2.2
The Sower: - Victor Hugo
ICE BREAKERS
A1:-
(i) Make a list of words related to agriculture.
Ans:- Farm, crop, sowing, plough, cultivate, yield, seeds, grains, spade, scythe, sprout, pod,
spray, farmer, fields, reap, sow, irrigate, rainfall, etc. are some of the words related to
agriculture.
(ii) Discuss the activities carried out by a farmer.
Ans:-
A2:-
(i) In our country engineering, teaching and medical fields
are much sought after.
Other professions, occupations
though they make a significant contribution to the
society, do not get their due.
Ans:-
(ii) 'Agriculture is the backbone of the
Indian economy'. Fill in the boxes supporting
this statement. Complete the
following web diagram.
Ans:-
A3:-
‘Twilight
hastens on to rule.’ Explain in your own words.
Ans:- The daylight
is fading, and as the poet is watching the scene, darkness is quickly
blanketing the earth in its shadows.
A4:- The word ‘Marches’ suggests...
Ans:- The
poet describes the peasant as someone who is in command of the land and field
around him. The word ‘Marches (he along the plain)’ in the line indicates he is
in charge of
the place and controls the activities that take place there. He
knows what has to be done.
BRAINSTORMING
(A1) There are a number of challenges a farmer
in India faces. Discuss with your
friend, how it is possible to improve the
condition of farmers.
Ans:-
(A2) The poet has observed the sower closely. Express in your own words the
reverence the poet has for the sower.
Ans:- The poet observes that the old farmer is still at work at dusk. He does not end his
work just because it is twilight, or because others may have ended their working day. She
feels wonder and respect (‘I feel a thrill’) at his dark shape, along in the field, looming over
his land. He dutifully plods up and down, sowing, as she is lost in thought (‘Muse I’). She is
awed at his diligence, for he works alone in order that many may eat.
(A3) The poet is prompted to call the sower an
‘august personality’ which means one who
has reached the highest position in his work place.
Explain this using the following points:
• Hard work
• Perseverance
• Dedication
Ans:- :
1)
Hard work: The farmer has to labour, every day from sun
to sundown, preparing the
land, sowing, weeding, fertilizing, irrigating,
fending off pestilence, poachers, stray animals,
constantly fearing bad
weather, praying for rain and shine at the right stage for his fields of
standing crops, and, if all goes well he may be able to harvest it. He must
again get a good
price for his toils to eke out a livelihood. There are so many
things that could go wrong in
spite of his back-breaking toils.
2)
Perseverance: The farmer, in the course of things
encounters many adversities. Too
much rain or too little, wild winds or
animals, sickness of the plants or his family, are
threats. Above all this the
never ending attention and work demanded by farming as an
occupation, requires
enormous determination. He perseveres nevertheless, tending to the
land so that
its bounty will feed not his family alone, but his fellowmen too. The inner
courage to face the difficulties and challenges and the determination do to
hard labour
shows the farmer’s perseverance.
3)
Dedication: Only the farmer who is dedicated to work on
his beloved land can face the
multiple challenges. He must love the land, the
labour and consider the harvest his reward.
For an onlooker it might be
frightening to think of so many things that could bring ruin. It is
easier to
leave this to ‘someone else’ and buy the supply of food one needs. But only the
dedicated son of the earth will give his sweat and blood to nurture the earth,
season after
season, year after year.
(A4) (i) Pick out the examples of alliteration
from the poem and write them down.
Ans:-
1. ‘But
a sower lingers still,’…… : ‘s’ is repeated pleasingly.
2. ‘Seems to
touch the starry skies.’: ‘s’ is repeated pleasingly.
3. Sunlight, I
see, dying fast - The consonantal sound 's' is repeated pleasingly.
4. Darkness deepens. -The consonantal sound ‘d’ is repeated pleasingly.
(ii) 'Seems to touch the starry skies'. The
poet has used word imagery. Describe the idea
and pick out other similar
examples from the poem.
Imagery draws on the five senses (taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound) and also adds
symbolism to the work.
'Seems to touch the starry skies' in this line the poet creates an image of a huge figure.
To the poet, the farmer’s position in society is very important. He is irreplaceable. He toils
to feed himself as well as his fellows, although they often do not acknowledge him and his
sacrifice. A farmer is a giant among the members of society. Similar examples of word
imagery are as follows:
1. Twilight hastens on to rule.
2. Marches he along the plain.
(A5) (i) Write an appreciation of the poem
considering the following points:
• About the poem / poet / title.
• Theme
• Poetic devices, language, style
• Special
features / novelties / focusing elements
• Values, message
• Your opinion about the poem
Ans:-
•
About the poem/poet/title: The poem ‘Sower’ is a description of a lone
farmer, toiling in
his fields, as the poet watches, even after sundown. Toru
Dutt, in her translation of Victor
Hugo’s poem, speaks in praise of his
dedication.
•
Theme: The poem is woven around the theme of the farmer
surveying his land, taking
upon himself the hard work to till it, and plodding
on into the night, even after the day is
done. He seeks neither help nor
company but does what needs doing.
• Poetic
devices, language, and style: The poet has
used devices like alliteration, imagery
and symbolism to create the scene in
the reader’s mind. The rhyme-scheme is ab ab,
providing a pleasant rhythm to
read aloud. The language comprises words used in a
manner to create a
commanding figure of the farmer, in order to emphasize the
importance of his
occupation and the toil it entails. Black and high, his silhouette
Dominates-
symbolizing a huge figure against the sky. ‘Marches he along,’ ‘I see him
stride,’- a confident figure in charge. ‘his height seems to touch the starry
skies’- a figure to
respect. The poet herself is in awe and sets the tone in
the reader’s mind to look at the
farmer with the respect or reverence which we
must give him.
• Special
features/ novelties/focusing elements: There is
emphasis on two aspects i) hard
work which the farmer performs uncomplainingly
day and night. Some examples are- a
sower lingers/to sow the task/Marches he.
ii) The other aspect is the vivid description of
the dusk, the setting sun and
the figure against the sunset. Sunlight, I see, dying fast/
Twilight/ darkness
deepens/ his silhouette Dominates: There is use of poetic language
adding to
the novelty and beauty. This is not the ordinary language. Well-nigh/ mine
eyes/
he patient stands/ Muse I: In several lines the words are in a different
order from what is
used normally. Furrows deep/ Marches he along/ Fades the
light: Inversion as the poetic
device adds effect.
• Values, message: The poem gives a very important message. It brings
into focus the
importance of the farmer and his unrecognized service to
society. (However much money
one may possess, one cannot eat the money.) One
needs the farmer for one’s very survival.
• Your
opinion about the poem: The poem is effective in creating a positive,
respectful
picture of the farmer. His simple life and stoicism is seen in the
way the poet describes his
actions.
(ii)
Write a summary of the poem using the following points:
•
Title
• Introductory paragraph (about the poem,
type, nature, tone)
• Main body (central idea, gist of the poem)
•
Conclusion (opinion, views, appeal)
Ans:-
• Title:
The poet Toru Dutt is sitting in the porch of her house
watching the sunset. In the fading
twilight she sees a farmer- The sower- still
working late.
• Introductory
paragraph (about the poem, type, nature, tone): It is
a descriptive poem, about the
surroundings as well as what the poet perceives
about the central character and her views on him. It is
enhanced by imagery and
symbolism. It comprises 20 lines in ab ab, rhyme-scheme and is not divided
into
stanzas.
• Main
body (central idea, gist of the poem): Two main
aspects stand out. One is the poet’s vivid
imagery of the sunset and dusk.
Words like- dying sunset/ the black silhouette/ running shadows/
darkness
deepens- are some of them. This also may be hinting at the twilight world of
the farmer-
unrecognized and in the shadows, toiling yet poor, willing to work
yet unappreciated. This evokes
immense respect, sorrow and sympathy for him.
The farmer himself is an old man in rags, showing his
poverty in spite of his
labours. It brings to mind those who don’t do a fraction of his work and live
in
lavish comfort. This perhaps is intentional by the poet to focus on the
thankless position of the most
important contributor to society.
• Conclusion
(opinion, views, and appeal): The poem will
appeal to the hearts of those who respect
the farmers who live close to nature
and make an occupation of providing food. It will evoke respect
for those who
haven’t grasped the vital nature of the farmer in society. It is the simple yet
beautiful
poem praising the father of the people- he provides the bread.
(iii)
Compose a poem on a farmer in 4 to 6 lines in continuation of the following.
He
sweats
He does not fret
He
sows
To
the soil he bows
Ans: He
sweats in the haze of the midday blaze
He does not fret if it forgets
to rain
He sows and ploughs, over years
and days
To the soil he bows, his Mother,
the furrowed plain.
(A6) Imagine that you are a farmer from a
drought prone area. Write a letter to a newspaper editor,
discuss the problems
and suggest possible solutions.
Ans:-
Deepak Shinde
Laxmi Nivas
Main Road
Latur- 413520.
25 Dec. 2020.
The Editor
The Times of
India
Mumbai- 400001.
Sub - The
drought-ridden farmer.
Dear Sir,
This is to bring to the limelight the condition of the farmers in the several drought-prone districts
of Maharashtra, through your newspaper.
This is the third consecutive year that has gone by without rains. No sowing has taken place for
six-growing seasons. The farmers are staring at starvation and many children are sick with
malnutrition – related illness. Thought this is the natural calamity, it is partly man-made. Steps
need to be taken immediately to
help.
I have suggestions for long term and short term measures. Short term measures would be to
gather the distressed farmers and their families into areas with food and basic necessities
provided for such time as their physical and mental health is safe. They are landowners who have
themselves lived not only with dignity but also fed the country’s population. They need support
urgently in this hour
of crisis.
If and when the rains arrive, there should be water harvesting and conservation methods
undertaken. The necessary infrastructure and education of farmers should be started in the
meantime. Afforestation is needed to replace the ecosystem destroyed by excessive tree-cutting
that has occurred in these areas.
The government authorities at several levels have to take immediate action for surveying,
planning and carrying out these steps or at least take some steps to save the farmers from ruin.
Farmer suicides are happening regularly and it
should not be allowed to happen in this instance.
I hope the authorities concerned will take action at the earliest and save the sons of the soil.
Thanking you,
Yours
truly,
Deepak
Shinde
(A7) Agricultural is the principal occupation
in Maharashtra that has many career opportunities.
(a) Agriculture Correspondent
(b) Marketing Communications Manager
(c) Agricultural Policy Analyst
(d) Farm Management
(e) Soil Conservationist
(f) Scientist- Krishi Vigyan Kendra
(g) Machine Design Engineer
(h) Zoologist
(i) Veterinarian
(j)
Food Microbiologist
(k)
Horticulturist
(l)
Agricultural Economics
Write in brief about the various career
opportunities given above. You can collect the information from
the following
universities.
1. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
2. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Pune.
3. Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth,
Akola.
Ans:- इंटरनेटवर वरील प्रश्नाचे
उत्तर शोधून वहीत लिहा.
(A8) Project: Visit your college library or
through web quest collect information on ‘Green Revolution’
and ‘White Revolution’ in our country.
Ans:- इंटरनेटवर वरील प्रश्नाचे
उत्तर शोधून वहीत लिहा.
