MY NATIVE LAND
Poem summary:
The poem centres on the theme of nationalism. The speaker asks if there can be any person who has not been proud of his native land, thereby suggesting that every person is patriotic, that every person rejoices on returning home from his sojourn in alien countries.
Just in case there is one who does not love his country, he is like the living dead. No one will care for him despite his power, titles and wealth. Such a man, who has been self-centered, will die without leaving a mark in people’s memory. He will go back to the dust from where he came, with no one weeping for him, honouring him or singing his
praises.
MY NATIVE LAND
Understanding the Poem
1.
a. A person who does not selflessly sacrifice for his own country possesses a soul which is almost dead. The sense of belonging to a nation or patriotism is missing in this person.
b. A person must feel a sense of pride and excitement in his heart when he returns to his own country. If he does not feel a sense of loyalty or belongingness to the country, he is as good as dead.
2. The poet imagines a man who does not feel a sense of belonging to his own country. When the man returns home from his travels in foreign countries, he feels no pride or excitement. His money and power lures him and he strives to return to the foreign land for his power and riches.
3.
a. According to the speaker, the man’s devotion to his nation is of more value than his wealth and power.
The lines,
“High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour’d, and unsung”
tell us this.
b. Write answer in your own words.
4. The line, “The wretch, concentred all in self” tells us that the poet considers the man to be selfish. He is considered so because he is unable to love his own country. He is so invested in himself that he does not feel a sense of belonging to his own country when he returns from a foreign land.
5.
a. The poet talks about a dual death - physical death and the death of a soul. A man who is unpatriotic towards his native land has a dead soul. He might accumulate wealth from his trips to foreign land, but according to the poet, such a life has no worth.
b. Physical death is inevitable. It is the death of one’s soul which is more pathetic than a physical death. It means that the person is alive, but in vain.
6. If he doesn’t suffer a physical death, the man will cease to have good reputation and fame, unless he feels a burning love for his own country. His demise will not be one of valour or glory. He will be left uncelebrated, no matter how much money he saves all through his life.
The lines,
“Living, shall forfeit fair renown
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour’d, and unsung.”
tell us this
7.
a. When he dies, he will go to the useless dust from where he was born. After his death, no one will sing for him, or honour him. The lines, “And, doubly dying, shall go down/To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,” tell us this.
b. Write answer in your own words.
8. The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour’d, and unsung.
The lines above depict a person being punished for his inability to love his own native land.
Parallels can be drawn to the concept of sin, elaborated in religious texts. It is almost as if, not loving your own country is sinful. The words, “shall go down” might have a Biblical reference of going to hell and suffering the agonies therein.This shows how profound the poet’s patriotism was. Failing to love his own country was equivalent to a sin, in the poet’s eyes. It was as if serving one’s own country was equal to serving God.
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