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Life, By Henry Van Dyke, [Mahni a zir duh tan a tangkai hle ang], Henry Van Dyke (1852 – 1933) was born in Pennsylvania, USA. A nature lover and avid, reader, he earned degrees from Princeton, then served as a Presbyterian minister for, more than 20 years. (He was considered one of the best preachers in New York City)., He eventually returned to Princeton, where he spent nearly 20 years as a professor of, English, with a bit of service as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in between. A writer whose talent extended to many different genres, Henry’s best-known, works are probably the lyrics of the hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” and the two, Christmas stories, “The Other Wise Man” and “The First Christmas Tree”., Henry Van Dyke is a visionary American author. His poem “Life” describes life taking on, life in its truest form, an adventure. This poem is beautiful and inspiring but also idealistic., One cannot help but be charmed by his childlike hope and absolute faith in the abilities, of a warm heart and an able mind., Life Key points, • Life is an experience., • To be lived with courage., • One should not worry about the uncertain future., • Happiness nourishes life with extra energy., • Imaginations to be fearless and pure., • New friendships, new adventures, new explorations to enrich us., • To always hope for a joyous future with determination and faith., Life Summary, In this poem, life is described not as an entity, but as an experience. One should live with, courage and dedication. Life should be lived without hurry and with a clear sense of, purpose that drives the mind and soul. The poet encourages us to let go of all that has, been lost in the past as well as the uncertainty the future holds. He tells us to embrace, the present with the happiness which nourishes the young and the old. Happiness gives, us. nourishment on this journey with a smile on our face., Whatever situation life throws at us, it is the journey that should be joyous, for it teaches, us to grow and live. Our imagination should have the innocence and fearlessness of, childhood. We should seek out new friendships, new adventures and new experiences, which enrich us. He encourages us to have faith and determination in our hearts, as we, take on this beautiful journey. We should have eternal hope that our story ends joyfully., , Life Explanation of Poetic Lines, , Hgs9eng
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Line No. 1 – 2, Let me but live my life from year to year,, With forward face and unreluctant soul;, Explanation:, The poet is giving advice to the readers from his own personal experiences. The poet, wants to live his life happily as it comes with forward momentum and optimism. He, wants to live his life every year with a happy heart., Line No. 3 – 4, Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;, Not mourning for the things that disappear, Explanation:, The poet does not like to hurry in any matters or situations. He doesn’t want to turn, away from his aims. What he wanted to achieve, he will do it with confidence and hope., He does not like to feel sad and keep on worrying about the things that have passed, away., Line No. 5 – 6, In the dim past, nor holding back in, fear From what the future veils;, Explanation:, He doesn’t want to think about his dull past and hold back in fear about the uncertainty, of his future. He wanted to look forward with a happy and cheerful mind. He doesn’t, want to worry too much about his future., Line No. 6 – 8, but with a whole., And happy heart, that pays its toll, To Youth and Age, and travels on with, cheer., Explanation:, He thinks that he should live life to the fullest by retaining the child-like innocence and, pleasures of life. He likes to travel his journey of life cheerfully., Line No. 9 -10, So let the way wind up the hill or down,, O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:, Explanation:, Though his way goes up in the path of a mountain or down the valley, he would enjoy, his journey. No matter whatever happens if his path is difficult or easy, he will make it a, joyful journey., Line No. 11 – 12, Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,, New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,, Explanation:, , Hgs9eng
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He is searching to find what he was searching for when he was a boy – his new, adventures, his hopes, his new friendship and his new experiences which enrich him., Line No. 13 – 14, My heart will keep the courage of the quest,, And hope the road’s last turn will be the best., Explanation:, Life is described not as an entity but as an experience. One should live with courage,, dedication and a clear sense of purpose that drives the mind and soul. The poet, encourages us to have faith and determination in our hearts, as we take on this, beautiful journey., Life Glossary, crown (n) – a prize or position offered for being the best, dim – dark, goal – aim, mourning (v) – feeling or expressing great sadness, quest (n) – a long search for something that is difficult to find, seeking – hunting, sought – desired, toll – payment, unreluctant (adj.) – willing to do something (This form is generally not used but the poet, has coined it for emphasis), veils (v) – to hide or cover something so that you cannot see it clearly or understand it, wind – curve, A. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions that follows., Life Poem by Henry Van Dyke Line by Line Explanation Question, Note a ziaha thiam tur, 1., , Let me but live my life from year to year,, With forward face and unreluctant soul;, (a) Whom does the word ‘me’ refer to?, (b) What kind of life does the poet want to lead?, Answer:, (a) ‘Me’ refers to the poet, Henry Van Dyke., (b) The poet wants to live a joyous life with plenty of positivity towards the, future., , 2., , Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;, Not mourning for the things that disappear, (a) Why do you think the poet is not in a hurry?, , Hgs9eng
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(b), , What should one not mourn for?, , Answer:, (a) The poet wants to move towards his goal without hurrying or turning away, from it., (b) One must not mourn for the things lost in the past., Life Poem Figure of Speech by Henry Van Dyke, 3., , In the dim past, nor holding back in fear, From what the future veils; but with a whole, And happy heart, that pays its toll, To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer., (a) What does the poet mean by the phrase ‘in the dim past’?, (b) Is the poet afraid of future?, (c) How can one travel on with cheer?, Answer:, (a) ‘In the dim past’ means the sad days of the past., (b) No, the poet is not afraid of future., (c) One can travel on with cheer by retaining the pleasures of childhood., , 4., , So let the way wind up the hill or down,, O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:, Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,, New friendship, high adventure, and a crown, (a) How is the way of life?, (b) How should be the journey of life?, (c) What did the poet seek as a boy?, Answer:, (a) The way of life could go up the hill or down, rough or smooth., (b) The journey of life must be joyful., (c) The poet seeks new friends and high adventure., , 5., , In the dim past, nor holding back in fear, From what the future veils; but with a whole, And happy heart, that pays its toll, To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer., (a) Identify the rhyming words of the given lines., Answer:, fear – cheer; whole – toll., , 6., , With forward face and unreluctant soul;, Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;, (a) What literary device is used here?, (b) Pick out the alliterated words in these lines., , Hgs9eng
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7., , Answer:, (a) Couplet is used in this poem. A couplet is two lines of verse that are joined by, a rhyme., (b) The alliterated words: Forward – face; (1st line), Not-nor; (2nd line), “So let the way wind up the hill or down”, (a) What is the figure of speech used here?, Answer:, Personification. The way is personified as a human. It takes us up the hill or, down., , 8., , “My heart will keep the courage of the quest,, And hope the road’s last turn will be the best”., (a) What is the literary device used here?, Answer:, Couplet is the literary device used here., , 9., , What are the main concepts and ideas in the poem ‘Life’?, Answer:, The poet wants to live his life looking ahead, willing to do something. He neither, wants to hurry nor move away from his goal. He does not want to mourn the, things he has lost, not hold back for fear of the future. He instead prefers to live, his life with a whole and happy heart which cheerfully travels from youth to old, age. Therefore, it does not matter to him whether the path goes up or down the, hill, rough or smooth, the journey will be joyful. He will continue to seek what he, wanted as a boy – new friendship, (vii) high adventure and a crown (prize). His, heart will remain courageous and pursue his desires. He hopes that every turn in, his life’s journey will be the best., , Hgs9eng
