English Std 11th Appreciation

2.1: Cherry Tree: 

The title of the poem is “Cherry Tree”, written by the famous Indian author and poet Ruskin Bond. The central theme of the poem is the beauty of nature, patience, determination, survival and the joy of nurturing a tree. The poem describes how the poet plants a cherry seed and forgets about it. Despite facing several difficulties, such as goats eating its leaves, damage caused by a grass cutter and heavy monsoon rains, the small plant survives and gradually grows into a beautiful cherry tree. After eight years, the poet feels extremely happy and proud to see the tree bearing fruits and beautiful pink blossoms. The poet has used various figures of speech such as personification, alliteration and metaphor to make the poem more meaningful and attractive. The language of the poem is simple, descriptive, rhythmic and full of natural imagery. The poem is written in a narrative style and does not follow a fixed rhyme scheme. The poem gives us the valuable message that patience, determination and perseverance help us overcome difficulties in life. It also teaches us to love, respect and protect nature. I like this poem because it beautifully describes the relationship between human beings and nature and inspires us to plant more trees and care for the environment.

2.2: The Sower

The title of the poem is “The Sower”, written by the famous French poet Victor Hugo and translated into English by Toru Dutt. The central theme of the poem is the importance of hard work, dedication, patience and hope in a farmer’s life. The poem describes a hardworking farmer who continues sowing seeds in his field even after sunset. The poet watches the farmer working tirelessly and feels great respect and admiration for his dedication. Although the sunlight is fading and darkness is spreading, the farmer continues his work with the hope of getting a good harvest. The poet has used various figures of speech such as alliteration, personification and imagery to make the poem more meaningful and attractive. The language of the poem is simple, descriptive, rhythmic and full of beautiful visual imagery. The poem consists of four-line stanzas and follows a regular rhyme scheme of ABAB. The poem gives us the valuable message that hard work, patience, dedication and determination are essential for achieving success in life. It also teaches us to respect farmers for their continuous efforts in producing food for society. I like this poem because it beautifully describes the hardworking nature of a farmer and inspires us to remain dedicated, hopeful and sincere towards our work.

2.3: There is Another Sky

The title of the poem is “There is Another Sky”, written by the famous American poet Emily Dickinson. The central theme of the poem is hope, optimism, positivity and the importance of facing difficulties in life with a positive attitude. The poem is an inspirational message written by the poet to her younger brother, Austin. Through this poem, the poet describes an imaginary world filled with sunshine, beautiful gardens and unfading flowers, where there is no darkness, sadness or disappointment. She encourages her brother not to lose hope during difficult situations and invites him into her peaceful and beautiful world. The poet has used various figures of speech such as metaphor, alliteration and repetition to make the poem more meaningful and attractive. The language of the poem is simple, symbolic, descriptive and full of beautiful natural imagery. The poem is written in the form of a Petrarchan sonnet consisting of 14 lines, divided into an octave and a sestet, without a strict traditional rhyme scheme. The poem gives us the valuable message that we should always remain hopeful, positive and confident while facing the challenges of life. I like this poem because it beautifully expresses the power of hope and positivity and inspires us to face difficult situations with courage and determination.

2.4: Upon Westminster Bridge

The title of the poem is “Upon Westminster Bridge”, written by the famous English Romantic poet William Wordsworth. The central theme of the poem is the beauty of nature, peace, calmness and the magnificent view of London city in the early morning. The poem describes the breathtaking beauty of London as seen by the poet from Westminster Bridge. The poet is deeply impressed by the peaceful atmosphere, clear sky, shining sunlight and beautiful buildings of the city. He describes how ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples look bright and beautiful in the smokeless morning air. The river flows peacefully, and even the houses appear to be sleeping. The poet has used various figures of speech such as personification, simile, metaphor and hyperbole to make the poem more meaningful and attractive. The language of the poem is simple, descriptive, rhythmic and full of beautiful visual imagery. The poem is a Petrarchan sonnet consisting of 14 lines, divided into an octave and a sestet, with the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDCDCD. The poem gives us the valuable message that we should appreciate the beauty of nature and enjoy the peace and happiness it brings to our lives. I like this poem because it beautifully describes the peaceful beauty of London city and teaches us to admire the wonderful creations of nature.

2.5:Nose Versus Eyes

The title of the poem is “Nose Versus Eyes”, written by the famous English poet William Cowper. The central theme of the poem is the conflict between the Nose and the Eyes over the ownership of spectacles. The poem is a humorous satire on the judicial system and the lack of common sense in certain legal decisions. The poem describes an imaginary court case in which the Nose and the Eyes argue about who has the right to wear spectacles. The Tongue acts as a lawyer, while Baron Ear serves as the judge. The Tongue cleverly argues that spectacles belong to the Nose because they rest upon it. The judge accepts this argument and gives the decision in favour of the Nose, completely ignoring the fact that spectacles are meant to help the Eyes see clearly. The poet has used various figures of speech such as personification, alliteration, repetition and irony to make the poem humorous and meaningful. The language of the poem is simple, witty, satirical and entertaining. The poem is written in six-line stanzas with the rhyme scheme ABABCC. The poem gives us the valuable message that justice should be based on truth, logic, fairness and common sense rather than clever arguments or misleading evidence. I like this poem because it presents an important lesson about justice through an interesting and humorous courtroom situation.

2.6: The Planners

The title of the poem is “The Planners”, written by the famous Singapore-born Australian poet Boey Kim Cheng. The central theme of the poem is the negative impact of modernisation, urbanisation and excessive development on nature, history and human emotions. The poem describes how city planners continuously construct buildings, roads and other structures in a systematic and organised manner. They aim to create perfect cities by removing old buildings and replacing them with modern structures. However, in this process, they destroy the natural beauty, historical memories and cultural heritage of the past. The poet expresses his disappointment and sadness towards this rapid development, which leaves little space for human emotions and memories. The poet has used various figures of speech such as personification, metaphor, alliteration and imagery to make the poem more meaningful and effective. The language of the poem is simple, descriptive, symbolic and thought-provoking. The poem is written in free verse without a fixed rhyme scheme. The poem gives us the valuable message that modernisation and development should not take place at the cost of nature, history, culture and human values. It teaches us to maintain a proper balance between development and the preservation of our environment and heritage. I like this poem because it highlights the harmful effects of uncontrolled urbanisation and encourages us to protect nature and respect our historical and cultural heritage.