Blowin' in the Wind

 

Summary and Appreciation of  Blowin' in the wind

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?

One of the most famous quotes and mysterious lyrics of all time gives the start to this song. There have been many interpretations of this verse and there‘s no wrong one. The simplest interpretation would be that the artist is questioning about the life experiences of a person-how many of it does take for someone to be considered grown up. Other interpretations include references to civil right marches that were popular in the 60‘s. How many of these walks would it take to win what they naturally have a right to?

How many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand?

A white dove is the universal symbol of peace, unity and harmony-or at least in the Earth. Bob Dylan asks how many of these white doves must sail before world peace is achieved? White doves are released in ceremonies commemorating peace, and the day that no white doves must fly is the day that everybody is in peace.

Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly

Before they’re forever banned?

A direct reference to war is seen here. Cannonballs were a popular, destructive tool of war during medieval wars. Why would they be banned? The day there is no use for a tool of war would be the day cannonballs would be banned. And in such a day, we can expect peace.

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind

The answer is blowing in the wind

Is there no answer to world peace? Yes, there is. Where is it? They are blowing in the wind. The answers are out there for anyone who is willing to grab them. The real problem is that no one is willing or capable of grabbing those answers.

Verse 2

Yes, How many years can a mountain exist

Before it is washed to the sea?

        A mountain represents something solid and strong. This is a reference to life. How long can someone with pride and glory exist before it all fades away? There‘s nothing certain in this world and as great mountains someday wash down to the earth, people with greatness and hold it over them will crumble down as well.

Yes, and how many years can some people exist

Before they’re allowed to be free?

Bob Dylan captured the African American mistreatment in Blowin In The Wind with the above lines. He asks the question, when will these people be free? Exist‘ is a powerful word here. Dylan subtly says that these African Americans are so deprived of their rights that they merely exist not living.

Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head

And pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The greatest sin a person can do is seeing some wrong doing and turning his head the other way. How long can we go on without addressing these issues that are before our hands? How long can we turn a blind eye?

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind

The answer is blowing in the wind

Again, all the answers are just out there, waiting for someone to grab them.

Third and last verse of “Blowin‟ In The Wind”

Yes, How many times must a man look up

Before he can see the sky?

Sky is freedom. The artist believed in freedom and equal opportunity for all. How long do people have to fight and bleed for this freedom? Why isn’t there a simple solution? Why can’t everyone be happy together?

Yes, and how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry?

The cries of war and cries of freedom are left unheard, but for how long? Aren’t two ears enough to hear this pain? How can people turn a blind eye to all this outcries?

Yes, and how many deaths will it take till he knows

That too many people have died?

War is just futile-should there be one death or a thousand. There are countless wars where people were sent into slaughter in the name of Lords and Kings and Gods. But none of that have mattered to glorified generals. When would they realize that too many mothers, fathers, husbands and wives and children have died for no cause?

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind

The answer is blowing in the wind

        And the answer to all these questions there are in the wind. They move, they change, but the answers are there. It‘s only a matter of trying to pick them up.

Blowin in the wind is Bob Dylan’s first single of his second studio album “TheFreeWheelin”. It was one of his earliest songs related to the American Civil Right Movement in 1960’s. And this song was released in 1963 and played in the movie ‘Forrest Gump’ by a character named Jenny. Dylan was more than just a singer or song writer he was a visionary and a humanitarian.

Central idea of the song:

There have been many interpretations of this verse. The theme of the song is world peace,freedom and war. Dylan was totally against the act of violence of the government. And this song exposes all types of injustices which go unnoticed just like the wind. The answers of those problems are in front of us. Many of these problems are unnecessary and do not benefit to mankind in any way. The song is both inspirational and optimistic with its messages of peace and freedom.

Structure of the song:

The song has lyrical quality. That expresses one’s feeling towards a certain subject. The rhythm of the song is just like the wind itself. To some, it can be very calm yet powerful. Every second line of the poem follows a rhyme pattern. ABCBDB is the rhyme scheme pattern used in this song. Each word has no more than 2 syllables. There is no specific meter.

Poetic Devices used in this song:

·         Rhetorical Questions - series of rhetorical questions are used throughout the song. (Question that you ask, without expecting an answer).

·         Alliterations– it refers to the repetition of an initial consonant sound, at least three times in a sentence.

·         Anaphora – it refers to a repetition of one particular word purposely, at the start of consecutive sentences or paragraphs. This is again in order to emphasize a point.

·         Metaphor– an implied comparison between two unlike things that actually havesomething important in common (as if two things were one.)

·         Refrain– same lines are repeated in the same song / poem.

·         Assonance– repetition of two different vowel sounds.

·         Visual imagery(to see) – how many ears must…

·         Auditory imagery(to hear) - before he can hear people cry?

My Sister's Shoes

 

MY SISTER‘S SHOES

 

1.    Review of the Film

‘Children of Heaven’ is a 1997 Iranian family drama film written and directed by Majid Majidi. “My Sister’s Shoes” is an extract from the screen play of the film. It narrates the story of Ali and his sister, Zahra who belong to a poverty-stricken family and their adventures over a lost pair of shoes. The film starts with Ali collecting his sister Zahra's pink shoes after a cobbler has repaired them. He keeps them outside a vegetable shop and goes inside to buy some potatoes. While he is in the shop, a junk collector picks up the shoes, thinking it as garbage and takes it away. Frantic to find them, the young boy upsets the vegetables boxes and is chased away by the shopkeeper. Ali's family suffers from severe financial crisis. So he fears to tell his parents about the incident. Ali's mother is ill and confined to bed. Ali tells Zahra about the shoes and begs her not to tell mother; she agrees. That night, Ali's father scolds him for not helping his ill mother. While doing their homework, the children pass notes to each other discussing what to do.

The film is so dramatic and tells a true story of a family. The scenes in the film depict the hardships, poverty and the innocence of the children. Even the shoes is a representative of the family‘s poor condition. In the film, life in Teheran is sketched beautifully. The family‘s carefully detailed poverty, which reflects the filmmaker‘s own childhood experience, adds colour to every event in the story

2.     Imagine that Ali happened to see the junk collector the next day. They had a conversation about the shoes. Prepare a likely one.

Ali: HI! Uncle

Junk collector: Hi! Ali.

Ali: Did you get a pair of shoes from Akbar Aqa's shop while picking up junks yesterday?

Junk collector: A pair of shoes?

Ali: Yes, I had kept a bag of shoes in the small gap between two boxes before I entered the shop.

Junk collector: Sorry Ali. I might have taken them for junk.

Ali: Ho! Uncle. Will you please help me to get them back?

Junk collector: Yes, I will try. What colour are they?

Ali: Pink.

Junk collector: I will search for them and return it, If I get.

Ali: Thank you, Uncle.

Junk collector: You are welcome.

3.     A man in the nearby shop informed Ali that the junk collector who is living in the nearby village has taken away his sister’s shoes. Ali decides to write a letter to the junk collector. What would he write? Prepare the likely letter.

 

Tehran

10/08/2002

Dear Uncle;

I am Ali. I write this letter to ask you whether you have got a pair of shoes from Akbar Aqa's shop. Yesterday, I had kept a bag of shoes in the small gap between two boxes before I entered the shop to buy potatoes. When I came out from the shop I realised that you had taken them away. A man in the nearby shop also told me that you had taken away my sister’s shoes. I think you took them for junk. As you know, I belong to a very poor family. My father won't be able to buy a new pair of shoes. If he comes to know that I have missed the shoes,he will beat me. I would be grateful,if you could return the shoes.

With love,

Ali

                                                                                                                                                S/d

 

4.     How will I go to school tomorrow without shoes?’ This was the thought that lingered in the mind of Zahra in the screenplay ‘My Sister’s Shoes’. What may be her diary entry of the day? Write it.

 

10. PM                                                                                                                                               20/08/2002

                                                                                                                                                             Monday                  

Today I am very sad. Ali has missed my shoes. Oh God, what shall I do? How will I go to school tomorrow without shoes? The teacher will punish me, if I don't wear shoes. If I tell to my father, he will beat Ali. Poor Ali! He is also very sad. He has missed the shoes accidentally. Ali has said that I can wear his sneakers. There is no other way I may have to wear them and go to school tomorrow.

 

5.    Imagine Ali narrates the whole incident to his friend. Prepare the narrative 

Yesterday I went to the cobbler to get my sister’s shoes repaired. It was so worn out that she could not wear it. The cobbler stitched it and put it in a black bag and gave it to me. While I returning to my home I entered to Akbar Aqa’s vegetable shop to buy some potatoes. When I was picking potatoes a junk collector came there and who collected all the junks scattered over the floor. I didn’t notice. When I came out I felt the shoes are missing. I was so worried. It was the only shoes she had. I felt afraid to tell my parents. When I reached home, my sister asked about the shoes. I told her that they were missing. She was so sad. While we were studying she wrote about it in her notebook and passed to me. We were afraid to discuss it loudly. So we exchanged our notebooks. I told her that I would give her my shoes. She agreed to wear it when I returned.

 

6.    Ali’s Diary

 

10. PM                                                                                                                                             25/08/2002

                                                                                                                                                            Monday

Today I am very sad. What should I do now? My sister's shoes are missing. I have been purchasing Potatoes from Akbar Aqa’s shop.  I had put it between two boxes in the vegetable shop. Who might have taken it? My sister will be so worried. Will father beat me? He has little money to buy new shoes for her. How can she go to school without shoes? Oh God. It is my entire mistake. I should have been more careful. Tomorrow I shall go to the shop once again and search. I decided to give my shoes to her. So she doesn’t miss her class on tomorrow.

7.    Conversation between Ali and Zahra

Zahra: Ali, have you returned? Why are you looking sad?

Ali:Sorry  Zahra.I lost your shoes.

Zahra: Lost it, but how?

Ali: I placed it between two boxes in the vegetable shop while I was picking potatoes.

Zahra:I can’t believe it. You might have forgotten it somewhere

Ali:Oh no Zahra. Believe me.

Zahra: How can I go to school without shoes? It is very cold outside

Ali: I am sorry. I searched it everywhere, but it is missing

Zahra: I shall tell to father about your carelessness.

Ali: Please don’t do it. He will beat me.

Zahra: Then tell me what to do?

Ali:I shall give my shoes to you

Zahra: ok I shall wear it when you come back from school.

 

ADVENTURES IN A BANYAN TREE

1. The boy was very much thrilled of his acquaintance with the squirrel. He wrote a
letter to his friend telling him about his new friend. Help him to complete the letter.

28 Apr 1997

Dehra.

Dear Arun;

Hope you are enjoying your vacation there. I am doing the same here, at grandpa’s

house. I got a new friend here. Do you know who the new friend is? A little, cute squirrel

grey in colour! In the beginning he was a little resentful towards me. But now, finding that I

am not harmful, he is very friendly and familiar with me even to take food from my hands.

You know in our garden there is a magnificent banyan tree, which is older than my grandpa,

it old as the town of Dehra. I often spend my free time on the tree, and the squirrel will also

be there with me. There I have built a small platform on the halfway up the tree. I could read

from there. I had witnessed for a fight between mongoose and cobra, in that mongoose was

vanquished. A few days ago, my grandpa brought a white rat to home, which he had bought

from the bazaar for four Annas. I often take it with me to the root or platform in the tree.

Soon it made a friendship with one of the squirrels in the banyan tree. There a strange thing

happened. The squirrel started building a nest in a hole in the tree. When we investigated it,

we found three little white squirrels! My grandpa said that he hadn’t seen white squirrels

before in his life. He also explained that the white rat should be the father of white baby

squirrels.

I wanted your presence with me in this vacation. We can spend the time in the garden

and on the banyan tree. You will be happy to see the beautiful land in Dehra, and live in it.

Convey my regards to all. I hope to see you soon.

                                                                                                           Yours lovingly,
                                                                                                                   Name
                                                                                                                      Sd/

2. The boy was thrilled with the fight between the cobra and the mongoose. You may
also have the same feeling. Narrate the fight scene in your own words.

Battle of Champions

The boy was sitting on the platform halfway up the tree. He used to read books and

enjoy sights down in the garden sitting there. One April afternoon, when everyone was

indoors due to the warm breezes of the approaching summer, he was sitting up on the tree as

Notes Prepared By: Sirajudheen P / 96633226345

usual. Suddenly he saw a huge, black cobra gliding into the garden beneath him out from a

cactus plant. At the same time, a mongoose also emerged from the bush nearby and went

straight for the cobra. Both of them came face to face in a clearing beneath the tree on which

the boy was sitting. The cobra defiantly darted his forked tongue in and out and raised three

of his six feet off the ground.

The mongoose bushed its tail, and the long hair on its spine stood up. They were

ready to fight each other. Two other spectators a myna and a jungle crow also came to the

scene. The cobra tried to mesmerize his opponent into making a false move. But the

mongoose knew the trick and did not fall into the trap. The mongoose moving forward, made

a feint to one side. The cobra struck but missed the aim. Immediately the mongoose darted on

the snake and bit on its back. At the same moment, the myna and the crow also dived at the

cobra but collided themselves. The cobra started getting weaker and weaker as the mongoose

attacked him vigorously and repeatedly. In that fight, the cobra whipped his head back and

his snout thudded forcefully against the crow’s body killing it. Then, the myna wisely

refrained from anymore interference.

Finally, the mongoose with a lightning snap had the cobra by his snout. He writhed

for a while and gradually stopped struggling. The winning mongoose, gripping its enemy’s

hood, dragged it into the bushes. The myna, with a shrill cry of congratulation, flew away!

3. And among est the wool were the three baby squirrels – all of them white!’ The boy
couldn’t stop wondering about the white squirrels. If he scribbled down this
unforgettable sight in his diary, how would be?

10:00 pm                                                                                                          10 April 2019

Tuesday

What a wonderful sight! Our white rat has become father of three little white squirrel

babies. I have never seen or heard of white squirrels before. Even grandpa doesn’t know

about white squirrels. Grandpa is really a nice person. He loves trees, birds, animals and

everything in nature. I know he loves me too very much. Actually he might have bought the

white rat for me. He said the rats and squirrels were related each other. It is right, as grandpa

said, the father of the white baby squirrels is my white rat. How many varieties of creatures

are there in nature! We should do everything to protect the nature and its creatures. I am

proud of my grey squirrel, white rat and the white baby squirrels. I will bring all my school

friends here to show them these wonderful sights.

4. A single banyan tree creates such beauty and harmony. How will it be if we have such
beauty everywhere? What should we do for the conservation of nature? Discuss.

Plant Trees and Preserve Nature

When we read the story, we understand how much a tree can contribute in preserving

nature, its beauty, harmony and life. The single banyan tree is a dwelling place for many

creatures, a resting place for the boy and a location of sustenance for birds, especially when

the fig season comes. As the Malayalam literary legend, Vaikom Mohammed Basheer said,

all the creatures in this world are the ‘rightful inheritors of the earth’. So, we the humans do

not have a particular right to overuse or exploit the resources of the earth. We should consider

our fellow creatures living in this world. When we cut and fell a tree, we are actually

violating others’ rights as well as damaging our own existence.

Nowadays, the large scale deforestation is a threat to nature. We cut trees in the name

of infrastructural development to construct roads and buildings. With the increasing demand

for wood fuels and building materials, the deforestation process has also increased. And, the

result is hazardous. The depletion of trees decreased the rain water catchment and increased

the global warming. In order to keep the natural eco-system intact and help life existence

possible on the planet earth, it is necessitous for us to promote afforestation. We students

should be motivated from stories of this kind, and take an oath to preserve and protect our

nature by planting plenty of trees.

5. Slogans on Nature Conservation

• Plant trees, Protect Nature.

• Root of our existence is on top of trees!

• Pollution everywhere, solution nowhere.

• Avoid plastic, save our planet.

• Say NO to pollutants to make life pleasant.

• Global warming is a warning:

  Carbon emission is a killing poison!

• Don’t harm nature; let every creature be calm in future.

• Let rivers flow pure; make lives grow sure.

Summary and Analysis of 'Lines Written in Early spring'

Lines written in early spring

Theme

The major theme of this poem is nature, in all senses of the word. The poem touches on visually stimulating descriptions of a natural environment and the nature of mankind. It also underlines the natural connection between everything on Earth, both the tangible and intangible. Nature, as she is named in the poem, is not an entity man can see or touch in and of itself. However, through the theme of connection, we do see and touch Nature in all we consume, destroy, make, and love.

SUMMARY OF LINES WRITTEN IN EARLY SPRING

The speaker tells that while sitting reclined on a woodland grove, his mind was filled with several thoughts. While he finds solace in the nature’s beauty, the same beauty also reminds him of bad thoughts. The speaker appreciates the nature for her god like abilities of linking a human soul to her but he also feels grief while thinking about how cruelly man has separated himself from Mother Nature. The speaker is highly appreciative of the nature’s beauty, he finds delight in the green bowers and has faith that the beautiful flowers enjoy every ounce of the air they breathe, they are thankful for living besides the nature. The speaker observes the birds which sing and hop around him; he is in awe of these creatures. Though the speaker does not understand their language and ways, he does recognize that the birds’ are creating all these movements out of sheer pleasure and joy. The breeze flowing is sweet and light, the twigs are spreading out as if to catch the sweet air and all the speaker can do is gather pleasure in their existence. The speaker questions that if this is heaven and this is the holy plan of nature then what has man made of man that is himself and his kind, by separating from such joy.

Short Summary “Written in Early Spring”

It was a day in early spring. The poet sardines in a grove. It was then that he heard some sweet music. It was a happy blending of a large many musical notes like the song of birds, the whispering of the breeze, the rustling of leaves and the murmur of the streams etc. the poet’s mind was at rest. He was in pleasant and meditative mood. When one is on such a state one experiences pleasant thoughts.

The pleasant thoughts brought about by the joys in nature induce sad thoughts as one thinks of man and his world. Nature linked the human soul in the poet to her fair works. The more joy he saw in Nature the more it grieved his heart to think what man had made of man.

Occupying himself with the drudgery of earning and spending only man has shut himself to the pleasures the universe offers to him and, as a result, has brought misery and sorrow for himself.

The poet looked around. He saw the primrose tufts. He watched the periwinkle trailing its wreaths in that sweet bower. The flowers were pleasant, joyful. The poet strongly believed that every flower enjoyed the air it breathed. The birds around him hopped and played. The poet could not measure their thoughts. He could not know what made them playful, joyous. He could only see that they were ecstatic.

Every motion they made seemed “a thrill of pleasure.” The joyful sight of the flowers, the birds and the twigs along with the “thousand blended notes” made the poet think there was pleasure there.

The poet’s mind is caught between; his mood fluctuates between nature and the human world. Nature is all joy, all pleasure. The human world is full of sorrows. Man is a part of Nature. He ought to have been a part of Nature’s holy plan. The poet laments how man, by severing himself from Nature’s holy plan, has brought about miseries and disaster upon himself.

PROJECT THE TIGER

  

1. Conversation between Ray and Manager

Satyajith Ray: Good morning sir,
Manager: Good morning, what help can I do for you?
Satyajith Ray: I am a film director and I need some help from this circus company
Manager: Oh! you are from cinema, aren„t you? What help can I do for you?
Satyajith Ray: we would like to know whether you can provide a tiger for our film shooting.
Manager: A tiger! My goodness! What are you going to do with a tiger in cinema?
Satyajith Ray: Nothing to worry, we need him for only couple of hours.
Manager: Till now I have never lent my circus animals for any other purpose.
Satyajith Ray: If you could spare one it would be a great help for us.
Manager: Being an ardent supporter of cinema, how can I reject your request?
Satyajith Ray: will it attack the strangers if it is taken out of the cage.
Manager: I doubt, I havn„t done it.
Satyajith Ray: Let„s hope for the best, we will come tomorrow to take it.
Manager: You may please meet the ring master and make all arrangements.
Satyajith Ray: Thank you very much.
Manager: Welcome.

2. Advertisement on news paper

                                         Trained Birds Wanted

Trained birds are required for our new film titled Birds. What we required in large numbers of ravens. Those who have trained birds with them may contact us within two days. The owners must possess the permission from the Animal Welfare Board.

Type of birds needed :  Ravens
Number                     : 100
Production Company : Alfred J. Hitchcock productions

3. Letter to Animal Welfare Board, for asking permission to use trained animals in film.

From                                                                                                                                      Date:
Satyajith ray
…………….
To
The chairman
Animal Welfare Board
New Delhi
Sir;
Subject: Permission required for using animals in my new film.
We are planning to make a new film titled „Goopy Gyne and Bagha Byne‟ under the banner of SR film company. It contains a scene which includes a tiger. The shooting of this film is scheduled to start by the last week of November in Birbhoom near Shiuri. We decided to hire a trained tiger from Bharath circus and it will be carried to the shooting location in a lorry. As the director of this film, I hereby ensure you that we will use the animal according to the norms suggested in the prevention of cruelty to animal act. I humbly request you to grant us permission to use the tiger in our film.
                                                                                                                            Yours faithfully
                                                                                                                              Satyajith Ray
                                                                                                                                     S/d

4. News Report

                                                         Actor Tiger

Noutan Gram: A tiger presented its fabulous performance here in the shooting location of eminent film maker Satyajith Ray. Ray was on his new work an adventures movie Goopy Gyne and Bagha Byne. When the tiger was brought to the set in truck along with it„s trainer Thorat. Trainer expected that the tiger will act in front of camera, but when turn came for tiger started prancing, jumping and leaping to the crowd. The trainer became mere spectator for the performance of the tiger. Tiger was from Bharat circus. The shooting had finished and the troop had return to Calcutta soon.

5. Notice of a film festival

                                             FILM FESTIVAL

                                                       A.B.C school New Delhi

Dear students;
The film club of our school has decided to conduct a film festival on 15th of august to 18th august 2017. Screening will be start on sharp 10 AM in each day, in our school film theatre. Eminent film personality Adoor Gopalakrishnan will inaugurate the function.
The films are short listed for screening :-

“The children of heaven” (Iranian) – Directed by Majid Majidi
“The birds” (English) – Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
“Elippathayam” (Malayalam) – Directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan

         Venue: Film theatre Time: 10 AM
         All are invited to be a part of the festival on time.
                                                                                                                 Co-ordinator / Secretary
                                                                                                                             Film club

6. Thorat's diary entry on the day in which the shooting was held in Notun Gram.

                                                                        DIARY

10 PM                                                                                                                                    Date:
                                                                                                                                               Monday
Shocked! It was an unforgettable day in my life, because I was busy with my new film project „Goopy Gyne and Bagha Byne‟. We have to take a scene with tiger, hired one tiger from Bharath circus along with its trainer named Thorat. But tiger unexpectedly behaved, it pranced, leaped and jumped towards audience and my co-workers. The trainer became mere spectator for the performance of the tiger. Finally it calm downs and we finished our shooting. Thank God.

MOTHER TO SON

   

    1. Comprehension Questions

1. Who is the speaker in the poem? (Mother)

2. Whom does she address? (Son)

3. What is life compared to? (Stair case)

4. What is the figure of speech used in the line " life for me ain't been no crystal stair? (Metaphor)

5. What does crystal stair suggest? (Smooth and easy life)

6. What do "tacks,splinters, and boards torn up" suggest? (Difficulties in life)

7. What does" places with no carpet" refer to?

Life without luxuries.

8. What does “bare” suggest? (Poverty in life)

9. What does "reaching landing" suggest? (Achievements in life)

10. What does "turning corners" suggest?

Unexpected turning points in life.

11. What does "going in the dark" suggest ?

Hopeless and dark times in life.

13. What is the message given to the son?

Don't set down on the steps.

14. What is the message of the poem? What does " Don't set down on the step" imply?

Don't give up climbing up the stair case of life.

15. Phrase which means "has not" (Ain't)

16. Why Afro American dialect is used in the poem ?

To show the illiteracy of the mother

17. What does the mother tell her son?

Don't stop the journey of life though it is full of difficulties.

18. What example does the mother give to her son to persuade him?

Mother shows her own life as an example.

19. Pick out the lines that show the mother could continue her journey overcoming the hurdles in life?

For I, still going

I still climbing.

    2.     ANALYSIS OF THE POEM‘MOTHER TO SON’ BY LANGSTON HUGHES

Background:

Langston Hughes is an African American poet who is also well known for his work in fiction, plays, essays and biographies. This poem was written in the early 20th century when the African Americans faced some serious oppression and racism issues. The poem is a conversation between a mother and a son. It is a monologue by the mother where she tells her son that life has never been easy for her. She says she has faced a lot of troubles in the journey of her life but continues to move ahead. Despite all the challenges that came her way, she never turned away and chose not to give up. The mother tells her son that life will not always be a smooth ride but in spite of all the hardships and miseries, one must learn to move forward. She encourages her son to face life’s challenges head-on and tries to inculcate strength and courage in him.

Structure:

The poem is a monologue by a mother. It has been written in free verse and has no rhymes or rhythmic pattern. The poet uses imagery as he refers to the journey of life as climbing a staircase and says that it has never been a beautiful crystal stair. It is indicative of the kind of poor and miserable lives the African Americans had in the early 20th century.The poet has also used metaphor. He uses symbols like tacks, splinters, no carpet on the floor and darkness to describe the difficulties that one faces in life. The staircase is also a metaphor for the struggles people face in their upward journey of life. The upward journey refers to the journey to heaven or to a better place where one is free of all the pain and suffering.

Analysis:

“Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”

The poem opens with the mother speaking to her son or like she is answering a question that he might have asked. She explains to the son that life has never been easy for her. Here ‘crystal stair’ symbolizes smoothness or beauty. The mother says her life has not been a smooth ride.

“It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.”

The words and phrases used in this stanza, like ‘tacks’, ‘splinters’, ‘boards torn up’ and ‘no carpet on the floor’ represent the difficulties and struggles that one has to face in life. Tacks are nails and splinters are small, sharp pieces that have broken off from wood or glass and can cause difficulty or hindrance for one’s movement. The mother says she has faced a lot of troubles in her life as one may face these troubles when climbing up a staircase. This stanza also indicates the kind of poor houses and miserable lives the African American had in the early 20th century. ‘Bare’ may also refer to the poor living conditions and lack of necessities.

“But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.”

In this stanza the mother tells her son that despite all the difficulties, she has been climbing up the metaphorical staircase of life. Here ‘turnin’ corners’ and ‘going in the dark’ represents the fear and doubts that one has during times of uncertainty. There will be moments of indecisiveness and confusion but one must continue to move forward and not give up hope.

“So, boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps.

‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.”

The mother urges her son not to turn back and continue facing the challenges in life. She tells him not to be disappointed when he faces difficulties and not to settle down with it. He must rather face them and keep pushing forward. The mother tells him that the adversities that come his way should not dampen his spirit and he must continue to strive for a better life.

“Don’t you fall now

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’,            

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”

The mother tells her son that despite all the difficulties he faces in life he should not feel disappointed or lose hope. Falling off the staircase may also indicate being misled. The mother advises her son to not be misled and choose the wrong path during difficulties. The mother sets her own example by saying that she is still walking on that path and climbing that metaphorical staircase of life. She has not given up and continues to strive for a better life, free of all suffering and miseries. Here, the second line of the poem has been repeated where the mother says that life has not been a smooth and easy journey for her.

Summary:

The poem is a monologue by a mother where she is speaking to her son. The mother tells her son that life has never been easy or free of difficulties. It has never been a smooth ride. She compares the journey of life to the upward climb on a staircase and says it has not been smooth like crystal. She talks about the various difficulties that one has to face in life like the broken parts and uncarpeted floors that make climbing a staircase difficult. Despite all the challenges the mother kept moving forward and also faced times of confusion and uncertainty. She tells the boy to do the same and have the courage to move forward without ever turning back. The mother also tells her son to not be misled or lose hope. She inspires her son by saying that she has always strived for a better life and even he must continue to do so.

Theme:

The poem has been written in the early 20th century when the African Americans were under oppression and racial injustice. In the poem, the mother teaches her son about strength and courage. She tells him that one must possess the courage to move forward in life in spite of all the difficulties that might come his way. So, the main theme of the poem is that of perseverance. The poet passes the message that one must persevere to make his life better and not be discouraged by the adversities that one may have to face.