Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
Short Questions:
i. What is the main theme of the poem?
The main theme of the poem is finding out a positive meaning of life even it is full of struggles, uncertainties, and disappointments. In the first long stanza, the poet goes on questioning the purpose and value of human life amidst despair. At the last short stanza, he emphasizes on finding the beauty and the responsibility of life.
ii. What recurring questions does the poet mention?
The poet keeps asking what the purpose of life is and whether anything good can come from it. We, the human being, have to go through so many hardships, The poet expresses his doubt that whether anything good can come from these challenges. Specifically, he asks: "What good amid these, O me, O life?"
iii. What does the poet mean by 'useless years'?
The poet refers to 'useless years' as the unsuccessful part of his life that seem to have no purpose or meaningfulness. This also indicates the time when a person might feel disconnected, stagnant, and alone in the way of life.
iv. Is age an identity marker? What are the attributes of old age?
Yes. Age can definitely be an identity marker, as it often determines a person's experiences, wisdom, and social roles and responsibility. Attributes of old age may also include physical weakness, the weight of experience, and a deeper understanding of life.
v. What do 'sordid' and 'plodding' mean?
'Sordid' means dirty, immoral or dishonorable actions.
'Plodding' means slow and unglamorous donkeywork.
vi. What 'faith' does the poet mention here?
The poet refers to faith in humanity, trust in life itself. According to the poet, many people live without a clear sense of purpose of life. However, by questioning the faithlessness, he indirectly points to the importance of having some form of faith in life for fulfilling one’s responsibilities.
vii. Is there a symbolic meaning of 'contribute a verse' in the last line?
Yes, 'contribute a verse' symbolically means that despite the struggles and seemingly futile nature of life, each individual can still have a role in the stage. It suggests that every person, through their actions or expression, can contribute to the continuous story of life.
viii. Do you find the answer section of the poem convincing?
The answer section is quite convincing as it offers a sense of hope and purpose in response to the poet's previous questioning. To me, the answer section is highly inspiring. It offers a refreshing perspective on the value of life and encourages active participation in the grand “play” of existence.
ix. What is the poet searching for in the poem?
The poet is searching for the purpose and meaningfulness of human life. The same questions arise in all of us in the time of despair. The poet wanted us to find a positive solution to these as he shows in the last verse of the poem.
x. What does the “powerful play” refer to?
By the term “powerful play” the poet denotes the continuous drama of life where every human being has his own part to play. We, the human being, can not alter the course of the drama, but we can perform the best we can.
