Points for Discussion
Hello dear readers,
Today, I will be discussing all the important points mentioned In the poem, Passing Of Arthur composed by Alfred Tennyson. I ensure you will get a complete idea to write the summary, central idea and explanation of the poem orderly. You will be able to write the specification and figure of speech used in this poem too. After reading this page, I ensure you will find the secret to score outstanding marks in the board examination.
Let’s get started
Contents: From ‘The Passing of Arthur’
- About the Poet,
- Short introduction of the Poem,
- stanza-wise Explanation
- Central Idea Of The Poem (English and Hindi)
- Relevant Quotations and statements
- Specification (Themes and figure of speech etc.)
- Keywords to identify the Reference
About the Poet: Alfred Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson was born on 6 August 1809, Somersby, United Kingdom. He was a great British poet. Alfred was also considered as the Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria’s reign and remains one of the most popular British poets. In 1829, Tennyson was honoured by the Chancellor’s Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of his first pieces, Timbuktu. (Wikipedia)
About The Poem: Passing Of Arthur
This Poem is an extracted form of Tennyson’s long Poem, Passing Of Arthur, He talks about the story as told by Sir Bedivere, the last survivor of the round table. He overhears Arthur lamenting and is present beside him until his last breath. As Arthur is dying, Bedivere fulfils Arthur’s previous couple of wishes to urge him to. what’s mentioned next are the events that unfold until the death of the honourable Arthur.
Central Idea: From ‘The Passing Of Arthur‘
According to the poet, change is the only constant in this world. Everything changes in this world with the passage of time. The older order changes and it makes a place for the new one.
King Arthur tells his faithful knight Sir Bedivere that the change of order is required for maintaining this world. If everything will remain the same it might rotten the entire system.
The king also emphasises about the power of praying to God. He says that those who do not pray to God are like animals and are no better than sheep or goat. An animal does not have a brain so they can not analyse things.
They do not know how to connect to God but human beings know that prayers have great power it can do miracles. Things that cannot be done by any means can be done with the help of prayer King Arthur believes that everything is possible if we pray to Almighty.
Hindi Translation
कवि के अनुसार, परिवर्तन इस दुनिया में एकमात्र स्थिर है। इस दुनिया में समय बीतने के साथ सब कुछ बदल जाता है। पुराना क्रम बदलता है और यह नए के लिए जगह बनाता है।
राजा आर्थर अपने वफादार शूरवीर सर बेडिवर को बताता है कि इस दुनिया को बनाए रखने के लिए आदेश में बदलाव की आवश्यकता है। यदि सब कुछ वैसा ही रहेगा तो यह पूरी प्रणाली को खराब कर सकता है।
राजा ईश्वर से प्रार्थना करने की शक्ति पर जोर देता है। वह कहता है कि जो लोग भगवान से प्रार्थना नहीं करते हैं वे जानवरों की तरह हैं और भेड़ या बकरी से बेहतर नहीं हैं। एक जानवर के पास दिमाग नहीं होता है इसलिए वे चीजों का विश्लेषण नहीं कर सकते हैं।
वे नहीं जानते कि ईश्वर से कैसे जुड़ना है लेकिन इंसान जानता है कि प्रार्थना में बहुत शक्ति होती है जो चमत्कार कर सकती है। जिन चीजों को किसी भी तरह से नहीं किया जा सकता है वह प्रार्थना की मदद से किया जा सकता है राजा आर्थर का मानना है कि अगर हम सर्वशक्तिमान से प्रार्थना करते हैं तो सब कुछ संभव है।
Note: Hindi version is a machine translation, not professionally translated. So you are recommended to go through the English Version
Reference, Context and Explanation
Stanza–1
And slowly answered Arthur from the barge:
“The old order changeth, yielding place to new,
And God fulfils himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.
Reference: These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘From The Passing of Arthur’ composed by Alfred Lord Tennyson
For other stanza of the poem , Reference will be the same.
Context: King Arthur is going on a mysterious journey with his three queens. He talks to his faithful knight Sir Bedivere and gives him some suggestions.
Explanation
King Arthur was going on a journey and was injured. Before leaving for the journey, he consoles his faithful knight Sir Bediver that change of order is unavoidable for the maintenance of the world.
The old order always gives place to the new one and it is the law of nature. If there will be no change in the world, it will spoil the entire system, even a good system may lose its utility if it continues for a long time without necessary changes.
God Also supports such changes and one should accept the truth with open arms. King Arthur advice Bedivers that the old glorious time have gone and they should move forward. they should stop thing about the past and make plans for the future.
Keywords and Quick Points
- King Arthur consoles his faithful knight, believers from the barge
- Change is the law of Nature, we should accept it as the order of God
- Any Good system may be corrupt if it continues for a long period, so it should be changed from time to time.
Man can not change a single law of nature but can put himself into such relations to the natural law that he can profit by them
Edvin Grant
Stanza-2
Comfort thyself: what comfort is in me?
I have lived my life, and that which I have done
May He within himself make pure! but thou,
If thou shouldst never see my face again,
Pray for my soul.
Context: King Arthur was about to leave for an unknown destination with his queens after he lost a battle. He was injured in the battle along with several other knights. The king advises his faithful knight Sir Bedivers to move on in life and pray for his soul.
Explanation
King Arthur was injured. He was about to leave for his mysterious journey with his three queens. He interacts with his faithful knight Sir Bedivers and tells him that their old Glorious times have gone.
The king remarks that he has lived his life and has done many things. He gives his warm wishes to Bedivers for a better life.
The King says if Bedivers does not see him again, he should pray for his soul. Everyone should pray to God as prayers have a great power to heal every wound.
Keywords and Quick Points
- At the time of farewell request his knight to pray for his soul
- His glorious time is over and other systems will replace by other systems. So we should accept them with an open heart
- We ought to pray for betterment, prosperity, and peace of others
The only way to worry about nothing is to pray about everything.
Unknown
Stanza 3
More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
Context: King Arthur interacts with his faithful knight, Bedivers before leaving for a journey. The king tells him about the importance of praying to God. The king says that prayer has great power and can do a miracle in life.
Explanation
Before leaving for his journey, King Arthur meets his faithful knight, Bedivers, and suggests a few things. In the battle of Lyonnesse, Author’s several knights and Arthur himself were fatally wounded. Bedivers was very sad was because most of his companions were dead.
The king tells be Bedivers to pray for his soul. He says one should always pray to God for a better life. Everything is possible in this world if we pray. Prayers have hidden powers and many things can be achieved in this world through the prayers than anything else.
One should pray regularly and thank God for what he has given to us. one should free for peace and prosperity of others. This will make us a better human being.
Keywords and Quick Points
- Arthur king suggest his knight –
- to pray for his soul
- Prayer is the most powerful thing which changes what we(mankind) generally don’t believe to be happen
- One should express gratitude by prayer and prayer should be for peace and prosperity of others
A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayers is a life without power.
Edvin Harvey
Stanza 4
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.
But now farewell.
Context: In these lines, the king tells him that prayer connects human beings with God and differentiates man from animal.
Explanation
In the above lines, the poet gives a difference between men and animals. Animals do not have a brain so they cannot think about the importance of prayers in life. Animals are devoid of spirituality. But, the human being has a brain and they must know that prayer has great power and can do miracles in the life.
King Arthur requests his faithful knight to pray for his soul. The king says that human beings should pray regularly and those, who do not pray, are not less than animals. Sheep or goats do not have brain to think and evaluate but main have, So they should make use of it.
Earth is bound by the chains and whatever happens, it occurs due to God’s will. One should fold hands and bow in front of the Almighty. God is the supreme and the universe work following his order. Human being connects to God through prayers and it is an important part of our life. Many things can be achieved through prayer.
Keywords and Quick points
- Prayer differentiates mankind and animal
- man must use his brain to think the power of God and Should pray for betterment and peace
- The universe is bound by a divine chain, whatever happens in this world, it is due to the wills of God
Always pray to have- 1. Eyes that see the best in people 2. a heart that forgives the worst. 3. a mind that forgets the worst, 4. and a soul that never loses faith in God.
unknown
Specification
- Theme: Power of the prayers, law of nature, human attributes.
- Figure of Speech: simile metaphor
- Tone: grief and deep sad
- Form of the Poem: Ballade