1.what country is the poet writing about in his poem where the mind is without fear.
When the poem was written, India was under the British Rule and people were eagerly waiting to get their freedom from the British Rule. The poem is written in the form of a prayer to the God, the Almighty for a true freedom for his country.
2.what according to the poet do people tirelessly strive towards
Through the lines ‘where tireless striving stretches its arm towards perfection’, the speaker wishes that his countrymen strive towards perfection without getting tired. A country whose people work without laziness is sure to achieve perfection in all fields and aspects. Everyone should be free to toil and work hard for anything they desire either for their own or for the good of the nation.
3.how does the poet describe old habits
The poet describes old habits as dreary desert sand. Habits that are dead are compared to desert sand because desert is dry and fruitless. It’s not green and life-giving. Similarly dead habits are not useful for individuals and society. The people must not turn out to be slave of bad habits that can affect their life as well as the nation’s life. Hence, it is better to day away with them.
4.what does the poet compare reason to in this poem
In line 7 of the poem, the poet compares ‘reason’ or logical thinking to a “clear stream’ and in the next line compares ‘dead habits’ or superstitious beliefs to a ‘dreary desert’. He wants the stream of reason not to lose its way into the desert of prejudices. In short, people’s thought should be monitored by rational thinking, not by superstition; logic should rule over old baseless beliefs.
5.what is the poets ideal country as drscribed in this poem
“Where The Mind Is Without Fear” is a thought-provoking poem by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, an Indian writer. When Tagore composed this poem his mind was confined by the chains of slavery like any others common citizens of India because India was under the clutch of the British Rule where freedom was like day-dreaming. The poem invokes the deep patriotic feelings. It appeals to God to bless Indians with a nation that is abundant in freedom of the mind and expression of ideas… He urges God to guide his countrymen for moral awakening to fight for their rights against British inhuman rules. Liberate them from the fear of oppression, repression, and subjugation. Unshackle the chains of fear and direct them to the paths of progress and prosperity.
6.what is the tone of the poem.is it optimistic or pessimistic
The tone of the poem is optimistic. The poet wants freedom for his country because being free from the shackles of ignorance and narrow-mindedness would take it to the heights of success and it will create a name for itself in the whole world. Without freedom the people of his country cannot progress and hence the nation will not progress. He, thus, requests God to grant such freedom of mind and body to his country.
7.what does the poet mean when he says that knowledge is free
The poet is speaking to God. He is requesting to God to free his country from the shackles of superstitions and prejudices laid down by the age old customs and practices. He is wishing for a nation where everyone within the fold of brotherhood is free to hold up one’s head high and one’s voice can be heard without having any apprehension or fear of oppression. He talks about a nation where knowledge is not restricted by narrow ideas and is free of cost.
8.who is the speaker addressing to in the first stanza of the poem?
The poet is speaking to God. He is requesting to God to free his country from the shackles of superstitions and prejudices laid down by the age old customs and practices. He is wishing for a nation where everyone within the fold of brotherhood is free to hold up one’s head high and one’s voice can be heard without having any apprehension or fear of oppression. He talks about a nation where knowledge is not restricted by narrow ideas and is free of cost.
9.what do the words domestic walls mean?
‘Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls;’
In the above lines, the poet emphasizes the unity of not only of his countrymen but also of the entire world. He thinks there should be no division among people based on their caste, creed, color, religion or other baseless superstitions. In other words, prejudices and superstitions should not divide the people in groups and break their unity.
10.how can words come out from the depth of truth
‘Where words come out from the depth of truth;’
In line 5 of Where the Mind is Without Fear, Tagore wants a nation where people are truthful. They should not be superficial and words should come out from the depth of their hearts.
11.what stretches its arms towards perfection
‘Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;’
In the sixth line of the poem, the poet wants everyone to work hard to reach their goal, and in the long run to reach perfection. . He thinks they should not be tired by working. People should not be lazy and ignoring their work.
12.what has not lost its way
‘Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habits;’
In line 7, the poet compares ‘reason’ or logical thinking to a “clear stream’ and wishes that it flows unobstructed without straying off in the wrong direction.
13.how can the deary desert sand of dead habit affect the clear stream pf reason
The poet compares ‘dead habits’ or superstitious beliefs to a ‘dreary desert’. He wants the stream of reason not to lose its way into the desert of prejudices. In short, people’s thought should be monitored by rational thinking, not by superstition; logic should rule over old baseless beliefs.
14.give the synonyms od the word forward.
forward: ahead