10

Thinking about the Poem

Question 1:

What does the young man mean by "great honey-colou red / Ramparts at your ear?" Why does he say that young men are "thrown into despair" by them?

t!,,Answer 1:

The "great honey-coloued / Ramparts at your ear" refers to the beau tiful yellow coloured hair that falls at the woman's ear and cover it like a fence around a fort. He says that the young men are "thrown into despair" by them because they look so gorgeous on the woma n that her beauty gets methodically improved. The young men fall in love with her and feel despair. He says that it is impossible that someone would love her and not her yellow hair.

Question 2:

What colour is the young woman's hair? What does she say she can change it to? Why would she want to do so?

Answer 2:

The young woma n's hair is of yellow colour. She could have got her hair dyed to brown, black or carrot colour. She would change the colour of her hair so that the young men in gloom would love her only and not her yell ow hair. She wanted them to love her for what she was and not for her looks such as her hair colour.

Question 3:

Objects have qualities which make them desirable to others. Can you think of some objects (a car, a phone, a dress ...) and say what qualities make one object m ore desirable than another? Imagine you were trying to sell an object: what qualities would you emphasise?

Answer 3:

There is no doubt about the qualities of objects. All objects have certain qualities that make them desirable. Some of the objects can be a sofa, a car, a train, etc. one object becomes more desirable because of its worth, utility and stability, cost and durability, helpfulness to life, etc. i f we are trying to sell any object, like a mobile, we will keep in mind the above qualities. In addition to this, we can emphasise its condition, colour and battery backup, cost, etc.

Question 4:

What about people? Do we love others because we like their qualities, whether physical or mental? Or is it possible to love someone "for themselves alone"? Are some people 'more lovable' than others? Discuss this Question in pairs or in groups, considering points like the following.

(i)   a parent or caregiver's love for a new-born baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy

(ii)  the public's love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker

(iii) your love for a friend, or brother or sister

(iv) your love for a pet, and the pet's love for you.

Answer 4:

We love other people not only because of their qualities but also due to certain other factors. It is also possible to love someone for them selves alone. We generally love some of the people most than the other ones. It depends upon the relationship and behaviour. A parent will always love his child. The love of a parent for grandmother, son, wife, daughter, sister, etc. differ according to thei r qualiti es, relationship, category or characteristics.

Question 5:

You have perhaps concluded that people are not objects to be valued for their qualities or riches rather than for themselves. But elsewhere Yeats asks the Question: How can we separate the dancer from the dance? Is it possible to separate 'the person himself or hersel f from how the person looks, sounds, walks, and so on? Think of how you or a friend or member of your family has changed over the years. Has your relationship also changed? In what way?

Answer S:

It is true that people are not objects. They are living beings with feelings. They have power to think and act. They have wisdom to do what they want. They have life since objects are deprived of such qualities. We should value a man for his self only keeping in view his qualities as well.

The poet wants to express here that we cannot separate a man from his characteristics. He

explainth is with an example that a dancer cannot be separated from dance. But it is possible since time and circumstances have their own role to play in this world. His relations with other living beings, looks, sounds, walks and the other factors also work. Circumstances and luck can make or mar the destiny of a person. Here are many cases where we can see them in a great change. Within years they become so prosperous that none can believe. But a real person maintain his relationship in the most appropriate and desirable way. He never expresses his pride in any case.