Notes For West Bengal Students

The Sick Rose By William Blake (1775-1827) O Rose thou art sick, The invisible worm, That flies in the night, In the howling storm, Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy; And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy.   Substance of the poem The rose is a symbol of love and beauty, but in this poem it is sick. The worm that has found its bed is a symbol of something dark and destructive, perhaps even evil. The worm's love for the rose is "dark secret love," which suggests that it is a love that is not meant to be. The worm's love is destroying the rose, just as evil can destroy love and beauty. The poem is full of imagery that suggests sickness and decay. The rose is "sick," the worm "flies in the night," and the storm is "howling." The bed of the rose is described as "crimson joy," but this joy is tainted by the worm's dark love. The poem ends with a sense of despair. The rose is dying,...

  The Three Questions (Leo Tolstoy) “The Three Questions” is a short story by Leo Tolstoy. The story revolves around a king who believes he can face any challenge if he knows the answers to three critical questions: “What is the best time to begin everything?” “Who are the best people to listen to?” “What is the most important thing to do?” Many educated men attempted to answer the king’s questions, but their answers varied and did not satisfy the king. The king then decided to ask a wise hermit in a nearby village. The hermit was digging flower beds when the king arrived. The king asked his questions, but the hermit went on digging. The king offered to dig for him for a while. After digging for some time, the king again asked his questions. Before the hermit could answer, a man emerged from the woods. He was bleeding from a terrible stomach wound. The king tended to him, and they stayed the night in the hermit’s hut. By the next day, the wounded man was doing bette...

  Fable Ralph Waldo Emerson Summary of the poem The poem ‘Fable’ is about a conversation between a squirrel and a mountain. The mountain, proud of its size and might, starts an argument with the squirrel by calling it a ‘Little Prig’, a term used for someone who behaves as if they are morally superior to others. The squirrel, named Bun, acknowledges the mountain’s size but argues that all things, regardless of their size, have a purpose and contribute to the world. It emphasizes that everything must work together to maintain balance. The squirrel also points out that while the mountain may be large and powerful, it lacks the agility and flexibility of the squirrel. The poem effectively conveys the worth of each creature’s existence and teaches us to appreciate everyone, no matter how insignificant they appear to us.   Contextual word meaning of the poem 'Fable'. Fable: A fable is a short tale that teaches a lesson12. In the context of this poem, the fable is t...