1.1. Song
Of the Open Road
Ice-breakers
·
Choose the mode of travel that
you would like the most for a journey. Give reasons for your preference.
a)
Airways – reasons –
1)
It is an adventurous
journey.
2)
It gives the experience of
flying.
3)
It is a very high class journey
experience.
4)
It saves time.
b)
Waterways – Reasons
1)
It is an adventurous
journey.
2)
It gives the glimpse of
sea animals.
3)
It also saves time &
distance.
c)
Railways – Reasons –
1)
It gives the glimpse of
nature’s variety.
2)
It gives the different
journey experience.
3)
It is inexpensive.
d)
Roadways – Reasons –
1)
It is connected to every
part.
2)
It is inexpensive.
3)
It is easy to get mode of
travels
·
Discuss with your partner, the
preparations you would like to make for the journey chosen.
a)
Book the accommodation and
other transport facilities.
b)
Get the information about
that place.
c)
Pack the essential things
like clothes, medicines etc.
d)
Get your all essential
documents with yourself like id-proof, cards etc.
·
Discuss the ways in which you
would overcome the problems/ hindrances/ difficulties you face during your
journey.
a)
Face problems with
confidence.
b)
Don’t be anxious,
fearsome.
c)
Keep proper discipline.
d)
Try to contact with friend
and relatives.
e)
Try to speak with people
& get the proper direction of your way.
·
During every journey we have
to observe certain rules. Discuss your idea of the journey without any
restrictions. You can begin like this-
a)
I would go alone or with
my friends.
b)
I will follow the
discipline in new place.
c)
I will enjoy the beauty of
nature without any risk.
d)
I will not be arrogant
with people.
BRAINSTORMING
ACTIVITIES.
A1)
i)
Pick out the lines showing
that the pot is prepared to enjoy every moments of his journey.
Ans. – a) a foot and light - hearted I take to the open
road,
Healthy, free, the world before me.
b) Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I
myself am good-fortune.
c) Strong & content I travel the open
road.
ii)
By ‘old delicious burdens’ the
poet means –
Ans. –
Sweet memories of the past.
iii) The poet is a person who is free from all inhibitions. Discuss how
the concept of ‘freedom’ is expressed in the poem.
Ans. – The theme of the poem is freedom and the joy attached to it. The poet is relaxed and stress free. The poet is happy and never thinks about the problems and difficulties in his journey. He is light hearted. He is a satisfied person. He is on the journey on open road means he is on the journey on open road where all are equal. He has a freedom to choose his own path.
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’.
|
Activities the poet will practice |
Activities he will not practice |
|
Walking along the road though
he does not where it reaches. |
Complaining about the
discomforts during the journey. |
|
Carrying the fond
memories of the good people. |
Postponing the journey. |
|
Reflecting and
developing his own ‘self’. |
Praying for good
fortune. |
|
|
Creating contacts with
famous and influential people. |
|
|
Striving to achieve high
and bright success. |
ii)
Write down the traits the poet
exhibit through following lines. One is done for you.
a)
Henceforth, I ask for no
good fortune- I myself am good fortune : Self-confidence.
b)
Henceforth, I whimper no
more, postpone no more, need nothing – Contented, satisfy & carefree.
c)
I do not want the
constellations any nearer – independence, Self awareness & Freedom.
d)
I swear it is impossible
for me to get rid of them – Practical & Responsible.
e) I am filled with them – I will fill them in return - Grateful & calmness.
iii) “Healthy, free, the world before me”.
Express your views regarding the above line.
Ans. – The poet started journey on the open road. He
talks about himself that he is healthy and
free. Also the world before him is healthy and there is healthy nature.
He is healthy to travel everywhere. There are no restrictions. The whole world
is open before him. He can choose where he wants to go.
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,
querulous.
b) For himself – light
hearted, healthy, free, strong, content.
c) For the road – open,
brown, long.
Figures of Speech –
1)
‘Henceforth I ask ………… good-fortune’
-
Inversion – The word order
is changed to creat the poetic effect.
-
Repetition – The word
‘good-fortune’ is repeated.
2)
‘Henceforth I whimper………need nothing’
-
Repetition – the words ‘no more’ are repeated.
3)
‘Song of the open road’
-
Metaphor – here open road is called as road of the
life.
4)
‘Strong & content I travel the open road’
-
Inversion – word order is changed to create poetic
effect.
5)
‘I carry my old delicious burdens’
-
Metaphor – here delicious burdens means memories of
the past.
6)
‘I carry them ………..where I go’
-
Repetition – the words ‘carry them’ are repeated.
7)
‘A foot and light hearted I take to the open road’
-
Inversion – the word order is changed to create the
poetic effect.
8)
‘I filled with them, and I will fill them in return’
-
Repetition – the word ‘them’ is repeated.
9)
‘The long brown path…………. I choose’
-
Alliteration – the words starting with the sound ‘l’
is repeated.
10) ‘Done with ……….criticism’
-
Tautology – the words of same meaning ‘querulous and
criticism’ are used in the line.
-
Climax – the words ‘complaints, libraries, querulous
criticism’ are used in ascending order.
11) ‘Song of the open road’ –
-
Personification – here non living object ‘road’ is
shown as singing.
Appreciation of
the poem
a)
About the poem and title –
The title –
The
title of the poem is appropriate. The title ‘Song of the Open Road’ is
significant. Here the word ‘song’ is used for specific purpose that the poet is
going to travel without any tension. The word ‘open road’ is also significant.
It shows that the road is open to each and every person if he is poor or rich.
The road shows mobility here.
About the poem-
This
poem is very beautiful poem. There is a beautiful blend of self awareness, free
will and tenderness of heart. It gives us poet’s realization that along the journey
of life one will face a test of wisdom which is not tested in any school or
university. Here the poet argues against staying in one place for too long.
b)
The theme –
Freedom, joy of free life and optimism are
the major themes. The poet tries to tell us to live a free life without any
type of tensions and enjoy each and every moment of life. Although life is not free from problems and troubles,
he encourges every one to live their dreams.
c)
Poetic style – The poem is
written in the form of free verse. There are no rhyming words & rhyme
scheme.
d)
The language –
the language of the poem is very simple, easy to
understand & effective.
e)
Poetic devices –
There are various poetic devices used. The figures
of specch Alliteration, paradox, repetition, tautology, metaphor, climax etc.
are used in the poem.
f)
Special features
– the first stanza is of three lines. The second
& third stanza is of four lines. In the last stanza the poet uses
parentheses to separate himself from worldly needs.
g)
Message/ Values/ Morals in the poem- This poem teaches us
happiness and optimism. It also teaches us about freedom of life. We have to
live life with enjoyment without taking burden of tensions.
h)
Your opinion - This poem is a
very beautiful poem. It gives happiness and enjoyment and creates positive
attitude towrds our life.
