Palanquin Bearers
-Sarojini Naidu
Lightly o Lightly, we
bear her along,
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream.
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily. O Gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Softly, O softly we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,
She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
we bear her along like a pearl on a string.
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream.
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily. O Gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Softly, O softly we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,
She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
we bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Core Meaning
Palanquin bearers is a
melodious poem. The poem describes the scene of a bride being carried on a
palanquin. The poem generates images of royal wives being carried on a
palanquin to their husbands house. The men who carried the palanquin felt that
their job was special and did it with much happiness. The similes in the poem
point to the fact that the men did not feel that their job was tiresome. Some
examples of the same are, 'Softly, O softly we bear her along', 'She hangs like
a star in the dew of our song' and 'Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing'.
Palanquin bearers is
melodious and one of the most appealing poems of Sarojini Naidu. The poem
describes the beauty of the bride while she is being carried in a palanquin. We
are reminded of one of the ancient customs of carrying royal brides in India in
decorated carriages to their husband’s home. Occasionally, the men of the royal
families would travel on horseback along with the bride. The men who carried
the carriages were happy about their work and believed that they had a
distinguished job. They did not feel their job burdensome.
The poem is written in
such a way that one can see and feel as if the palanquin is moving. The poet
brings in so many images describing the movement. The words she has used seem
to have a magic touch. In short we can say that the liberal use of imagery
mainly similes make the poem a pictorial delight.
The poem creates an
imagery of a moving palanquin through the use of similes.
Alternative interpretations
The poem is being sung
by the palanquin bearers, who have got the esteemed job of carrying the bride
while carrying the palanquin on their shoulders. She sways with the movement of
the palanquin, just like a flower sways in the wind. She is so light that they
compare her to a bird that skims on the foaming froth of a stream. She is
extremely delicate, just like a tender laugh that energies from the lips of a
person. The palanquin bearers are happy to carry the light weight bride and
they sing along. The bride within is compared to a beautiful and precious pearl
on a string.
The palanquin bearers
further describe the delicate and tender bride, saying that they carried her
softly on their shoulders. The bride is compared to a star that is reflected in
the soft dew drops. She is so brightly clad that she appears to be like a
shining beam of light that is reflected from the surface of waves. Yet, at the
same time, she is so tender and delicate that they compare her to a gentle drop
of tear that falls from the eyes of bride (here, we get a picture of the bride
crying softly, as she leaves her loved ones, to start a new life). The
palanquin bearers sing happily, as they smoothly carry the palanquin bearing
the bride, so that she would not feel the journey, strenuous.They carry her
along as if she were a precious jewel waiting to be possessed by her husband.
Context of the poem
The theme of the poem "palanquin bearers" by Sarojini
Naidu is to reflect about the Indian marriages and their cultures. The poet has
deliberately used the contradictory feeling of laughing and weeping. The bride
is sad and is crying as she is separated from her family. But simultaneously
she is also overjoyed as she is starting a new family.
In Indian culture earlier woman were considered as a burden. But
when the palanquin bearers carry the bride as she is married they feel no
burden because of the ecstatic environment. In older times each and every
parent wanted to get their daughters happily married. Carrying a palanquin of a
bride was considered as a privilege.
Sarojini Naidu was born on February 13th 1879 in Hyderabad. She
was a political activist and played an active role in the freedom struggle of
India. She was the first Indian woman to become the president of the Indian
National Congress. In 1947 she became the governor of the United Provinces
(U.P.), a position she retained till her death in 1949. Apart from her
political career she was also an avid poetry writer. For her beautiful poetry
she has been lovingly called The Nightingale of India. Some of her major
contributions are The Golden Threshold and The Bird of Time. In 1914 she was
elected as fellow of The Royal Society of Literature. Her collected English
poems have been published in The Sceptred Flute and The Feather at the Dawn.
Its a poem based on the royal bride who is on her way to her husband's house on
a palanquin. She has mixed feelings about everything. The bearers do not feel
the burden of the bride and think that she is very soft tender and delicate.
They feel no pressure of her. The poem presents a beautiful combination of
various similes, it provides a very delicate image of the royal bride in the
minds of the readers.
About The Poet:
Sarojini Naidu was
born on February 13th 1879 in Hyderabad. She was a political activist and
played an active role in the freedom struggle of India. She was the first
Indian woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress. In 1947
she became the governor of the United Provinces (U.P.), a position she retained
till her death in 1949. Apart from her political career she was also an avid
poetry writer. For her beautiful poetry she has been lovingly called The
Nightingale of India. Some of her major contributions are The
Golden Threshold and The Bird of Time. In 1914 she was
elected as fellow of The Royal Society of Literature. Her collected English
poems have been published in The Sceptred Flute and The
Feather at the Dawn.
Fondly remembered as
"The Nightingale of India" for her beautiful poetry, Sarojini Naidu
was also an active political leader, who played a significant role in India's
struggle for Independence. She was honoured as the first Indian woman,
who became the president of the Indian National Congress. Inspite of her
political activities, her zeal for poetry resulted in "The Golden Threshold"
and "The Bird of Time", which are considered to be some of her
major contributions. Her English poems have been published in "The
Sceptred Flute" and "The Feather at the Dawn". Palanquin
Bearers is a highly appreciated poem that abounds in such
figures of speech that they render a musical quality to the poem.
The poem reminds one of
the ancient custom of carrying royal brides in India in decorated carriages to
their husbands' home. Occasionally, the men of the royal families would
travel on horseback along with the bride. It was the usual practice to
carry the bride to her husband's home during other festivities without the
company of the husband on horseback. The palanquin bearers thought it a
privilege to bear the royal princess to her destination.
Summary
of Palanquin Bearers
In the first stanza of
the poem,the palanquin bearers are delighted that they are carrying a royal
bride to her husband. As they walk, they feel that she is as
delicate as a flower who sways at their song as they walk. She glides
smoothly as the froth glides on the stream when it moves. Her laughter
reminds her of the new life she is to lead.
The second paragraph
tells us that the palanquin bearers are so careful that they carry her as if
she were a pearl on a string. She is very precious to them. She is
compared to a star that sparkles and springs like a ray of light. She
seems to fall like the tear from the eyes of the bride. The palanquin
bearers carry her as smoothly as possible so that she would not feel the
journey, strenuous. They carry her along as if she were a precious jewel
waiting to be possessed by her husband.
Conclusion
of Palanquin Bearers Summary
The poem is remarkable
for its similes, refrains and images as they portray the significance of the
journey and the responsibility with which the palanquin bearers carry the royal
bride on their shoulders. She does not seem to be a burden to them as
they gladly move along singing songs. The poet uses simple words to make
the comparisons clear. The rhyme of the poem renders a musical quality
that is appealing.
Lightly, O lightly we bear her
along,She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Softly, O softly we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,
She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Question
1
Question: Lightly,
O lightly we bear her along,
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
What is the rhyme scheme of this poem? Pick out the rhyming words in stanza 1.
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
What is the rhyme scheme of this poem? Pick out the rhyming words in stanza 1.
Answer:
The rhyme scheme is aa, bb, cc
The rhyming words are along - song, stream - dream, sing - string.
The rhyming words are along - song, stream - dream, sing - string.
Question
2
Question:
The poet has used a number of comparisons. What is this poetic device called?
Answer:
Simile.
Question
3
Question:
Match the following:
|
A
|
B
|
|
Lightly O Lightly
|
Simile
|
|
She floats like a laugh
|
Refrain
|
|
We bear her along like a pearl on a string
|
Repetition
|
ABLightly O LightlySimileShe floats like a laughRefrainWe bear her along like a pearl on a stringRepetition
Answer:
|
A
|
B
|
|
Lightly O Lightly
|
Repetition
|
|
She floats like a laugh
|
Simile
|
|
We bear her along like a pearl on a string
|
Refrain
|
ABLightly O LightlyRepetitionShe floats like a laughSimileWe bear her along like a pearl on a stringRefrain
Question
4
Question:
Why has the refrain been used in this poem? What does it convey?
Answer:
The footfalls of the men are rhythmic and repeated. The refrain gives us the
impression of constant and balanced movement of the palanquin.
Question
5
Question:
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
"She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream.
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream gaily, o gaily we glide and we sing we bear her along like a pearl on a string"
a) How does the poet describe the movements of the bride?
b) What do the Palanquin bearers do while carrying the bride?
c) What figure of speech is used in the above line. Name and pick the line.
"She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream.
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream gaily, o gaily we glide and we sing we bear her along like a pearl on a string"
a) How does the poet describe the movements of the bride?
b) What do the Palanquin bearers do while carrying the bride?
c) What figure of speech is used in the above line. Name and pick the line.
Answer: a)
The poet describes the movements of the bride by using different words of
movement. These words are sways, skims, floats, glide. In using these the poet
is adding softness to the description.
b) The Palanquin bearers sing as they carry the bride.
c) Smile - we bear her along like a pearl on a string.
b) The Palanquin bearers sing as they carry the bride.
c) Smile - we bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Question
6
Question:
How do the palanquin bearers carry the bride? What is so special bout them?
Answer in not more than 100 words?
Answer:
The Palanquin bearers carry the bride very gently and they move very softly.
They sing a song as they go along the theme of the song is about the marriage
of the bride. They sing that they are bearing the bride lightly and softly. The
bride is moving from side to side like a flower in the wind. She glides like a
bird on the froth of a stream. She is floating like a laugh from the lips of a
dream. They carry her like a pearl on a string like she is precious and
delicate. The bride is hanging like a star in the dew of their song. She
appears to be jumping like a ray of light seen on the top of a tide. She falls
like a tear from the eye of a bride.
Question
7
Question:
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Lightly, O lightly we bear her along.
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream,
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
a) Why do the Palanquin Bearers carry the bride "lightly"?
b) How does the poet describe the bride?
c) Explain the comparison "She sways like a flower".
Lightly, O lightly we bear her along.
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream,
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
a) Why do the Palanquin Bearers carry the bride "lightly"?
b) How does the poet describe the bride?
c) Explain the comparison "She sways like a flower".
Answer: a)
The Palanquin Bearers carry the bride "lightly" because she is very
precious and also it is the most auspicious occasion for her. So they handle
here like a very precious jewel.
b) The poet draws a very vivid description of the bride. She states that the bride is "like a flower" "a bird" and "a laugh". By using such similes the poet's intention is to get across that the bride is very fragile but precious and needs to be handled with care.
c) The bride is like a very delicate and fragile and beautiful like a flower, which moves or sways in the air. Thus the comparison
b) The poet draws a very vivid description of the bride. She states that the bride is "like a flower" "a bird" and "a laugh". By using such similes the poet's intention is to get across that the bride is very fragile but precious and needs to be handled with care.
c) The bride is like a very delicate and fragile and beautiful like a flower, which moves or sways in the air. Thus the comparison
Question
8
Question:
Softly, O softly we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the blow of the tide,
She falls like a fear from the eyes of a bride,
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
a) Why do the Palanquin Bearers carry the bride singing? What is this song about?
b) What is the bride compared to in the above stanza?
c) What contradiction is there in the poem? Why has the poet used it?
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the blow of the tide,
She falls like a fear from the eyes of a bride,
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
a) Why do the Palanquin Bearers carry the bride singing? What is this song about?
b) What is the bride compared to in the above stanza?
c) What contradiction is there in the poem? Why has the poet used it?
Answer: a)
The Palanquin Bearers carry the bride singing because it is auspicious and
joyous occasion. The bride is going to her husband's house with many
expectations. The song is all about her in which she is described very
gloriously.
b) The bride is compared to a star, a beam, a tear and finally, a pearl on a sting. In doing so the poet is heightening the effect of the glory being given to the bride on the momentous occasion in her life.
c) The contradiction is when the poet describes the bride as "she floats like a laugh" and then she writes "she falls like a tear". It is a deliberate because the bride is in tears at her separation from her family. But she laughs because she is going to be united with the love of her life and begin a new and exciting life.
b) The bride is compared to a star, a beam, a tear and finally, a pearl on a sting. In doing so the poet is heightening the effect of the glory being given to the bride on the momentous occasion in her life.
c) The contradiction is when the poet describes the bride as "she floats like a laugh" and then she writes "she falls like a tear". It is a deliberate because the bride is in tears at her separation from her family. But she laughs because she is going to be united with the love of her life and begin a new and exciting life.
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