2.1 Song of the Open Road

Notes on Song of the Open Road

Vocabulary, Paraphrase, Activities

शब्दार्थ

light hearted- खुशाल चेंडू, हलका

afoot - पायी on foot

Path- रस्ता road

good fortune - भाग्य

whimper- रडका स्वर काढणे

postpone- काम पुढे ढकलणे

querulous - विचित्र

criticism - टीका

sufficient- पुरेशी enough

constellation - नक्षत्र

delicious - रुचकर sweet

burdens - ओझे

to get rid of - च्या पासून सुटका करणे

Paraphrase 

The poet takes to the open road readily and enthusiastically. He intends to travel the healthy and free world. He chooses the long path to travel. He believes in the journey rather than destination. He does not believe in luck. He considers himself good fortune. He does not postpone his journey. He keeps away all the complaints and criticism. He is strong and content enough to travel the open 

road. The earth is sufficient for him to live a life. He does not hope any higher thing. He carries with him old sweet memories of wherever he goes. He is filled with memories and he owes gratitude to the good people.

Read the extract (The Poem)and do all the activities.

A1. Complete the following statements. 2

1. The poet takes to the……….. road.

2. The world before the poet is ……. and …….

3. The poet does not ask for………

A2. Pick out the lines that show the poet's fearlessness and self confidence.

A3. The road associates rich and poor. Explain.

À4. "I myself am good fortune." Name and explain the figures of speech. Give another similar

example.

A5. Write four poetic lines on The Road to School.

Answers

A1

1. The poet takes to the open road.

2. The world before the poet is free and healthy.

3. The poet does not ask for good fortune.

A2 fearlessness - Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing

self confidence - Henceforth, I ask for no good fortune- I myself am good fortune

A3. The road associates the rich and the poor. Both the rich and the poor use same road. The

road is used as a starting point for the journey to a new destination. The road takes the rich as

well as the poor to their destination.

A4. Metaphor : The poet implicitly compares himself with good fortune.

Another example of Metaphor : open road- here road means the road of life.

A5. The Road to School

The road to school is muddy.

But joyful to walk with buddy.

The road takes me to school.

On it we walk, run and ride cool.

Question Bank Activity 

A1. Pick out the two lines which describe the phrase 'good fortune'. 

Ans: 1. Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good fortune

         2. Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing 

These two lines describe the phrase 'good fortune'. 

A2. Still here I  carry my old delicious burdens'. Give reasons for this statement. 

Ans: The poet  believes in moving from one place to another. He argues against staying at one place for too long despite of hospitality. But he carries the memories of the people wherever he goes. It is impossible for him to get rid of them. 

A3. (Poetic Device)Name and explain figure of speech used in the following line. 

'The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.' 

Ans: 1. Alliteration : The consonantal sound 'b' is repeated pleasingly. 

        2. Personification  :  The path is given the human quality of taking the poet to his destination. 

A4. Express your own views regarding the following line. 

     'Song of the open road' 

Ans: Through the title of the poem the poet indicates free will, self awareness and tenderness of soft heart. Life is like a open road. We live a life like singing a song. The road symbolizes mobility. It is open to all men and women, rich and poor. 

A5.  Compose four lines on 'Journey of Life' by using rhyming words (Poetic Creativity) of. 

Ans:  Get on a boat in morn

          Row it and get a corn

          Store not more than you need

          Journey of life is not for greed.

B Poetic Appreciation

Brainstorming activities

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