2.2 Indian Weavers – Sarojini Naidu ICE BREAKERS & Figures of speech

 

2.2 Indian Weavers – Sarojini Naidu                       ICE BREAKERS   *Artisans are also called craftsmen. They are creators of diverse goods and use their hands to create unique, functional and also decorative items using traditional techniques. Now complete the web given below:                  Different types of artisans- a) Goldsmith   b) Tailor d) Carpenter  e) Baker   f) Shoemaker  g) Potter   h) Blacksmith     i)Stonemason / Bricklayer                                                                *Discuss with your partner the seasons/occasions when we need:                                                                  (a) We need woolen clothes in winter season from saving the cold and to warm our body.                                                                                                           (b) We need casual clothes in daily life at home, for picnic, shopping   rest and relaxation etc.                                                                                                     (c) We need rich silk clothes in festivals and marriage ceremonies.                                                                                                                  (d)We need colourful, comfortable clothes for various functions, , special programmes, occasions and in parties, etc.  *Let’s play a game. The teacher will ask the students some questions. Students will understand that there are some exceptions to the general rules. Let’s start.              One who weaves is a weaver.   One who plays a game is a gamer/player  One who sings is a singer          One who dances is a dancer                              One who teaches is a teacher         One who cooks is a cook *We have often seen the picture of Gandhiji spinning on his charkha.  Discuss the reasons behind this. One has been given for you.                                                                                  (a) To give rural people an opportunity to earn their livelihood.                          (b) To develop the skills of people and make them self-reliant.                        (c) To create the emotions of freedom.                                                          (d) To promote/propagate local products.                                                                     e) To make able to weave their own clothes. *Name some tools used by the weavers.                                              (a) Loom   (b) Needles    (c) Scissor d) Bobbin and Shuttle e) Dowels        f) Scale / Tape   g) a sketch pad   h) Shade stick i) Weaving yarn *Name some types of yarns used by the weavers. (a) Linen   (b) Polyester   (c) Acrylic  d) Silk    e) Nylon f) Cashmere g) Linen  Alpaca Fiber h) Sheep's Wool i) Silk from Silkworms j) Hemp k) Cotton l) Bamboo m) Rayon n) Jute Title:        The title ‘Indian Weavers’ focuses over Indian artisans particularly weavers. The adjective ‘Indian’ is used with a definite purpose appreciating the work of Indian Weavers. As the weavers intertwine the fabrics, the poetess aims to interlace a message through the poem. New words with their meanings:  1) Weaving – interlacing threads to produce fabrics or cloth  2) Break of day – morning, dawn, sunrise  3) Halcyon – Asian/African kingfisher bird 4) Wild – untamed, free  5) Robe – dress, clothe, frock, dressing gown, housecoat  6) Plumes – feathers of bird, quills 7) Marriage-veils – bridal veils, wedding veils  (Hindi – Chunari), bridal gown, specially to cover face 8) Solemn – serious, sober  9) Still – rest, stable, silent 10) Chill – extreme cool 11) Funeral – burial, cremation, last rites   12) Shroud –  white cloth for dead body 13) Fall of night- late evening  14) Bright garments- brightly (shining) colored garments 15) Solemn and still- sacred, serious, quiet  16) Moonlight chill- cold dead night 17) Gay - with happiness or with fun Theme     The poem ‘Indian Weavers’ highlights the craft and skill of Indian weavers. The poetess has very nicely presented three phases of life. The life cycle is befittingly depicted from the work of weavers.                               Figures of speech 1. Weavers, weaving at break of day, Alliteration - The sound/letter ‘w’ is repeated twice so this is Alliteration. 2. Weavers, weaving at break of day, Metaphor- childhood is implicity / indirectly compared with a break of day. 3. Weavers, weaving at break of day, Climax - The words are arranged in ascending order. 4. Why do you weave a garment so gay? Alliteration - The sounds ‘w’ and ‘g’ are repeated twice here so this is Alliteration. 5. Why do you weave a garment so gay? Interrogation - A rhetorical question is used for poetic effect so this is Interrogation. 6.  Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild. Inversion - The words are not in correct prose order. The correct word prose order is - The wing of a halcyon wild as blue. 7. Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild. Alliteration - The sound ‘w’ is repeated twice so this is Alliteration. 8. Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild. Simile - The blue colour garment is directly compared with the wing of wild halcyon by using the word ‘as’. 9. We weave the robes of a newborn child. Alliteration - The sound ‘w’ is repeated twice so this is Alliteration. 10. Weavers, weaving at fall of night. Alliteration - The sound of ‘w’ is repeated twice so this is Alliteration. 11. Weavers, weaving at fall of night Metaphor – Adulthood / young is implicity compared with fall of night. 12. Weavers, weaving at fall of night. Climax - The words are arranged in ascending order. 13. Why do you weave a garment so bright? Alliteration - The sound ‘w’ is repeated twice so this is Alliteration. 14. Why do you weave a garment so bright? Interrogation - A rhetorical question is used for poetic effect. 15. Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green. Simile - The garment/clothes is compared with purple & green colours and plumes of the peacock. 16. Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green. Alliteration - The sound ‘p’ is repeated three times so this is Alliteration. 17. We weave the marriage veils of a queen. Alliteration - The sound of ‘w’ is repeated twice so this is Alliteration. 18. Weavers, weaving solemn and still. Alliteration – The sounds ‘w’ and ‘s’ are repeated twice so this is Alliteration 19. Weavers, weaving solemn and still. Tautology - ‘solemn’ and ‘still’ have same meaning words so this is a tautology. 20. What do you weave in the moonlight chill? Interrogation - A rhetorical question is used for poetic effect. 21. What do you weave in the moonlight chill? Inversion – The words are not arranged in correct order. The correct word prose order is – What do you weave in the chill moonlight? 22. What do you weave in the moonlight chill? Alliteration – The sound of ‘w’ is repeated twice so this is Alliteration. 23. What do you weave in the moonlight chill? Interrogation- A rhetorical question is used for poetic effect. 24. White as a feather and white as a cloud, Simile – The white garment is directly compared with a feather and a cloud. 25. White as a feather and white as a cloud, Repetition – The words ‘white’ and ‘as’ are repeated. 26. White as a feather and as a cloud, We weave a dead man's funeral shroud. Simile- funeral shroud is directly compared with a white feather and a cloud. 27. We weave a dead man's funeral shroud. Alliteration - The sound ‘w’ is repeated twice so this is Alliteration.             Rhyming pairs                                                            1ststanza:- day-gay, wild-child   2ndstanza:- night-bright, green-queen                                3rdstanza:- still-chill, cloud-shroud Rhyming Scheme - 1ststanza/2ndstanza/3rdstanza- AABB                                   CRITICAL APPRECEATION About the poem: This short poem – “Indian Weavers” by Sarojini Naidu gives us a glimpse of the life and work of India’s famous handloom craftsmanship. The Form and Theme: the theme of the poem is the development of human life through various stages. The poet uses questions and answers form to throw light on the various stages of life. The three different timings of a day and the types of clothes the weaver's weave represent the ways of life. Poetic Style, Language features, Poetic Devices: The poet uses a very simple style and vivid words to represent the significance of different stages of life – birth-adulthood-death, as the weavers work in the morning, noon, and late evening. The metaphors: dawn – birth, dusk – adulthood, night – death. Other poetic devices used are Simile, Alliteration, and Interrogation. The rhyme scheme is ‘a a b b’. Message, Values reflected: the poem is dedicated to the talented and hardworking weavers and salutes them. My opinion and evaluation of the poem: I like the poem for its beauty of thought, colorfulness and use of imagery.