Death The LevellerDeath The Leveller

Class: tenthLesson: 2nd

Students involved: arti, saajan, jobanpreet singh.

Project developed by: Smt. hemlata School Name: Ghs Maqboolpura. Amritsar.

Written By:-James Shirley

James Shirley has chosen to write James Shirley has chosen to write about a subject that make us feel about a subject that make us feel uncomfortable i.e nature of Death. uncomfortable i.e nature of Death. The Statement death is a leveller The Statement death is a leveller means that no matter how you have means that no matter how you have lived your life, when we die we all lived your life, when we die we all made equal. Everybody is brought made equal. Everybody is brought to the same level death. The title is to the same level death. The title is significant as death will level even significant as death will level even kings and great warriors equallykings and great warriors equally

Summary:

The glories of our blood The glories of our blood and state .and state .Are shadows, not Are shadows, not substantial things:substantial things:There is no armour against There is no armour against Fate;Fate;Death lays his icy hand on Death lays his icy hand on kings:kings:

Stanza 1Stanza 1

ExplanationExplanation In the opening of first stanza. Shirley is In the opening of first stanza. Shirley is

arguing that the splendor of our life and arguing that the splendor of our life and nation are merely clouds they are not nation are merely clouds they are not important things. There is no shield that important things. There is no shield that can save us from what is destined for us. can save us from what is destined for us. Death has been personified given human Death has been personified given human qualities even if you are king you will qualities even if you are king you will eventually die because it is inevitable.eventually die because it is inevitable.

Sceptre and Sceptre and crowncrownMust tumble Must tumble down,down,And in the dust And in the dust be equal madebe equal madeWith the poor With the poor crooked scythe crooked scythe and spade.and spade.

Stanza 2Stanza 2

ExplanationExplanation

Shirley explains that crown is above Shirley explains that crown is above and other people are the bottom, and other people are the bottom, saying that royalty is the top but it is saying that royalty is the top but it is not true we are all equal to each not true we are all equal to each other. Using scythe and spade they other. Using scythe and spade they are harvesting death making an are harvesting death making an image of death cutting people down image of death cutting people down and digging granes.and digging granes.

Some men with swords may recap Some men with swords may recap the field, the field, And plant fresh laurels where they And plant fresh laurels where they kill; kill; But their strong nerves at last must But their strong nerves at last must yield;yield;They tame but one another still:They tame but one another still:

Stanza 3

ExplanationExplanation

Shirley praising men who fought Shirley praising men who fought in battle with swords. They may in battle with swords. They may win by killing others. But the win by killing others. But the strong nerves of even such men strong nerves of even such men must at last bow before death. must at last bow before death. He describe the men of were He describe the men of were brave. They can defeat one brave. They can defeat one another only. They can’t defeat another only. They can’t defeat deathdeath..

Early or lateEarly or lateThey stoop to fate,They stoop to fate,And must give up their And must give up their murmuring breathmurmuring breathWhen they, pale captives, creep When they, pale captives, creep to death.to death.

Stanza 4Stanza 4

ExplanationExplanation

If you are young or old. Then it If you are young or old. Then it is inevitable that you will be die. is inevitable that you will be die. When death overpowers them. When death overpowers them. They look like pale captives. They look like pale captives. Death ends all their pride.Death ends all their pride.

The garlands wither on The garlands wither on your brow;your brow;Then boast no more your Then boast no more your mighty deedsmighty deedsUpon Death s purple altar Upon Death s purple altar nownowSee where the victor See where the victor victim bleeds.victim bleeds.

Stanza 5Stanza 5

ExplanationExplanation The fame and honour won by you shall The fame and honour won by you shall

fade away after your death. We should fade away after your death. We should not proud of our mighty achievements. not proud of our mighty achievements. We are mortal creatures. If we triumph We are mortal creatures. If we triumph over our enemies and victims and that over our enemies and victims and that we should look at our decisions in a we should look at our decisions in a new light because we may never have new light because we may never have the chance to make it right again. He the chance to make it right again. He also mentioned a purple alter an alter also mentioned a purple alter an alter has religious purpose and therefore has religious purpose and therefore he is mentioning religion and royalty. he is mentioning religion and royalty.

Your heads must Your heads must comecomeTo the cold To the cold tomb:tomb:Only the actions Only the actions of the justof the justSmell sweet and Smell sweet and blossom in their blossom in their dust.dust.

Stanza 6

ExplanationExplanation

According to Shirley Your heads According to Shirley Your heads too, will have to lie under the too, will have to lie under the cold tombs after your death only cold tombs after your death only the good deeds or actions of men the good deeds or actions of men live after death and spread their live after death and spread their fragrance all around us.fragrance all around us.

Word meanings Word meanings

Words MeaningsMeanings

1.1. Blood DescentBlood Descent

2.2. Substantial Substantial important important

3.3. Scepter vergeScepter verge

4.4. Crooked round Crooked round circledcircled

5.5. Spade coon Spade coon

Word meanings Word meanings

Words Words meaningsmeanings

6. Laurels 6. Laurels AwardsAwards

7. Stoop bend7. Stoop bend

8. Creep crawl8. Creep crawl

9.Wither dry9.Wither dry

10. Captives 10. Captives prisonersprisoners

QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

Answers the following:Answers the following:

1.1. What do some men do with What do some men do with swords ?swords ?

2.2. Who stoop to fail ?Who stoop to fail ?

3.3. Which two words show that men Which two words show that men do not die?do not die?

4.4. What do you meant by pale What do you meant by pale captives?captives?

5.5. What are the garlands that What are the garlands that wither?wither?

Answers the following:Answers the following:

7. 7. Why one should not boast one’ s Why one should not boast one’ s mighty deeds ?mighty deeds ?

8. What do you meant by victim 8. What do you meant by victim victor?victor?

9. What is that which is much 9. What is that which is much happens?happens?

10. What is cold tomb symbol of?10. What is cold tomb symbol of?

11. What idea does the poet want to 11. What idea does the poet want to convey?convey?

CorrectCorrect

INCORRECTINCORRECT

BiblographyBiblography

http://manandedhia.blogspot.com/20http://manandedhia.blogspot.com/2010/05/death-leveller.html10/05/death-leveller.html

http://inpursuitofhistory.com/2010/0http://inpursuitofhistory.com/2010/01/22/death-the-leveller-pursuit-of-po1/22/death-the-leveller-pursuit-of-poesy-friday-no-2/esy-friday-no-2/

http://www.experienceproject.com/sthttp://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Love-Poetry/1633105ories/Love-Poetry/1633105

Text book of class 10Text book of class 10thth

Thank youThank you