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Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,
where knowledge is free,
where the world has not been broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls
a. Name the poem and the poet.
b. How can one’s head be held high?
c. How can knowledge be free?
d. What are the narrow domestic walls that the poet mentions here?
a. The poem is "Where the Mind is Without Fear" and it is written by the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. This poem is a part of his Nobel Prize-winning anthology Gitanjali.
b. "Where the head is held high" is a metaphorical expression that Tagore uses to represent a state of self-respect, dignity, and confidence. One's head can be "held high" by having self-belief, by not being oppressed or subjugated, and by being free from the fear of judgment or the lack of freedom. It represents having a sense of pride in oneself, their culture, their country, or their accomplishments.
c. "Where knowledge is free" signifies the poet's vision of a world where knowledge is accessible to all without any restrictions based on class, caste, gender, race, or economic status. This can be achieved through universal education and the removal of barriers to information and learning resources. It can also refer to intellectual freedom and the absence of dogma, where knowledge is not restricted or manipulated by authority figures but is open to questioning and inquiry.
d. "Narrow domestic walls" refers to the divisions created by societal norms, prejudices, and stereotypes that lead to discrimination and bigotry. These walls can be based on race, religion, caste, economic status, gender, or nationality. The poet uses this metaphor to criticise the harmful divisions that separate people and prevent them from understanding and empathizing with each other. The "domestic" aspect could signify that these divisions are deeply ingrained and often perpetuated within homes and families.
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When tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the
dreary desert sand of the dead habit
where the mind is led forward by
thee into ever-widening thought and action
a. What is the poet’s intention in these lines?
b. How can one achieve perfection?
c. What is the reason compared to?
d. Who should guide our mind?
e. Where should our mind be guided to?
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Unlock now 🔓What does the speaker mean by the phrase ‘head is held high’?
The phrase "head is held high" in poetry often symbolizes a state of dignity, self-respect, and confidence. In the context of Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Where the Mind is Without Fear," the speaker uses this phrase to convey the desired state of being for individuals in an ideal society.
When the speaker mentions "head is held high," they imply that individuals should carry themselves with pride, poise, and self-assurance. It suggests a sense of standing tall, both physically and metaphorically, despite challenges or adversity. It represents a state of inner strength and confidence where one is not diminished by fear or oppression.
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What does the speaker mean by saying knowledge is free?
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Unlock now 🔓How would one speak if words came out from the depth of truth?
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Unlock now 🔓Why does the speaker refer to ‘habit’ as ‘dad and dreary desert sand’?
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Unlock now 🔓Note the use of ‘where’ in the poem. Does the speaker use it for effect? What does ‘where’ represent?
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Unlock now 🔓Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls:
a. Which ‘world’ does the speaker refer to?
b. Why is the world broken up into fragments?
c. What do you understand by ‘domestic walls’?
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Unlock now 🔓Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action.
a. Who is ‘thee’?
b. How is the mind led forward?
c. What does the speaker wish to convey by this line?
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Unlock now 🔓Whose mind do you think the speaker is referring to? Is there any reason to be fearful?
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Unlock now 🔓What kind of perfection do you think the speaker is talking about? How could this be achieved?
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Unlock now 🔓In the poem, the describing word ‘dead’ is used to describe habits. What do you think happens when one has very rigid habits? What happens to now ideas and thoughts when one cannot escape from old habits? Write an article expressing your ideas on this.
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Unlock now 🔓Add suitable prefixes to the words in brackets to complete these sentences.
1. I will _______________ (pack) my bag before going to the dining hall.
2. My school will _______________ (open) next week.
3. _______________ (behaviour) in class will not be tolerated.
4. I believe nothing is _______________ (possible).
5. Shivam was _______________ (able) to come to school due to his illness.
Add suitable suffixes to the words in brackets to complete these sentences.
1. It is a _______________ (beauty) day to go to the park.
2. It is extremely _______________ (danger) to cross this chasm.
3. These _______________ (price) jewels belonged to my grandmother.
4. Shahid is quite _______________ (care) as he keeps losing his mobile phone.
5. I had a _______________ (sleep) night as there was no electricity.
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Unlock now 🔓Can you think of a world without ‘walls’? Find out about a famous wall in Europe that was brought down by people. This historical act went on to unify a country. You may research in the library or on the internet for more information. Present your findings in class in the form of a presentation.
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Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was a Bengali polymath and the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. He was a poet, novelist, playwright, philosopher, composer, and painter who contributed significantly to Bengali literature and the Indian independence movement. Tagore's works are characterized by their lyrical beauty, spiritualism, and humanism. His most famous works include the poetry collection "Gitanjali," which earned him the Nobel Prize, and the novels "The Home and the World" and "Gora." Tagore's writing has been translated into many languages and has inspired generations of writers and thinkers worldwide.
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Unlock now 🔓In "Where the Mind is Without Fear," Rabindranath Tagore employs several symbols to convey his themes and ideas. Some of the prominent symbols in the poem are:
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Unlock now 🔓Rabindranath Tagore employs various poetic devices in "Where the Mind is Without Fear" to create a powerful and evocative poem. Some of the prominent poetic devices used in the poem include:
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Unlock now 🔓Sign up to unlock Line-by-line explanation in Hindi and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Fear - a feeling of anxiety caused by the presence or anticipation of danger.
The fear of spiders is called arachnophobia.
Fragments - small or broken parts.
He carefully picked up the fragments of the broken vase.
Narrow - limited in extent, amount, or scope.
We walked down..........................
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