★★★Where the Mind is Without Fear ★★★
Rabindranath Tagore
★★Summary:-----
The poet prays to the Almighty God that his countrymen should be free from any fear of oppression.He wants a nation where knowledge will be free for all classes of people.He wants an ideal state not only for his countrymen but also he wants it for entire world.He thinks there should be no classes between people.Thay don't divide themselves into caste,religion,creed,colour or based on superstitions.The poet wants a nation where people are honest.The poet advises his countrymen to work hard to be successful. He wishes his countrymen to be progressive and broad-minded.In the last line the poet addresses the "God" as "Father" and requests Him to give an ideal state for his countrymen.
★★Rhyme Scheme:-----
Rhyme scheme is the ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of the lines of a poem or verse
★There are no rhyme scheme in the poem.It is written in free verse.
At first the poet wrote the poem in Bengali then translated into English.So this poem is written in free verse.Not a single line doesn't follow the pattern of rhyme scheme. There is no regular rhythmic meter or foot in any line but into to Bengali meaning the poet used rhyme and rhythm when he wrote it.
★★Tone:---
Tone is a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength.
There are one more tone into the poem. Those are patriotic and pessimistic. In this poem we see that the poet is praying to his God for the freedom of his countrymen. He wants such a country where there is no bound into the classes.He also wants there is no division into the education. Everybody can do study.
The poet not only wants political freedom but also he wants freedom of people’s mind.The straight rules,political, religious uncertainty are the causes of fear to the maids of the people.They can not live a honourable and respectable life in their own country.Higher education is not allowed for all classes of people. There are discrimination based on caste,creed,religion and other things.
So the poet request to the Almighty God to give an ideal state for his countrymen.
★★Structure:---
The poem is an ode.Ode means a lyric poem that is addresses to someone or something. The poet addresses to God so structurally the poem is an ode.The poet wants an ideal state where everything should fe free.There are no differences between common men and aristocate.Where everybody can attend to all the sections of studies.The poet also wants a state where there will be no bound among the people.They doesn’t divide themselves based on caste,creed or religion.The poet addressed to God to give him an ideal state.
★★Theme:---
Theme is the central idea in a piece of writing. The whole body explains the theme.
The poem Where the Mind is Without Fear' by Rabindranath Tagore is a frank prayer to God for the deliverance of his countrymen from the spiritual bondage.The poet wants a state where they (countrymen) can enjoy the true freedom of life. A country may reach an ideal status if it can ensure intellectual freedom for all.The poet says that one should speak from the depth of truth and his speeches should be marked by clear rationality.It is important to mark that habits to rational thinking. So the poet prays to God to awarded his countrymen with clear intellectual faculty.Because intellectual people can work from moral conviction towards perfection. They can feel the qualm of conscience and can discriminate' right from the wrong. One who fears God fears nobody and walks with dignity.He always speaks the truth. An ideal state can be formed only with such country men who are not divided by geographical boundaries, prejudices of any kind religious or racial and human instincts.So the poet wants an ideal state for his fellow countrymen.
★★Authors Position:---
When an author writes to persuade,he/she will have his/her own position on the subject.The author's position is an author's opinion about the subject.It may be subjective or objective.
Subjective means where the writer can use his/her own feelings,emotion, and own choice.
Objective means where writer cann't use his/her own feelings,emotions and own choice.
The poem is a subjective poem because the poet uses his own feelings,emotions or likes/dislikes.He describes the miseries of his country.The poet directly request to God to give him an ideal state.Where there are no bondage,no religious tolerance no conflict allow among the people.So It's a subjective poem.
★★Figures of Speech :----
Figures of Speech means use of ornamental elements into a piece of writing.
★Synecdoche
It is a figure of speech in which one thing is referred to by another thing which is inseparably associated with it.Usually,in synecdoche a part of something stands for the whole thing or a whole thing stands for a part of it.
*"Where the world has not been broken up into fragments".
Here,the world is a greater space that is stands for a smaller parts(the poet's state).So It's an example of synecdoche.
★Personification
It is a figure of speech in which the writer puts imaginary life into a life being or thing.
*"Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection".
Here,the poet personifies "starving".
★Symbolism
Symbolism refers to a thing that is stands for something else.It is basically an image which,by virtue of recurrent uses.
*" narrow domestic walls".
Here,"narrow domestic walls" symbolises expression the opinions of groups or people which due to their narrowness and limitations in respect of justness,truth etc.
★Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sound.
*"the head is held high".
Here, "H" is repeated one more time so It's an example of alliteration.
*"tireless striving stretches its arms".
***To err is human.
------Written by Krishna Mandal