"The Hero," originally titled "Birpurush"

"The Hero," originally titled "Birpurush" in Bengali, takes readers on an imaginary journey through a mysterious and perilous land. Tagore weaves a narrative where a young boy envisions himself as the hero, protecting his mother from danger and displaying unparalleled bravery.

Key Features:

1. Imagery and Setting:

   • Discover the evocative descriptions of the desolate and barren landscape, the prickly meadow, and the narrow-broken path that set the stage for the heroic journey.

2. Emotional Resonance:

   • Unravel the emotional depth of the poem as the boy reassures his frightened mother, engages in a fierce fight with dacoits, and imagines the reactions of his family and village people.

3. Symbolism and Themes:

   • Explore the symbolism embedded in the poem, such as the palanquin, the weapons, and the meadow, as Tagore addresses themes of bravery, maternal love, and the desire for extraordinary experiences.

4. Literary Analysis:

   • Delve into a thoughtful analysis of the poem's structure, language, and narrative techniques, gaining insights into Tagore's mastery of poetic expression.

5. Biographical Context:

   • Learn more about Rabindranath Tagore, the "Bard of Bengal," and his significant contributions to literature, music, and art. Understand how his life experiences may have influenced the creation of "The Hero."

Relevance Today: Reflect on the enduring relevance of Tagore's work, contemplating the universal themes that resonate across time and cultures. Consider how the poem's exploration of heroism and the desire for significance continues to captivate readers worldwide.

Educational Resources: Access educational resources, including discussion questions, lesson plans, and suggested activities for teachers, students, and poetry enthusiasts. Engage in meaningful conversations about the poem's themes and literary elements.

Conclusion: "The Hero" by Rabindranath Tagore invites readers to embark on a literary journey, exploring the boundaries of imagination and courage. This web page serves as a digital gateway to appreciate the beauty and depth of Tagore's poetic masterpiece, encouraging a continued exploration of his literary legacy.

The Hero

Mother, let us imagine we are travelling,

and passing through a strange and dangerous country.

You are riding in a palanquin

and I am trotting by you on a red horse.

It is evening and the sun goes down.

The waste of Joradighi lies wan and grey before us.

The land is desolate and barren.

You are frightened and thinking,

"I know not where we have come to."

I say to you, "Mother, do not be afraid."

The meadow is prickly with spiky grass,

and through it runs a narrow-broken path.

There are no cattle to be seen in the wide field;

they have gone to their village stalls.

It grows dark and dim on the land and sky,

and we cannot tell where we are going.

Suddenly you call me and ask me in a whisper,

"What light is that near the bank?"

Just then there bursts out a fearful yell,

and figures come running towards us.

You sit crouched in your palanquin

and repeat the names of the gods in prayer.

The bearers, shaking in terror,

hide themselves in the thorny bush.

I shout to you, "Don't be afraid, Mother, I am here."

With long sticks in their hands

and hair all wild about their heads,

they come nearer and nearer.

I shout, "Have a care, you villains!

One step more and you are dead men."

They give another terrible yell and rush forward.

You clutch my hand and say,

"Dear boy, for heaven's sake, keep away from them."

I say, "Mother, just you watch me."

Then I spur my horse for a wild gallop,

and my sword and buckler clash against each other.

The fight becomes so fearful, Mother,

that it would give you a cold shudder

could you see it from your palanquin.

Many of them fly, and a great number are cut to pieces.

I know you are thinking, sitting all by yourself,

that your boy must be dead by this time.

But I come to you all stained with blood, and say,

"Mother, the fight is over now."

You come out and kiss me, pressing me to your heart,

and you say to yourself,

"I don't know what I should do

if I hadn't my boy to escort me."

A thousand useless things happen day after day,

and why couldn't such a thing come true by chance?

It would be like a story in a book.

My brother would say,

"Is it possible? I always thought he was so delicate!"

Our village people would all say in amazement,

"Was it not lucky that the boy was with his mother?"

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) The Indian-born genius Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was famous all across the globe for his work in literature, theatre, music, and painting. In 1913, for his poetry book Gitanjali, he was bestowed the Nobel Prize in Literature; he was also known as the "Bard of Bengal." The Hero is a Bengali poem that explores the thoughts and imagination of a young kid, originally called Birpurush. He talks about a made-up adventure he had with his mom, where he heroically saved her from frightening bandits. He wishes everyone would recognize his bravery and courage. The fact that he was willing to give his life to save his mother demonstrates his unwavering devotion to her and makes him a true hero.

Word Meanings:

1.     palanquin: a covered litter or sedan chair, typically carried by means of poles on the shoulders of several people.

2.     Joradighi: name of a place in present-day Bangladesh (earlier a part of Bengal, India). in Bengali, jora means twins and dighi means stretches of water or marshy land

3.     wan: pale, suggesting ill health or exhaustion.

4.     desolate: deserted, barren, and lifeless, often referring to a place devoid of people or vegetation.

5.     prickly: covered with or characterized by prickles or spines; in the context of the poem, it refers to the spiky nature of the grass in the meadow.

6.     buckler: a small, round shield held by a handle or worn on the forearm.

7.     dacoits: armed robbers or bandits, often associated with violent criminal activities.

8.     crouched: to stoop or bend low with the limbs close to the body, often in a defensive or protective posture.

9.     monotony: lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition or routine.

10.  imminent: about to happen; impending or threatening.

A. Answer these questions.

1. Describe the place through which the poet and his mother are travelling

2. "Don't be afraid, Mother, I am here." Why does the poet ask his mother not to be afraid? What does the poet's mother do to stop him?

3. Describe the fight between the poet and the dacoits.

4. What does the poet want to prove? How does he want to prove thar?

5. What does the poet expect his brother and the village people to say after the fight?

B. Think and answer.

1. Why do you think the poet says, A thousand useless things happen day after and why couldn't such a thing come true by chance? What does this tell you about the poet?

2. Why do you think the poet dreams about being a hero? Is this something can do in real life?

………………………………………………………………………………………….

A. Answers

1. Describe the place through which the poet and his mother are traveling:

   • The poet and his mother are travelling through a strange and dangerous country. The landscape is described as the waste of Joradighi, which lies wan and grey before them. The land is desolate and barren, with a prickly meadow, a narrow-broken path, and no sign of cattle in the wide field.

2. "Don't be afraid, Mother, I am here." Why does the poet ask his mother not to be afraid? What does the poet's mother do to stop him?

   • The poet asks his mother not to be afraid because they are confronted by figures running towards them, and the situation appears perilous. The mother, in response, crouches in her palanquin and repeats the names of the gods in prayer. She expresses her fear and concern for the safety of her son.

3. Describe the fight between the speaker and the dacoits:

   • The poet, equipped with a sword and buckler, engages in a fierce fight with the dacoits who come running towards them. The fight is described as fearful, with the clash of weapons, and the poet displays great courage. Many of the dacoits are either driven away or cut to pieces in the intense conflict.

4. What does the poet want to prove? How does he want to prove that?

   • The poet wants to prove his bravery and heroism. He desires to show the world that he is fearless and capable of protecting his mother from danger. He proves this by confronting the dacoits, engaging in a dangerous fight, and ultimately emerging victorious.

5. What does the poet expect his brother and the village people to say after the fight?

   • The poet expects his brother and the village people to express amazement and disbelief. He envisions them saying that it was lucky the boy was with his mother and that they never thought he had such strength and courage. The poet anticipates a positive reaction to his heroic actions.

B. Think and answer.

1. Why do you think the poet says, "A thousand useless things happen day after day, and why couldn't such a thing come true by chance?" What does this tell you about the poet?

   • The poet expresses a desire for extraordinary events to happen amidst the mundane occurrences of daily life. This suggests that the poet yearns for excitement, adventure, and the opportunity to prove himself as a hero. It indicates a longing for something remarkable to break the monotony of everyday existence.

2. Why do you think the poet dreams about being a hero? Is this something he can do in real life?

   • The poet likely dreams about being a hero as a way of escaping the ordinary and mundane aspects of life. The dream allows him to experience a sense of adventure, courage, and the fulfilment of protecting and being acknowledged by his mother. In real life, while the poet may not engage in such dramatic heroic acts, the dream serves as a way for him to explore and express his inner desires for bravery and significance.

Extra Questions

1. What is the setting of the imaginary journey described in the poem?

2. How does the speaker reassure his mother when she is frightened during the journey?

3. What is the condition of the land through which the speaker and his mother are traveling?

4. How does the speaker describe the meadow they pass through, and what obstacle do they face?

5. What is the mother's reaction when she sees a light near the bank, and what follows?

6. How does the speaker prepare to confront the dacoits, and what weapons does he use?

7. Describe the atmosphere and emotions during the fight between the speaker and the dacoits.

8. What does the speaker want to prove through his actions, and whom does he want to impress?

9. How does the speaker imagine the reaction of his brother and the village people after the fight?

10. Why does the speaker believe that such heroic events could be like a story in a book or happen by chance in real life?

Answers:

1. What is the setting of the imaginary journey described in the poem?

   • The imaginary journey in the poem is set in a strange and dangerous country, with the poet and his mother traveling through the desolate and barren waste of Joradighi.

2. How does the poet reassure his mother when she is frightened during the journey?

   • The poet reassures his mother by telling her not to be afraid. He assures her that he is there with her, saying, "Don't be afraid, Mother, I am here."

3. What is the condition of the land through which the poet and his mother are traveling?

   • The land is described as desolate and barren. The waste of Joradighi lies wan and grey before them, creating an atmosphere of emptiness and solitude.

4. How does the poet describe the meadow they pass through, and what obstacle do they face?

   • The meadow is described as prickly with spiky grass. The obstacle they face is a narrow-broken path through the meadow, and the absence of cattle in the wide field adds to the desolation.

5. What is the mother's reaction when she sees a light near the bank, and what follows?

   • The mother becomes frightened when she sees a light near the bank. Following this, there is a burst of a fearful yell, and figures come running towards them, creating a sense of imminent danger.

6. How does the poet prepare to confront the dacoits, and what weapons does he use?

   • The poet prepares to confront the dacoits by spurring his horse for a wild gallop. He uses a sword and buckler, and his readiness for a fight is evident in the clash of weapons during the confrontation.

7. Describe the atmosphere and emotions during the fight between the poet and the dacoits.

   • The atmosphere during the fight is described as fearful. The emotions involved include the poet's courage, the terror of the dacoits, and the intense clash of weapons. The fight is a dramatic and pivotal moment in the poem.

8. What does the poet want to prove through his actions, and whom does he want to impress?

   • The poet wants to prove his bravery and heroism through his actions. He wants to impress his mother and the world with his fearlessness and ability to protect his loved ones in the face of danger.

9. How does the poet imagine the reaction of his brother and the village people after the fight?

   • The poet imagines his brother and the village people expressing amazement at his unexpected display of strength and courage. They might acknowledge the luck of having the boy present to protect his mother.

10. Why does the poet believe that such heroic events could be like a story in a book or happen by chance in real life?

    • The poet believes that such heroic events could be like a story in a book or happen by chance in real life, expressing a longing for extraordinary occurrences amidst the monotony of daily life. This suggests a desire for adventure and the belief that unexpected heroic moments can transpire.