TO THE FOOT FROM
ITS CHILD
Comprehension I
1) What would the foot like to be?
Ans: The foot would like to be an apple or a butterfly.
2) ‘The child’s foot is not yet aware it’s a
foot’ (line 1 of the poem) conveys
a) the immense possibilities of life b) the unrestricted nature of a child’s
imagination c) the child’s ignorance of harsh
realities.
Ans: b) the unrestricted nature of a child’s imagination and c) the child’s ignorance of harsh realities.
3) What does time teach the child?
Ans: Time teaches the foot that it cannot fly and also cannot be a fruit
on the branch of a tree.
4)
The line ‘stones and bits of glass, streets, ladders and the paths in the rough
earth’ a) indicates hardships one has to face in life. b) provides a mere description of a road. c) suggests the
good and bad experiences of growing up.
Ans:a) indicates hardships one has to face in life.
5) Why does the child’s foot feel defeated?
Ans: The child’s foot has to live like a prisoner, condemned to live in
a shoe, and it can never be free to escape from the difficulties of life. So,
the child’s foot feels defeated.
6) Mention the words that convey the real
experiences of the foot.
Ans: The words earth’ convey the real experiences of the child’s foot
are stones and bits of glass, streets, ladders, and the paths in the rough.
7) Identify the lines in the poem that
suggest the transformation of the foot.
Ans: Lines 17 – 28 suggest the transformation of the foot. “These soft
nails of quartz ……… ……… a coarsening hard to accept.”
8) “….. condemned to live in a shoe” suggests
that the foot is
a) a prisoner b) a criminal c)
forced to give up its dreams
Ans: a) a criminal and c) forced
to give up its dreams.
9) What does the line ‘until the whole man
chooses to stop’ mean?
Ans: The line, ‘until the whole man chooses to stop’ means until the
person dies.
10) What does the foot do throughout life?
Ans: Throughout its life, the foot keeps walking without respite. It
walks through fields, mines, markets, and ministries until death.
11) What does the phrase ‘condemned to live
in a shoe’ mean?
Ans: The phrase ‘condemned to live in a shoe’ means it has to live like
other human beings, in human society.
12) Where did the foot descend after it
ceased to be?
Ans: The foot descends underground after it ceased to be.
13) What did the foot find when it descended
underground?
Ans: When the foot descended underground,
it found everything dark there.
14) What form do the detailed toes of a child
take on as they grow?
Ans: The pitied toes of a child grow bunched and out of trim, take on
the form of eyeless reptiles with triangular heads, like worms.
15) Where is the child’s foot condemned to live?
Ans: The child’s foot is condemned to live in a shoe.
16) What teaches the foot that it cannot fly?
Ans: As the child’s foot grows in time and starts walking on stones and
bits of glass, streets, ladders, etc., it learns that it cannot fly.
17) Where did the foot descend?
Ans: The foot descended
underground after its death.
18) What does the foot not realize at the end
of the poem?
Ans: The foot does not realize that it is dead and has ceased to be a
foot at the end of the poem.
19) What, according to the speaker, is the
child’s foot not yet aware in ‘To the Foot from its Child’?
Ans: In ‘To the Foot from its Child’, the child’s foot is not yet aware
that it is a foot.
20) What is out of touch with its fellow in
the poem, ‘To the Foot from its Child’?
Ans: In the poem, ‘To the Foot from its Child’, the child’s foot is out
of touch with its fellow.
21) Who feels out life like a blind man in
the poem, ‘To the Foot from its Child’?
Ans: The child’s foot having been imprisoned in a shoe feels out life
like a blind man.
22) How long does the foot walk, in ‘To the
Foot from its Child’?
Ans: In ‘To the Foot from its Child’, the foot walks until the whole man
chooses to stop and descends underground.
23) In ‘To the Foot from its Child’, the foot
scarcely takes time to bare itself in
a) rest or peace b) love or sleep c) death
or dream.
Ans: b) love or sleep.
24) In ‘To the Foot from its Child’, when
descending underground, the foot finds everything a) dark b) rough c) coarse
Ans: a) dark.
TO THE FOOT FROM ITS CHILD
PABLO NERUDA
KEY POINTS:
Metaphors
1. The child's foot wanting to be a butterfly or an apple – This metaphor
captures the innocent wishes of the foot (or child) to experience freedom,
lightness, and endless possibilities.
2. Stones, bits of glass, streets, and ladders teaching the foot – Here,
physical objects symbolize life's challenges, teaching the foot (child) about
its limitations.
3. The foot as a prisoner condemned to live in a shoe – The shoe represents
the constraints of adult life, trapping the playful foot (child) and limiting
its freedom.
4. Tiny petaled toes transforming into eyeless reptiles with triangular
heads – This metaphor describes the delicate toes changing into something hard
and deformed, symbolizing the loss of innocence and the changes that come with
experience.
5. Callused foot covered with faint volcanoes of death – The calluses are
likened to volcanoes, representing wear, decay, and the burdens that life
brings.
6. Blind thing walking without respite – The foot is described as blind,
trudging through life without awareness or rest, symbolizing the relentless
passage of time.
7. Burying the foot underground so it could fly or become an apple – Even
in death, the foot wonders if it will be freed (like flying) or transformed
into something new (like an apple).
Imagery
1. Butterfly or an apple – These images evoke feelings of lightness and
growth, representing the child’s early dreams and aspirations.
2. Stones, bits of glass, streets, ladders, and rough earth – These images
depict a harsh, unyielding world that the foot must navigate, symbolizing
life’s challenges.
3. Living in a shoe – The image of the foot trapped in a shoe suggests a
dark, confined space, representing the limitations of adulthood.
4. Darkness – The recurring image of darkness symbolizes ignorance,
restriction, and a lack of freedom.
5. Hard as horn – The nails of the foot becoming hard like horn illustrate
the physical and emotional toughening that accompanies aging.
6. Eyeless reptiles with triangular heads – This striking image compares
toes to reptiles, emphasizing distortion and the loss of beauty over time.
7. Volcanoes of death – The callused foot resembling volcanoes conveys an
image of roughness and decay, highlighting the toll that life takes on the
body.
8. Walking through fields, mines, markets, and ministries – This series of
images represents different life paths, from nature to work, commerce, and
governance.
9. Foot descending underground – The final image of the foot going into
darkness reflects death and the return to the earth.
Answer the following questions in two or three
sentences each. 2 Marks
1. What does the child's foot want to be at first?
Ans: The child's foot wants to be a butterfly or an apple. This symbolizes
its longing for freedom and a light, carefree existence.
2. Why does the child's foot learn that it cannot fly or be a fruit?
Ans: The foot learns it cannot fly or be a fruit because it encounters
obstacles like stones, streets, and rough paths. These challenges teach it
about its limitations in life.
3. What happens to the child's foot as it grows older?
Ans: As the foot grows older, it becomes hard and callused, losing its
softness. This change symbolizes the hardships and difficulties that life
brings.
4. Why is the foot compared to a prisoner?
Ans: The foot is compared to a prisoner because it is confined within a
shoe. This metaphor illustrates how people become restricted by their
responsibilities and life’s demands.
5. What does the poet mean by the foot being "blind"?
Ans: The foot being "blind" means it moves through life
without understanding its ultimate destination or purpose. This symbolizes the
uncertainties and unpredictability of life.
6. What does the child's foot desire to become?
Ans: The child's foot desires to become a butterfly or an apple,
reflecting its wish for freedom and growth.
7. What challenges does the foot face as it grows?
Ans: The foot faces challenges such as stones, streets, and rough paths.
These obstacles teach it valuable lessons about the difficulties of life.
8. How does the foot change as it gets older?
Ans: As the foot gets older, it becomes hard and callused, losing its
initial softness. This transformation symbolizes the toll that life takes over
time.
9. Why is the foot described as being in a "shoe"?
Ans: The foot is described as being in a shoe to illustrate how it
becomes confined and limited by life's struggles and responsibilities.
10. Where does the foot go when it finally stops walking?
Ans: When the foot finally stops walking, it descends underground. This
symbolizes death and the conclusion of life’s journey.
11. What lesson can we learn from the foot's journey through life?
Ans: We learn that life is filled with challenges, but
we must keep moving forward, even when faced with difficulties.
12. How does the poem show the change from childhood to adulthood?
Ans: The poem illustrates this change by showing how the soft, delicate
child’s foot evolves into a hard, callused one over time, symbolizing the
impact of life’s struggles.
13. Why is it important for the foot to "stand on its own"?
Ans: It is important because standing on its own represents independence
and the strength to face life’s challenges without relying on others.
14. How does the poet use the image of the foot to reflect human
experiences?
Ans: The poet uses the foot as a metaphor to represent
how people encounter obstacles, grow through hardships, and ultimately accept
the realities of life.
15. What does the foot being "blind" teach us about facing the
future?
Ans: It teaches us that we may not always know what lies ahead, but we
should continue moving forward with hope and determination.
Answer the following questions in about 60 words each.
3 Marks
1. Why does the child's foot desire to be a butterfly or an apple in the
poem?
Ans: The child's foot desires to be a butterfly or an apple to symbolize
freedom, lightness, and the limitless possibilities of childhood. The butterfly
represents the ability to fly and explore, while the apple signifies growth and
beauty. These aspirations reflect the child's innocent hopes and dreams before
encountering the harsh realities of life and its limitations.
2. How does the poet describe the process of the foot's transformation from
childhood to adulthood?
Ans: The poet describes the foot's transformation by portraying its
initial softness and delicacy, much like petals. Over time, the foot hardens
and becomes callused due to challenges like rough paths, stones, and glass.
This change symbolizes how life's hardships shape individuals as they grow
older, losing their innocence and softness in the process.
3. What does the poet mean when he says the foot is a "prisoner
condemned to live in a shoe"?
Ans: When the poet calls the foot a "prisoner condemned to live in
a shoe," he highlights how the foot becomes confined by life’s
restrictions as it grows older. The shoe represents societal limitations,
responsibilities, and the physical toll of life. The foot, once full of dreams,
is now trapped, illustrating how people often face constraints that limit their
aspirations.
4. Why does the poet describe the foot as "blind," and what does
this suggest about the way people live?
Ans: The poet describes the foot as "blind"
to indicate that it moves through life without understanding its direction or
ultimate purpose. This symbolizes the uncertainties people encounter in their
lives, suggesting that many navigate their paths without fully knowing what
lies ahead. It reflects a common human experience of moving forward despite
uncertainties and challenges.
5. Why does the foot stop dreaming of becoming a butterfly or an apple?
Ans: The foot stops dreaming of becoming a butterfly or an apple because
it confronts harsh realities, such as stones and rough paths. These challenges
teach the foot about its limitations, leading to a loss of childhood dreams.
The experiences symbolize how life's difficulties often force individuals to
let go of their innocent aspirations and accept reality.
6. How does the foot change physically as it grows older?
Ans: As the foot ages, it physically transforms by becoming hard and
callused, losing its initial softness. The once delicate toes turn rough and
tough, symbolizing the wear and tear that life inflicts. This change
illustrates how individuals adapt and harden over time due to the challenges
they face throughout their lives.
7. What does the poet mean by the foot walking "without respite"?
Ans: The phrase "walking without respite" means that the foot
continues to move without stopping. This symbolizes the constant activity of
life, where people work and live without taking breaks. It suggests that
despite life's burdens and challenges, individuals often keep pushing forward
without pausing for rest or reflection.
8. What is the significance of the foot descending "underground"
at the end of the poem?
Ans: The foot descending "underground"
signifies death, marking the end of life’s journey. After facing numerous
challenges, the foot ultimately stops and returns to the earth. This imagery
suggests that death is a natural conclusion for all living beings, emphasizing
that the struggles of life come to an end.
9. How does the poet use the foot to represent life’s journey?
Ans: The poet symbolizes life’s journey through the
foot by illustrating its evolution from softness and dreams to hardness and
resilience. The foot encounters various challenges, such as stones and rough
paths, representing the obstacles people face. Over time, these experiences
shape the foot, mirroring how life’s difficulties mold individuals as they
grow.
10. What does the poem teach us about facing challenges in life?
Ans: The poem teaches that challenges, represented by the foot facing
stones and rough paths, are inevitable parts of life. It conveys that although
life can be confining, like the foot in a shoe, individuals must continue to
move forward. Adapting to hardships and persevering through difficulties is
crucial for personal growth.
11. Why is the foot described as “blind” in the poem, and what does it mean
for people?
Ans: The foot is described as "blind" to illustrate its
movement without seeing the path ahead, similar to how people navigate life
without knowing their future. This metaphor means that despite uncertainties
and challenges, individuals should keep moving forward and trust the process,
even when the outcome is unclear.
12. What lesson can we learn from the foot’s transformation from soft to
hard?
Ans: The foot’s transformation from soft to hard teaches that life’s
challenges make us stronger. Just as the foot becomes callused and tough over
time, people grow more resilient as they face difficulties. This process shows
that while life can be hard, these experiences ultimately shape and prepare us
for the future.
Answer the following questions in about 100 words. 4 Marks
1. How does the poem ‘To the Foot From its Child’ bring out the contrast
between illusion and reality?
Ans: The poem contrasts illusion and reality by depicting the child's
foot's initial dreams of being a butterfly or an apple. These dreams symbolize
freedom and the limitless potential of childhood. However, as the foot grows
and encounters life's challenges—like walking on rough paths and stones—it
faces the harsh realities of physical confinement and the hard work that adult
life demands. This journey from innocent desires to the tough truths of growing
up highlights the stark difference between youthful fantasies and the often
difficult realities that accompany adulthood. The transition represents how
dreams can be crushed by the inevitable challenges and limitations that life
presents, emphasizing the loss of innocence that often comes with growing older.
2. What happens to the foot when it is condemned to live in a shoe as presented
in ‘To the Foot From its Child’?
Ans: When the foot is condemned to live in a shoe, it becomes confined
and restricted, representing the limitations imposed by adult life. The shoe
serves as a metaphor for the burdens and expectations that come with growing
up, trapping the foot and preventing it from achieving its early dreams of
flying or being a fruit. This confinement symbolizes how responsibilities and
societal norms limit personal freedom, forcing individuals to abandon their
aspirations. As the foot adjusts to its surroundings, it loses the initial
flexibility and freedom it once had. This transformation illustrates the
painful reality of adult life, where dreams are often stifled by
practicalities, leading to a loss of the innocence and joy associated with
childhood.
3. Trace the stages of the foot’s transformation as portrayed in ‘To the
Foot From its Child’.
Ans: The foot's transformation in the poem begins with its initial state
of softness and innocence, where it dreams of being a butterfly or an apple.
This symbolizes the carefree nature of childhood. However, as the foot
encounters life's harsh realities—like stones and rough paths—it begins to
harden and develop calluses. The once-soft skin becomes tough and opaque over
time, reflecting the physical and emotional toll of life's challenges.
Eventually, the foot becomes deformed, indicating the cumulative impact of
these hardships. In its final stage, the foot continues to walk tirelessly
until it descends underground, symbolizing death and the conclusion of its
journey. This progression illustrates how life experiences shape and transform
individuals, moving from innocence to resilience as they confront the
challenges of existence.
4. Explain the similarity between the foot’s early life and its end as
depicted in ‘To the Foot From its Child’.
Ans: The similarity between the foot's early life and
its end lies in the themes of limitation and confinement. In its early stages,
the foot dreams of boundless possibilities, like being a butterfly or an apple,
yet it remains confined by its innocence and unfulfilled aspirations. At the
end of its journey, the foot is again confined, this time by death as it is
buried underground. Both stages reflect a state of restriction: the early
confinement represents dreams that cannot be realized, while the final confinement
symbolizes the ultimate end of life. This parallel emphasizes how both youth
and old age come with their own limitations and inevitable constraints,
suggesting that regardless of life's stages, individuals often find themselves
trapped by circumstances, whether in terms of dreams or the reality of
mortality.
5. How does the poem ‘To the Foot From its Child’ bring out the plight of a
person dictated by society?
Ans: The poem illustrates the plight of individuals dictated by society through
the foot’s journey from freedom to confinement. Initially, the foot is full of
dreams and potential, symbolizing the possibilities of youth. However, as it
grows older, it becomes restricted by the physical limitations of living in a
shoe, which represents societal expectations and responsibilities. This
confinement signifies how societal norms and roles can constrain personal
freedom and ambitions, forcing individuals to sacrifice their dreams. The poem
reflects the idea that as people conform to societal demands, they often lose
their initial aspirations and the joy of exploration. This journey of the foot
serves as a metaphor for the way society can dictate individual lives, leading
to a loss of identity and freedom in the face of external pressures.
6. Explain the instances that make the child’s foot aware of the obstacles
and hardships in ‘To the Foot From its Child’.
Ans: The child's foot becomes aware of obstacles and hardships through
direct encounters with painful conditions. Initially innocent, the foot faces
rough and painful experiences, such as walking on stones, bits of glass, and
uneven paths. These harsh realities challenge its earlier, softer state and
teach the foot about its limitations in life. The once-bright dreams of
becoming a butterfly or an apple fade as the foot learns to navigate the
painful experiences of adulthood. Each encounter with discomfort and
restriction serves as a lesson about the difficulties of life, showing that
innocence is replaced by an understanding of the world's harshness. The
transformation from a carefree state to one marked by awareness of life's
challenges illustrates the inevitable loss of childhood innocence as one
confronts the realities of growing up.
7. ‘To the Foot From its Child’ is a comment on the journey of life.
Discuss.
Ans: “To the Foot From its Child” offers insightful commentary on the
journey of life, illustrating the transformation from childhood innocence to
the harsh realities of adulthood. Initially, the foot is soft and full of
dreams, aspiring to be a butterfly or an apple, symbols of freedom and
potential. However, as the foot faces various life challenges—like walking on
rough paths and stones—it hardens and becomes calloused. This transformation
reflects how life’s trials shape and confine individuals, marking the
transition from carefree youth to the burdens of adult responsibilities. The
poem captures the essence of growing up, showing that as individuals navigate
life, they must confront obstacles that change them physically and emotionally.
This journey underscores the inevitable process of maturation, where dreams are
often overshadowed by the challenges of reality, highlighting the bittersweet
nature of life.
8. Society crushes dreams of individuals and condemns them to live in
captivity. Explain with reference to ‘To the Foot From its Child’.
Ans: In “To the Foot From its Child,” society is depicted as a force
that crushes dreams and confines individuals through the metaphor of the foot
living in a shoe. The foot begins with dreams of being a butterfly or an apple,
symbolizing freedom and limitless potential. However, as it grows older,
societal expectations and responsibilities, represented by the shoe, restrict
its movement and aspirations. This confinement reflects how societal norms can
limit personal freedom and creativity, forcing individuals to adapt to roles
and conditions dictated by the outside world. As the foot adjusts to its
reality, it loses its initial dreams, highlighting how societal pressures can
lead to a sense of captivity. The poem poignantly illustrates the struggle of
individuals who, while striving for their dreams, often find themselves
constrained by the very society they live in, leading to a loss of identity and
fulfillment.
9. The poem ‘To the Foot From its Child’ represents the conflict between
illusion and reality. Elaborate.
Ans: The poem “To the Foot From its Child” vividly illustrates the
conflict between illusion and reality through the foot's journey. Initially,
the foot holds illusions of becoming a butterfly or an apple, representing
unbounded dreams and the innocent hopes of childhood. These aspirations embody
freedom and limitless possibilities. However, as the foot encounters the harsh
realities of life—symbolized by rough paths and stones—it is forced to confront
its physical limitations and the societal constraints that come with adulthood.
This shift from idealistic dreams to the sobering truth of confinement and hard
work highlights the stark contrast between youthful fantasies and the often
unyielding truths of life. The poem captures this tension, revealing how the illusions
of childhood are gradually replaced by the responsibilities and realities that
define adult existence, ultimately demonstrating the universal struggle between
dreams and the practicalities of life.
10. The norms of society control a man just as the foot is enclosed in a
shoe. How is this depicted in ‘To the Foot From its Child’?
Ans: In “To the Foot From its Child,” the norms of society controlling a
man are illustrated through the metaphor of the foot being enclosed in a shoe.
Initially, the foot experiences freedom and dreams of endless possibilities.
However, as it matures, it becomes trapped within the confines of the shoe,
symbolizing how societal norms and expectations restrict individual freedom and
potential. The shoe represents the limitations and roles imposed by society,
which often dictate how one must behave and what one must achieve. This imagery
underscores how the aspirations of the foot are suppressed as it faces the
physical and metaphorical constraints of life. Through this metaphor, the poem
conveys the message that just as the foot is confined within the shoe,
individuals are often constrained by societal expectations, leading to a loss
of dreams and identity as they conform to external pressures.
11. The foot is forced to play various roles and shoulder many
responsibilities. Explain with reference to ‘To the Foot From its Child’.
Ans: In “To the Foot From its Child,” the foot is compelled to take on
various roles and bear numerous responsibilities, mirroring the demands of
adult life. Initially, the foot is soft, carefree, and full of dreams. However,
as it encounters life’s challenges—such as rough paths and obstacles—it
transforms, becoming hard and calloused. This change signifies the burdens that
life imposes, as the foot must endure constant movement and labor, symbolizing
the many roles individuals must assume as they grow older. The poem reflects
how life's responsibilities, whether in terms of work, family, or societal
roles, can weigh heavily on individuals, leading to a loss of the carefree
spirit of childhood. By illustrating the foot's transition from innocence to
the burdens of maturity, the poem captures the universal experience of taking
on responsibilities and adapting to the challenges of life.
Comprehension II
* Explain how the foot toils in its shoe until the whole man chooses to stop in 'To the Foot from its child'.
OR
* Bring out the changes that the foot undergoes after being condemned to life in a shoe in 'To the Foot from its Child'.
OR
* Explain the various stages of hardships faced by the foot after being confined in a shoe.
OR
* Write a short note on the stages of hardships faced by the foot after being confined in a shoe with reference to the poem "To the Foot From its Child".
OR
* Describe the different stages of transformation of the foot after it is condemned to live in a shoe?
OR
* Trace, the stages of the foot's transformation as portrayed in 'To the Foot from its Child'.
OR
* What does the poem, 'To the Foot from its Child' convey about life?
OR
* Describe the plight of the foot as presented in the poem 'To The Foot From Its Child'.
Ans: The food of the child is unaware of the fact that it cannot become a butterfly or an apple. It desires and dreams of the great possibilities in life. As the child grows, the stones, bits of glass, streets, ladders and the paths on the rough earth teach the child grow with the harsh realities of life. As time passes, the realities of life. As time passes, the realities of life teach the foot that it can never become a butterfly or an apple. The foot accepts its defeat and begins to live according to the demands of the society. When the child knows that it cannot go against the society, it realizes that one has to surrender to the constraints imposed on an individual by the society. The child's foot accepts its limitations and becomes a prisoner condemned to live in a shoe. In the dark confines of a shoe, it feels like a lonely blind man enclosed in a cell. Its once soft nails have grown hard and its tiny toes have taken the form of eyeless reptiles. They have become calloused. It keeps walking without respite, hour after hour, day after day, through fields, mines and everywhere. It continues to toil within the shoe without a break to love or sleep. The journey ends only when the whole man has to stop permanently at his death.
www.educsector.com
1) We think of a foot as a part of the human
body, but Neruda says ‘To the Foot From its Child’. Why?
Ans: We think about a foot actually as having a place with an individual
yet Neruda finds in a philosophical manner and says "To The Foot From Its
Child". In spite of the fact that it has a place with an individual truly,
thoughtfully like the youngster who is the image of honesty, the foot
additionally thinks about its future. In any case, in adulthood, it faces
numerous difficulties of life and gets a general encounter and has a
significant existence until the end. At last, it is assaulted by diseases and
gave up to death.
2) Pick out the expressions that suggest the
child’s imagination is fertile.
Ans: The
expressions, ‘to be a butterfly’, or ‘an apple’, ‘cannot fly’, ‘cannot be a
fruit bulging on the branch’ suggest that the child’s imagination
3) What contrasting descriptions of the foot
does the poem offer? Why?
Ans: The artist Pablo Neruda presents a
differentiating depiction of a kid's foot and a grown-up's foot in order to
outline the progressions that are found in an individual's life as the person
changes from a baby into a grown-up, until his demise. At first, the kid or the
baby's foot has delicate nails of quartz and its toes are small, delicate, and
adjusted at the tips like the petals of certain blossoms. As the youngster
figures out how to walk and starts strolling on stones, pieces of glass, roads,
ladders and the harsh surface of the earth, the kid's foot gets mindful of its
job. It discovers that it is a foot and can't turn into a butterfly or a
swelling natural product on a tree. When it understands that it is a foot, it
is crushed in understanding its goals and gets detained in a shoe. Inside the
shoe, it attempts to comprehend the world in its own particular manner, alone,
similar to a visually impaired man grabbing in obscurity. During this period
its delicate nails of quartz become obscure, are grouped together, and seem as
though eyeless reptiles with three-sided heads, become callused, and are
covered with faint volcanoes of death. These progressions happen in light of
the fact that, when the kid's foot turns into a grown-up's foot, it strolls as
the foot of a man or lady and continues to stroll in the fields as a rancher,
or as a food merchant in the business sectors, or as a digger in the mines or
as a congregation serve or an administration specialist, until its demise.
Accordingly, the foot encounters the difficulties of life and loses its
'delicate' and extravagant petal-like structure.
4) The poem begins with the idea that a
child’s foot is not yet aware that it is afoot; at the end, the foot is unaware
that it had ceased to be afoot. What is the poet trying to convey through these
statements?
Ans: In this sonnet, 'foot' is metaphor for ‘life’.
The poet Neruda utilizing the foot as a similitude to investigate 'life'
through its different stages from outset through childhood till the very end.
At the point when the poem starts, the 'foot' is the baby's foot which
recommends man's 'adolescence'. The kid's foot doesn't realize that it is
hatching. This state alludes to the innocence of youth where 'Man' has numerous
fantasies and desires. The kid's desire to turn into a butterfly or an apple
represents man's yearnings and dreams. When the youngster's foot enters this
present reality, it kicks off strolling more than stones, pieces of glass,
roads, stepping stools, and the unpleasant surface of the earth. Consequently,
as the youngster develops throughout some stretch of time, the kid's foot understands
that it is just a 'foot' and can't become organic product or a butterfly. At
that point, since it needs to serve its part as in progress, it is detained in
a shoe. Inside the shoe, it attempts to comprehend the world alone, in
segregation. The kid's foot, as it develops old, fills in as the foot of a man
or a lady working in the fields, or market or mines or services and works hard
day and night until it passes on. At the point when it bites the dust, the foot
loses its human mindfulness and that is the reason when it is covered the foot
again gets its youngster like honesty. It again fantasies about turning into an
apple or a butterfly. It is this excursion from adolescence through adulthood
and the last demise that the sonnet centers around. Pablo Neruda is saying that
life and demise are essential for a constant cycle. Furthermore, the artist
wishes to say that the opportunity of adolescence is lost when an individual
turns into a grown-up and faces an existence of steady work and battle. Accordingly,
life removes individuals' nonconformists until they are liberated again by
death.
5) How does Neruda describe the busy life of
the individual as represented by the foot?
Ans: The 'foot' is utilized as a metaphor for life
and the foot alludes to the foot of a person. When the child develops into an
adult, the adult continues strolling without break either as a man or as a
lady. The individual consumes his time on earth working either as a farmer in a
field, or as a miner in mines, or as a sales rep on the lookout or as an
administration servant or as a church minister. This way the individual works
hard in the public eye until his demise.
6) What does the last stanza of the poem
mean? Can you think of parallels in nature?
Ans: In this poem,
'foot' is utilized as a metaphor for ‘life’. Life alludes to the existence of a
person as seen from his outset until his passing. Pablo Neruda gives his
perspective on 'life' and 'passing' in this sonnet. The sonnet doesn't start
with the start of life in the belly of its mom yet from the time after it has
taken birth on the earth. The sonnet covers the time of its earliest stages to
death and past. The 'foot' as depicted in the sonnet alludes to the youngster's
foot. Since a kid doesn't know about its restrictions and lives in a fantasy
universe of creative mind, the kid's foot wishes to fly like a butterfly or
become a bulging apple on the part of a tree. Over a period of time, it
understands that it is just a foot and its job is just to fill in as a foot.
The poet at that
point alludes to the 'adult food' after death or a person in the afterlife.
When an individual bites the dust, the person is regularly covered. It is this
entombment of the dead body of the person that is communicated in the line “it
descended underground unaware, for there, everything was dark”. When the 'foot'
or the individual dies, it loses its human mindfulness and returns to its
youngster like honesty. This is communicated in the sentence 'It never realized
it had stopped to be a foot'. That is the reason, similar to a kid's foot which
doesn't know that it is just a ‘foot’; it tries to turn into a butterfly and
fly or become an apple.
One can discover
several parallels in nature. All living creatures brought into the world on the
earth go through the pattern of birth and demise. A seed germinates to give a
seedling. The seedling develops into a grown-up plant, may turn into a tree or
a bush, and pass on. Its seeds rejuvenate a comparable plant once more.
Essentially, the eggs of creatures incubate and deliver their young ones which
develop, develop, lay eggs and later bite the dust. Their eggs rejuvenate back
comparative animals to life again.
1) Examine how Neruda’s poem works out the
contrast between colorful dreams and the humdrum reality of life.
Ans: The poem, 'To the Foot from its Child',
presents a difference between beautiful dreams and the uninteresting truth of
life. The writer passes on his perspective on life through his portrayal of a
foot. The foot is an allegory for communicating the squashing of a kid's soul
through the difficulties and limitations that life places upon him. One can
without a doubt gather that the sonnet is essentially an analysis of how
individuals power kids to fill in the public arena and fail to remember
everything they could ever want and minds.
With the end goal
of depicting the powers that catch the kid's opportunity and desires, the
artist starts the sonnet saying something straightforwardly that the kid's
foot, which doesn't know that it is a foot, might want to be a butterfly or an
apple. From this one can induce that man's soul fantasies about getting a
charge out of limitless opportunity in this world yet it comes to realize that
it can't appreciate limitless opportunity and needs to go through a few
hindrances before it develops into a grown-up. However, on schedule, stones and
pieces of glass, roads, stepping stools, and ways in the unpleasant earth continue
showing the foot that it can't fly. As the baby is developing and forming into
a develop grown-up, he is presented to the unforgiving real factors of life
which are allegorically communicated as stones, pieces of glass, stepping
stool, road, and so on These are the issues and hindrances an individual needs
to confront. Accordingly, when the youngster turns into a kid, a juvenile, and
a grown-up, the issues of life encourage the person that he is a 'mortal' and
his forces are restricted and can just serve the general public as a part like
other individuals. This sense is communicated in the line 'that it can't fly,
can't turn into a leafy foods crushed, falls in the fight, is a detainee
sentenced to live in a shoe'. Here, the 'shoe ‘can be interpreted as meaning
the human culture that manages his brain and exercises.
Wearing the shoe
alludes to the baby turning into a develop grown-up. Not long after entering
adulthood, the individual investigates 'life ‘within the shoe. He puts some
distance between the truths of the rest of the world however encounters the
world through the eyes of society. This again implies that a ton of limitations
are forced on the person. Since he is a grown-up he continues strolling without
rest through the fields, mines, markets, and services. The line 'this foot
works in its shoe, hardly setting aside effort to exposed itself in affection
or rest' communicates the way that once he understands that he is a man bound
to live in a general public, he figures out how to confront the unexceptional
real factors of life. He has no an ideal opportunity to allow his human soul to
enjoy 'love' and 'rest'. He is a prisoner and keeps on working until he dies.
When he kicks the bucket his soul loses its human mindfulness and is by and by
as free as the youngsters.
2) Neruda’s poem is a salute to the ordinary
human being, who continues with life braving all odds. Do you agree? Give
reasons.
Ans: Yes. In this
poem, Neruda attempts to portray the excursion of human 'existence' from its
early stages to death and past. With the end goal of communicating the
progressions that the 'existence soul' goes through its excursion from a baby
to a grown-up and past death, Neruda utilizes 'foot' as a similitude. That is
the reason he calls 'life' during early stages as the baby foot and the
existence soul of a grown-up as the grown-up foot. The entire sonnet can be
summarized as the 'give up' of life power to cultural pressing factors. During
outset, the kid's soul longs for endless prospects and thus fantasies about
turning into an organic product or a butterfly. When it begins filling in the
public eye the brutal real factors of life communicated as 'stones, pieces of
glass, stepping stool, and unpleasant surface of the earth', instruct the baby
soul that it is a 'foot' which signifies ‘you have a role’ to play in the
society and ‘you are an individual subservient to the whims and fancies of the
society’.
When the baby soul
steadily acknowledges its loss and attempts to live in similarity with the
standards of the general public, it turns into a grown-up. This is communicated
allegorically as the 'foot being detained in a shoe'. When you become an
individual from the general public you figure out how to live like others,
surrendering your delights and continuously you become acquainted with the real
factors of life. You continue trudging for the duration of your existence
without enjoying 'love and rest' which emblematically address your privileges
on this planet. You forego your privileges and live like a grown-up and serve
the general public until you pass on and you get your opportunity after your
demise. However long your life soul is in your body you have human mindfulness
and you know about your limits. When you pass on you lose human mindfulness and
your soul is allowed to make the most of its opportunity. In the sonnet, Neruda
doesn't discuss the prospects of the human soul 'revolting'. Nor does he say
that human soul is being squashed by severe powers; the human soul doesn't end
it all. Actually, he portrays the excursion of the human soul as a newborn
child's foot until it turns into a grown-up foot and after its demise how it
turns out to be free once more. From this, it tends to be contended that
Neruda's sonnet is a salute to the human soul for overcoming all chances and
finishing one's pattern of life and demise calmly, and not rebelliously.
3) Is Neruda criticizing how society crushes
childhood dreams and forces people into rigid moulds?
Ans: Yes, in this
story clear sonnet, Neruda has endeavored to outline the quandary of man as a
detainee oppressed by society. Utilizing 'foot' as an analogy forever', 'he
portrays the excursion of life from that of a 'baby foot' to an ‘adult foot'
until its passing and after. In the initial two lines itself; the writer
pronounces the wish of adolescence. The baby's foot doesn't know that it is a
'foot' and subsequently might want to be a butterfly or an apple. These two
items 'butterfly' and 'apple' together recommend that the baby's foot considers
total opportunity to turn into anything it desires. Being conceived a person it
can't try to turn into a butterfly or an apple. From this, we can derive that
there is some limitation forced on us by birth itself. This is communicated in
the line 'it doesn't know that it is brewing'. The newborn child food, when it
begins developing, is presented to the available resources of the world. We
live in human culture and nature, the words 'stones, pieces of glass, roads,
stepping stools, and the ways in the harsh earth' allude to man's methods of
living. This openness to man's way of living gets mindfulness the youngster
that it is a foot. The artist recommends that the baby's foot is occupied with
a fight with the general public and 'grown-ups' pulverize the youngster's perky
soul and detain it in a shoe. This stage alludes to the manner in which the
youngster gets accustomed to living in human culture.
Once it wears the
‘shoe’, which means, it accepts its identity as ‘man’, a member of the human
society, he starts exploring the human world alone, groping in the dark like a
blind man. There is a difference in the way an adult explores the world. As a child,
it thinks of infinite possibilities; but, as an adult, it is aware of its
limitations. This means the society has been successful in crushing childhood
dreams and forcing the life spirit into the rigid moulds of society.
Since the entire poem just portrays different changes
gone through by the human soul, we can't say that Neruda is censuring society
for its stranglehold on the human soul. Furthermore, Neruda additionally says
that the kid's foot doesn't realize that it is a foot. This implies, even
Neruda realizes that the kid is conceived a person and is going to live in
human culture. Thirdly, no place in the poem does Neruda say anything against
cultural powers. Nonetheless, Neruda identifies with 'Man' at a certain point.
He says, 'this foot works in its shoe hardly setting aside some effort to expose
itself in adoration or rest'. These lines demonstrate that Neruda just feels
for man's problem and doesn't scrutinize society.
4) ‘Foot’ is a keyword in the poem. Comment
on Neruda’s skillful use of the word and its associations in terms of imagery
to convey his ideas.
Ans: Pablo
Neruda is the pen name and later the legitimate name of the Chilean writer
representative and government official Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. The
writer utilizes 'foot' as an allegory forever and centers around the
progressions found in the change of a baby's foot into adulthood lastly
passing. Generally we consider 'foot' as actually having a place with an
individual however Neruda finds in a philosophical manner. In this sonnet, foot
is a similitude forever. The artist utilizing the foot as an illustration
investigates life' through its different stages from outset through adolescence
till' the very end. The artist utilizes 'foot' as an illustration for the kid
and depicts the fantasies and real factors of life. The child in the beginning.
