On the Vanity of Earthly Greatness

                 On the Vanity of Earthly Greatness

Summary

    The poem, On the Vanity of Earthly Greatness was composed by an American poet and journalist, Arthur Guiterman. In this poem the poet is trying to say that the greatness that we are seeking for in this world is valueless it is because it is temporary.

   The task of elephant that was used as a weapon in a powerful battle has been billard ball, plaything. The sword war of Charlemagne the just which have might killed and injured many people has rusted now. The grizzly bear that used to frighten everyone with its powerful hug has been turned into a rug. Julius Casear, Roman statesman and army General has been reduced into a bust which has been kept not in any public places but on a shelf. The poet himself is not feeling very well. After his death, he is going to meet the fate of the tusk of elephant, the sword of Charlemagne the just, grizzly bear and Julius Caesar.

Questions

1.   Summarize the poem in one sentence.

   The greatness that we are seeking in this world is valueless because every living and non living thing of this world loses its power, importance and popularity after its time is over.

2.   Bring out the "vanity" involved in the last couplet.

In the last couplet the poet brings out the vanity that after the death of Caesar's his statues should have been built in public places so that the people can give respect seeing the statue. But this small statue is made and not kept in any public places so that the people can give respect seeing the statue. But this small statue is made and not kept in any public place it is bust on the shelf. The full length of statue should have been made.

3.   What is ironical about the poem?

   Irony is the situation which shows the gap between the person what he says and what he does. In this poem he says that the earthly greatness is not place because it is temporary but at the same time he is composing the poem from the same kind of greatness. There is gap between what he says and what he does. He says that the greatness is not important but in another case he is composing the poem to get popularity, fame and power. So, in this poem, the poet is saying one thing. No one is permanent on the earth but another thing, he is writing poem for his permanently. So, this is ironical in this poem.

4.   What changes to people and objects are described in the poem, "On the vanity of Earthly Greatness?"

     In this poem, the poet shows greatness of time. According to the poet time is powerful. It brings the changes to people or objects. The tusks of mastodons that fought powerful fights in the past have now become playthings(i.e billard balls). The brave emperor Charlemagne's sword has now rusted. People were afraid of grizzly bear in the past but now its skin has changed into rug in the same way, the bust powerful Roman general is kept in the self. This shows that every powerful person or things become powerless with the passage of time. So the poet makes the fun of greatness of human beings and things. Every greatness becomes the subject of decay, death and worthless.

5.   What are the different examples used by the poet to show the vanity of early greatness?

       There are different examples being used by the poet to show the vanity of earthly greatness in the poem. Generally, we think that the great persons or things of today will be equally great tomorrow but greatness of persons or things of present time may be worthless with the passage of time. The poet makes the fun of greatness and power of great people and things. The tusks of mastodons that fought powerful fights in the past have now become playthings (i.e billiard balls). The brave emperor Charlemagne's sword has now rusted. People were afraid of grizzly bear in the past but now its skin has changed into rug in the same way, the bust powerful Roman general is kept in the shelf. This shows that every powerful person or things becomes powerless with the passage of time. So the poet makes the fun of greatness of human beings and things. Every greatness becomes the subject of decay, death and worthless.