Appreciating Poetry
Poem-7
Read the following poem and do the activities that follow.
Poem-7
The Land of Nod
By Robert Louis Stevenson
From breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
A travelling in the realms of gold,
And I travel the night away,
As I dream in the Land of Nod.
I dream that I am on a hill,
With the sky above me, soft and still,
And as I look around, I see
That the trees are talking back to me.
The flowers whisper, "Sleep is near,"
And the moonlight's soft and clear.
I ride on the back of a golden horse,
Through meadows bright and forests coarse.
The stars are my companions, shining bright,
Guiding me through the dark of night.
It’s like a magical, endless play,
In the Land of Nod where I drift away.
Questions:
a) Answer the following questions.
i. What does the "Land of Nod" symbolize in the poem?
ii. How does the poet use metaphors to describe the dream-like journey?
iii. What is the significance of the imagery related to nature in the poem?
iv. How does the poem reflect the concept of escaping reality through dreams?
v. What message does the poem convey about the experience of dreaming?
b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.
c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.
Answer:
a) Answer the following questions.
i. What does the "Land of Nod" symbolize in the poem?
The "Land of Nod" symbolizes the realm of dreams and imagination. It represents a fantastical place where the speaker can escape from reality and experience adventures in a dream-like state.
ii. How does the poet use metaphors to describe the dream-like journey?
The poet uses metaphors like "the realms of gold" to describe the dream world, suggesting a place of wonder and richness. Another metaphor is "a golden horse," which symbolizes a magical and majestic means of travel in dreams. These metaphors create a vivid image of an enchanting and surreal journey.
iii. What is the significance of the imagery related to nature in the poem?
The imagery related to nature, such as "trees talking back," "flowers whisper," and "moonlight's soft and clear," adds to the dream-like and magical quality of the poem. It emphasizes the serenity and enchantment of the dream world, making it a place where nature is alive and interactive.
iv. How does the poem reflect the concept of escaping reality through dreams?
The poem reflects the concept of escaping reality by depicting the dream world as a place of adventure and wonder, contrasting with the ordinary day-to-day life. The speaker's journey through the Land of Nod provides a sense of freedom and imagination, allowing them to leave behind the constraints of reality and explore a magical realm.
v. What message does the poem convey about the experience of dreaming?
The poem conveys that dreaming offers an escape from reality and a chance to explore fantastical and magical places. It suggests that dreams can be a source of joy and adventure, providing a contrast to the routine of everyday life. The experience of dreaming is portrayed as a delightful and enriching journey.
b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.
Metaphors:
"A travelling in the realms of gold": The speaker describes their nighttime dreams as traveling through "realms of gold," suggesting that dreams are rich, valuable, and full of wonder.
Purpose: This metaphor emphasizes the beauty and richness of the dream world, suggesting that it is a precious and magical place filled with imagination.
"The stars are my companions": The stars are described as companions, personifying them as friendly, guiding figures in the night.
Purpose: This metaphor creates a sense of comfort and guidance, as if the stars are loyal friends helping the speaker navigate through the dream world.
"The Land of Nod": The dreamland itself is metaphorically referred to as the "Land of Nod," implying that sleep takes the speaker to a distant, magical place.
Purpose: This metaphor gives sleep a sense of adventure, transforming the ordinary act of sleeping into an exciting journey into a different realm.
Similes:
"As I dream in the Land of Nod": The act of dreaming is compared to traveling, suggesting that the dream world is a place of movement and exploration.
Purpose: This simile illustrates the idea that dreams are not stationary but full of action and adventure, making sleep seem more dynamic and engaging.
"It’s like a magical, endless play": The speaker's dream experience is compared to a play, implying that dreams are filled with entertainment, performance, and wonder.
Purpose: This simile emphasizes the creativity and theatrical nature of dreams, where anything is possible, and every night brings a new "performance" to enjoy.
c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.
Reading this poem gave me a sense of wonder and delight. The imagery of the Land of Nod as a magical, dream-like place where nature is alive and interactive created a feeling of enchantment. The idea of escaping reality and embarking on a fantastical journey was captivating and evoked a sense of freedom and joy.
The poem made me reflect on the beauty of dreams and the imagination’s power to transport us to wonderful places. It’s comforting to think of dreams as a realm where we can experience adventures and explore new worlds, separate from the routines of everyday life.
Overall, the poem left me feeling inspired and appreciative of the imaginative aspects of dreaming. It highlighted the joy and excitement that dreams can bring and the way they offer a special escape from the ordinary.
Theme of the Poem:
In Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem "The Land of Nod," the speaker spends their day at home with friends but, every night, they go on amazing adventures in their dreams, traveling to a magical place called the Land of Nod. In this dream world, the speaker imagines being on a peaceful hill, where trees and flowers talk to them, and the moonlight is soft. The speaker rides a golden horse through beautiful meadows and dark forests, with the stars guiding them. The Land of Nod is a magical and peaceful place, where the speaker’s dreams take them on exciting journeys each night. The poem captures the wonder and imagination of dreaming.
Full Explanation and Vocabulary
"The Land of Nod" by Robert Louis Stevenson, with easy explanations and Bangla translations in a table format:
Line from the Poem | Easy Analysis | Bangla Meaning |
From breakfast on through all the day | The speaker stays home during the day. | সকালের নাস্তা থেকে সারাদিন আমি বাড়িতে থাকি। |
At home among my friends I stay, | The speaker spends time with friends at home. | আমি আমার বন্ধুদের সাথে বাড়িতে থাকি। |
But every night I go abroad | At night, the speaker travels in dreams. | কিন্তু প্রতি রাতে আমি স্বপ্নে ভ্রমণ করি। |
A travelling in the realms of gold, | The dream world feels magical and precious, like gold. | আমি যেন সোনার দেশে ভ্রমণ করছি। |
And I travel the night away, | The speaker spends the whole night dreaming. | এবং আমি সারারাত স্বপ্নে ভ্রমণ করি। |
As I dream in the Land of Nod. | The speaker dreams in the imaginary land called the Land of Nod. | আমি স্বপ্ন দেখি নোড নামক এক জাদুকরি দেশে। |
I dream that I am on a hill, | The speaker dreams of being on a hill. | আমি স্বপ্নে দেখি আমি একটি পাহাড়ে আছি। |
With the sky above me, soft and still, | The sky is calm and peaceful above the speaker. | উপরে আকাশ নরম ও শান্ত। |
And as I look around, I see | The speaker looks around and notices something. | আমি চারপাশে তাকিয়ে দেখি। |
That the trees are talking back to me. | In the dream, the trees are speaking to the speaker. | স্বপ্নে দেখি গাছগুলো আমার সাথে কথা বলছে। |
The flowers whisper, "Sleep is near," | The flowers softly tell the speaker that sleep is near. | ফুলেরা ফিসফিস করে বলে, "ঘুম কাছেই আছে।" |
And the moonlight's soft and clear. | The moonlight is gentle and bright in the dream. | স্বপ্নে চাঁদের আলো নরম এবং পরিষ্কার। |
I ride on the back of a golden horse, | The speaker imagines riding a golden horse. | আমি একটি সোনার ঘোড়ায় চড়ে ভ্রমণ করি। |
Through meadows bright and forests coarse. | The speaker rides through bright fields and rough forests. | আমি উজ্জ্বল মাঠ ও খসখসে জঙ্গল পার হয়ে যাই। |
The stars are my companions, shining bright, | The stars guide the speaker, glowing in the sky. | তারাগুলো আমার সঙ্গী, তারা উজ্জ্বলভাবে জ্বলছে। |
Guiding me through the dark of night. | The stars help the speaker navigate the dark night. | তারা আমাকে অন্ধকার রাতে পথ দেখায়। |
It’s like a magical, endless play, | The dream feels like an enchanting and endless experience. | স্বপ্নটি যেন একটি জাদুকরি, অন্তহীন খেলা। |
In the Land of Nod where I drift away. | The speaker drifts off to sleep in the Land of Nod. | আমি নোডের জাদুকরি দেশে ঘুমের জগতে হারিয়ে যাই। |
Vocabulary
30 key words/expressions from the poem "The Land of Nod" by Robert Louis Stevenson, arranged in alphabetical order:
Word/Expression | Simple English Meaning | Bangla Meaning |
Abroad | In a place away from home, usually in dreams. | বিদেশে |
Bright | Full of light; shining. | উজ্জ্বল |
Cloud | A visible mass of water vapor in the sky. | মেঘ |
Companions | Friends or people who are with you. | সঙ্গী |
Day | The time from sunrise to sunset. | দিন |
Drift | To move slowly or gradually. | ভেসে যাওয়া |
Endless | Without end; infinite. | অশেষ |
Every | All the time; each one. | প্রতিটি |
Flowers | Plants with colorful parts used for decoration. | ফুল |
Golden | Made of gold or shiny and valuable. | সোনালী |
Guiding | Showing the way or directing. | পথপ্রদর্শক |
Hill | A raised area of land. | পাহাড় |
Home | The place where one lives. | বাড়ি |
Magic | Something enchanting or supernatural. | জাদু |
Meadows | Fields with grass and flowers. | প্রান্তর |
Moonlight | Light from the moon. | চাঁদের আলো |
Night | The time from sunset to sunrise. | রাত |
Play | An activity or performance for entertainment. | খেলা |
Realm | A kingdom or domain, often imaginary. | রাজ্য |
Ride | To travel by sitting on something like a horse. | চড়া |
Shining | Giving off light; bright. | দীপ্ত |
Sky | The expanse above the Earth where the clouds and sun appear. | আকাশ |
Soft | Gentle; not hard or rough. | নরম |
Stars | Bright celestial bodies visible in the night sky. | তারাগুলি |
Still | Calm; not moving or making noise. | শান্ত |
Talking | Speaking or making sounds. | কথা বলা |
Trees | Plants with a trunk and branches. | গাছ |
Worm | A small, creeping creature, often used in dreams metaphorically. | কৃমি |
Night | The dark part of the day between sunset and sunrise. | রাত |
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