7/25/2019 CBSE 12 Englsh Elective Analysis of the Poem - A Walk by Moonlight

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CS Academy, Vallipurathanpalayam, Erode

Class : XII English handout

A Walk by Moonlight !enry "ouis Vi#ian $ero%io &E'planation and Analysis(

Stanza wise explanation of the poem.

Verse ):The poet says the previous night was lovely and he felt blessed knowing thatthe beauty of the night will be a pleasant spot for memory to nd rest, calmness,inspiration and peace. Metaphorically, the poet implies that pleasant memories of timespent amongst the beauty of nature, become sources of calmness and inspiration whenthe mind is troubled.

appy spot !metaphor " a shaded peaceful area is being compared to a happy memory#Memory$ rest !personication#

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Verse +% The poet admits that in his long past, he has had such pleasant moments

which have become part of his memory. &hen caught in the cycle of daily life or facinglife's trials and tribulations, we turn to these hours to nd peace and calm. Thesepleasant memories seem like an inspirational lodestar, which shines mildly at a distance,and never fade away. Those hours spent in nature are thus (soft'% gentle, calm, peacefuland inspirational. )oetic device " metaphor.

************************Verse % Some such memories came the poet's way the previous night. They made thenarrator's heart feel warm and light, as if it could *y free. !metaphor#

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Verse -% The poet had gone out the previous evening to meet a friend. &hen he reachedthe friend's home, he saw the friend with two other people. They all gelled immediatelysince they shared common interests. +t is a universally known fact that great mindsconnect immediately like birds of a feather.

************************Verse .% &hen the poet got up to leave, he asked if any of them would like to go for awalk with him. +mmediately, all three stood up and oined him.

************************Verse /% The poet had become fond of all three of whom two had high thoughts and

were of his age group. -ne was a young man but the poet was fond of him too ust likeanyone would nd a young man's youthful antics charming.

************************Verse 0% sing personication, the poet describes how the moon seemed to be maesticas it stood silent in the sky and looked down upon the earth. The clouds seemed to partout of respect for her stature !as if bowing before a /ueen and parting for her to makeher way#.

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7/25/2019 CBSE 12 Englsh Elective Analysis of the Poem - A Walk by Moonlight

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Verse 1% The wind seemed to make the leaves dance as if celebrating her power!personication and metaphor#. 0t the peak hour, the moon magically seemed to robeeverything in garments of silver with moonlight !metaphor#.

************************Verse 2% The winds seemed to sing hymns in the moon's !her# honour. They soundedlike a gentle choir which makes a soul feel intense and deeply moved.

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Verse )3:There was something about the beauty of the night which captured the threefriends with its magic. 1or they not only saw but felt the moonlight around them, like aphysical presence.

************************Verse ))% ow strange, wonders the poet, are the many mysteries in nature2 Thesemagical mysteries connect us to the earth. &ith their charm, they send the oy inherentin them, into our hearts. 3ature's beauty then enters our souls like divine bliss whichbrings us true happiness.+t reminds us of 4ohn 5eats' poem (0 Thing of 6eauty' where he says that human beings

constantly try to weave a connection to the earth. 7ven &illiam &ordsworth says in8a9odils, that pleasant visions of nature become a soothing in*uence for the mind toseek when lonely or disturbed.

************************Verse )+% ow lovely, says the poet, are such memories !phantoms# which though dim,bless us and give us an insight into ourselves such that we see everything anew andtruly understand ourselves with a startling clarity and self:pride.

************************Verse )% &hen we shed our earthly cares !which anyway do not belong to us nor wilgo with us to the other world#, we are able to understand the immortal spiritualityinherent in all elements of nature we see around us.

************************Verse )-% +t is then that we recognize and comprehend the voice of the wind and themagical melody which seems to play through the forest like a musical instrument whosestrings have been stirred. Metaphors " personication throughout.

************************Verse ).% +t is in such moments of spiritual enlightenment that we seem to adopt thesilk:like gentle language of the stars. 7ach element of nature then comes alive. Theyseem to re*ect our thoughts and feelings. 7ven the moon becomes a person whosecheek is pale with sympathy.

************************Verse )/% +n such moments we gain a magical insight which makes us look di9erently atourselves and the world around us. 0s our soul awakens and we gain a new vision, allglories which seem possible. &e then feel capable of achieving all the rainbow:colouredgoals which usually reside only in our dreams.

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7/25/2019 CBSE 12 Englsh Elective Analysis of the Poem - A Walk by Moonlight

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Verse )0% The poet feels blessed in such moments because he nds himself a part ofnature and all its bliss. )eople say one can achieve such pure oy only in other worlds!heaven# but in moments like these, the poet can nd such bliss right here on earth.

************************Verse )1% The poet says that his heart feels better when he realizes that the humanheart is gently bound and is part of nature's beauty.

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Verse )2% Sometimes, we perceive the elements of nature as cold and lifeless. 6ut thepoet says that these *owers, stars and sky, are more than what they seem to be andhave the power to move us.

************************Verse +3% +n such moments of bliss and poignant realization, the poet knows that allnature is alive. e nds it di;cult to even crush the grass under his feet because he canhear its voice and hear its heart beat.Some important /uestions

7/25/2019 CBSE 12 Englsh Elective Analysis of the Poem - A Walk by Moonlight

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