"When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" is a poem by Walt Whitman that expresses the speaker's dissatisfaction with a scientific approach to understanding the universe, in contrast to the visceral experience and wonder evoked by directly observing .......
When I heard the learn'd astronomer - My English Folder Coursebook - Class 8 - English
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Back Exercises - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Literature | English | Class 8
Look at the lines given below. Complete the poet with your own choice of words.
I had an English exam yesterday,
And I was just not prepared
for it,
We were asked to
Write a poem.....
I had an English exam yesterday,
And I was just not prepared,
For it, I was filled with dismay,
My confidence had completely flared.
We were asked to write a poem,
A task that left me in doubt,
But I embraced the challenge at home,
And let my creativity sprout.
With pen in hand, I began to think,
Of words that would dance and rhyme,
I poured my thoughts onto the ink,
Creating a rhythm, so sublime.
My words took flight like birds in the sky,
Expressing emotions, deep and true,
With every stanza, my spirit would fly,
A poet's journey, I would pursue.
Though unprepared, I found my voice,
In the realm of verses, I found solace,
The exam may have given me a choice,
To discover the power of words, a promise.
So, I wrote that poem, with all my might,
Turning uncertainty into a masterpiece,
In the end, it was a victorious fight,
A triumph over doubt, a sense of release.
Back Questions - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Literature | English | Class 8
When I heard the learn’d astronomer....
- Who is the 'I' here?
- Where was the speaker at that time?
- Explain what exactly does he mean by learn’d.
a. The "I" in the poem refers to the poet Walt Whitman himself. The "learn'd astronomer" refers to an educated and knowledgeable expert in astronomy who was giving a lecture to an audience.
b. The speaker was in a lecture room, listening to the astronomer as he presented proofs, figures, charts, and diagrams about the stars and the universe.
c. By "learn'd," Whitman means someone who is highly educated, knowledgeable, and well-versed in a particular subject, in this case, astronomy. The use of the word "learn'd" instead of "learned" is an example of literary license, which allows the poet to maintain the rhythm and meter of the poem.
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When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them
- What proofs and figures is the poet talking about?
- Who was showing them and why?
- Was the poet convinced with the proofs and charts shown?
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Sign up nowIn the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time.
Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.
- Why was the night mystical to the poet?
- What was the poet doing when he was not looking at the stars?
- The poet seems to stress the words perfect silence. Why?
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Sign up nowWhat do you think the poet is trying to convey in his poem?
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Sign up nowExplain the image created by the words gliding out.
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Sign up nowDo you think the poet was completely disinterested in what was being taught in class?
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Sign up nowDescribe your own experience of listening to theories on a particular topic and then experiencing the whole thing on your own. Did you notice any difference? Note down some of your thoughts.
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Sign up nowRead the poem. This is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams. Quote examples from the poem to show how it classifies for a free verse.
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Sign up nowLook at the lines given below. Complete the poet with your own choice of words.
I had an English exam yesterday,
And I was just not prepared
for it,
We were asked to
Write a poem.....
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Join English Chatterbox to access detailed and curated answers, and score higher than you ever have in your exams.
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Unlock now 🔓When I heard the learn'd astronomer Quiz - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
About the Author - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Walt Whitman (1819-1892), considered one of America's most influential poets, was born in West Hills, Long Island, New York. As a revolutionary figure in American poetry, Whitman is often referred to as the "father of free verse," having pioneered this form with his groundbreaking collection, "Leaves of Grass" (1855). His work captures the essence of the American spirit and the country's contradictions, blending lyricism and colloquialisms, celebrating democracy and individualism while maintaining a deep connection with nature.
Whitman's style lies in his ability to merge the mundane with the profound, breaking conventional poetic structures and diction. He embraced various subjects, from human experiences, like love and death, to sociopolitical themes, such as equality, slavery, and the Civil War, thus highlighting the interconnectedness of all things. Moreover, he was able to usher in a new era of poetry that celebrated the every day and the transcendent alike.
Summary - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Connection with Nature
Whitman emphasizes the importance of experiencing the natural world viscerally and directly, as opposed to understanding it solely through scientific means. The speaker feels a profound connection with the celestial objects when observing ....
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
In "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," Walt Whitman uses a few key symbols to convey the poem's themes and messages:
1. The Learn'd Astronomer: The astronomer represents scientific and analytical thinking, as well as the traditional, formal education system. He stands for ...
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Walt Whitman employs various poetic devices in "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" to create a vivid experience for the reader and emphasize the poem's themes:
1. Repetition: The poem begins with several lines that start with "When," creating a sense of rhythm and echoing the speaker's gradual disengagement from the analytical lecture.
2. Enjambment: Whitman frequently uses enjambment, the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, to create...
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - When I heard the learn'd astronomer | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Ranged: placed or arranged in a row or rows or in a specified manner
The books were neatly ranged in alphabetical order on the library shelves.Astronomer: A scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars, and galaxies.
The astronomer spent countless nights studying the movements of the stars.
Proofs: Evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement.
The detective collected.............................
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