay"?
a) Life is fleeting and we all have limited time
b) The daffodils need to bloom faster
c) The speaker is in a hurry
d) The speaker is losing hope
Answer: a) Life is fleeting and we all have limited time
What is the speaker's attitude toward the passing of time in the poem?
a) Indifference
b) Sadness and sorrow
c) Celebration of change
d) Confusion
Answer: b) Sadness and sorrow
What do the daffodils' “quick growth” and “decay” represent?
a) The beauty of nature
b) The swift passage of time and human life
c) The seasons changing
d) The circle of life
Answer: b) The swift passage of time and human life
What is the tone of the poem?
a) Joyful and hopeful
b) Melancholic and reflective
c) Angry and resentful
d) Peaceful and serene
Answer: b) Melancholic and reflective
What does the speaker compare the daffodils' fading to?
a) The passing of seasons
b) The quick passing of human life
c) The blooming of roses
d) The coming of rain
Answer: b) The quick passing of human life
What is the central theme of the poem?
a) The celebration of life
b) The cycle of nature
c) The brevity and transience of life
d) The beauty of flowers
Answer: c) The brevity and transience of life
Summary of "To Daffodils":
In "To Daffodils," Robert Herrick expresses sorrow over the fleeting nature of life, using the metaphor of daffodils that bloom quickly but soon fade away. The speaker laments that the daffodils are leaving too soon, even before the sun has reached its peak. He pleads with the flowers to stay until the day is nearly done, so they can enjoy the time together before they must part. The poem reflects on the brevity of life, comparing the short life of the daffodils to human existence. Just as the daffodils quickly fade, so too do people, growing swiftly and decaying just as fast. The poet reminds us that life is fragile and transient, symbolized by the daffodils that bloom only to disappear like morning dew or summer rain.
Theme of the Poem
The theme of "To Daffodils" revolves around the transience of life and the inevitability of death. Herrick uses the daffodils as a symbol for human life, noting how both the flowers and people have brief existences. The poem highlights the fleeting nature of time, urging readers to appreciate the present before it passes, as nothing is permanent. It reflects on the inevitability of decay and death, suggesting that life, like the daffodils, comes and goes quickly, leaving only memories behind.
Bangla Translation (Summary)
"টু ড্যাফোডিলস"-এ রবার্ট হেরিক জীবনের ক্ষণস্থায়ী প্রকৃতির জন্য দুঃখ প্রকাশ করেছেন, ড্যাফোডিল ফুলের রূপক ব্যবহার করে যা দ্রুত ফুটে ওঠে কিন্তু শীঘ্রই নিভে যায়। বক্তা দুঃখ প্রকাশ করেছেন যে ড্যাফোডিল ফুল খুব তাড়াতাড়ি চলে যাচ্ছে, এমনকি সূর্য তার সর্বোচ্চ শিখরে পৌঁছানোর আগেই। তিনি ফুলগুলিকে দিনের প্রায় শেষ না হওয়া পর্যন্ত থাকার জন্য অনুরোধ করেন, যাতে তারা একসাথে সময় উপভোগ করতে পারে এবং তাদের বিদায় নিতে হয়। কবিতাটি জীবনের সংক্ষিপ্ততার উপর প্রতিফলিত করে, ড্যাফোডিলদের সংক্ষিপ্ত জীবনকে মানুষের অস্তিত্বের সাথে তুলনা করে। ড্যাফোডিলগুলি যেমন দ্রুত নিস্তেজ হয়ে যায়, তেমনি মানুষও দ্রুত বৃদ্ধি পায় এবং ঠিক তত দ্রুত ক্ষয়প্রাপ্ত হয়। কবি আমাদের মনে করিয়ে দেন যে জীবন ভঙ্গুর এবং ক্ষণস্থায়ী, যার প্রতীক ড্যাফোডিল ফুলগুলি যা কেবল সকালের শিশির বা গ্রীষ্মের বৃষ্টির মতো অদৃশ্য হয়ে যায়।
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