UNIT-II LANGUAGE
THROUGH POETRY
1. WHO ARE YOU
SIR?
K.S.
NARASIMHASWAMY T. G.S.A
Summary
The poem "Who
Are You, Sir?" is about a conversation between a proud man and a
humble farmer. The poet shows the difference between rich, powerful people and
the simple, hardworking villagers.
In the poem, a rich man comes to the village and speaks
proudly to a farmer. He asks, “Who are you, sir?” as if the farmer is a nobody.
The rich man talks about his money, property, and power. He thinks he is very
important because he has wealth and status.
But the farmer answers in a calm and wise way. He says
that he may not have money or land, but he has self-respect, peace, and a
connection with nature. He works hard in the fields, grows food, and lives a
simple life. He doesn’t feel small or ashamed. In fact, he is proud of being
honest and living a life without greed.
The poem sends a strong message: True worth is not measured by money or power, but by character,
honesty, and hard work. The farmer teaches the proud man that being rich
doesn't make someone more important than others.
The tone of the poem is gentle but powerful. The poet
uses simple language to show that even ordinary people have great dignity and
values. He wants us to respect everyone equally and understand that pride and
arrogance have no value in front of humility and goodness.
COMPREHENSION
QUESTIONS
I. Answer the following
questions in a sentence or two
1. What is the
central question asked in the poem?
Ans:
The central question asked in the poem is “Who are you, sir?” as the speaker
tries to understand the identity and experience of the old man.
2. Why does the
speaker say, “The tongue lacks the wisdom of the ear”?
Ans:
The speaker means that speaking without listening or understanding can lead to
ignorance; it’s wiser to listen before talking.
3. How many
wives did the old man have?
Ans:
The old man had three wives.
4. What ailment
does the old man suffer from?
Ans:
The old man suffers from tuberculosis.
5. Why does the
old man feel proud despite his struggles?
Ans:
He feels proud because he has lived a full life with many experiences, and he
has faced his hardships with strength and dignity.
6. How do the
old man’s sons treat him?
Ans:
The old man refers to life itself as a golden flower, something beautiful and
precious despite all its pain.
7. What does the
old man describe as a “golden flower”?
Ans:
The old man refers to life itself as a golden flower, something beautiful and
precious despite all its pain.
8. What does the
“Cock dancing on the sharpened blade”, symbolize?
Ans:
It symbolizes the courage to face life’s dangers and struggles bravely, just
like the old man does.
9. Where does
the speaker stand at the end of the poem?
Ans:
The speaker stands silently, full of respect, as the old man walks away.
10. What does
the speaker feel after the old man leaves?
Ans:
The speaker feels deeply moved and ashamed of judging the old man too quickly
without understanding his life story.
II. Answer the
following questions
1. Discuss this
statement in the contest of the poem. How does the interaction between the
speaker and the old man highlight the importance of empathy and understanding
in human relationships?
Ans: In the poem "Who Are You, Sir?", the speaker first looks at the
old man with doubt and confusion. He sees an old, weak man and asks, “Who are
you, sir?” But as the old man begins to share his story, the speaker slowly
realizes how much pain, struggle, and experience the old man carries. This
interaction shows how we often judge people without knowing their true story.
The speaker thought the old man was just a sick and
useless person. But after listening to him, he understands that the man had a
full life—he had wives, children, worked hard, and faced illness bravely. This
change in the speaker’s attitude shows the importance of empathy—listening with the heart—and understanding, not judging people by
their appearance.
The poem teaches us that every person has a story, and we
should take the time to listen before forming opinions. By showing respect,
kindness, and patience, we can build better human relationships. The speaker
learns this lesson by the end, and he stands silently, full of respect,
realizing how wrong he was to judge the old man so quickly.
So, the poem
tells us that being kind and understanding others makes us better human beings.
It reminds us to care for people, especially the old and forgotten, because
everyone deserves respect.
2. Analyze the
symbolic elements in the poem, such as the “Sharpened blade”, “swarm of
locusts,” and “lamp post”. How do these symbols contribute to the poem’s themes
of suffering, resilience, and self-reflection?
Ans: The poem uses strong symbols to express
deeper meanings about life, pain, and strength. Each symbol helps us understand
the old man’s experiences and the emotions in the poem.
The “sharpened
blade” represents the dangers and challenges of life. The image of the
cock dancing on it shows the bravery
of facing hard times without fear. Just like the cock, the old man has walked
through pain and problems with courage.
The “swarm of
locusts” is a symbol of suffering
and loss. Locusts are insects
that destroy crops. In the poem, it represents the things that destroyed the
old man’s peace—his sickness, poverty, and the way his own sons ignore him. It
shows how life has not been easy for him.
The “lamp post”
symbolizes hope and guidance in darkness. Even though the
old man is poor and sick, he still walks with pride and confidence, like
someone following a light. It also helps the speaker reflect on himself, making
him realize how wrong he was to judge the old man.
These symbols give more meaning to the poem. They help
show not just the old man’s pain, but also his strength and wisdom. They also
make the speaker—and us—think about how we treat others. The poem teaches us to
respect people’s stories, even if we don’t understand them at first.
3. Explore the
theme of familial neglect in the poem. How does the old man’s plight reflect
broader social issues related to aging and intergenerational relationships?
Suggest ways society can address these concerns.
Ans: In the poem, the old man talks about
how his sons have forgotten him.
He has become old, sick, and weak, and now they don’t care about him anymore.
This is a very sad truth that many elderly people face in real life too.
Children often move on with their lives and forget the people who raised them. This
is called familial neglect.
The old man’s story shows a big social problem—many older people feel lonely, ignored, or unwanted in their own families. After giving
their love, time, and support for years, they are left alone in their old age.
This shows a lack of respect and care
between generations.
This problem is growing in modern society. People are
busy, families are smaller, and old age is not always treated with dignity. The
poem reminds us how important it is to take care of our elders and respect
their experience.
To solve this, we must teach children the value of
caring for parents and grandparents. Schools and communities can spread
awareness. Families can spend more time together, and children can be taught
that elders are not a burden but a blessing.
Governments and society should also build more elder-care centers, support groups,
and medical help for the aged.
Most of all, we must remember that one day we will also grow old, and we should
treat our elders the way we want to be treated.
Assignment
Topics
1. Write a
fictional diary entry from the old man’s perspective, reflecting on his
feelings about his sons, his past relationships, and his outlook on life.
Encourage them to incorporate the emotional depth and symbolic elements present
in the poem.
Ans: Date: A
Quiet Evening
Dear Diary,
Today I met a stranger who asked, “Who are you, sir?” I
smiled, because no one has asked me that in years. They only see an old, weak
man, not the life I have lived.
I once had three wives—each one special in her own way.
We had laughter, love, and even tears. I worked hard all my life. I raised my
sons with care, taught them right from wrong. But now, they don't even look back
at me. They have moved on, forgotten the man who gave them everything.
I live with pain in my body—this cough, this
tiredness—but my heart aches more from their silence. Still, I walk with pride.
I see life as a golden flower. Even though it fades, it was once full of
beauty.
The world sees me as poor and useless, but I am rich with
memories, experiences, and lessons. I have danced like a cock on the sharp
blade of life—bravely, without fear.
The lamp post I walk past each night reminds me that even
in darkness, there is a little light. Maybe someday my sons will remember me.
Until then, I live not with regret, but with peace.
Goodnight,
An old man who still believes in life
2. Organize a
role-play where students act out the conversation between the speaker and the
old man. Alternatively, have students perform a monologue as the old man,
expressing his emotions, struggles, and reflections on life. Write a report of
the activity.
Ans: Activity Report:
Role-Play and Monologue Performance
Today, our class organized a role-play activity based on
the poem "Who Are You, Sir?"
by K.S. Narasimhaswamy. The goal was to better understand the feelings and
struggles of the old man in the poem.
In the first part of the activity, two students acted out
the conversation between the speaker
and the old man. The speaker
questioned the old man’s presence, and the old man shared his life story—his
three marriages, his illness, his sons who ignored him, and his pain and pride.
The actors used expressions and voice changes to show the emotions of the
characters. The class watched quietly, feeling the sadness and respect in the
scene.
In the second part, one student performed a monologue as the old man. He stood
alone, pretending to talk to himself and the audience. He spoke about his past
joys, his broken family bonds, and how he still walks proudly. The student used
a soft, shaky voice to show the old man’s age and sorrow. His performance made
everyone emotional and thoughtful.
After the performances, we had a short discussion. Many
students shared that they understood the poem better now. They felt sorry for
the old man and agreed that we should respect and care for the elderly more.
The activity helped us learn about empathy, respect, and the pain of being
forgotten. It also showed the power of poetry to touch hearts and teach
life lessons.
