Under the Greenwood Tree
— William Shakespeare
UNDER the greenwood tree
Who loves to lie with me,
And turn his merry note
Unto the sweet bird's throat—
Come hither, come hither, come hither!
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and'rough weather.
Who doth ambition shun
And loves to live V the sun.
Seeking the food he eats vim
And pleased with what he gets—
Come hither, come hither, come hither!
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
Theme:
Woodland is peaceful because there are no enemies here except winter and rough weather. But ' social life is unpleasant and disquiet because love and friendship here among men are unreal and fickle. So men without ambition are safe under the greenwood tree if they are pleased with what they get there. Serene and tranquil environment of the woodland makes our mind fresh and pure as melodious songs of birds here enchant us.
Paraphrasing
UNDER the greenwood tree Who loves to lie with me,
Beneath the greenwood tree, anyone who enjoys lying down with me.
And turn his merry note Unto the sweet bird's throat—
And sings happily, matching the joyful song of the birds.
Come hither, come hither, come hither!
Come here, come here, come here!
Here shall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather.
Here, he will find no enemies, only the challenges of cold winter and harsh weather.
Who doth ambition shun And loves to live in the sun.
Those who avoid the pursuit of ambition and prefer to live a simple life under the sun.
Seeking the food he eats, And pleased with what he gets—
Who looks for his own food and is content with whatever he finds.
Come hither, come hither, come hither!
Come here, come here, come here!
Here shall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather.
Again, he will find no enemies, only winter and bad weather.
Short Answer Questions
What is the setting of the poem?
The setting is beneath a greenwood tree, where the speaker invites those who enjoy a peaceful life, free from ambition and strife.
What does the speaker encourage others to do?
The speaker encourages others to come and join him beneath the greenwood tree, where they will find peace and enjoy a simple, carefree life.
What type of life does the speaker advocate for?
The speaker advocates for a life free from ambition, where one lives simply, enjoys nature, and is content with what they have.
What does the speaker say will be the only challenge under the greenwood tree?
The only challenge will be the rough weather and winter, but there are no enemies under the tree.
What does the speaker mean by "turn his merry note"?
"Turn his merry note" refers to singing happily, in harmony with the joyful songs of the birds.
What does "no enemy but winter and rough weather" signify?
It signifies that under the greenwood tree, there are no conflicts or struggles, only natural elements like winter and harsh weather, which are inevitable parts of life.
What kind of person does the speaker call for?
The speaker calls for a person who shuns ambition, enjoys a simple life, and is satisfied with nature's offerings.
Why does the speaker repeat the phrase "Come hither"?
The speaker repeats the phrase "Come hither" to strongly invite others to join in the peaceful, simple life under the tree.
What does the phrase "live in the sun" imply?
"Live in the sun" implies living a carefree life, enjoying the warmth and simplicity of nature, without the burden of ambition or complications.
How does the poem reflect the theme of simplicity and peace?
The poem emphasizes living simply, free from ambition, and enjoying the natural world, symbolized by the greenwood tree and the birds singing, offering peace and tranquility.
Multiple-choice questions based on the text:
What does the speaker invite others to do?
a) Come and fight
b) Come and live under the greenwood tree
c) Come and work hard
d) Come and seek fame
Answer: b) Come and live under the greenwood tree
What does the speaker say is the only challenge under the greenwood tree?
a) Enemies
b) Winter and rough weather
c) Illness
d) Hunger
Answer: b) Winter and rough weather
What type of life does the speaker suggest?
a) A life full of ambition
b) A life of peace and simplicity
c) A life of hard work
d) A life of wealth and power
Answer: b) A life of peace and simplicity
What does "turn his merry note" refer to?
a) Singing happily
b) Playing music
c) Whistling
d) Laughing loudly
Answer: a) Singing happily
Who does the speaker call for under the greenwood tree?
a) People who seek power
b) People who avoid ambition and enjoy simplicity
c) People who are always busy
d) People who live in the city
Answer: b) People who avoid ambition and enjoy simplicity
What does the phrase "live in the sun" mean?
a) Live under the sun
b) Live a carefree and simple life
c) Live in a bright place
d) Live during the day only
Answer: b) Live a carefree and simple life
What does the speaker mean by "no enemy"?
a) There are no rivals
b) There is no ambition or conflict
c) There are no people
d) There are no challenges
Answer: b) There is no ambition or conflict
What does "seeking the food he eats" suggest?
a) Working hard for food
b) Being content with simple sustenance
c) Searching for luxury food
d) Not eating at all
Answer: b) Being content with simple sustenance
How is the mood of the poem best described?
a) Tense and dramatic
b) Peaceful and carefree
c) Angry and frustrated
d) Romantic and passionate
Answer: b) Peaceful and carefree
What is the overall message of the poem?
a) The importance of hard work and ambition
b) The beauty of nature and simplicity
c) The need for power and influence
d) The pursuit of wealth and success
Answer: b) The beauty of nature and simplicity
Detailed Summary:
In "Under the Greenwood Tree" by William Shakespeare, the speaker invites others to join him beneath a greenwood tree, where they can enjoy a peaceful, carefree life. He contrasts this simple life with ambition and the struggles of the world. The greenwood tree represents a space free from conflict, where one can relax, enjoy nature, and be content with the basic pleasures of life. The speaker emphasizes the absence of enemies, except for the harsh forces of nature, such as winter and rough weather. He encourages those who shun ambition and prefer simplicity to come and live under the tree, where they will find peace and joy. The speaker's message is about embracing the tranquility of nature and the freedom that comes from living a life not driven by ambition or material pursuits.
Short Theme:
The theme of the poem centers around the beauty and tranquility of living a simple life in nature, free from ambition and conflict. It highlights the joy and peace that come from embracing simplicity and contentment with what nature provides.
Bangla Translation (Summary)
উইলিয়াম শেক্সপিয়ারের "আন্ডার দ্য গ্রিনউড ট্রি"-তে, বক্তা অন্যদেরকে একটি গ্রিনউড গাছের নীচে তার সাথে যোগ দিতে আমন্ত্রণ জানিয়েছেন, যেখানে তারা একটি শান্তিপূর্ণ, চিন্তামুক্ত জীবন উপভোগ করতে পারবেন। তিনি এই সরল জীবনের সাথে উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা এবং বিশ্বের সংগ্রামের তুলনা করেছেন। গ্রিনউড গাছ এমন একটি স্থানের প্রতিনিধিত্ব করে যেখানে কেউ আরাম করতে পারে, প্রকৃতি উপভোগ করতে পারে এবং জীবনের মৌলিক আনন্দে সন্তুষ্ট থাকতে পারে। বক্তা শীত এবং প্রতিকূল আবহাওয়ার মতো প্রকৃতির কঠোর শক্তি ছাড়া শত্রুর অনুপস্থিতির উপর জোর দেন। যারা উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা এড়িয়ে চলে এবং সরলতা পছন্দ করে তাদের তিনি গাছের নীচে এসে বসবাস করতে উৎসাহিত করেন, যেখানে তারা শান্তি এবং আনন্দ পাবে। বক্তার বার্তা হল প্রকৃতির প্রশান্তি এবং উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা বা বস্তুগত সাধনা দ্বারা চালিত না হয়ে জীবনযাপন থেকে আসা স্বাধীনতাকে আলিঙ্গন করা।
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Vocabulary (30 words):
Greenwood - a place with green trees, symbolizing nature
Lie - to recline or rest
Merry - cheerful and full of joy
Note - a musical sound, often referring to a song
Throat - the passage for air, food, and vocal sounds
Hither - an old-fashioned word meaning 'here'
Enemy - a person or thing that opposes or is hostile
Ambition - a strong desire for success or achievement
Sun - the star that provides light and warmth
Seeking - searching for something
Food - something that nourishes or sustains life
Pleased - feeling happy or content
Shun - to avoid or reject
Rough - uneven or harsh in texture or condition
Weather - the atmospheric conditions, including temperature and rain
Content - satisfied with what one has
Bend - to move something into a curved position
Carefree - without worries or concerns
Simple - easy to understand or not complicated
Life - the existence of an individual or organism
Sustain - to maintain or support
Cold - a low temperature or lack of warmth
Challenge - a difficult task or obstacle
Joyful - feeling great happiness or delight
Harmony - a pleasing arrangement or balance
Recline - to lie down or rest in a reclining position
Sustenance - food or nourishment
Peace - a state of tranquility or calm
Tolerate - to endure or put up with
Influence - the power to affect or change something or someone
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