Here in this Post, Sri Ashraf VVN, HST English , DGHSS Tanur shares with us the Glossary, theme of the poem, profile of the poet, figure of speech, appreciation of the poem, textual activities of the poem 'Blowin' in the Wind'. We express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to his remarkable effort
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Blowin' in the Wind Glossary
- Allow- to give
- Anthem- song of praise
- Blow- to move along as current of air
- Banned- prohibited
- Cannon- large heavy gun
- Exist- continue to live
- Pretend- act
PROFILE
Prepare a profile of Bob Dylan, using the given hints.
Birth : May24, 1941
Place of birth : Minnesota,USA
Birth Name : Robert AllanZimmerman
Fame : Song Writer,,singer, artist and writer
Awards : grammy Award in 1973&1980,Nobelprize for Literature in 2016
BOB DYLAN
Bob Dylan was born on 24th May 1941. He was born at Minnesota in USA. His name
at the time of birth is Robert Allan Zimmerman. He is famous as a
singer, song writer, artist and a writer. He won the Grammy Award in
1973 and in 1980. He is the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in
2016.
THEME OF THE POEM BLOWIN' IN THE WIND (Reference to Teachers and Students)
Bowin’ in the wind is a famous song written by famous American singer, artist
and composer Bob Dylan. This is a protest song sung by him. It was written in
a mood to make aware the people of the violation of freedom, peace and
disharmony. The poet was restless due to the violation of human rights and the
indifferent attitude of people towards the crucial problems confronts the
society. He exhorts the people to refrain from conflicts and stop waging war
in the name of insignificant things. He felt that peace, harmony and unity
were absent in the society and turned his attention to restore them. This
situation forced him to compose this poem which became a popular anthem in the
civil t rights movement in America in 1960s.
FIGURE OF SPEECH IN THE POEM BLOWIN' IN THE WIND:
Different types of figures of speech are used in poetry to add to the beauty
and charm of the poem.
- 1. SIMILE
A simile is a direct comparison of two unlike things using the words "like" or
"as." Visions sprang like poppy
- 11. METAPHOR
A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things or ideas stating
that the one is other or does the action of the other.
- III. ALLITERATION
Alliteration is the repetition of words beginning with the same consonant in a
line.
Seas- sail Sleeps-sand
- IV. ASSONANCE
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in different words of the same
line. That means same vowel sound is repeatedly used in more than one word in
a line, the position of the syllable having this vowel should also be same in
these words
- V. PERSONIFICATION
It gives human qualities or things to in animate things or objects
- VI. IMAGES
Imagery is the name given to the elements in a poem that spark off the senses.
Despite "image" being a synonym for "picture", images need not be only visual;
any of the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell) can respond to
what a poet writes.
- Auditory -Cry, answer, wind
- Visual -Sky, mountain, cannon balls, sea
- Olfactory
- Tactile
- Gustatory
APPRECIATION OF THE POEM BLOWIN' IN THE WIND
Blowin’ in the Wind is a song composed by Bob Dylan, the famous American song
writer and artist. It has been written as a protest song which poses a series
of rhetorical questions about peace, war and humanity. The singer creates
highly motivating and inspiring mood that turned out to be a marching song of
the oppressed. The attitude of the poet is reflected in the refrain. This is a
beautiful poem which talks of the genuine problems of political discourses and
the poet raises social issues of the people to fight for justice.
He appeals to the people to address these burning issues which confront the
society like oppression, war and human right violation in a befitting manner.
The poet also talks of indifferent attitude of people to the major issues of
society. He was apprehensive of the callous approach of people to these
crucial issues. So their peaceful life is disrupted and free life cannot be
restored in this unpleasant situation. These grueling issues dishearten and
bring a lot of unspeakable hardships to them. The poet firmly believes that
people should turn their keen attention to eradicate injustice, inequality and
denial of freedom and should establish unrestrained life in the society.
The poet says that injustice may be as firm as mountains but it can be washed
out to the sea, if the oppressed stands united. The oppressors cannot turn a
deaf ear to the song of the protest. Change is imminent and inevitable.
A man, a dove, the mountain, the sea, and cannon balls are the images used by
the poet to evoke senses in the poem. Man symbolizes the people who face
injustice and hope for justice. Mountain represents the rigidity of life; it
reminds us of peace and harmony of life. Dove is an emblem of peace and
reminds us of the enduring struggle for harmony and equality. Sea represents
change and true freedom that slowly erodes the rigidity of mountains. The poet
uses images such as cannon balls flying and white doves add to the beauty and
charm of the poem immensely. These qualities make the poem more appealing and
enchanting.
Let’s revisit and enjoy the poem Blowin' in the Wind
1. What does the word ’roads’ refer to here?
The word ‘roads’ refers to the life experiences.
2. Do these questions given here demand a specific answer? What do you call
such questions?
No, these questions do not demand a specific answer. We call such questions
open ended questions
3. Why does the writer say that the answer is blowing in the wind?
Answer is known to all and it is everywhere.
4. How are the questions about the mountain related to the other two
questions in stanza 2?
Mountain symbolizes ego. The poet says that one day or the other, all humans
will have to face the same difficult situation.
5. How may be the ‘people’ and ‘man’ referred to in stanza 2? What is the
attitude of the writer towards them?
Here ‘people’ represents a group who are downtrodden. Man represents the
modern man who pretends not to see the sufferings of the poor.
6. Pick out the lines from the song that refer to the denial of civil
right....how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just
doesn’t see?
How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?
7. What attitude of the people is reflected in the refrain, ‘The answer is
blow in in
the wind?
indifference of the people.
8. How many questions are there in the first stanza? What are they?
Three questions. How many roads must a man walk before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand? How many
times must the cannon balls fly before they are forever banned?
