Q1 of 23 Page 80

Listen to the poem. Speak on the commonality between "At a Potato Digging" and the poem "Patrolling Barnegat" by Walt Whitman.

WILD, wild the storm, and the sea high running;


Steady the roar of the gale, with incessant under-tone muttering;


Shouts of demoniac laughter fitfully piercing and pealing;


Waves, air, midnight, their savagest trinity lashing;


Out in the shadows there, milk-white combs careering;


On beachy slush and sand, spurts of snow fierce slanting-


Where, through the murk, the easterly death-wind breasting,


Through cutting swirl and spray, watchful and firm advancing (That in the distance! is that a wreck? is the red signal flaring?), Slush and sand of the beach, tireless till daylight wending, Steadily, slowly, through hoarse roar never remitting,


Along the midnight edge, by those milk-white combs careering, A group of dim, weird forms, struggling, the night confronting, That savage trinity warily watching.

The poems by Heaney and Whitman portray an image of nature at its worst – while the former speaks of drought, the latter speaks of storm. Both poems speak of the difficulties faced by those who work at land and sea. While Heaney shows the farmer’s plight, Whitman shows a picture of the seafarer and sea watchman’s difficulties. Nature’s aspects, the earth and the sea, take on a fearsome yet awe-inspiring role in both poems. Heaney describes the earth as a life giving, yet cruel force. Whitman presents the sea in all its fury, yet the fury of the sea is meant to strike awe in our hearts. Therefore, in these ways, both poems have common features.


More from this chapter

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2

As a farmer, design a poster / pamphlet to convey the message that it is the responsibility of all to preserve and protect Mother Earth with suitable references from Heaney's poem.

 3

The Indian economy depends on agriculture and the harvest festival is popularly celebrated throughout the land. Based what you have seen or read about and together with your own ideas , write an article describing the harvest festival in your locality in about 150-200 words.

 1

Our country is experiencing drought and water shortage due to low and inadequate rainfall. You are concerned about this. Address your class for two or three minutes about periodic conditions drought in the country, and what should be done to counter its impact. Use illustrative examples from the poem.

 1

In groups of four, brainstorm the topic Nature's Fury - Its Consequences and Alternatives. Make a powerpoint presentation of about 3-4 minutes expressing your group's views to the class.