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The Merchant
Rabindranath Tagore
About Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore (1861 − 1941), born in Kolkata, was a Bengali poet, writer and painter. Even though he did not complete his formal education, he had many great talents, and a keen interest in writing and social reforms. He founded an experimental school at his own ashram which influenced his literary works. Tagore went on to write a vast number of famous poems, plays, novels, short stories and essays. He was awarded the Novel Prize in Literature for his work, Gitanjali, which made him an internationally popular figure. He has also composed over 2,000 songs, among which are India and Bangladesh's national anthems.
Imagine, mother, that you are to stay at home and I am to travel into strange lands.
Imagine that my boat is ready at the landing fully laden.
Now think well, mother, before you say what I shall bring for you when I come back.
Mother, do you want heaps and heaps of gold?
There, by the banks of golden streams, fields are full of golden harvest.
And in the shade of the forest path the golden champa flowers drop on the ground.
I will gather them all for you in many hundred baskets.
Mother, do you want pearls big as the raindrops of autumn?
I shall cross to the pearl island shore.
There in the early morning light pearls tremble on the meadow flowers, pearls drop on the grass, and pearls are scattered on the sand in spray by the wild sea-waves.
My brother shall have a pair of horses with wings to fly among the clouds.
For father I shall bring a magic pen that, without his knowing, will write of itself.
For you, mother, I must have the casket and jewel that costs even kings their kingdom.
Available Answers
- 1.
Where does the speaker say he is going?
- great lands
- strange lands
- 2.
Which of these does the speaker not wish to bring for his mother?
- a magic pen
- pearls
- champa flowers
- gold
- 3.
Describe the 'pearl island shore' in your own words.
- 4.
What does the poem tell us about the poet's relationship with different members of his family? For example, his brother and father are only mentioned towards the end of the poem. Why do you think this is so?
- 5.
The poem has many elements that are part of the poet's imagination-they are not real. Pick out three such phrases which convey a sense of fantasy.
- 6.
Match these columns to find some more similes.
a. run like the 1. bear b. as hard as a 2. wind c. as hungry as a 3. fish d. drink like a 4. ocean e. as deep as the 5. rock
1 more answer(s) available.