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Engaging English

Engaging English

Preeti Roychoudhury, Sadeqa R, HarperCollins

ICSEClass 6
English

Abou Ben Adhem

James Henry Leigh Hunt

About James Henry Leigh Hunt

James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784 -1859) was an English poet, critic and essayist. He was a close friend and supporter of the poets P. B. Shelley and John Keats. Notable writings by him include 'A Night Rain in Summer’ and ’The Story of Rimini'.

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:-
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said
‘What writest thou?’-The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered "The names of those who love the Lord.
‘And is mine one?‘ said Abou. ‘Nay, not so.’
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still, and said ‘I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.’

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.

Summary
The poem Abou Ben Adhem written by Leigh Hunt is a simple but powerful poem about loving the fellow men The poem was published in the year 1838 The poet James Henry Leigh Hunt popularly known as Leigh Hunt was born on October 19 1784 in South Gate Middlesex England The poet was the central figure of the romantic movement in England during his time It is a poem about a man who had found the true path to reach God This poem is a parable in verse A parable is a short story which illustrates moral and spiritual lesson to the readers Lines 1 to 6 A man whose name was Abou Ben Adhem woke up one ...

Available Answers

  1. 1.

    Whom did Abou Ben Adhem see when he wake up from his sleep? Explain in your own words the figure of speech used to describe it?

  2. 2.

    What was Abou Ben Adhem 's second question to the presence?

  3. 3.

    What request did Abou Ben Adhem make?

  4. 4.

    How was he awarded?

  5. 5.

    And to the Presence in the room he said,
    'What writest thou?'

    1. Who is being referred to as 'he'? Who is being referred to as the 'Presence'?
    2. What was the 'Presence' doing? What expression did it have on its face when it answered the speaker's question?
    3. What other word does the poet use to refer to the 'Presence'?
  6. 6.

    'I pray thee, then,
    Write me as one that loves his fellow men.'

    1. How did Abou Ben Adhem make his request?
    2. Explain the given lines.
    3. What did the 'Presence' do immediately after this?
3 more answer(s) available.

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