A little learning is a dangerous thing
A little learning is a dangerous thing Fived and first, with what the Muse imparts, For off like floating seeds ships, Stand stable here And silent be New Golden Treasury Explanation
A little learning is a dangerous thing
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
Their shallow draughts intoxicate the brain.
And drinking largely sobers us again.
Expl. These are the opening lines of the poem entitled “A Little Learning” composed by Alexander Pope. Pope was a classist. He was an 18th-century poet. He was intensively learned. He believed that man should not have false airs of being a scholar.
In the given lines the poet says that a little learning is a dangerous thing. A man with a little knowledge considers himself a great scholar, although it is not so.
The poet advises us to drink deep into the fountain of knowledge; It is better to have no learning at all than to a little leaming.
The ordinary quality of wine taken in a small quantity intoxicates the brain. So does a little learning, one who leams extensively does not go mad with pride. He grows grave and sober.
Fived and first with what the Muse imparts
Fived and first with what the Muse imparts
fearless youth we tempt the height of Arts,
While from the bounded level of our mind.
Short views we take, nor see the lengths behind.
Expl. This is an extract from Alexander Pope’s poem entitled “A Litle Expl Learning”. In these lines, the poet points out the dangers of little learning. A little learning leads us to pretend that we know everything It makes us falsely show that we are great scholars.
With an elementary knowledge of Art and Science. Knowledge is like a high mountain, possessed with the spirit of youth we think of climbing the mountain of knowledge without, of course, enabling ourselves for that.
Since our knowledge is shallow, we are short-sighted. Profound knowledge makes us aware of endless possibilities of knowledge. We realize that the realm of knowledge is vast and something unfathomable.
For off like floating seeds ships
For off like floating seeds ships
Diverge on urgent Voluntary errands,
And the full view
Indeed my enter
And move in money as now these clouds do,
That passes the harbor mirror,
And all the summer through the water saunter.
Expl. These lines have been taken from W. H. Auden’s poem, “Look, Stranger“. Here is an objective presentation of a scene remarkable for the beauty of its imagery and the music of its lines.
The poet describes the ships sailing in the distant sea as seen from the sea beach near Dover. The poet asks the stranger to stand on the seabeach and enjoy the beauty of the chalk chief standing on the seashore near Dover.
He then, asks him to look at the distant sea, He will find the ships looking at floating seed moving in different directions freely.
The whole scene is bewitching as the sight of the clouds which move leisurely during the whole summer season and stand reflected on the clear water of the harbor. This scene will surely remain alive in his memory for a long time.
These lines are noted for Auden’s strong sentimental feeling for England.
Stand stable here And silent be
Stand stable here And silent be,
That though the channels of the ear
May wander like a river
The swaying sound of the sea.
Expl. These lines have been taken from W.H. Auden’s poem. “Look, Stranger“. Here the poet asks the stranger to look at the beauty of England revealed in the ray of the morning sun.
He should stand silent and motionless on the seabeach to hear the sound of swinging waves of the sea.
The radiant beauty of the English landscape in the morning rays of the sun will thrill him. He will be delighted to hear the sound of the moving waves of the sea.
Without much rhetorical flourish or artistic embellishment, the poet invites the stranger to sea for himself the exceedingly beautiful English landscape. The idea of the music of the waves going lazily twisting and turning through the ear like a river’s course is apt and appropriate.
Now more than ever seems It rich to die
Now more than ever seems It rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain.
While thou art pouring forth thy soul aboard
In such an Ecstasy
Expl. These lines have been taken from Keats’s “Ode to a Nightingale” Here the poet longs for death which could also realize him from the fever and fret of life. His personal life was none too pleasant.
His lady love Fanny Browne was cold and indifferent to him. The death of his brother Tom added to his misery. It is in this mood of despair and despondency that he hears the melodious songs of the nightingale singing with the full-throated case. He shares the thought of death seized his mind, But never before did he feel as attracted to death as at this time.
In this moment of supreme joy when the nightingale is pouring forth, its music death is most welcome. To him now more than ever seems too rich to die. He in fact wants to get away from the fever and fret of life.
He wants to leave the painful world where a bit to think is to be full of sorrow where young grow pale; where the warmest passion of love does not last beyond so tomorrow.
