Unit - 2 Bob Dylan

 1) "Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan

         About Bob Dylan -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan

  

         About the song - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowin%27_in_the_Wind

         Analysis - 1)  https://justrandomthings.com/2016/06/05/bob-dylan-blowin-wind-  lyrics-review-song-meaning/

                               

                            2) https://englishsummary.com/lesson/blowing-in-the-wind-summary-line-by-line-explanation-in-english-class-10/

         

         Themes - https://www.gradesaver.com/blowin-in-the-wind/study-guide/themes

 

         Literary style - https://www.gradesaver.com/blowin-in-the-wind/study-guide/symbols-allegory-motifs

2) All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan

       About Bob Dylan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan

  

         About the song -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Along_the_Watchtower

         Analysis -  https://literarydevices.net/all-along-the-watchtower/

         Themes -  https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/poetry/all-along-the-watchtower/themes

 

         Literary style - https://poemanalysis.com/bob-dylan/all-along-the-watchtower/

3) Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan 

       About Bob Dylan -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan

  

         About the song - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_a_Rolling_Stone

         Analysis -1)  https://studymoose.com/like-a-rolling-stone-analysis-of-bob-dylans-poetry-essay

                          2) https://justrandomthings.com/2016/06/04/bob-dylan-like-rolling-stone-lyrics-review-song-meaning/

                         3) https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/5730/

        

          Literary style -  https://tpruyne.weebly.com/literary-devices-through-the-rolling-stones.html

Stopping by Woods in Showy Evening by Robert Frost

About Poet: Robert Frost  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost

Analysis:- 

 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening' is one of the most celebrated Poems by Robert Frost. The first prime minister of free (independent) India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was so much impressed with the message of this poem that he always kept this poem on the table beneath the glass. The poem is simple but the message which it conveys is significant. The poem is about the poet's going to the forest, getting tempted to stay there, and finally realizing that he has many works to be done by him and so he cannot stop in the forest. It is a poem about the internal dilemma of a poet between love for beauty and a sense of duty. This kind of dilemma is witnessed by every person at some stage in life. We all are sometimes tempted by the beauty of nature to stop there for a long time but the work which is to be done by us remains us of our duty and we do not stop for a long time where that beautiful place is. This truth of life is conveyed by the poet through the present poem. 

 The subject matter of the poem is simple. Poet goes to a dark, deep, and lovely forest on his horseback. It is such a beautiful place that the poet is tempted to stop there and passed that night in the forest but the horse of the poet shakes his head to ring the bells which are tied on its harness. The horse wants to ask the poet whether he is mistaken in making a stay in that forest. The reason is, it is the darkest evening, the lake is frozen and the snowfall is there. Such a gesture of his horse remains the poet that the woods are lovely, dark, and deep but he has so many promises to keep. He has to perform many duties before he slips into the forest and before he dies. The final message of the poem is that a sense of beauty in life is more important than tempting beauty. No tempting beauty should ever prove to be a hindrance on the path of duty.

Themes, Symbolism, and Poetic device: -

1) https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/robert-frost/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening

2) https://poemanalysis.com/robert-frost/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening/

3) https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/poetry/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening/themes

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

 About Poet:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost

Analysis:- 

The poet was walking down the road when he found a diversion where two roads diverged in different directions. The poet felt sorry that he could not travel on both roads. He had to make one decision and choose a single path. At the junction, the poet stood for a long time and tried to look at the roads as far as he could. He wanted to see the roads in full and wanted to know about both paths. But, he could not see anything beyond the diversion as the roads were curved and covered with trees. In the stanza, the yellow wood refers to the forest with leaves, which were shed on the road and had turned yellow. This indicates that it was the autumn season. Through this stanza, the poet wants to convey that in everyone’s life there comes a time when we have to make choices. We have alternatives, but we have to choose only one. At that time, we see the pros and cons of the situation and take the time to decide which path to take. Similarly, the poet is also taking time before making any decision.

After pondering on it for a long time, the poet decided to take the other road. He felt that both roads were equally good. He started walking on the road which had grass on it and felt that it was a better road for him. The grassy road means that the road was not used and the wanted wear means that only a few people have walked through it. After walking some distance on the road, the poet felt that both paths were almost the same. There was hardly any difference between them. Through this, the poet conveys that, in our life whatever decision we take or choices we make, each choice has some advantages and some disadvantages. Problems are everywhere, so we must be ready to face them.

The poet says that both paths seemed to be similar that morning. Leaves were shed on both roads, and they were still green. It means that no one had walked on the roads. He decided to take one path that day and the other path on another day. However, he knows that one way leads to another way. He could not go back and take the other path once he moved ahead with one. Similarly, in our life, when we make one decision, we can’t go back. We have to move ahead with the same choice and face the consequences which come our way.

The poet says that in the future, he will take a deep breath and say that once upon a time he reached a point in life where he had to make one choice. There were two options for him, and he had to opt for one. At that time, he decided to take that road which was less traveled by people. It means that he took a that decision which rare people take. And that decision has changed his entire life. Through the poem, the poet sends a powerful message that people should decide wisely in their life because the decision they take will have an impact on the rest of their life.

Themes and Symbolism:-                                         

1) https://literaryenglish.com/summary-and-analysis-of-the-road-not-taken/#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20main%20themes,uncertain%20which%20one%20is%20better.                                                

2) https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/robert-frost/the-road-not-taken

                      

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

 About poet - Robert Frost

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost

 Analysis:- 

Introduction: - 'Fire and Ice' is a very short but remarkable Poem by Robert Frost in which the poet's philosophical temperament is to be found. The present short poem deals with the theme of the day destruction of the universe but while dealing with these things the poet comes before us as a profound philosopher. 

Myth:- The very opening line of the poem prepares a meeting through the Indian mythology and Christian mythology of the west. Some people are of the opinion that this world would be destroyed because of fire and some others believe that the world would be destroyed because of water. In Indian mythology, this is an account of how King Manu was saved by the flood with the help of Lord Vishnu(મતસ્યાવતર) who was in the guys of a fish (Sufferings). It describes how the world was destroyed because of water. The Christian myth of the west mentions that the world would be destroyed because of fire.

Fire:-  The poet Frost in the opening of the poem refers to these two myths and he believes that the world would be destroyed because of fire. The poet here uses the word "Fire" as a symbol to signify human desire. The poet wants to convey that human desires are just like flames of fire and there is no end to human desires. So the poet thinks that the world would be destroyed because of the fire of human desires because human desires are a major driving force which compels a person to go to any extent for the fulfillment of those desires. 

Ice:- The poet then says that ice is also equally capable of destroying the world. The poet associates ice with the cold-blooded hatred that modern man has for a fellow human being. The days of physical war are gone, now it is replaced with cold-blooded hatred with people are destroyed mentally. So the poet says that ice is also capable of destroying the world.

Conclusion:- The present poem has a philosophical note in it as comments on human nature. The first aspect of human nature is burning desire and the second aspect is cold hatred. Both are having the capacity to destroy this world. This truth of modern life is highlighted in the present poem.

Themes, Symbols, and Literary device:- 

https://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/frost/themes/

https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/robert-frost/fire-and-ice

https://www.enotes.com/topics/fire-and-ice-robert-frost,