Palanquin Bearers-Sarojini Naidu

Presentation

by

K.Parameswari, PGT( English)

Kendriya Vidyalaya,No : 1 Jalahalli,Bangalore

Karnataka, India.

About the poet - Sarojini NaiduAbout the poet - Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu is an Indian Poet in English.Sarojini Naidu is an Indian Poet in English.She was born on February 13, 1879 in She was born on February 13, 1879 in

Hyderabad. Hyderabad. She was a political activist and played an She was a political activist and played an

active role in the freedom struggle of active role in the freedom struggle of India.India.

Apart from her political career she was Apart from her political career she was also an avid poetry writer. also an avid poetry writer.

Some of her major works are The Golden Some of her major works are The Golden Threshold, and ‘The Bird of Time’. Threshold, and ‘The Bird of Time’.

Palanquin BearersPalanquin Bearers

Palanquin Bearers

• Lightly O lightly we bear her along,She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.Gaily, O Gaily we glide and we sing,We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Softly, O softly we bear her along,She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.Lightly, O Lightly we glide and we sing,We bear her along like a pearl on a string’.

Introduction

The bride , in golden jewellery and wedding dress proceeds towards the scene of the marriage ceremony, on a palanquin. The bearers of the palanquin are in utmost thrill and excitement.

About the bearersAbout the bearers

In ancient days the royal brides were In ancient days the royal brides were carried in ornate carriages. carried in ornate carriages.

The men who carried the carriages The men who carried the carriages were happy about their work and were happy about their work and believed that they had a believed that they had a distinguished job. distinguished job.

They did not feel their job They did not feel their job burdensome. burdensome.

Critical Analysis Critical Analysis

In this poem, we see a bride being In this poem, we see a bride being carried to the royal palace in a carried to the royal palace in a decorated palanquin. decorated palanquin.

It is written in such a way that one It is written in such a way that one can see and feel as if the palanquin is can see and feel as if the palanquin is moving.moving.

The poet brings in so many images The poet brings in so many images describing the movement. describing the movement.

The words she has used seem to have The words she has used seem to have a magic touch.a magic touch.

Summary - Stanza I Summary - Stanza I

The palanquin bearers are speaking.The palanquin bearers are speaking. We carry the bride sitting inside through slow, We carry the bride sitting inside through slow,

light movements because this maiden is very light movements because this maiden is very dainty and delicate and moves from one side to dainty and delicate and moves from one side to the other even in a slight movement. the other even in a slight movement.

It seems that she glides very softly over the It seems that she glides very softly over the bubbles of a stream and her laughter is as if bubbles of a stream and her laughter is as if floating from the lips of a dream ready to start a floating from the lips of a dream ready to start a new life in a new place. new life in a new place.

Summary - Stanza IISummary - Stanza II

Happily and gaily we carry her along as if Happily and gaily we carry her along as if she was a pearl on a string. she was a pearl on a string.

She seems to be like a star sparkling on She seems to be like a star sparkling on the dew drops and spring on a ray light the dew drops and spring on a ray light with her broad smile. with her broad smile.

At the same time she is like a tear falling At the same time she is like a tear falling from the eyes of a bride. We carry her from the eyes of a bride. We carry her singing and moving slowly.singing and moving slowly.

Literary devices

•Simile

•Refrain

•Alliteration

Simile Simile ► Simile is a figure of speech which is used Simile is a figure of speech which is used

to compare the qualities of two similar to compare the qualities of two similar objects or things using words such as ‘like’ objects or things using words such as ‘like’ or ‘as’.or ‘as’.

We bear her along like a pearl on a string She falls like a tearShe springs like a beamShe hangs like a star She sways like a flowerShe skims alike a bird

Simile in Palanquin Bearers:-

Alliteration The repetition of speech sounds in a sequence of nearby words.

She - skimsShe - sways

Like – laugh - lips Gaily - glide

Beam - brow

Refrain Refrain

A refrain is a line , a part of a line or A refrain is a line , a part of a line or group of lines which is repeated in group of lines which is repeated in the course of a poem and usually at the course of a poem and usually at the end of a stanza.the end of a stanza.

We bear her along like a pearl on a stringWe bear her along like a pearl on a string

Rhyme scheme

aa, bb, ccaa, bb, cc

Rhyming words

Along songAlong song

Stream dreamStream dream

Sing string Sing string

Tide brideTide bride

Along song Along song

Images in the poem Images in the poem Skims like a bird Skims like a bird

Sways like a flowerSways like a flower

Floats like a Floats like a laugh…dreamlaugh…dream

Hangs like a starHangs like a star

Springs like a Springs like a beambeam

Falls like a tearFalls like a tear

Pearl on a string Pearl on a string

Gliding movement of the bird Gliding movement of the bird flying over a streamflying over a stream

Swaying of a lovely flower in Swaying of a lovely flower in the wind.the wind.

Floating like a sweet smile on Floating like a sweet smile on the lips of a dreamer.the lips of a dreamer.

Movement of a star that Movement of a star that twinkles in the sky twinkles in the sky

Quick movement of the ray of Quick movement of the ray of light.light.

Dripping movement of the Dripping movement of the tear.tear.

Movement of a pearl on a Movement of a pearl on a string.string.

Musical effect

Gaily O gaily

Lightly O lightly

Softly O softly

Acknowledgements

Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia-2000.Interact in English-literature Reader-

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