This post contains 1st Year English A Tail of Two Cities Poem Expalnation of Stanzas with reference to the context notes for class 11. John Peter is the poet of this poem and this has been included in 11th English Book 3 syllabus as 13 number poem. I have taken these A Tail of Two Cities Explanation of Lines notes from kips notes. In this post you will find reference, context and explanation of all stanzas. I have included urdu translation of this poet too. At the end you will find relevant notes. All poems notes of 1st year English Book 3 have been added to this post. Also, I have shared complete 1st year English Book 1 notes at ilmihub.
1st Year English Poem 13 A Tail of Two Cities by John Peter Explanation of All Stanzas
Reference
These lines have been taken from the poem, “A Tale of Two Cities”.
Context
The poem is a description of destruction when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombarded by the Allies. The Japanese bravely faced the severe attack and great destruction. They proved themselves the best nation by gaining their lost glory. The poem is a condemnation of the use of the nuclear weapons.
Explanation of Stanza 1
The poet describes the scene of devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. When allies dropped atom bomb, destruction could be seen everywhere. Smoke was rising. Millions of people were injured, burnt and killed. It was a horrible massacre of Japanese. Everyone was in miserable and wretched condition. The loud sounds of explosions were deafening. The injured and burnt people were powerless. They were unable to do anything to avoid this fierce attack.
Critical Appreciation
The poet uses cacophonic auditory images of storms, shrills and drills to the feelings of chaos and destruction caused by the nuclear explosion. The rhyme scheme in these lines is a, a, b, b.
Explanation of Stanza 2
The poet describes the scene of destruction and says that even the mountains and surroundings seemed to mourn over the mass devastation. All the landscape was changed and looked gloomy. Even the restaurants and buildings seemed to condemn this brutal and cruel act of power-drunk people. Everyone was undergoing the same agonizing condition. Nobody was healthy and active. Everyone was the victim of attack and could do nothing to decrease the pains and pangs of the others. They were in wretched condition and could not console one another.
Critical Appreciation
The auditory images of groans and moans convey the feelings of intense pain suffered by the Japanese people. The rhyme scheme in these lines is a, a, b, b.
Explanation of Stanza No.3
The poet describes the intensity of the blast by portraying the destruction of natural beauty. The flowers also stand for innocent people who had to undergo the crushing circumstances. They were crushed and trodden ruthlessly like flowers. Every living thing was burnt, ruined and darted down. The cities were presenting the view of wilderness. The innocent people had to go through the agonizing and crushing circumstances. Nobody was left to resist against the power-drunk crazy nation.
Critical Appreciation
The olfactory and gustatory images of “flowers” and “flavours” are employed to show the destruction caused by the nuclear attack. The rhyme scheme in these lines is a, a, b, b.
Explanation of Stanza No.4
The poet narrated that the explosion was so severe and intense that no human eye could withstand the devastation. The two glorious cities Nagasaki and Hiroshima were burnt into ashes with all their glory and grandeur. The two full of life cities turned into a death valley within no time. All this happened due to wrath and craze of a nation. Anger dissolves one’s intellect and makes one mad. It blinds one’s eyes with the blindfold of selfishness and power. It paralyses the reasoning faculty. The same happened there which caused widespread disaster and ruined the beautiful cities.
Critical Appreciation
The rhyme scheme in these lines is a, a, b, b.
Explanation of Stanza No.5
In these lines, the poet condemns and blames the powerful nation whose craze claimed the lives of innocent people and ruined the beautiful cities. The nation that is considered the so-called protector and supporter of human rights, in its craze, violated and exploited all the rules and principles made by itself. Being a superpower, it should have solved the problems related to wars. It attacked innocent people. This inhuman act is the speaking evidence of its hypocrisy.
Critical Appreciation
The rhyme scheme in these lines is a, a, b, b.
Explanation of Stanza No.6
In the last stanza the poet pays tribute to Japanese who exhibited patience and courage and faced the attack bravely. He appreciates the people who bore the pains and pangs destruction, and devastation, all the misery and gloom of the fierce attack. He praises the efforts of the people who worked hard to shake off the after-effects of the war and devastation. The poet pays homage to the people who mustered up their courage and surpassed in the economic fields. They proved to the world the worth of downtrodden people who resisted, struggled and made their mark in the world.
Critical Appreciation
The poet presents ashes as a symbol of revival and rebirth. The rhyme scheme in these lines is a, a, b, b.
What is the Main Idea of a Tail of Two Cities Poem?
The poem is a description of destruction when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombarded by the Allies. The Japanese man fully faced the severe attack and great destruction. They proved themselves the best nation by gaining their lost glory. The poem is a condemnation for the use of nuclear weapons.
Relevant Notes
- A Tail of Two Cities Poem Short Questions
- A Tail of Two Cities Poem MCQs
- 11th English Notes
- 1st Year Books PDF Download
