TNPSC English: Analysis of Classic British and Humorous Poems
This guide provides a detailed analysis of the fourth batch of 5 important poems from the TNPSC syllabus. This selection features iconic works of British literature alongside humorous and narrative poetry. We will explore each poem's theme, learn about its author, and identify key literary devices for the exam.
இந்த வழிகாட்டி, TNPSC பாடத்திட்டத்தில் உள்ள 5 முக்கியக் கவிதைகளின் நான்காவது தொகுப்பை விரிவாக ஆய்வு செய்கிறது. இதில், பிரிட்டிஷ் இலக்கியத்தின் புகழ்பெற்ற படைப்புகளுடன், நகைச்சுவை மற்றும் கதைக்கவிதைகளும் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளன. ஒவ்வொரு கவிதையின் கரு, ஆசிரியர் பற்றிய விவரங்கள் மற்றும் தேர்வுக்கான முக்கிய இலக்கிய நயங்கள் பற்றி நாம் கற்றுக்கொள்வோம்.
Learning Patterns & Strategies
To master the literary works section, follow these proven strategies:
- Focused Study: Use this guide and the provided material. Do not waste time searching for other notes. (தேவையில்லாமல் வேறு குறிப்புகளைத் தேடி நேரத்தை வீணாக்காதீர்கள், இங்குள்ளதை மட்டும் படித்தால் போதும்).
- Memorize Authors: Memorize the list of all 30 poems and their authors. This is a potential question area. (30 கவிதைகள் மற்றும் அவற்றின் ஆசிரியர்களின் பெயர்களை மனப்பாடம் செய்யுங்கள்).
- Understand Themes: For each poem, understand its central idea or summary. This helps in answering appreciation questions. (ஒவ்வொரு கவிதையின் மையக் கருத்தையும் புரிந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்).
- Master Figures of Speech: This is the most critical part. Most questions from this unit are about identifying figures of speech. (Figures of Speech-ல் இருந்துதான் பெரும்பாலான கேள்விகள் வரும், எனவே இதில் அதிக கவனம் செலுத்துங்கள்).
- Practice Questions: Regularly practice the appreciation questions and MCQs for each poem to build confidence and speed. (பயிற்சி வினாக்களைத் தீர்ப்பது தேர்வில் உங்கள் வேகத்தை அதிகரிக்கும்).
Key Poems Explained
16. "I Dream of Spices" by Raj Arumugam
This is a light-hearted and humorous poem that captures the innocent forgetfulness of a young boy sent on an errand by his mother.
Summary
A little boy, Raj, is asked by his mother to go to a shop to buy cinnamon, betel leaves, ginger, and garlic. Lost in his own world, he sings a song on his way to the shop and completely forgets the list. When the shopkeeper asks what he needs, Raj confidently lists the wrong items: sesame seeds, onions, tomatoes, and pickles. He returns home only to be met with his mother's frustration, who twists his ear.
About the Author: Raj Arumugam
- An Indian-born poet who later moved to Australia. He has also worked as a teacher, writer, and businessman. The poem reflects a simple, relatable slice of Indian life.
Literary Devices
Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a line. (ஒரு வரியில் உள்ள வார்த்தைகளின் முதல் மெய்யெழுத்து ஒலி மீண்டும் வருவது).
- Example: "Ginger and garlic."
- Example: "And my mouth waters..."
Imagery: The poem uses simple sensory details related to food and spices. (உணவு மற்றும் மசாலாப் பொருட்கள் தொடர்பான எளிய உணர்வு விவரங்கள் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன).
17. "The Crocodile" by Lewis Carroll
This short, witty poem from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland describes the deceptive and predatory nature of a crocodile.
Summary
The poem humorously describes how a crocodile enhances its appearance by pouring water from the Nile onto its golden scales. It seems cheerful and welcoming with a wide grin and neatly spread claws. However, this friendly appearance is a clever trap to lure small fishes into its "gently smiling jaws" to be eaten. The poem is a warning that appearances can be deceiving.
About the Author: Lewis Carroll (1832–1898)
- His real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.
- He was a renowned British writer, mathematician, and photographer, most famous for his book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."
Literary Devices
Personification: The crocodile is given human-like qualities and emotions. (முதலைக்கு மனிதனைப் போன்ற குணங்களும் உணர்ச்சிகளும் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன).
- Example: "How cheerful he seems to grin, / How neatly spreads his claws,"
Metaphor: An indirect comparison.
- Example: "On every golden scale."
- Explanation: The crocodile's scales are described as "golden," comparing their shine and value to gold, which adds to its deceptive allure.
18. "A Tragic Story" by William Makepeace Thackeray
This is a humorous poem about a wise sage who is utterly defeated by a simple, unsolvable problem concerning his pigtail.
Summary
The poem tells the story of a sage who is deeply troubled because his p-igtail hangs behind him. He wants it to hang in front of his face. He tries turning himself around, but no matter how much he twists and twirls, the pigtail faithfully remains behind him. The "tragedy" of the title is ironic, as the sage's great wisdom is comically useless against this trivial physical law.
About the Author: William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863)
- A famous British novelist and satirist of the 19th century, best known for his novel "Vanity Fair." He was celebrated for his witty and critical social commentary.
Literary Devices
Irony: The title itself is ironic. A wise man's struggle with his pigtail is described as a "tragic story," which is a vast overstatement for comedic effect. (ஒரு ஞானியின் சிறிய பிரச்சனை ஒரு 'சோகக் கதை' என்று வர்ணிக்கப்படுவது முரண்பாடானது).
Repetition: The line "Still it hung behind him" is repeated to emphasize the sage's persistent failure and the poem's humorous futility.
19. "Sea Fever" by John Masefield
This poem is a powerful expression of an irresistible and deeply felt longing to return to the sea.
Summary
The speaker expresses an almost spiritual urge to go "down to the seas again." He doesn't just want a voyage; he craves the entire sensory experience of the sea—the "tall ship," the "star to steer her by," the "wheel's kick," the "wind's song," the "grey mist," and the "sea-gulls crying." It is a passionate call for a life of freedom, adventure, and connection with nature, which he describes as a "wild call and a clear call that may not be denied."
About the Author: John Masefield (1878–1967)
- A celebrated British poet and writer who was appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in 1930. He had personal experience as a sailor, which deeply influenced his work.
Literary Devices
Anaphora: The repetition of "I must go down to the seas again" at the beginning of each stanza emphasizes the speaker's powerful compulsion.
Personification: The sea and its elements are given life and will. (கடலுக்கும் அதன் கூறுகளுக்கும் உயிர் மற்றும் குணம் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது).
- Example: "the wind’s song," "the call of the running tide."
Alliteration & Consonance: Creates a musical, wave-like rhythm.
- Example: "wind’s like a whetted knife," "grey gulls."
20. "The Listeners" by Walter de la Mare
This is a highly atmospheric and mysterious poem about a solitary Traveller's encounter with an unseen, supernatural presence in a deserted house.
Summary
A Traveller knocks on the door of a house in a silent, moonlit forest, calling out, "Is there anybody there?" He has come to fulfill a promise made to someone. While no one physically answers, the house is inhabited by a "host of phantom listeners" who stand silently, hearing his every word. Aware of the eerie silence and the unseen presence, the Traveller announces that he came and kept his promise. He then mounts his horse and rides away, the sound of the hooves echoing in the silence.
About the Author: Walter de la Mare (1873–1956)
- A major British poet, short story writer, and novelist, renowned for his works that often explore themes of the supernatural, dreams, childhood, and mystery. He received the Cholmondeley Award for poetry.
Literary Devices
Symbolism: The Traveller can represent humanity seeking answers, while the "listeners" can symbolize the silent past, the spiritual world, or the unexplainable mysteries of life.
Imagery: The poem is rich with auditory and visual imagery that creates its haunting mood.
- Example: "moonlit door," "forest's ferny floor," "the silence surged softly backward."
Repetition: The question "Is there anybody there?" highlights the Traveller's isolation and the profound silence that greets him.