I. A. Richards: Reading Poem Task

I.A. Richard : Reading Poems

Hello Everyone 🤠,

This blog is part of a classroom activity focused on I.A. Richards' practical criticism regarding figurative language. I'll analyze two poem by Harshdev Madhav. This blog is about the 'Practical Criticism' by I.A. Richards.

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In this blog I am going to problematize two poem written by Harshdev Madhav finding its literal meaning and then try to justify the poem. Engaging in such activities enables one to learn how to critique artistic work impartially, without any bias or prejudices towards the creator.

The Poem: એક એવું એ. ટી. એમ. હોય ! By 

Harshdev Madhav

Questions Arising in Literal Reading :

Q.1 How can real life grief be deposited into an ATM as it mentioned in the line "કોઈ એ.ટી.એમ. ક્યાંક તો બનાવે ડિપોઝીટ કોરુંધાકોર દુ:ખ કરીએ ને કડકડતું સુખ હાર આવે " ?

Q.2 How can we connect " ઘડપણ and ફાગણ" from the line " ઘડપણનો 'પીન' ચેન્જ કરીએ તો ફાગણના દિવસો લ્યો ઓ.કે. થઈ જાય" ?

Q.3 How can we transfer memories into dreams in real life Which is suggested in the line" સ્ટેમેન્ટ માગતાં જ સ્મરણોની ટ્રાન્સફર શમણાંના ખાતામાં થાય" ?

Q.4 What does the poet mean by "ઉપવનની 'ફાસ્ટ કૅશ'" ?

Q.5 Which country is referred to in this line "અણદેખ્યો તોયે દેખાય એ જ દેશ" એમાં ક્યાં દેશ વિશે વાત કરવામાં આવી છે"?

Now let's try to justify the above problems...

1.) In the poem, poet imagine that if this type of ATM were exist then everyone can get happiness from it and can forget their sorrow, where we put our all the tension and get happiness from it.

2.) In the fifth stanza, the poet attempts to allude to "Old Age" through the term 'ફાગણ,' which he uses to describe young age. In the poem, he suggests that having the magical ATM in life would allow us to change our Old Age PIN, essentially revitalizing our old age and transforming into youth.

3.) Through this poet tries to convey that if there would be any magic then we can transfer our good old memories into dreams then we can live it again and can be happy again.

4.) Poet imagines that When we want to go somewhere, where we find happiness for example garden then we can fill it or smell it through that ATM.

5.) The poet imagines a situation where, if he wishes to go to a joyful place like a garden or his hometown where he once lived, he simply expresses his desire for a magical ATM to exist, allowing him to visit those places.

* Aim of the poem :

In this poem, the poet Harshdev Madhav expresses a heartfelt desire for an ATM that could fulfill his wishes. Through this magical ATM, he seeks liberation from the sorrows of life and yearns to reunite with his favorite person or the love of his life. His aspirations extend to summoning the monsoon at his command and experiencing a transformation from old age to youth. The poet longs to relive his past, articulating a wish to convert memories into dreams. Ultimately, he dreams of returning to his hometown, meeting his cherished person, and embracing a life filled with joy and fulfillment.

The Poem: ટી.વી. સિરિયલની જેવી ચાહતનું ગીત  by 

Harshdev Madhav

Questions Arising in Literal Reading :

Q.1 What is the meaning of T.V.  સિરિયલની જેમ ચાહવું ?

Q.2 What is the meaning of line " ડાયલોગ બને એવી લાગણીઓ લાગે છે જાણે કે તારો સ્વભાવ" ?

Q.3 How can one add sugar to speech and poison to laughter as it mentioned in the line " ભેળવે તું બોલવામાં 'સ્યૂગર' થોડીક અને હસવામાં ભેળવે તું ઝેર" ?

Q.4 How can someone appear as an SMS as it mentioned in this line "મોર બની જ્યારે અષાઢને હું બોલાવું, એસ.એમ.એસ. જેમ તારું આવવું" ?

Q.5. what is the meaning of this line " આ કેવો દેશ-જેમાં પારકો છે વેશ અને એકલતા મોરપિચ્છ-સ્ક્રીન" ?

Now let's try to justify the above problems...

1). In the first stanza, the poet compares the presence of his beloved to a TV serial. As TV serial episode bringing both happiness and complexity. The beloved's changing moods, from funny and romantic to mysterious, leave the poet feeling confused about realizing their shared dreams in the dream city.

2.) In the second stanza, the poet reflects on makeup as a facade. While some use it for enhancing beauty, others use it to conceal their true selves. The poet questions the longevity of hiding behind a false appearance, emphasizing that beauty can have a hidden dark side. People may fall for external charm, unaware of the deceit beneath. The poet highlights the tendency for some to exploit their beauty or sweet demeanor for personal gains, revealing their true nature after their motives are fulfilled.

3.)  " ભેળવે તું બોલવામાં 'સ્યૂગર' થોડીક અને હસવામાં ભેળવે તું ઝેર", In this line the poet expresses to his beloved that she fails to exhibit genuine feelings towards him. He uses the term "sugar-coated" to describe how she conceals her mistakes with sweet speech, suggesting a lack of sincerity. The poet further contends that even her laughter and smiles are artificial, masking underlying evil intentions. Through this comparison, the poet highlights the theme of people with a "sugar-coated tongue," indicating those who speak sweetly but harbor selfish motives. This serves as a reflection on the true nature of humans, emphasizing how some exploit others for their selfish desires.

 Similarly, in the analogy of "studio & cloud," individuals may compare their beauty to nature, but the poet warns against the false allure of fake beauty, emphasizing that it can never match the authenticity of nature. This cautions against trusting individuals with sweet words and highlights the futility of comparing oneself to the unparalleled beauty of the natural world.

4.) In the fifth stanza, the poet compares himself  with singing peacock and his beloved to an SMS. Expressing a desire for meaningful conversations, the poet conveys that short and indifferent replies from the beloved hurt emotions. The example illustrates unrequited love and the poet suggests investing efforts in someone who values emotions, intentions, and faith. 

We can see that the poet expresses a desire for a lasting connection with his beloved, comparing his longing to that of a peacock waiting for rain. However, he notes that the attention and time he receives from his beloved are akin to short-term SMS messages. This comparison highlights the poet's yearning for more sustained and meaningful interactions, gently conveying his wish for a deeper connection.

5.) The poet talks about the "colours of loneliness" in a country where people have different dress preferences. Despite outward appearances, one can't determine the inner feelings or loneliness of individuals. People may seem happy in public, but inside, they might be struggling with loneliness. The poet emphasizes the importance of not judging solely based on looks and highlights the need for understanding the hidden mental states of individuals.

The Aim of the Poem:

In this poem, the poet Harshdev Madhav seeks to depict human nature. He begins by expressing his deep and pure love for his beloved, who consistently ignores him, revealing the ever-changing moods inherent in human nature. The poet compares his beloved's actions to makeup, illustrating how she alters her reactions and affection. Despite the poet's wholehearted love, the beloved often employs a sugar-coated tongue and a deceptive smile to conceal her mistakes, displaying artificial feelings. Towards the end, the poet reflects on the loneliness that everyone harbors, unseen on their faces. He concludes by questioning how one can expect something from someone who has nothing to offer. Through this poem, the poet candidly portrays the true face of human behavior.