XII 2.1 Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman Solved Ice Breakers, Brainstorming activities and appreciation of the poem

 

 

 

Prepared by Mrs. Premjit Sunil Gatigante 
Shriniwas Bagarka Junior College , Andheri East , Mumbai 

 2.1 SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, 
Healthy, free, the world before me, 
The long brown path before me leading wherever I 
choose. 
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am 
good-fortune, 
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, 
need nothing, 
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous 
criticisms, 
Strong and content I travel the open road. 
The earth, that is sufficient, 
I do not want the constellations any nearer, 
I know they are very well where they are, 
I know they suffice for those who belong to them. 
(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens, 
I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me 
wherever I go, 
I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them, 
I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.) 
-Walt Whitman 
 

Summary: 
Introduction of poem: 
Poet is strongly influenced by democratic way of life. In this poem, poet is indicating a road as a democratic way of leading life in which everyone can walk freely where no place for any discrimination. Poet is a follower of liberty. Here road stands for mobility. He does not want to be stayed. Travelling is a fond of poet and he wants to travel with free mind. Road symbolizes the way of life. Poet suggests us to lead the way of life without any burden. 
 
 
Explanation of poem: 
The poem begins with poet’s journey on foot on the open road. Here the road means the road of life. He expresses that he is very cheerful to take the journey in this healthy and free world. In addition, the poet has a control over the journey as he is free to choose the brown path wherever to travel.
          Next, the poet continues the thoughts in earlier lines by saying that he does not ask for good fortune and considers himself the creator of his own fortune. He adds that he will not cry or hesitate to do anything without postponing it and expects nothing. He is no longer satisfied being confined in the four walls. He is strong and happy enough to travel on the open road having unlocked himself from several complaints and arguments in his past life.

          In the next lines, the poet tries to free himself from the worldly pleasures and relations. Even though he has a great faith in them and knows that they are doing well and happy with them, no more he likes to engage himself in friends and other people as he thinks that the mother earth is now enough for him to travel. He doesn’t want the company of any influential person. Influential persons are happy with themselves, and they are suitable for their followers. d experience.He wants to spreads the message of love and equality in the life of his friends. 

 
 Textbook solved activities
(A1) (i) Pick out the lines showing that the poet is prepared to enjoy every moment 
of his journey. 
Ans:        1. The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. 
2. Strong and content I travel the open road 
3. I do not want the constellations any nearer 
 
4. Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing
5. I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return 
 
(ii) By ‘old delicious burdens’ the poet means- 
(a) the luggage 
(b) the food he carries 
(c) the stress he bears during the travels 
(d) sweet memories of the past 
Ans:  (d) sweet memories of the past 
 
(iii) The poet is a person who is free from all inhibitions. Discuss how the  concept of ‘freedom’ is expressed in the poem. 
Ans: In this poem Whitman expresses the way of freedom which is based on democracy. Road is referred as a space or way of life which is a symbol of freedom, equality and fraternity. It is open for everyone man can come together and associate with one another. Road can be used by everyone, there should not be any kind of social or economic discrimination. 
 
(A2) (i) Following are the activities of the poet related to his journey on the road. 
Divide them into two parts as ‘activities the poet will practice’ and 
‘activities he will not practice’. 
 
activities the poet will practice    activities poet will not practice 
Walking along the road though he does not know where it reaches 
    Complaining about the discomforts during the journey 
 
Carrying the fond memories of the good people    Postponing the journey 
Reflecting and developing his own ‘self’    Praying for good fortune 
    Creating contacts with famous and influential people 
    Striving to achieve high and bright success 
 
 (ii) Write down the traits the poet exhibit through following lines. 
One is done for you. 
(a) Henceforth, I ask for no good fortune-I myself am good fortune : 
Ans: Self-confidence 
 
(b) Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing- 
Ans: Self sustainable 
 
(c) I do not want the constellations any nearer- 
Ans: Self dependent 
 
(d) I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them- 
Ans: Responsible 
 
(e) I am filled with them – I will fill them in return- 
Ans: Self promising 
 
(iii) 'Healthy, free, the world before me'. 
Express your views regarding the above line. 
Ans: Man is a social animal, he is bonded with society. He wants to develop himself in such world which is free from bad notions, prejudices and unwanted discriminations. The world must be healthy and free for which can approve and sustain the development of  all human kinds. 
 
 
(A3) The poet has used many describing words such as 'healthy' in this poem. 
Make a list and classify them as - 
(a)     For the world 
Ans: Healthy, Free, Constellation. 
(b)     For himself 
Ans: Afoot, Light hearted, Good fortune, Strong and Content. 
(c)     For the road 
Ans: Open , Long brown 
 
(A4) 
 
(ii) The road in the poem does not mean only the road to travel. The poet wants to suggest the road of life. Explain the metaphor with the help of 
the poem. 
Ans: Implied comparison has been made between road and way of life. Poet wants to suggest the road of life which is free and healthy for the betterment of everyone. Road indicates the world as well as way of life that Poet  wants to lead in healthy and free atmosphere. 
 (iv) There are certain words that are repeated in the poem. 
For example, ‘no more’ (Line 7). 
Find out other similar expressions. Explain the effect they have created in 
the poem. 
Ans:        1.Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am 
good-fortune, 
2.I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me 
3. I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return. 
Repetition of words give musical qualities to the poem and it please the ears of readers. It is repetition figure of speech. Sometimes to express the intensity of the subject poet applies such repetitions. Poet makes poem rhythmic and musical with the help of such devices. 
 
(v) The use of personal pronoun 'I' is evident and prominent in this poem. 
Give reasons. 
Ans: In this poem, pronoun ‘I’ is evident and prominent. Poet wants to express his own feeling about the way of leading life. Through pronoun ‘I’ Poet indicates his opinion about the world and his personal way of thinking. It indicates self confidence, self sustainable behavior of poet. 
 
(A5) (i) With the help of the following points, write a poetic appreciation of the 

poem ‘Song of the Open Road’. 

• About the poem / poet and the title: 
Walt Whitman, a well known poet, essayist and journalist of America broadly called a father of free verse. This poem is written in free verse to give intense pleasure to readers. 
The title of the poem is very significant as Whitman has used the word ‘Song’ with a definite purpose that he enjoys to travel on the open road without any tension and worries of past, present and future and face the life without any complaint against his life. The poet wishes to move ahead on the road of life with his own will and goodness. The Song of the open road also indicates Freedom.
 
• Theme of the poem: 

Poem is based on freedom, joy and optimism as well as wanting of democratic atmosphere with its components i.e. liberty, Equality and fraternity. Poet desired to walk smoothly with sweet memories of liberty rather than to stay at any place, on the road which is healthy and free for everyone to catch overall development of individual and Nation. Throughout the poem, the poet encourages the readers to be true to themselves and live a free and enjoy the freedom of life. Although his life is not free from obligations and troubles, he encourages everyone to live their dreams, leaving the obstacles behind.

• Poetic style: 

 Poem is written in free verse having no rhyme or a regular rhythm. Poem is free from limitations of regular meter and rhythm. Though poem does not consist any rhythm with fixed forms, it provides an artistic expression. Various poetic devices have been used to create a suitable effects which poet considered for poem 

• The language/ poetic devices used in the poem:
The poem is written in very simple and effective language which is easy to understand. As it is written in a free verse, there is no rhyme scheme and meter. 
 
• Special features: 
Length of the lines and  stanzas are not equal. It has four separate stanzas. The first stanza contains only three lines, the other two stanzas contain four lines. In the last stanzas poet uses parentheses to separate himself from the worldly needs. Phrases like 'light-hearted' and 'querulous criticisms' are interesting. Imageries such as constellations and brown colour are noteworthy. Figures of speech such as Alliteration, Metaphor, Repetition and Paradox are impressive.
 
 
• Message, values, morals in the poem: 
 Poem leads us to live a free life which should be far away from prejudices, and inequality. While dealing life we should choose or own path and spread the message of love, fraternity and equality. Poem focuses on Freedom, democratic values, openheartedness of human being and skill to overcoming obstacles with confidence .It encourages us to enjoy the life in healthy and free world. It motivates us to fill our heart with immense pleasure
 
• Your opinion about the poem: 
According to me, Walt Whitman , a father of free verse, has promptly adapted the literary device free .He teaches us to be optimistic and happy. We have everything including freedom and opportunities. 
 
(ii) Write four to six lines of Free Verse on the topic ‘The road that leads to 
my college’. Express that it is the road to knowledge and bright future. 
You may begin like this: Every day I tread with the bag of books … 
Ans: 
Everyday I tread with the bag of books 
To accomplish with college lecture 
A way to get knowledge 
Group discussion and gossips with friend 
Ends the college day 
Seeking  the bright future on the college road. 
OR 
Everyday I tread with the bag of books. 
college on road I used to go 
The road of knowledge with didactic lecture. 
with new inspiration and task Everyday starts. 
Promoting me to the bright future. 
 
 
(iii) Write a blog on the following topic. 
 
(a)     Man is free by birth. 
When a man takes birth he is an innocent being with no duties and responsibilities. He is as pure and innocent as a child of God, but than he is a social being son or a daughter of someone with host of relatives and indebted to his parents and society at large for being given an identity. 
But a man is found in chains is a fact which is difficult to challenge! The truth of his bondage is reflected at various levels. First is the biological bondage of his various phases in life birth, teenage, youth, maturity, old age and finally death. 
There are some other chains where the man is caught in present scenerio like social and political chain. 
 
In social chain you may see the evils or the cruel acts against women or the weaker section of the society, illeteracy, unemployment these are all the social evils where the men is caught today. In politics we have the exploitation of the masses by the handful of dictators who have curbed the man's right of expression and speech. We talk about fundamental rights and human rights they are merely theoretical concepts in todays scenerio. Therefore man is neither born free nor lives in freedom. 
 
(iv)  Expand the ideas suggested in the following lines: 
 
(a)     All roads lead to Rome. 
 
Ans: Rome was known for its road infrastructure. This phrase refers to the road system of Rome which is attached to each others. Phrase indicates that same outcome can be reached with the help of many ideas. In general, to achieve some task, many persons use many ideas and many ways for the single outcome which stands as a waste of time and energy. Phrase suggest us to focus on the single way and give efforts on same direction. It reminds us the statement of greatest thinker Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. According to him, ‘If you want success, you must be a narrow minded’. 
There are many different roads to reach the destination we should choice the suitable way. One can’t fulfill dream by applying many methods. Though there are lots of ways to complete the aim of life but we should focus on our decided way to get it. Phrase suggests us to fix on single way to overcome and conquer the problems of life otherwise there will be jack of all trades and master of none. Simply take any single route for your dream because all roads lead to Rome. 
 
(b)     A man without liberty is a body without a soul. 
 
Ans: Liberty is as important to man as soul to the body. Body can’t function with the absence of soul. Soul makes body alive and functional. On the same side, liberty makes man alive and functional. Life without liberty is like an ocean without water. 
Dr. Ambedkar strongly recommended the liberty as a human right in Indian constitution. Liberty has its importance in life of human being which can be traced by many fight of freedom as evidence. Liberty is a basic right of human. Liberty is a shaft for overall development. Social, economical, political, cultural etc. development can be achieved with the right of liberty only. A slave can’t be able to explore himself. 
I would like to say that human without liberty is no more as fish without water. 
 
(A6) (i) Take help from the sources available on the internet and make a list of 
proverbs and quotations about ‘road.’ 
Ans: 
1.        Hard roads require will of steel. 
2.       Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing. 
3.       New roads new ruts 
4.       The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere. 
5.       When within yourself you find the road, the right road will open. 
6.       The road to success is not a path you find but a trail you blaze. 
7.       Whatever road you've been given, enjoy that road. 
8.       The road is long, we carry on, try to have fun in the meantime. 
9.       The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces. 
10.   The wind sweeps the road clean. 
 
(ii) Read the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost. 
 
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, 
And sorry I could not travel both 
And be one traveler, long I stood 
And looked down one as far as I could 
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 
 
Then took the other, as just as fair, 
And having perhaps the better claim, 
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 
Though as for that the passing there 
Had worn them really about the same, 
And both that morning equally lay 
In leaves no step had trodden black. 
Oh, I kept the first for another day! 
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 
I doubted if I should ever come back. 
 
I shall be telling this with a sigh 
Somewhere ages and ages hence: 
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— 
I took the one less traveled by, 
And that has made all the difference. 

                                                     By: Robert Frost 

Online Test Set by: Prof. Mrs. Premjit Sunil Gatigante,  

Shriniwas Bagarka Junior College, Andheri East, Mumbai

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