Poetry Appreciation - 08 (A Narrow Fellow in the Grass)

Appreciating Poetry

Poem-8

Read the following poem and do the activities that follow.

A Narrow Fellow in the Grass

By Emily Dickinson

A narrow fellow in the grass

Occasionally rides;

You may have met him—did you not

His notice sudden is.

The spotted shaft he passes by,

And then, a single note,

He hides himself—he may be near

But still you see him not.

And when you think he’s gone away

He slithers in the grass

He’s there, but not, as sure as night

He leaves a subtle mark.

And then you find the air is filled

With whispers of his path,

He’s gone as quick as he arrived

But always leaves a laugh.

Questions:

a) Answer the following questions.

i. What does the "narrow fellow in the grass" symbolize in the poem?

ii. How does the poet use metaphors to describe the "narrow fellow"?

iii. What is the significance of the imagery related to the fellow’s movement in the poem?

iv. How does the poem reflect the theme of the elusive and mysterious?

v. What message does the poem convey about the nature of fleeting experiences?

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.

a) Answer the following questions.

i. What does the "narrow fellow in the grass" symbolize in the poem?

The "narrow fellow in the grass" symbolizes a snake or a similar creature, representing something elusive and surprising that appears suddenly and then disappears. It can also symbolize the unpredictability and fleeting nature of certain experiences or moments.

ii. How does the poet use metaphors to describe the "narrow fellow"?

The poet uses metaphors like "the spotted shaft" to describe the fellow, suggesting that it is a narrow, potentially dangerous creature moving through the grass. Another metaphor is "whispers of his path," which conveys the subtle and elusive nature of the fellow’s presence. These metaphors create a vivid picture of something elusive and mysterious.

iii. What is the significance of the imagery related to the fellow’s movement in the poem?The imagery of the fellow moving through the grass and then disappearing highlights the creature’s elusive and mysterious nature. It emphasizes how it can suddenly appear and just as suddenly vanish, leaving only subtle signs of its presence. This imagery underscores the theme of the unpredictable and fleeting nature of certain experiences.

iv. How does the poem reflect the theme of the elusive and mysterious?

The poem reflects the theme of the elusive and mysterious through the depiction of the "narrow fellow" as something that is difficult to spot and understand. The fellow’s sudden appearance and disappearance, along with the subtle marks it leaves behind, convey a sense of intrigue and uncertainty. The poem captures the feeling of encountering something that is present but hard to grasp.

v. What message does the poem convey about the nature of fleeting experiences?

The poem conveys that fleeting experiences can be elusive and mysterious, often leaving only subtle traces behind. It suggests that such experiences, while brief and difficult to capture fully, can still leave a lasting impression. The message is that even brief moments can be impactful and memorable, despite their transient nature.

b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.

Metaphors:

1. "A narrow fellow in the grass" – This metaphor represents a snake or similar creature, emphasizing its slim and elusive nature.

2. "The spotted shaft" – This metaphor describes the narrow fellow’s appearance as something narrow and spotted, highlighting its sneaky and subtle movement.

3. "Whispers of his path" – This metaphor conveys the idea that the fellow’s movement leaves behind faint, almost imperceptible traces, emphasizing its elusive nature.

Similes:

1. "As sure as night" – This simile compares the certainty of the fellow’s presence to the certainty of night, emphasizing how it is a consistent but hard-to-spot part of the environment.

2. "Gone as quick as he arrived" – This simile highlights the fellow’s sudden disappearance, comparing it to something that vanishes almost instantly.

3. "Leaves a laugh" – This simile suggests that the fellow’s presence leaves behind a sense of amusement or surprise, like a fleeting laugh.

Purpose of their uses:

The metaphors and similes in the poem help create a vivid and intriguing image of the elusive creature. Metaphors like "the spotted shaft" and "whispers of his path" convey the narrow fellow’s mysterious and subtle presence. Similes like "as sure as night" and "gone as quick as he arrived" emphasize the fleeting and elusive nature of the fellow’s appearance and disappearance. These figures of speech enhance the reader’s understanding of the fellow’s mysterious and transient qualities.

c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.

Reading this poem evoked a sense of intrigue and wonder. The imagery of the "narrow fellow" moving stealthily through the grass and then vanishing left me with a feeling of mystery and curiosity. The poem captures the fleeting nature of encounters that are both surprising and elusive.

The descriptions of the fellow as a "spotted shaft" and the subtle "whispers of his path" created a vivid picture of something that is present but hard to pin down. It made me think about the moments in life that are quick to appear and just as quick to disappear, leaving only faint traces behind.

Overall, the poem made me reflect on the nature of fleeting experiences and how they can leave a lasting impression despite their brevity. It highlighted the beauty of encountering something mysterious and elusive, even if it is only briefly experienced.

Theme of the Poem:

In Emily Dickinson's poem "A Narrow Fellow in the Grass," the speaker describes encountering a "narrow fellow," which refers to a snake that moves quietly and quickly through the grass. This snake appears suddenly, and its presence is often noticed unexpectedly. It passes by swiftly, and even though it might be nearby, it hides so well that you can no longer see it. The snake seems to vanish, but it still leaves behind a subtle trace, like a whisper in the air. It moves silently, and though it's gone quickly, the feeling of its presence remains. The poem captures the mystery and quiet danger of a snake's movements in nature.

Full Explanation and Vocabulary

"A Narrow Fellow in the Grass" by Emily Dickinson, presented in a simple table format with both easy English explanations and Bangla meanings:

Line	Easy English Analysis	Bangla Meaning
A narrow fellow in the grass	A slim creature in the grass.	ঘাসের মধ্যে একটি সরু সত্তা
Occasionally rides;	Appears from time to time.	মাঝে মাঝে বের হয়
You may have met him—did you not	You might have seen this creature before.	তুমি হয়তো তাকে আগে দেখেছো
His notice sudden is.	It appears unexpectedly.	তার উপস্থিতি হঠাৎ করে হয়
The spotted shaft he passes by,	He moves past things that have spots.	সে দাগযুক্ত জিনিসগুলি পাশ কাটায়
And then, a single note,	He makes a quick, noticeable movement.	তারপর, একটানা একটি সঙ্কেত সৃষ্টি করে
He hides himself—he may be near	He hides himself even though he might be close by.	সে নিজেকে লুকিয়ে রাখে, যদিও সে কাছাকাছি হতে পারে
But still you see him not.	But you cannot see him even if he is close.	তবুও তুমি তাকে দেখতে পাও না
And when you think he’s gone away	When you believe he has left.	যখন তুমি মনে করো সে চলে গেছে
He slithers in the grass	He moves quietly through the grass.	সে ঘাসের মধ্যে শান্তভাবে চলে
He’s there, but not, as sure as night	He is present but hard to see, like the night.	সে আছে, কিন্তু দেখা কঠিন, রাতের মতো
He leaves a subtle mark.	He leaves a faint sign of his presence.	সে একটি সূক্ষ্ম চিহ্ন রেখে যায়
And then you find the air is filled	You notice that the atmosphere is filled with something.	তারপর তুমি খুঁজে পাও যে বাতাস পূর্ণ
With whispers of his path,	With hints of where he has gone.	তার পথের গুঞ্জন
He’s gone as quick as he arrived	He disappears just as quickly as he came.	সে চলে যায় তেমনি দ্রুত গতিতে যেমন এসেছিল
But always leaves a laugh.	He always leaves a sense of amusement or mystery.	কিন্তু সবসময় একটি হাসি রেখে যায়

Vocabulary

30 key words and expressions from the poem "A Narrow Fellow in the Grass"

Word/Expression	Meaning (Simple English)	Bangla Meaning
A narrow fellow	A thin or slim creature	এক সঙ্কীর্ণ সঙ্গী
Grass	Vegetation covering the ground	ঘাস
Occasionally	Sometimes, but not all the time	কখনও কখনও
Rides	Moves or travels on something	চলা বা ভ্রমণ করা
Notice	Attention or awareness	লক্ষ্য
Sudden	Happening quickly and unexpectedly	হঠাৎ
Spotted shaft	A creature with spots or a pattern	চিহ্নিত আঁচড়
Passes by	Moves past something	পাশ দিয়ে চলে যাওয়া
Single note	A brief or single sound or indication	একক সুর
Hides himself	Conceals or keeps out of sight	নিজেকে লুকানো
Slithers	Moves smoothly and quietly, like a snake	কেঁচোয়ের মতো সরে যাওয়া
Subtle mark	A faint or not easily noticeable sign	সূক্ষ্ম চিহ্ন
Air	The invisible gas we breathe	বাতাস
Whispers	Soft, low sounds or hints	ফিসফিস করা
Path	The route or direction taken	পথ
Gone away	Departed or left	চলে যাওয়া
Quick	Fast or rapid	দ্রুত
Arrived	Reached or came to a place	পৌঁছানো
Laugh	A sound of happiness or amusement	হাসি
Narrow	Thin or limited in width	সঙ্কীর্ণ
Fellow	Companion or partner	সঙ্গী
Notice sudden	To become aware quickly	হঠাৎ লক্ষ্য করা
Spotted	Marked with spots or patterns	দাগযুক্ত
Slithers in the grass	Moves quietly among the grass	ঘাসে সরে যাওয়া
Leaves a mark	Makes a noticeable impression	চিহ্ন রেখে যায়
Filled with whispers	Full of soft, quiet sounds	ফিসফিসে পূর্ণ
Leaves a laugh	Causes someone to laugh	হাসির সৃষ্টি করে
As sure as night	Very certain or definite	রাতের মতো নিশ্চিত
Seen not	Not visible or noticeable	দেখা যায় না
Arrived quickly	Reached a place fast	দ্রুত পৌঁছেছে
Quick as he arrived	Fast in arriving, with no delay	তার আগমনের মতো দ্রুত
Narrow fellow in the grass	Thin creature moving in the grass	ঘাসে সঙ্কীর্ণ সঙ্গী