Chapter 12
1. The speaker's tragic mood is very much pronounced in the poem. Elaborate.
Ans: In the poem, the speaker expresses a tragic mood through his reflections on ingratitude and the superficiality of friendships. He contrasts the biting cold of winter with the even more painful sting of being forgotten or betrayed by a friend. While winter can be harsh, its effects are temporary and less sharp compared to the emotional pain of unreturned kindness or a friend's lack of loyalty. This tragic mood is underscored by the cynical view of human relationships, where the speaker feels that most friendships are insincere and love is often foolish, adding to the speaker's sense of emotional despair.
2. What does the poet mean to say "Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly"? Explain.
Ans: In this line, the poet is expressing a cynical view of human relationships. "Feigning" means that many friendships are not genuine but are rather acted or pretended. The poet suggests that friendship is often fake, and people tend to form relationships out of convenience or for selfish reasons. Similarly, "most loving mere folly" implies that love is often foolish or misguided. The poet seems to suggest that love can be irrational and unrealistic, leading to disillusionment when the feelings are not reciprocated or are based on superficial reasons.
3. Why and how is the severe winter kinder than an ungrateful person?
Ans: The speaker argues that the severe winter is kinder than an ungrateful person because the pain caused by the cold is temporary and physical, while the pain of ingratitude is emotional and long-lasting. Ingratitude is described as having a sharper sting, because the hurt caused by an ungrateful person is often deep and lasting. The winter, no matter how harsh, is only an external condition and does not affect the heart as deeply as the emotional sting of being forgotten or betrayed by someone close. This highlights the greater cruelty of human ingratitude compared to natural suffering.
4. Describe how the poet has conveyed the feelings of an afflicted man.
Ans: The poet conveys the feelings of an afflicted man through his comparison of winter's cold with the emotional pain caused by ingratitude. The speaker's tone is bitter and reflective, as he expresses the pain of being forgotten by those he has been kind to. The suffering caused by ungratefulness is depicted as more intense and long-lasting than the physical cold of winter. The repetition of "heigh-ho" and the use of the green holly symbol, which is traditionally associated with festivity, further emphasizes the irony of a world that seems cheerful but is filled with betrayal and emotional turmoil.
5. Summarise this poem in about 100 words.
Ans: In this poem, the speaker reflects on the nature of friendship and love. He expresses a cynical view, suggesting that most friendships are insincere ("feigning") and that love is often foolish ("mere folly"). The poet compares the pain caused by ingratitude to the coldness of winter, stating that ingratitude is far more painful and hurtful than the bitter sky or freezing weather. The poem highlights the emotional suffering that arises from being betrayed or forgotten by a friend, revealing the speaker’s deep sense of disappointment in human relationships.
1.Who wrote the poem "Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho!"?
Ans: The poem was written by William Shakespeare.
2.What is the main theme of the poem?
Ans: The main theme is man's ingratitude and how it hurts more than the coldness of winter.
3.What does the poet compare the bitter winter to?
Ans: The poet compares the bitter winter to the ingratitude of humans, saying the winter is less harmful.
4.What does the poet say about friendship?
Ans: The poet says that most friendship is feigning (pretended or false).
5.What does the poet say about love?
Ans: The poet believes that most loving is mere folly, meaning love is often foolish.
6.What symbol does the poet use in the refrain?
Ans: The poet uses the symbol of the green holly.
7.Why does the poet praise the holly?
Ans: The poet praises the holly because, despite life's bitterness, holly remains evergreen, symbolizing endurance.
8.How does the poet describe life?
Ans: The poet describes life as jolly (joyful), though somewhat ironically, given the sadness in his words.
9.According to the poet, what hurts more than the cold?
Ans: According to the poet, benefits forgotten or friends who do not remember kindness hurt more than the cold.
10 .What is the tone of the poem?
Ans: The tone of the poem is cynical yet playful, mixing bitterness about human nature with a light, song-like rhythm.
