The Poplar Field
The Poplar Field
Summary
The poem, The Poplar Field was composed by a pre-romantic
English poet and translator, Willaim Cowper. In this poem, the poet expresses
his nostalgic feelings for the destruction of Poplar trees on the bank of The
Great Ouse.
The Poplar trees that grew on the
bank of The Great Ouse have been cut down. As a result, the shadow of the trees
and their whispering sound have vanished away from the site. After the trees
have been cut down, the wind does not blow there any longer and the river
doesn’t receive their image on its surface any more. The trees that once lent
shadow to the poet are lying on the grass to become his seats. After its
natural habitat has been destroyed, the black bird has migrated to the shelter
of Hazel tree. Consequently, the poplar field does not echo with the melodious
song of the blackbird any longer.
The time of the poet is hasting away
making him older and older. Very soon he is going to meet the fate of the
poplar trees. Naturally, new plants will grow in the place of cut down trees
but till then the poet will have long been dead . Poplar field was the only place
to engage the poet to meditate on the perishing pleasures of man. But now he
has realized that the life of human pleasures is shorter than human life and
they die before the human beings die.
In this poem, the poet describes the
poplar field as the source of human life and pleasure. He thinks that
destroying the trees means destroying human life and pleasures.
Questions
1. Consider this poem as a defense of
nature conservation.
By presenting the adverse effects of deforestation on human life, wild life
and natural environment, the poet, William Cowper makes a sincere plea for the
conservation of nature in the poem, the poplar field. When the trees like the
poplar trees are cut down ruthlessly both the shadow of he trees and their
whispering sound vanish away. The sources of rivers like The Great Ouse dry up.
The wild animals and birds like the blackbird become homeless. They either
migrate to another place or entirely become extinct from the world. After the
birds vanish away, the area does not echo with their melodious songs Forest is
the source of both Human life and pleasures. When the trees are cut down, human
beings source of life and pleasure is also destroyed. They run short of vital
life energy i.e oxygen. Their life becomes monotonous, depressing and night
marish. So, cutting down the trees means inviting threat upon the natural
environment, wildlife and human life. In this way, the poet request the human
beings not to cut down the trees for themselves, for their future generations
and for all the life forms that are sharing this planet with us.
2. Why do you think the poet has written
this poem in the first person?
In this poem, the forest or poplar
field or nature is considered as sources of human life and pleasure. In the
poem, the poet regards poplar field or forest as home, life and human pleasure.
The poet strongly argues about the destruction of the poplar field or forest as
home, life and human pleasure. The poet strongly argues about the destruction
of the poplar field and destroying own source of life and pleasure. Poplar
field is source of human life in various ways. Primarily we derive the vital
life source oxygen form the trees and trees also helps to keep the environment
and environmental resources healthy. If the trees are destroyed then the
production of oxygen will decrease and there will be no chance of life. Our
life entirely depend on trees for survival of all the living beings. Trees
provide source of life for millions of people as they are making their living
through forest. Millions of people bring product of forest like grass,
fuelwood, timber wood, selling those products in market and earning some money.
This poem was composed at the end of 18th century and at this time
deforestation was not a serious public and burning issue. So writer was only affected
by this problem. So he is expressing his private feeling against deforestation.
His favorite place the poplar field was consumed by deforestation. So poet was
personally involved in it and he is expressing his private feeling using first
person pronunciation.
3. Discuss how the poet links up the
idea of the cut down poplar with the end of human life and pleasures.
In the poem 'The Poplar field'
regards the poplar field as the whole human life and pleasure. He means to say
that destroying forest is primarily we get the vital source of life i.e oxygen
from the trees. No life is possible without oxygen and there is no life without
oxygen. So human beings fully depends on the nature. Forest is the source of
millions people life because they are living through the products acquired from
the forest and its cultivation. They bring timber woods, herbs from the forest
and still those products and earn the economy for it which is very much helpful
for their life. Deforestation also loses the sources of economy. All the human
beings also depends on the oxygen and the trees are lost by the deforestation
so indirectly the human beings are harmed. The pleasures and the happiness of
the human is lost and the lives of birds and animals are also lost. We can't
listen to the melodious songs of the birds. And the lives of human beings are
incomplete without the nature beauty. The human beings can't find the peaceful
place for the meditation and relaxation. And the nature is the most and very
beautiful and peaceful place for the relaxation and meditation.
Essay
Living in the country
Living in the country means
living on the lap of the nature. The everyday activities lifestyle and even the
attitude of the people are even totally affected or influenced by the nature.
The people living in the
country get up from their bed as it dawns. They remain attached to the nature
whole day and return back home in the evening. During day they remain in touch
with the nature. When it is freezing cold, people live in Sun or around the
fire place when it boils with heat, they are found sitting in the shadow of
trees. They carry out different activities with respect to change in season.
When it is paddy planting time, people are seen in the field. In harvesting time,
they are seen harvesting the crops. They do not wear watch in their hands and
they determine time of the day looking the position of the Sun on the sky. They
do not have the calendar sticked on the wall. Hence, they find the day looking
at the stars. As they live close with the nature, they eat fresh vegetables and
fruits produced in their garden or cultivation area. They drink buffalo milk,
cow milk. There are no facilities of doctors, clinics,etc. They prepare the
medicine using herbs.
Attitude is also influenced
by the nature. The people living in the country are cool, calm and passionate.
They don’t have high passion. They don’t have high ambitions so that they don’t
become the victims of depression in their life. They regard the nature as God.
As a whole, nature is both
ally and foe to the people. Nature makes rainfall due to which people are able
to grow crops but due to heavy rainfall sometime flooding occurs many people
lose their life. So, living in the country is greatly affected by nature.
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