Class 8TH English |Prayer For Strength (Rabindranath Tagore)| Jkbose Class 8 |
Summary of the Poem
The Poem “Prayer for Strength” has been written by Rabindranath Tagore. It is in the form of a prayer, and the poet implores his Lord to provide him with strength so that he can overcome all the hurdles in life.
The poem begins with the poet asking Lord to strike at the very poverty in his heart. He is asking his God to provide him strength so that he can lightly bear the joys and sorrows of life and not get carried away with it. Moreover, he wants strength so that his love can be fruitful in service.
The poet then asks for strength so that he never disowns the poor or bend before the obnoxious minds. He asks for strength to raise his mind far above daily trifles and finally asks for the strength to surrender himself completely to God’s will with love.
Thinking About The Poem
Q.1. Why does the poet want God to strike at his heart?
Ans. The poet wants God to strike at his heart so that he could bear the joys and sorrows of poverty. He also implores his lord to remove in him the hard heartedness and remake it with love and compassion.
Q.2. What does the poet want the strength for?
Ans. The poet wants strength to bear joys and sorrows. He wants strength to make his love fruitful in service. He needs strength never to disown the poor or bow before a tyrant. Moreover, the poet needs strength to avoid the daily trifles and submit his will to the Will of God
Q.3. How can love be made meaningful in one’s life?
Ans:- If you love someone and your love changes the life of your beloved in a fruitful way with sweet and nice results that you have made your love meaningful in one’s life.
Q.4. What should be our attitude towards the poor?
Ans. Our attitude towards the poor should be very sympathetic. We should always help the poor and work for their welfare.
Q.5. What does “bend my knees” signify?
Ans. ‘Bend my knees’ in the poem signifies to resist or oppose disrespectful power and not to bend before them.
Q.6. Why does the poet want to raise his mind high above “daily trifles”?
Ans. The poet wants to raise his mind high above the daily trifles because he wants to overcome the thinking about the things of little value and think about the great things that may be beneficial for the people.
Q.7. Why does the poet ask for strength to surrender his will to God’s will?
Ans. The poet wants to surrender his will to the Will of God in order to live a pure and obedient life. As it is not easy to submit one’s will, the poet prays for the strength to do so.
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