2.2 The Sower by Victor Hugo
Difficult
words from the poem The Sower by Victor Hugo:
2. Twilight: The period of
time just before sunrise and after sunset when the sky is partially illuminated
but the sun is below the horizon.
3. Nigh: Near; close in
time or space.
4. Furrows: Long, narrow
trenches or grooves made in the ground by a plow.
5. Silhouette: The dark
outline or shape of someone or something seen against a lighter background.
6. Dominates: To have a
commanding influence or control over something; to be the most prominent or
conspicuous.
7. Sow: To scatter seeds
in the ground for the purpose of growing crops.
8. Reap: To cut and gather
a crop from the fields after it has matured.
9. Stride: To walk with
long, decisive steps.
10. August: Dignified and
impressive; often used to describe someone or something with a noble or
majestic appearance.
11. Scatters: To throw or
spread things in various directions.
12. Muse: To think deeply
or meditate; in the context of the poem, it means the speaker is contemplating
or reflecting upon the sight of the sower.
13. Deepens: To become
darker or more intense.
14. Gestures: Expressive
movements or actions made by the sower.
15. August: In this
context, it means having an inspiring and majestic quality.
16. Enlist: To secure the
support or participation of something or someone.
17. Precious: Valuable; of
great worth.
18. Lingers: To stay or
remain in a place longer than necessary.
19. Rags: Tattered or torn
pieces of clothing; here, it describes the poor and worn-out state of the
sower's clothes.
20. To and fro: Back and
forth; moving in one direction and then the opposite.
21. Plains: Flat, open
expanses of land.
Stanza 1:
The poem begins with the
speaker observing a sower who is sitting in a cool porchway. The sunlight is
fading quickly, and twilight is approaching. The working hours are nearly over.
Stanza 2:
Shadows are spreading
across the lands as the day comes to an end. However, the sower is still
lingering in the scene. He is old and wearing rags, but he patiently stands
there, ready to sow the seeds. The poet is moved by the sight of the sower,
feeling a sense of excitement and admiration.
Stanza 3:
The sower's silhouette
appears black and tall, dominating the deep furrows in the ground. The time has
come for him to sow the seeds for the crops to grow. The poet notes that soon,
there will be a time to reap the harvest.
Stanza 4:
The sower marches back and
forth along the plain, scattering the precious grain from his hands. The poet
finds himself inspired and lost in thought as he observes the sower's
determined stride.
Stanza 5:
As darkness deepens and
the light fades, the sower's gestures become more apparent to the poet's eyes.
The speaker describes these gestures as "august" and
"strange," conveying a sense of majesty and mystery. The sower's
height seems to touch the starry skies, adding to the sense of awe and
admiration the poet feels towards him.
The poem "The
Sower" by Victor Hugo captures the beauty and significance of the sower's
actions in the fading light of twilight. The image of the sower's determined
work, despite his old age and the approaching darkness, leaves a lasting
impression on the poet, evoking a sense of wonder and respect for the cycles of
life and nature.
Summary of
the Poem The Sower by Victor Hugo:
"The Sower" by
Victor Hugo describes a scene where the poet observes a sower in a porchway
during the twilight hours. The poem begins with the sun setting, and the
working hours coming to an end. Despite the fading light, the sower, an old and
ragged man, patiently stands ready to sow the seeds. The poet is moved by the
sight, feeling a sense of excitement and admiration as he watches the sower.
The sower's silhouette
stands out prominently against the deep furrows he has created in the ground,
emphasizing his dedication to his task. The poem highlights the cyclical nature
of sowing and reaping, as the sower prepares to sow the precious grain, knowing
that soon the time for harvest will come.
The sower moves back and
forth across the plain, scattering the seeds from his hands, and the poet muses
on his determined stride. As darkness deepens and the light fades, the sower's
gestures become more apparent to the poet's eyes. The speaker describes these
gestures as "august" and "strange," conveying a sense of
majesty and mystery. The sower's height appears to touch the starry skies,
adding to the sense of awe and admiration the poet feels towards him.
"The Sower"
evokes themes of hard work, determination, and the beauty of nature's cycles.
The sower's resilience and commitment to his work in the face of darkness and
weariness serve as a powerful symbol of hope and perseverance. The poem invites
readers to reflect on the significance of labor and the eternal cycles of life
and nature.
Write an
appreciation of the poem considering the following points:
·
About the
poem/poet/title
·
Theme Poetic
devices, language, style
·
Special
features/novelties/focusing
·
elements Values,
message
·
Your opinion
about the poem
Poet: Victor Hugo
"The Sower" is a
poignant poem written by the renowned French poet and novelist, Victor Hugo.
The title refers to the central figure in the poem, a sower, who becomes a
symbol of perseverance, hard work, and the cyclical nature of life.
The primary theme of the
poem is the beauty and significance of the sower's actions in the fading light
of twilight. It explores the idea of dedication to work, the connection between
human labor and the natural world, and the cycles of sowing and reaping as
metaphors for life's continuous processes.
Victor Hugo employs
several poetic devices to evoke emotions and imagery in the poem. The use of
alliteration in "Shadows run across the lands" creates a sense of
movement and transition. Imagery is skillfully used to paint vivid pictures,
such as the sower's silhouette dominating the furrows. The language is
descriptive and emotive, allowing the reader to connect with the scene and feel
the poet's admiration for the sower.
The poem's unique focus on
a seemingly ordinary event - the act of sowing seeds - adds depth and
significance to a routine task. The emphasis on the sower's determination and
patience, despite his age and worn-out appearance, makes him a memorable and
inspirational character.
"The Sower"
conveys several values and messages. It celebrates the virtues of hard work,
perseverance, and commitment to one's tasks, no matter how challenging they may
seem. It also highlights the beauty and interconnectedness of humans with the
natural world, showing how our actions impact the cycles of life. The poem
encourages readers to find meaning and purpose in their everyday activities and
to appreciate the inherent beauty in the simplicity of life.
"The Sower" is a
beautiful and thought-provoking poem that captures the essence of human labor,
nature's cycles, and the beauty of twilight. Victor Hugo's skillful use of
language and imagery transports readers to the scene, allowing them to witness
the sower's dedication and the awe-inspiring sight of his gestures under the
starry sky. The poem's themes of resilience and the profound connection between
humans and nature resonate deeply, making it a timeless piece of literature
that continues to inspire and uplift readers.
Example: "Twilight
hastens on to rule."
Explanation: In this line,
twilight is personified as if it has the ability to "hasten" or hurry
to take control or "rule" over the fading sunlight.
Example: "Black and
high, his silhouette Dominates the furrows deep!"
Explanation: The poet uses
a metaphor to compare the sower's silhouette to something "black and high,"
suggesting that the sower's presence and actions have a powerful and dominating
impact on the furrows in the ground.
Example: "Shadows run
across the lands"
Explanation: The
repetition of the "s" sound in "shadows run" creates alliteration,
adding a sense of movement and transition as the shadows spread across the
lands.
Example: "His height
Seems to touch the starry skies."
Explanation: The poet uses
a simile to compare the sower's height to the starry skies, emphasizing how
tall and impressive the sower appears in the poet's eyes.
Example: "Soon shall
come a time to reap."
Explanation: The line
exaggerates the idea of how quickly the time for reaping will arrive,
suggesting that it will happen very soon. It adds a sense of urgency to the
cycle of sowing and reaping.
Example: "Black and
high, his silhouette Dominates the furrows deep!"
Explanation: The line
creates a powerful visual image of the sower's dark and tall silhouette
standing prominently against the deep furrows in the ground.
Example: "Now to sow
the task is set. Soon shall come a time to reap."
Explanation: The act of
sowing and reaping is symbolic of the cyclical nature of life, growth, and
harvest. It represents the broader concept of perseverance, hard work, and the
rewards of one's efforts.
Example: "Muse I, as
I see him stride."
Explanation: The poet uses
apostrophe, a literary device where the speaker directly addresses a person or
thing that is not present, by saying "Muse I" (I am inspired), as he
watches the sower's determined stride.
Example: "August; and
strange; his height"
Explanation: The use of
"august" (impressive and dignified) and "strange"
(unfamiliar and mysterious) together creates an oxymoron, highlighting the
intriguing and awe-inspiring nature of the sower's height and gestures.
Example: "From his
hands the precious grain."
Explanation: The phrase
"from his hands" represents the sower's entire actions of scattering
the seeds, using a part (his hands) to represent the whole action.
Example: "Twilight
hastens on to rule."
Explanation: Hyperbaton
refers to the inversion of the usual word order in a sentence. Here,
"Twilight hastens on to rule" instead of "Twilight hastens to
rule on."
Answer: The central figure
in the poem is the sower. He represents hard work, dedication, and the cyclical
nature of life. The sower's actions of sowing seeds and patiently standing in
the fading light of twilight symbolize the continuous process of labor and
nature's cycles.
Answer: The poem is set in
a porchway during the twilight hours, where the sunlight is dying fast. The
setting of the fading light and approaching darkness adds a sense of urgency to
the sower's task and highlights the beauty of his actions in the face of
challenging conditions.
Answer: The poet is deeply
moved and inspired by the sower's presence. The sower's determination and
patient demeanor despite his old age and worn-out appearance evoke admiration
and respect in the poet's heart.
Answer: The poet uses
personification to describe twilight hastening on to rule, metaphors to
emphasize the dominance of the sower's silhouette over the furrows, and
alliteration to depict shadows running across the lands. These literary devices
enhance the imagery and emotions in the poem.
Answer: The sower's height
is described in a simile, comparing it to "touch the starry skies."
This imagery conveys a sense of majesty and greatness in the sower's actions,
elevating him to an almost celestial level.
Answer: The poet
emphasizes the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The sower's
commitment to his task, regardless of the circumstances, serves as an
inspirational reminder of finding meaning and beauty in one's labor.
Answer: The poem showcases
the harmony between the sower and the natural world. The act of sowing seeds
and nurturing crops is depicted as an integral part of the larger cycle of life
and the changing seasons, symbolizing the deep interconnectedness between
humans and nature.
Answer: The poet's
descriptive language and emotive expressions allow the readers to visualize the
scene and feel the poet's admiration and awe towards the sower. The language
enhances the emotional impact, making the poem relatable and touching.
Answer: The poem
celebrates the beauty in the ordinary, daily task of sowing seeds. It elevates
the sower's actions and finds inspiration in his dedication and resilience,
showing that profound meaning can be found in the simplest of activities.
Answer: The cycle of
sowing and reaping symbolizes the continuity of life and the rewards of hard
work and patience. It serves as a reminder that the efforts put into nurturing
the seeds eventually bear fruit, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and
optimism.
Answer: The sower's old
age and worn-out appearance serve as a testament to his years of hard work and
dedication. His patient stance in the fading light of twilight emphasizes his
commitment to completing his task despite challenges. This contributes to the
poem's message of perseverance and the significance of staying steadfast in the
face of adversity.
Answer: The sower's
gestures represent the act of sowing seeds, which is the central focus of the
poem. His actions are portrayed as magnificent and awe-inspiring, symbolizing
the power of labor and the connection between humans and the natural world.
Answer: The fading light
of twilight and the approaching darkness in the poem create a sense of time
passing by. The poem reminds readers of the transient nature of life and the
importance of making the most of each moment, appreciating the beauty of both
light and darkness.
Answer: The natural world
is intertwined with the sower's actions, highlighting the connection between
human labor and the cycles of nature. The furrows in the ground and the
scattering of seeds from the sower's hands illustrate the seamless harmony
between human activities and the environment.
Answer: The poet's use of
alliteration, such as "shadows run," creates a rhythmic and flowing
quality to the poem, enhancing its musicality. While the poem does not follow a
strict rhyme scheme, the occasional internal rhymes add a subtle musical
element to the verses.
Answer: The sower's task
represents the labor that humans engage in to sustain themselves and their
communities. It symbolizes the importance of agriculture and the cultivation of
crops for survival and growth, making it a fundamental part of human existence.
Answer: The metaphor of
the sower's silhouette dominating the furrows deep adds a layer of meaning to
the poem. It portrays the sower not just as a physical figure but as a powerful
force, exerting his influence over the land and nature.
Answer: The sower's
actions symbolize hope, as he sows the seeds with the belief that they will
eventually grow into fruitful crops. His determination to continue his work
despite the approaching darkness reinforces the theme of hope in the face of
uncertainty.
Answer: The poem's
celebration of hard work, resilience, and the beauty of nature's cycles
resonates universally with readers from various cultures and backgrounds. Its
themes of perseverance and finding meaning in everyday tasks transcend cultural
boundaries, making it relatable to a wide range of readers.
Answer: "The
Sower" is timeless because of its profound portrayal of human labor, the
connection between humans and nature, and the cycles of life. Its imagery,
emotional depth, and universal themes make it a poem that continues to inspire
and touch readers across generations.
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