MATRIC ENGLISH SINDH BOARD THE HANDS THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE IS THE HAND THAT RULES THE WORLD

 

THE HANDS THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE IS THE HAND THAT RULES THE WORLD

 

Reference:

This poem is written by William Ross Wallace, (1819-1881). He was born in Lexington, Kentucky. His first poem appeared in 1837. He was a lawyer by profession but spent more time on literature. He composed patriotic songs during the civil war which became popular. He possessed a splendid imagination as well as poetic diction.

 

 

Central Idea:

The Central idea of this poem is that the first, noblest and most sacred mission of the mother is to bring up children. Mothers are the real builders of our nation, in the sense that the character of children made or marred by the mother. It is said that:
“Educate women or mothers and the Nation will take charge of itself.”

 

 

Theme:

A French ideologist Charles force said:

“One could judge the degree of the civilization of a country by the social and political possession of its mother.”

 

Summary:

 

This poem is written by the famous American poet William Ross Wallace.

The poet is paying his homage to the mothers because of their holy and sacred task. The mothers bless the palace, cottage and poor man's equally and make them colourful. Mother’s carry out a great sacred responsibility of bringing up the children. In this world, which is full of evils and vices, a mother is a mark of guidance and protection.

Mothers are the actual trainee of the children. Her affection enables the children to recognize divinity and obey the command of Allah. A child’s character depends directly upon the mothers.
Behind every success of accomplishment of the great people is the hand of their mother. Due to the caring guidance which is given in a dedicated and caring manner, a mother can mould the character of a child in good shape.

Mother’s words are so sanctimonious that they are sure to accept because they are strengthened by the worship of angles. So it is true that a mother’s hand that brings up a child is the same that governs every sphere of life.

 

Fill in the blanks.

i.                    This poem is written by William Ross Wallace.

ii.                  William Ross Wallace was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1819.

iii.               His first poem appeared in 1837.

iv.                William Ross Wallace was a lawyer by profession.

v.                   William Ross Wallace spent more time on literature.

vi.                William Ross Wallace composed patriotic songs during the civil war which became popular.

vii.              William Ross Wallace was a friend of Edgar Allen Poe

viii.           William Ross Wallace resembled in both temperament and habits with Edgar Allen Poe.

ix.                William Ross Wallace possessed a splendid imagination as well as poetic diction.

x.                  William Ross Wallace died in 1881.

xi.                Blessings on the hand of women, angels guard its strength and grace.

xii.             In the palace, cottage, hovel, Oh, no matter where the place.

xiii.           Would that never storms assailed it, Rainbows ever gently curled.

xiv.            Infancy's the tender fountain, Power may with beauty flow,

xv.              Mother's first, to guide the streamlets from them souls un-resting grow.

xvi.            Grow on for the good or evil, Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

xvii.         Woman, how divine your mission. Here upon our natal sod!

xviii.       Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

xix.           All true trophies of the ages are from mother's love impearled.

xx.              Blessings on the hand of women fathers, sons and daughters cry,

xxi.           And the sacred song is mingled. With the worship in the sky

xxii.         Mingles where no tempest darkens, rainbows evermore are hurled

xxiii.       For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.

Question and Answers:

 

Q.1    Why does the poet compare the mother’s hands to a rainbow?

Ans. The poet finds the resemblance between the mother’s hands and a rainbow because “rainbow” is a symbol of peace, pleasure and happiness. It indicates that the storm has passed and difficulties have gone. Similarly, a mother is a symbol of pity and pleasure who creates a peaceful and coming atmosphere for the whole family.

 

 

Q.2    What is guided by angles and how?

Ans. The chastity and grace of mothers are guided by angles. No one can destroy the spirit of true mothers because it is protected by the holy angels. They bring divine blessings to the mothers which help the mothers to struggle with the tedium of life.

 

 

Q.3    Explain how the poet gives the credit for all great achievements of people to their mothers?

Ans. The poet gives the credit for all great accomplishment of people to their mothers because all the great personalities are prominent in the world due to the careful bringing up to their mothers. It’s only the result of the mother’s caring guidance and training that the world is passing with the periods of homestay and great successes.

 

 

Q.4    Describe the role of a mother?

Ans. The role of a mother is to bring up and train the children. Mother is an actual guiding force for the children because due to her training a child can instigate a high moral character. Mother also infest in the children the spirit to know the difference between good and evil. A child is virtuous or his bad character depends upon the guidance of the mother.

 

 

Q.5    Why does the poet compare infancy (childhood) with the tender fountain?

Ans. The poet compares infancy (childhood) with the tender fountain because childhood is just like a sophisticated and dedicated fountain which can be led to any stage of life i.e. good or bad. It is only a mother who can guide a very young soil to his destination success or failure.

 

 

Q.6    What does it mean by “Sunshine streamed or evil hurled?”

Ans. Sunshine is a symbol of goodness and virtue. This phrase means that the structure of a man’s character depends mainly upon the mothers. If the training of mother is goo it means that she has infested a high moral character in her children. But if the guidance is not good and the child’s character will prevail by evilness.

 

 

Q.7    Why does the poet say that the prayers of mothers on earth mingle with that said in heaven?

Ans. The poet says so because the prayers of a mother are so sacred and holy that they are accompanied by the holy prayers of angle. So, these prayers are enforced and strengthened. The words of mother keep a sanctimonious status to God, which cannot be neglected because they are also strengthened by the worship of angles.

 

 

Q.8    Describe the poetic diction of William Ross Wallace?

Ans. William Rose Wallace composed patriotic songs during the civil war which became popular. He was a friend of Edgar Allen Roe whom he resembled both in temperament and habits. He possessed a splendid imagination as well as poetic diction.

 

 

Q.9    How can the mother keep the young heart open and for what?

Ans. Mother has a very divine task to complete which starts right from the beginning of the child’s life and continues till the end. She keeps the young heart open in such a way that the child can understand and accept the divine commands of Allah.

 

 

Reference to the context:

 

           “Blessings on the hand of women!

Angels guard its strength and grace,

In the palace, cottage, hovel,

Oh, no matter where the place;

Would that never storms assailed it,

Rainbows ever gently curled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.”

 

i.                   Name the poem. Who wrote this poem?

Ans.    The name of the poem is “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle The Hand That Rules The World”.  This beautiful poem is written by “William Ross Wallace”.

ii.                 Whose hands are being praised in the above stanza? And why?

Ans.     Mother’s hands are being praised in the above stanza. The poet praises mother hands because a mother plays a vital role in nurturing the young ones with great care and zeal.

iii.                What places are mentioned in the above stanza what does that mean?

Ans.    The places which are mentioned in the above stanza are palace, cottage and hovel. The poet wants to tell wherever is the place you will find the same feeling in the mothers’ heart. It means places don’t matter a mother has always motherly feeling towards her children.

 

           “Woman, how divine your mission

Hereupon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from a mother's love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.”

 

i.                   Name the poem. Who wrote this poem?

Ans.    The name of the poem is “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle The Hand That Rules The World”.  This beautiful poem is written by “William Ross Wallace”.

ii.                 What is the divine mission for women?

Ans.     The divine mission of women is to nurture the young ones. They spend the whole life in growing the children well.  They tell them about right and wrong. They guide them spiritually. The women prepare the children for the challenges of daily life

iii.                Explain the phrase “All true trophies of the ages are from a mother’s love?

Ans.    It means that whenever a child gets any reward it is due to his mother’s effort, love and guidance, she gave her child. If she didn’t guide the child he won’t be able to pass the world’s toughest exam.