Poem 2.1 Song of the open Road

(A1) (i) Pick out the lines showing that the poet is prepared to enjoy every moment of his journey.
Ans: the following lines show that the poet is prepared to enjoy every moment of his journey.
1] Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
2] The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
3] Strong and content I travel the open road.
4] Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
5] Still here I carry my old delicious burdens.

(ii)By ‘old delicious burdens’ the poet means-
1] the luggage
2] the food he carries
3] the stress he bears during the travels
4] sweet memories of the past
Ans: 4] sweet memories of the past

(iii) The poet is a person who is free from all inhibitions (shy or nervous feeling/संकोच). Discuss how the concept of ‘freedom’ is expressed in the poem.
Ans: The poet expresses the idea of freedom by using the image of the open road, where everyone is equal, ignoring social status. This road symbolizes the freedom to choose one's own path in life.

As the poet begins his journey, he feels happy and free because he has left behind his routine life to seek adventure. He doesn’t hesitate or delay starting his journey because his desire for freedom is strong. Although he leaves society behind, he carries memories of people with him, as they give him joy and make him feel whole.

(A2) (i) Following are the activities of the poet related to his journey on the road. Divide them into two parts as ‘activities the poet will practice’ and ‘activities he will not practice’.
(a) Walking along the road though he does not know where it reaches
(b) Complaining about the discomforts during the journey
(c) Postponing the journey
(d) Praying for good fortune
(e) Carrying the fond memories of the good people
(f) Creating contacts with famous and influential people
(g) Striving to achieve high and bright success
(h) Reflecting and developing his own ‘self’
Ans: ‘The activities the poet will practice’
(e) Carrying the fond memories of the good people
(g) Striving to achieve high and bright success
(h) Reflecting and developing his own ‘self’
‘The activities the poet will not practice’
(a) Walking along the road though he does not know where it reaches
(b) Complaining about the discomforts during the journey
(c) Postponing the journey
(d) Praying for good fortune
(f) Creating contacts with famous and influential people

(ii) Write down the traits (Qualities) the poet exhibit (show) through following lines. One is done for you.
(a) Henceforth, I ask for no good fortune-I myself am good fortune:
Ans: Self-confidence
(b) Henceforth, I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing-
Ans: Determination.
(c) I do not want the constellations any nearer-
Ans:  independent
(d) I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them-
Ans: Clear thinking
(e) I am filled with them – I will fill them in return-
Ans: honest and Promise

(iii) 'Healthy, free, the world before me'. Express your views regarding the above line.
Ans: In the line "Healthy, free, the world before me," the poet expresses a feeling of openness. He feels world ahead healthy (not narrow minded), liberal and free from restrictions. The poet feels no stress or pressure in his journey. He says his journey is in his own hands, and he can choose where he wants to go for his development and happiness.

(iv) What do you think the poet means by 'I myself am good fortune'?
Ans: The poet means that
1] he is well contained.
2] He does not want anything else.
3] He is satisfied with all he has
(iv) Does the poet want to possess the constellations? Why or why not?
Ans: No, the poet does not want to possess them because
1] He knows that he is capable to do anything also
2] They are well where they are and sufficient to those who belong to them.
(v) Name any one virtue ( गुण ) that you can learn from the line "I know well where they are and sufficient to those who belong to them? Give an example of a real-life situation where you can display that virtue?
Ans: One virtue that can be learnt is self-confidence and determination. That is, once you acquire them, they become characteristic of a person. For example, person who has developed the virtue of self-confidence and determination is often referred to as bold, active and confident person because he tends to be self-confident and determined in all circumstances.

(v) The poet takes to open road……..

(vi) What are the some of the things that the poet says he is done with as he takes at the open road?

(vii) What can you say about the poet’s state of mind?
Ans: The poet’s state of mind is cool, happy, confident, adjustable and satisfied with his life.
(A3) The poet has used many describing words such as 'healthy' in this poem.
Make a list and classify them as -
(a) For the world – free, healthy and sufficient
(b) For himself - strong, lighthearted, content,
(c) For the road - open, long brown path

(A4) (i) Read the expression ‘old delicious burdens.’ A burden cannot be delicious. The poet has used this combination of words to express that he has many sweet memories of the people and places which he would like to remember forever. The poet has used seemingly (apparently/ प्रत्यक्ष स्पष्ट रूप से) contradictory expressions to convey the meaning that his heart is full of sweet memories of good and kind people. Though he wants to be free from any type of attachment, he wants to cherish these sweet memories in his heart forever.(96)

“The expression contains opposite ideas that make it seem absurd (laughable) or unlikely, although it may be true. This is called ‘Paradox.’”

(ii)The road in the poem does not mean only the road to travel. The poet wants to suggest the road of life. Explain the metaphor with the help of the poem.
Ans: The road in the poem is not only path but also it symbolizes the journey of life. The poet uses the word "road" to represent a place where all people come together who are from different backgrounds ignoring their social status. It is like a call for adventure, encouraging people to get free from their daily routines and explore new experiences. Φ 

(iii) Free Verse: Free Verse is a poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm. The features of Free Verse are-
It is a literary device that is free from limitations of regular metre or rhythm, does not rhyme with fixed forms, and still it provides an artistic expression. In this way, the poet can give his own shape to a poem as he desires and can use various poetic devices to create the effect he considers suitable for the piece.
As Free Verse gives greater freedom for choosing words and conveying their meanings to readers, it is free from artificiality of a typical poetic expression. This technique is commonly used in modern poetry.

Remember -
Although Free Verse requires no metre, rhyme or other traditional poetic techniques, it is the use of internal pattern of sounds, the choice of exact words and their chosen places are the factors which attribute the Free Verse, its lyrical or rhythmic beauty.

Free Verse is completely different from ‘Blank Verse’ which essentially has to occur in iambic pentameter. Blank verse is poetry written with regular metrical but unrhymed lines. It is described as 'the most common' form of English poetry which has been influential since the 16th century.

(iv)There are certain words that are repeated in the poem.
For example, ‘no more’(Line 7). Find out other similar expressions.
Explain the effect they have created in the poem.
Ans: Such repetition is seen in lines 5 to 8 with words open road, 'henceforth' and 'good-fortune' and in lines 13 to 20 with the personal pronoun 'I'. Repetition, as a figure of speech,

(v)The use of personal pronoun 'I' is evident and prominent in this poem. Give reasons.
Ans: The pronoun 'I' of the poem could not be merely the wanderer, it could be Whitman himself, the reader, and everyone or "a type of the all human race.

Study The Figures of speech - Click here

(vi) Find and explain the figures of speech
1) Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road.
Metaphor because here open road is indirectly compared to the road of life.
Symbolism because here open road symbolizes freedom.
2) The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.......
Ans: Alliteration because’ a letter or a sound of ‘L and b’ have been repeated for the poetic effect.
3) Henceforth I ask not good- fortune, I myself am good- fortune......
Ans: Repetition because the words ‘good –fortune’ have been repeated for the poetic effect.
4) I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go.....
Ans: Repetition because the word ‘carry’ has been repeated for the poetic effect.
5) I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go.....
Ans: Antithesis because the opposite words, men and women have been used
6) Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticism.....
Ans: Alliteration because’ a sound of ‘K’ has been repeated for the poetic effect.

Tautology because the words ‘Complaint and Querulous’ express same meanings.
7) Still here I carry my old delicious burdens.....
Ans: Metaphor because here burdens (old sweet memories) are indirectly compared to something delicious.
8) Strong and content I travel the open road.
Ans: Inversion because the words are not in a correct prose order. The correct prose order is – I travel the open road strong and content.
9) I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return
Ans: Repetition because the word ‘fill’ has been repeated for the poetic effect.
10) Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road.
Ans: Inversion because the words are not in a correct prose order. The correct prose order is –I take to the open road afoot and lighthearted.
11) Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms.
Ans: Metaphor because here libraries are indirectly compared to education/ Knowledge of books.
Alliteration because’ a sound of ‘c’ has been repeated for the poetic effect.
12) Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Ans: Alliteration because’ a sound of ‘n’ has been repeated for the poetic effect.
13) I know they are very well where they are,
I know they suffice for those who belong to them.
Ans: Anaphora because here I know has been repeated at the beginning of the sentences
14) Still here I carry my old delicious burdens.....
Ans: Oxymoron because here two opposite ideas have been put together.
Paradox because here two opposite ideas have been put together which can’t be possible.
15) I do not want the constellations (a group of stars) any nearer
Ans: Metaphor because here constellations are indirectly compared to the people who guide other.