From a Railway Carriage - by Robert Louis Stevenson - Poem / Poetry Appreciation / Exercises on Poem / Question-Answer on Poem / Theme and Summary of Poem / Poem Analysis

Poem: From a Railway Carriage   

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson   

English Version	Bengali Translation
Faster than fairies, faster than witches, Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches; And charging along like troops in a battle All through the meadows the horses and cattle: All of the sights of the hill and the plain Fly as thick as driving rain  And ever again, in the wink of an eye.  Painted stations whistle by.	পরীদের থেকে দ্রুত, দ্রুত ডাইনীদের থেকে, সাঁকো ও ঘর, বেড়া ও খাল থেকে: আর যুদ্ধরত সৈন্যদের মতো করে চলে ঘোড়া ও পশুগুলো তৃণভূমি দিয়ে: শৈল আর সমতলের দৃশ্যাবলী সব  পড়ন্ত বৃষ্টির মতো ওড়ে; আর আগের মতো, আবারো চোখের পলকে,  রঙিন স্টেশনের বাঁশি বাজে।
Here is a child who clambers and scrambles, All by himself and gathering brambles; Here is tramp who stands and gazes:  And here is the green for stringing daisies! Here is a cart runaway in the road  Lumping along with man and load;	ছেলেটি এখানে হামাগুড়ি দেয় আর করে আরোহণ নিজে নিজে সব কণ্টকতৃণ করে আহরণ: পণ্যবাহী যানটি দাঁড়িয়ে স্থির দৃষ্টিতে আর সবুজ লতা ডেইজি বাঁধার অপেক্ষাতে রাস্তায় থাকা পশুযান চলাচলের পথ  যাত্রী ও বোঝা নিয়ে যাচ্ছে এগিয়ে
And here is a mill, and there is a river:  Each a glimpse and gone forever!	এখানে এক কারখানা আর ওখানে এক নদী  প্রত্যেকে এক নজর মাত্র, তারপর যাচ্ছে হারিয়ে

Answer the following questions:   

(a) What is the main perspective presented in the poem?   

(b) How does the poet convey the sense of speed in the poem?   

(c) What types of sights does the speaker observe during the journey?   

(d) What tone does the poem convey about travel and exploration?   

(e) What overall message about life and movement can be inferred from the poem?   

(f) How does the poet describe the movement of the train in the poem?   

(g) How does the poem highlight the fleeting nature of the journey?   

(h) How is the child in the poem described?   

(i) What significance does the mention of a "tramp" have in the poem?   

(j) What is the overall mood of the poem?  

Answer:

(a) The poem is written from the perspective of a traveler looking out from a railway carriage. S/He captures the dynamic scenery passing by as the train moves.   

(b) The poet conveys a sense of speed through vivid descriptions of the landscape. He uses short, lively phrases to imitate the quick movement of the train.   

(c) The speaker observes a variety of sights including fields, hills, villages, animals, and people. It depicts a rich tapestry of life and nature as the train rushes through various landscapes.   

(d) The tone of the poem is joyful and whimsical, celebrating the excitement and wonder of travel, as well as the beauty of the natural world.   

(e) The overall message suggests that life is filled with fleeting moments of beauty and excitement. We should appreciate the journey and the diverse experiences that come with it.   

(f) The poet describes the movement as fast, comparing it to fairies, witches, and troops in battle, creating a sense of swift motion.   

(g) The poem mentions how sights pass by quickly, such as "each a glimpse and gone forever," emphasizing the transient nature of travel.   

(h) The child is described as "clambering and scrambling" and gathering brambles, suggesting a sense of curiosity and freedom.   

(i) In the poem the tramp standing and gazing represents a moment of stillness and reflection, contrasting with the train's rapid motion.   

(j) The mood of the poem is both lively and reflective, capturing the excitement of travel while acknowledging the fleeting nature of the experiences observed.

Detailed Paraphrase

Original Poem Lines	Detailed & Simple Paraphrase
Faster than fairies, faster than witches, Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches; And charging along like troops in a battle All through the meadows the horses and cattle: All of the sights of the hill and the plain Fly as thick as driving rain And ever again, in the wink of an eye. Painted stations whistle by.	The train moves incredibly fast, even quicker than magical fairies or witches. It rushes past bridges, houses, fences, and ditches. Like brave soldiers charging into a war, the train speeds past the animals grazing in the fields. The scenery of the hills and flatlands passes by as rapidly as heavy rain falling from the sky. Suddenly, brightly painted train stations pass by in the blink of an eye while the train's whistle blows loudly.
Here is a child who clambers and scrambles, All by himself and gathering brambles; Here is a tramp who stands and gazes: And here is the green for stringing daisies! Here is a cart runaway in the road Lumping along with man and load;	Looking out the window, the passenger sees a little boy struggling to climb up a steep bank all alone to pick wild blackberries. Then, they see a wanderer standing completely still, just watching the train go by. Next, they spot a green patch of grass where people might sit to make daisy chains. They also see a heavy cart moving awkwardly down a road, carrying a driver and a big load.
And here is a mill, and there is a river: Each a glimpse and gone forever!	Finally, the passenger catches a quick sight of an old mill and a flowing river. However, every single one of these beautiful sights appears for just one tiny second before disappearing forever as the fast train speeds away.

Summary

The poem is about a fun, fast, and exciting train ride. The poet describes how the train moves incredibly quickly, going even faster than magic fairies or witches. As the train speeds along, the passenger looks out the window and sees many different things flashing by like thick, heavy rain. They see bridges, houses, horses, and brightly painted stations passing by in the blink of an eye.

The passenger also spots different people and scenes outside. They see a little boy climbing alone to pick wild berries, a man standing very still to watch the train, and a heavy, bumpy cart moving slowly on a road. Finally, they catch a quick look at a mill and a river.

Everything the passenger sees only lasts for one tiny second. Before they can even look closely, the train rushes past, and the beautiful sights are gone forever. The poem shows us that a train journey is an amazing experience, but the beautiful moments pass by very quickly.

Theme of the Poem

The core theme is the thrilling speed of modern travel and the fleeting, temporary nature of life's experiences. The poem beautifully captures the dynamic, rapid movement of a train journey, contrasting it with the still, peaceful world outside. Ultimately, it conveys the message that life, much like a fast train ride, is filled with beautiful and diverse moments that appear for only a quick glimpse before disappearing forever.

বিস্তারিত সারাংশ

বিস্তারিত সারাংশ:

ভূমিকা: কবিতাটি একটি দ্রুতগামী ট্রেনের জানলা দিয়ে দেখা চমৎকার সব পরিবর্তনশীল দৃশ্যের বর্ণনা দেয়। এই কবিতায় ভ্রমণের আনন্দ এবং প্রকৃতির সৌন্দর্য খুব সুন্দরভাবে ফুটে উঠেছে।

গতি ও দৃশ্য: কবি বলেছেন যে ট্রেনটি জাদুকরী পরী বা ডাইনিদের চেয়েও অনেক বেশি দ্রুত বেগে ছুটে চলে। এটি অত্যন্ত দ্রুতগতিতে সেতু, ঘরবাড়ি, বেড়া এবং খাল পার হয়ে যায়। যুদ্ধক্ষেত্রে আক্রমণরত সৈন্যদের মতো এটি তৃনভূমির পশুদের পাশ দিয়ে প্রবল বেগে ছুটে যায়। পাহাড় এবং সমতলের দৃশ্যগুলো এত দ্রুত পার হয় যেন মনে হয় আকাশ থেকে ভারী বৃষ্টি পড়ছে। চোখের পলকেই রঙিন স্টেশনগুলো বাঁশি বাজিয়ে পার হয়ে যায়।

ক্ষণস্থায়ী মুহূর্ত: ট্রেনের জানলা দিয়ে কবি আরও অনেক কিছু দেখতে পান। তিনি দেখেন একটি ছোট ছেলে একা একা হামাগুড়ি দিয়ে পাহাড়ে উঠে বুনো ফল বা কণ্টকতৃণ সংগ্রহ করছে, একজন ভবঘুরে মানুষ শান্ত হয়ে দাঁড়িয়ে স্থির দৃষ্টিতে ট্রেনটি দেখছে এবং রাস্তায় একটি ভারী মালবাহী গাড়ি ধীরে ধীরে এগিয়ে যাচ্ছে। পরিশেষে তিনি একটি কারখানা এবং একটি নদী দেখতে পান। কিন্তু এই প্রতিটি দৃশ্যই কেবল এক মুহূর্তের জন্য চোখে পড়ে এবং তারপর চিরতরে হারিয়ে যায়, যা আমাদের মনে করিয়ে দেয় যে জীবনের সুন্দর মুহূর্তগুলো খুবই ক্ষণস্থায়ী।

10 Short Questions with Answers

1. How fast is the train moving? The train is moving incredibly fast. It is moving even faster than magical fairies and witches.

2. What does the train look like in the meadows? The train rushes past the animals very quickly. It looks like brave soldiers charging forward in a battle.

3. How do the sights pass by? The sights of the hills and plains pass by extremely fast. They look like heavy drops of rain falling from the sky.

4. What happens at the painted stations? The train passes the brightly painted stations in the blink of an eye. As it passes, the station whistles blow loudly.

5. What is the little child doing? The child is climbing up a steep hill all by himself. He is busy gathering wild blackberry bushes.

6. What is the tramp doing? The tramp is a homeless wanderer standing by the tracks. He is standing completely still and watching the train go by.

7. What is the cart doing on the road? There is a heavy cart moving awkwardly down the street. It is carrying a man and a very big load.

8. What are the last two things seen? The very last things the traveler sees are an old mill and a river. They appear for just a second before the train speeds away.

9. How long do the sights last? Every beautiful thing outside only lasts for one tiny second. Before you can look closely, the sights are gone forever.

10. What is the main idea of the poem? The poem is about an exciting and very fast train ride. It shows how beautiful moments in life pass by very quickly.

Summary of "From a Railway Carriage"

The poem is about a very fast, fun, and exciting train ride. The poet describes how quickly the train moves and the quick looks he gets of the world outside the window.

A Super Fast Ride The train moves incredibly fast. The poet says it is even faster than magic fairies or flying witches. It zooms past bridges, houses, fences, and ditches. The train moves so strongly that it looks like brave soldiers running forward into a battle. Outside, the hills, fields, and animals pass by so quickly that they blur together like heavy rain falling down. In the blink of an eye, the train blows its loud whistle and rushes past colorful train stations.

Quick Sights Outside Looking out the window, the traveler sees many things, but only for a quick second. They see a little boy climbing a steep hill all alone to pick wild berries. Then, they see a homeless man standing perfectly still, just watching the fast train go by. They spot a green grassy area, and then a heavy cart moving slowly on a bumpy road with a man and his big load. Finally, they get a very quick look at an old mill and a flowing river.

Gone in a Second The most important message of the poem is about how fast time moves. Everything the traveler sees outside only lasts for one tiny second. Because the train is so fast, every beautiful sight is just a quick look, and then it is gone forever. The poem reminds us that life is full of wonderful and exciting moments, but they pass by very quickly.