2.2 The Sower by Victor Hugo.
Maharashtra State Board, 11th std. English Yuvakbharati, Unit 2.2 The Sower by Victor Hugo.
1.1 About the Poet
Victor Hugo was a poet, novelist, and dramatist among the most important French Romantic writers of the 19th century. Though regarded in France as one of the country’s greatest poets, he is better known for novels such as Notre-Dame de Paris(1831) and Les Miserables (1862).
Torulata Datt:
Torulata Dutt, also known as Toru, was a Bengali poet who wrote in English and French. She was born on March 4, 1856, in Kolkata. She is considered to be the first Indian poetess to write verses in English and French. She translated dozens of poems and completed a novel before her death at the age of 21. Her poems, such as ‘Seeta’, ‘Lotus’, and ‘Our Casuarina Tree,’ are well-loved.
1.2 Summary
‘The Sower’ is a translation of Victor Hugo’s poem, Saison des Semailles: Le Soir. It is translated by Toru Dutt from French to English. ‘The Sower’ is a poem about a farmer who is sowing seeds. He has seen many bad harvests in his life. However, he is so optimistic about having a good harvest every time he tosses grain.
In the poem, the farmer is constantly working in his field with the expectation of having a good harvest. To the farmer, the grain he sows in the field looks like precious metal. The sower is working hard day and night to grow crops and earn the livelihood of his family. He is a patient farmer who is skilled in his work. He scatters the seeds and sows them waiting for the time of their reaping. It is very work hard. He keeps working even though it is getting dark and the night falls. The poet admires this quality of the sower.
In short, Farming and the life of a farmer are the major themes of the poem. The poet describes his feelings for the farmer along with a detailed description of the nature around the farmer. From the beginning of the poem, the poet minutely describes the farmer and his activity in the poem
1.3 Appreciation of the Poem
Click the below button to download the appreciation of the poem “The Sower” in PDF format.
1.4 Activity sheet of the Poem
Q3. Read the extract and complete the activities given below.
A.1 Complete the following statements:
1. The poet is sitting in a porchway.
2. The Sower is old and in rags
3. The Sower marches to and fro to scatter the precious grain.
4. The Sower’s height touches the starry skies.
A.2. Describe the Sower in the poem.
The sower or a farmer is the central figure in the poem. He is old and dressed in rags. He is a symbol of hard work, devotion and dedication. He is constantly working in his field with the expectation of having a good harvest. He is a patient farmer who is skilled in his work. He scatters the seeds and sows them waiting for the time of their reaping. He is a very hardworking farmer.
A.3. ‘Agriculture is the backbone of India.’ Write your opinion.
Agriculture is the backbone of India, as it has played a major role in the Indian economy for centuries. It provides livelihoods to millions of people across the country and serves as a major source of income for millions of rural people.
A.4 Poetic Devices:
‘Shadows run across the lands’
( Find the figure of speech in the above line and explain)
Figure of speech: Personification
Explanation: In the given line, “Shadows” are personified.
A.5. Compose a poem of four lines to describe a farmer or farming.
( Students are requested to compose their own poem)