Question and answer of NCERT English class 12 book lesson 2 has been presented here. Have a look and best of luck for Exams.
Understanding The text
1. Why was the poet pitted the flight of Time against the ‘lazy leaden-stepping hour’s and the heavy Plummets pace?
2. What are the things associated with the temporal and what are associated with the eternal?
3. What guides human souls towards divinity? Who is the final winner in the race against time?
Answer:
1. Why has the poet pitted the flight of Time against the ‘lazy leaden-stepping hours’ and the heavy Plummets pace?
The poet contrasts the general, swift “flight of Time” with the seemingly slow and ponderous movement of the “lazy leaden-stepping hours” and the “heavy Plummets pace” to emphasize the tedium and burden of earthly time as perceived by mortals, versus the relentless and ultimately destructive nature of Time as an abstract force.
- ‘Lazy leaden-stepping hours’ and ‘heavy Plummets pace’: These phrases evoke a sense of slowness, heaviness, and the dragging nature of time as we experience it in our mortal lives, often filled with mundane tasks, suffering, and the weight of mortality. The “leaden-stepping” suggests a lack of lightness and joy, while the “heavy Plummets pace” implies a downward pull and the inexorable march towards death.
- ‘Fly envious Time’: This directly contrasts with the slowness described above. “Fly” suggests speed and the unstoppable progression of Time as it consumes all things. The “envious” attribute personifies Time as a force that resents and seeks to destroy the beauty and potential of the world.
By juxtaposing these contrasting images, the poet highlights the human perception of time as a slow and often burdensome process, while simultaneously acknowledging its swift and destructive power as a universal force. He yearns for the end of this wearisome temporal existence and the arrival of a timeless eternity.
2. What are the things associated with the temporal and what are associated with the eternal?
Things associated with the temporal (the realm of Time):
- “lazy leaden-stepping hours”
- “heavy Plummets pace”
- “what thy womb devours”
- “what is false and vain”
- “merely mortal dross”
- “each thing bad” (that Time entombs)
- “thy greedy self” (Time itself, which will be consumed)
- “all this Earthy grossnes”
- Death
- Chance
Things associated with the eternal (beyond the realm of Time):
- “long Eternity”
- “our bliss”
- “an individual kiss” (of Eternity)
- “Joy” (that will overtake us as a flood)
- “every thing that is sincerely good”
- “perfectly divine”
- “Truth”
- “Peace”
- “Love”
- “the supreme Throne / Of him” (the divine being)
- “happy-making sight” (of the divine)
- “our heav’nly guided soul”
- “Attir’d with Stars” (spiritual glory)
- Triumphing (over Death, Chance, and Time)
3. What guides human souls towards divinity? Who is the final winner in the race against time?
The poem suggests that divine guidance (“our heav’nly guided soul”) leads human souls towards divinity. It is the inherent spiritual nature and the pull of the divine that allows the soul to eventually “clime” (ascend) and attain eternal bliss.
The final winner in the race against time is Eternity and the human soul that transcends the limitations of the temporal realm. Time, along with Death and Chance, will ultimately be triumphed over by the soul that achieves spiritual salvation and enters the timeless realm of divine presence and eternal virtues. Time consumes itself and the mortal world, but the “sincerely good” and “perfectly divine” aspects, including the soul, will endure and shine eternally.
Part II
Understanding the poem
1. Why does Milton feel it is not necessary to put up a moment in stone for Shakespeare?
2. What does the [weak witness of any name’ refer to?
3. How does Milton describe Shakespeare as the source of inspiration for all succeeding generations of poets?
4. What is the best tribute that posterity has bestowed on Shakespeare?
Answer:
Why does Milton feel it is not necessary to put up a monument in stone for Shakespeare?
Milton feels it is unnecessary to erect a monument of “piled Stones” or a “Star-ypointing Pyramid” for Shakespeare because Shakespeare has already built a far more enduring and powerful monument to himself through his works. He states that Shakespeare “in our wonder and astonishment / Hast built thy self a live-long Monument.” This monument is not made of physical materials but exists in the hearts and minds of his readers and audiences, through the lasting impact of his writing.
What does the ‘[weak witness of thy name]’ refer to?
The “[weak witness of thy name]” refers to any physical monument, such as a tomb, statue, or pyramid, that might be erected to commemorate Shakespeare. Milton considers these physical structures to be a feeble and inadequate testament to Shakespeare’s true greatness and the enduring power of his name. He believes that Shakespeare’s works themselves serve as a much stronger and more vital “witness” to his genius, living on in the continuous admiration and understanding of those who read and experience his plays and poems.
How does Milton describe Shakespeare as the source of inspiration for all succeeding generations of poets?
Milton describes Shakespeare as the source of profound and almost overwhelming inspiration by saying that his “easie numbers flow” (referring to his effortless poetic verse) and that “each heart / Hath from the leaves of thy unvalu’d Book, / Those Delphic lines with deep impression took.”
- “easie numbers flow”: This suggests that Shakespeare’s poetic genius was natural and seemingly effortless, setting a high standard for those who would follow.
- “unvalu’d Book”: Despite being perhaps underappreciated in his own time in a material sense, his work contained “Delphic lines” – lines as profound and insightful as the prophecies of the Oracle at Delphi.
- “with deep impression took”: These lines deeply affected the hearts and minds of his readers, including subsequent generations of poets, serving as a powerful influence and source of inspiration for their own creative endeavors. Milton implies that Shakespeare’s words have a lasting and profound impact on the artistic sensibilities of those who encounter them.
What is the best tribute that posterity has bestowed on Shakespeare?
According to Milton, the best tribute that posterity has bestowed on Shakespeare is not any physical memorial but the overwhelming admiration and astonishment that his works continue to evoke in readers and audiences. This “wonder and astonishment” has allowed Shakespeare to build a “live-long Monument” in the collective consciousness.
Furthermore, the fact that Shakespeare’s “easie numbers flow” and his “Delphic lines” have taken “deep impression” in the hearts of readers throughout time is a testament to his enduring power and the profound impact of his art. Milton suggests that Shakespeare’s works have so captivated and moved audiences that they are almost rendered “Marble with too much conceaving” – overwhelmed by the depth and brilliance of his creations. Ultimately, the continued reading, performance, and profound appreciation of his “unvalu’d Book” by posterity is the most fitting and lasting tribute.
Language Study
Etymology is the study of the history of linguistic change. When applied to individual words, it is an account of (i) the history of a word (ii) the derivation of a word.
The dictionary meaning of a word is followed by notes on its origin.
For the word ‘entomb’d’ the information we get is: [late ME entoumbe(n) MF entombe(r)]. This means that
The word is found in late Middle English
The Word is of French origin and is found in use from 1578
Also, about 30 per cent of the words in English are of French origin. Borrowings from French reached its height after the Norman Conquest (1066) – between 1250 and 1400.
Answer:
Q1. What is etymology?
Answer:
Etymology is the study of the history of linguistic change. When applied to individual words, it is an account of the history and derivation of a word.
Q2. What does the etymological note [late ME entoumbe(n) MF entombe(r)] for the word entomb’d mean?
Answer:
It means that:
- The word is found in Late Middle English (abbreviated as late ME)
- The word is of French origin (MF = Middle French)
Q3. Is the word entomb’d found in use from 1578?
Answer:
No, the text does not mention 1578 as the date of first use for entomb’d. That statement is incorrect.
Q4. What percentage of English words are of French origin?
Answer:
About 30 per cent of the words in English are of French origin.
Q5. When did borrowings from French reach their height in English?
Answer:
Borrowings from French reached their height after the Norman Conquest (1066), especially between the years 1250 and 1400.