Treasure Trove Textbook Solutions: Poem: The Patriot | English Class 10 ICSE PDF Download

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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1
 
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
 
 
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the  poet says through the mouth of a political leader, when for the first time, only one
year ago, on that very day, he came to power, the people gave him a very  warm welcome. There
were roses mixed with myrtle flowers which people spread on his way through and through. The
house-tops were crowded with people and they were moving and swinging like mad people. Also
they were so happy as if they were mad. The minarets and domes of churches were shining with
light. These churches were decorated with colourful flags. All this was on that very day when the
politician came into power and it took place only one year ago.
Question 2.
 
By which flower was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
He was welcomed with roses and myrtles.
Question 3.
 
When was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot was welcomed a year ago.
Question 4.
 
“The house-tops seemed to heave and sway”. Explain
 
Answer:
 
The heaving and swaying motion creates an image of overcrowding, emblematic of our speaker’s
importance. It suggests that he is a celebrated figure – one that everyone wants to see.
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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1
 
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
 
 
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the  poet says through the mouth of a political leader, when for the first time, only one
year ago, on that very day, he came to power, the people gave him a very  warm welcome. There
were roses mixed with myrtle flowers which people spread on his way through and through. The
house-tops were crowded with people and they were moving and swinging like mad people. Also
they were so happy as if they were mad. The minarets and domes of churches were shining with
light. These churches were decorated with colourful flags. All this was on that very day when the
politician came into power and it took place only one year ago.
Question 2.
 
By which flower was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
He was welcomed with roses and myrtles.
Question 3.
 
When was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot was welcomed a year ago.
Question 4.
 
“The house-tops seemed to heave and sway”. Explain
 
Answer:
 
The heaving and swaying motion creates an image of overcrowding, emblematic of our speaker’s
importance. It suggests that he is a celebrated figure – one that everyone wants to see.
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Stanza 2
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned,-the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
When the people were given him a warm welcome they rang bells and raised slogans. These
different voices mingled with one another and produced a sort of music.The air became misty and
heavy because of the noisy slogans and the ringing bells. The slogans of the crowd were so heavy
and loud that the adjacent walls of the road-side houses trembled with various cries and noise of
the crowd. These people were welcoming him so happily that if he had told them that mere noise
and slogans did not please him. And that they should give him the sun, that is there in the sky far
away from them , they would have replied, that was executed (done and what else they could do
for him ‘the leader’.
Question 2.
 
What did the patriot want form the “Good folks”?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot said “give me your sun from yonder skies”.
Question 3.
 
Explain“And afterward, what else?”
 
Answer:
 
“And afterward, what else?” adds to the image of endless love that the speaker received from the
public. Browning includes the voice of the crowd here to indicate that the speaker is not
exaggerating, and it makes his fall from glory even more tragic.
Stanza 3
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1
 
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
 
 
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the  poet says through the mouth of a political leader, when for the first time, only one
year ago, on that very day, he came to power, the people gave him a very  warm welcome. There
were roses mixed with myrtle flowers which people spread on his way through and through. The
house-tops were crowded with people and they were moving and swinging like mad people. Also
they were so happy as if they were mad. The minarets and domes of churches were shining with
light. These churches were decorated with colourful flags. All this was on that very day when the
politician came into power and it took place only one year ago.
Question 2.
 
By which flower was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
He was welcomed with roses and myrtles.
Question 3.
 
When was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot was welcomed a year ago.
Question 4.
 
“The house-tops seemed to heave and sway”. Explain
 
Answer:
 
The heaving and swaying motion creates an image of overcrowding, emblematic of our speaker’s
importance. It suggests that he is a celebrated figure – one that everyone wants to see.
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Stanza 2
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned,-the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
When the people were given him a warm welcome they rang bells and raised slogans. These
different voices mingled with one another and produced a sort of music.The air became misty and
heavy because of the noisy slogans and the ringing bells. The slogans of the crowd were so heavy
and loud that the adjacent walls of the road-side houses trembled with various cries and noise of
the crowd. These people were welcoming him so happily that if he had told them that mere noise
and slogans did not please him. And that they should give him the sun, that is there in the sky far
away from them , they would have replied, that was executed (done and what else they could do
for him ‘the leader’.
Question 2.
 
What did the patriot want form the “Good folks”?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot said “give me your sun from yonder skies”.
Question 3.
 
Explain“And afterward, what else?”
 
Answer:
 
“And afterward, what else?” adds to the image of endless love that the speaker received from the
public. Browning includes the voice of the crowd here to indicate that the speaker is not
exaggerating, and it makes his fall from glory even more tragic.
Stanza 3
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
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Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modem politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the leader regretfully says that the people did not help him, instead, it was he who
leaped at the sun and made impossible, possible for them. He brought the sun down and handed it
over to his dear friends (country men). He made, .them realize that every impossible could be
made possible for sincere friends. As such he made every effort and did not leave any thing
undone for them. Had he left anything undone, nobody else would have done that for them. But he
further says with great sorrow that today when only one year has lapsed and that he is no more in
chair, his reward can be seen. It can also be seen what he is reaping as a reward of his deeds. He
has been branded as a traitor by the people of his nation.
Question 2.
 
Comment on the tone of the Patriot in this stanza.
 
Answer:
 
Throughout the whole of stanza, the patriot is reflecting and thinking . He states, ‘Nought man
could do, have I left undone’. He feels he did everything he could have possibly done. We gather
he also has power, ‘what I reap’ illustrating how he has collected his rewards from the work he has
done.
Question 3.
 
What does the word ‘harvest ‘ connote here?
 
Answer:
 
Harvest, here means reward.
Stanza 4
 
 Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modem politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the poet mourns that nobody can be seen on the housetops to welcome him now. It
is quite opposite to the scene when he was received by them. Now there are only a few people,
who are rather paralyzed and are standing at the windows. Now they are watching a different sight.
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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1
 
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
 
 
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the  poet says through the mouth of a political leader, when for the first time, only one
year ago, on that very day, he came to power, the people gave him a very  warm welcome. There
were roses mixed with myrtle flowers which people spread on his way through and through. The
house-tops were crowded with people and they were moving and swinging like mad people. Also
they were so happy as if they were mad. The minarets and domes of churches were shining with
light. These churches were decorated with colourful flags. All this was on that very day when the
politician came into power and it took place only one year ago.
Question 2.
 
By which flower was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
He was welcomed with roses and myrtles.
Question 3.
 
When was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot was welcomed a year ago.
Question 4.
 
“The house-tops seemed to heave and sway”. Explain
 
Answer:
 
The heaving and swaying motion creates an image of overcrowding, emblematic of our speaker’s
importance. It suggests that he is a celebrated figure – one that everyone wants to see.
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Stanza 2
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned,-the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
When the people were given him a warm welcome they rang bells and raised slogans. These
different voices mingled with one another and produced a sort of music.The air became misty and
heavy because of the noisy slogans and the ringing bells. The slogans of the crowd were so heavy
and loud that the adjacent walls of the road-side houses trembled with various cries and noise of
the crowd. These people were welcoming him so happily that if he had told them that mere noise
and slogans did not please him. And that they should give him the sun, that is there in the sky far
away from them , they would have replied, that was executed (done and what else they could do
for him ‘the leader’.
Question 2.
 
What did the patriot want form the “Good folks”?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot said “give me your sun from yonder skies”.
Question 3.
 
Explain“And afterward, what else?”
 
Answer:
 
“And afterward, what else?” adds to the image of endless love that the speaker received from the
public. Browning includes the voice of the crowd here to indicate that the speaker is not
exaggerating, and it makes his fall from glory even more tragic.
Stanza 3
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
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Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modem politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the leader regretfully says that the people did not help him, instead, it was he who
leaped at the sun and made impossible, possible for them. He brought the sun down and handed it
over to his dear friends (country men). He made, .them realize that every impossible could be
made possible for sincere friends. As such he made every effort and did not leave any thing
undone for them. Had he left anything undone, nobody else would have done that for them. But he
further says with great sorrow that today when only one year has lapsed and that he is no more in
chair, his reward can be seen. It can also be seen what he is reaping as a reward of his deeds. He
has been branded as a traitor by the people of his nation.
Question 2.
 
Comment on the tone of the Patriot in this stanza.
 
Answer:
 
Throughout the whole of stanza, the patriot is reflecting and thinking . He states, ‘Nought man
could do, have I left undone’. He feels he did everything he could have possibly done. We gather
he also has power, ‘what I reap’ illustrating how he has collected his rewards from the work he has
done.
Question 3.
 
What does the word ‘harvest ‘ connote here?
 
Answer:
 
Harvest, here means reward.
Stanza 4
 
 Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modem politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the poet mourns that nobody can be seen on the housetops to welcome him now. It
is quite opposite to the scene when he was received by them. Now there are only a few people,
who are rather paralyzed and are standing at the windows. Now they are watching a different sight.
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This sight is a sort of ridicule and everybody agrees to it.
 
Obviously, the sight is horrible because the leader is now being taken to the slaughter  house, or it
can be better said, the leader thinks, that he is being taken to the gallows to be hanged there. It is
all the reward of his good deeds. His deeds have been converted into wicked deeds and people
are now punishing him for his supposed misdeeds.
Question 2.
 
What is ‘shamble’?
 
Answer:
 
Shamble is a slaughter house.
Question 3.
 
What is ‘scaffold’?
 
Answer:
 
‘Scaffold’ is the place where the criminals are hanged.
Question 4.
 
Why does Browning say that the palsied watched the execution?
 
Answer:
 
Browning described the people watching the execution as ‘palsied’. Only the old and riddled with
disease could be bothered enough to watch the hanging. This contrasts with the importance of the
man: a man of power would have many watch his death. It’s all gone wrong as nobody is on the
roof tops.
Stanza 5
 
……
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the poet also mopes over his sad condition. He says that the people are carrying him
to the gallows in the rain. They unnecessarily, have tied his hands behind his back with a tight
rope. When they are taking him to the slaughter-house, the rope cuts his both hands at wrists. The
culprit (the leader) feels that his fore-head is bleeding. This is because everybody in his right sense
is throwing stones at him. Everybody feels that he has done nothing for his countrymen. Every
person has turned against him and the achievements of his past one year have been changed to
misdeeds. This means they have forgotten his service to them and they are now punishing him for
his good work for them.
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Comprehension Passages
Stanza 1
 
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
 
 
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the  poet says through the mouth of a political leader, when for the first time, only one
year ago, on that very day, he came to power, the people gave him a very  warm welcome. There
were roses mixed with myrtle flowers which people spread on his way through and through. The
house-tops were crowded with people and they were moving and swinging like mad people. Also
they were so happy as if they were mad. The minarets and domes of churches were shining with
light. These churches were decorated with colourful flags. All this was on that very day when the
politician came into power and it took place only one year ago.
Question 2.
 
By which flower was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
He was welcomed with roses and myrtles.
Question 3.
 
When was the patriot welcomed?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot was welcomed a year ago.
Question 4.
 
“The house-tops seemed to heave and sway”. Explain
 
Answer:
 
The heaving and swaying motion creates an image of overcrowding, emblematic of our speaker’s
importance. It suggests that he is a celebrated figure – one that everyone wants to see.
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https://www.ncertbooksolutions.com
Stanza 2
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned,-the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
When the people were given him a warm welcome they rang bells and raised slogans. These
different voices mingled with one another and produced a sort of music.The air became misty and
heavy because of the noisy slogans and the ringing bells. The slogans of the crowd were so heavy
and loud that the adjacent walls of the road-side houses trembled with various cries and noise of
the crowd. These people were welcoming him so happily that if he had told them that mere noise
and slogans did not please him. And that they should give him the sun, that is there in the sky far
away from them , they would have replied, that was executed (done and what else they could do
for him ‘the leader’.
Question 2.
 
What did the patriot want form the “Good folks”?
 
Answer:
 
The patriot said “give me your sun from yonder skies”.
Question 3.
 
Explain“And afterward, what else?”
 
Answer:
 
“And afterward, what else?” adds to the image of endless love that the speaker received from the
public. Browning includes the voice of the crowd here to indicate that the speaker is not
exaggerating, and it makes his fall from glory even more tragic.
Stanza 3
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
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Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modem politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the leader regretfully says that the people did not help him, instead, it was he who
leaped at the sun and made impossible, possible for them. He brought the sun down and handed it
over to his dear friends (country men). He made, .them realize that every impossible could be
made possible for sincere friends. As such he made every effort and did not leave any thing
undone for them. Had he left anything undone, nobody else would have done that for them. But he
further says with great sorrow that today when only one year has lapsed and that he is no more in
chair, his reward can be seen. It can also be seen what he is reaping as a reward of his deeds. He
has been branded as a traitor by the people of his nation.
Question 2.
 
Comment on the tone of the Patriot in this stanza.
 
Answer:
 
Throughout the whole of stanza, the patriot is reflecting and thinking . He states, ‘Nought man
could do, have I left undone’. He feels he did everything he could have possibly done. We gather
he also has power, ‘what I reap’ illustrating how he has collected his rewards from the work he has
done.
Question 3.
 
What does the word ‘harvest ‘ connote here?
 
Answer:
 
Harvest, here means reward.
Stanza 4
 
 Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modem politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the poet mourns that nobody can be seen on the housetops to welcome him now. It
is quite opposite to the scene when he was received by them. Now there are only a few people,
who are rather paralyzed and are standing at the windows. Now they are watching a different sight.
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https://www.ncertbooksolutions.com
This sight is a sort of ridicule and everybody agrees to it.
 
Obviously, the sight is horrible because the leader is now being taken to the slaughter  house, or it
can be better said, the leader thinks, that he is being taken to the gallows to be hanged there. It is
all the reward of his good deeds. His deeds have been converted into wicked deeds and people
are now punishing him for his supposed misdeeds.
Question 2.
 
What is ‘shamble’?
 
Answer:
 
Shamble is a slaughter house.
Question 3.
 
What is ‘scaffold’?
 
Answer:
 
‘Scaffold’ is the place where the criminals are hanged.
Question 4.
 
Why does Browning say that the palsied watched the execution?
 
Answer:
 
Browning described the people watching the execution as ‘palsied’. Only the old and riddled with
disease could be bothered enough to watch the hanging. This contrasts with the importance of the
man: a man of power would have many watch his death. It’s all gone wrong as nobody is on the
roof tops.
Stanza 5
 
……
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modern politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor, when he was no more in power. They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his
poem not on a tragic, rather on a next world optimistic note.
 
In these lines the poet also mopes over his sad condition. He says that the people are carrying him
to the gallows in the rain. They unnecessarily, have tied his hands behind his back with a tight
rope. When they are taking him to the slaughter-house, the rope cuts his both hands at wrists. The
culprit (the leader) feels that his fore-head is bleeding. This is because everybody in his right sense
is throwing stones at him. Everybody feels that he has done nothing for his countrymen. Every
person has turned against him and the achievements of his past one year have been changed to
misdeeds. This means they have forgotten his service to them and they are now punishing him for
his good work for them.
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Question 2.
 
Which line is a contrast to the welcome he had received.
 
Answer:
 
The lines are:
For they fling, whoever has a mind,
 
Stones at me for my year’s misdeeds.
 
In spite of this self-sacrifice, the good deeds are seem to be oft been forgotten.
Question 3.
 
What does the rain imagery signify?
 
Answer:
 
It is a pathetic fallacy and helps to add to the depressed mood, and could be argued to be
emblematic of the speaker’s inner-cries and sadness. As well as making the patriot wet it also
reduces his dignity. The rain can also be seen to symbolise how the patriot is innocent as he is
washed clean. As well as this, rain in general represents corruption creating a negative tense
mood. This describes the public who are clearly corrupt for hanging somebody who has doing
nothing wrong.
Stanza 6
 
 
Read the above lines and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
 
Explain with reference to the context.
 
Answer:
 
This is stanza has been taken from the poem Patriot into Traitor” written by Robert Browning.This
poem is a criticism of politics and people’s opinion. When a leader comes into power, people call
him a patriot. When he is dethroned, the same leader is considered a traitor. This is the tragedy of
modem politics. The leader in this poem fell a victim to the same state of affairs. When he came
into power, people showered flowers at him as a patriot. But after a year, they declared him a
traitor,, when he was no more in power.
 
They took him to the gallows. But Browning has ended his poem not on a tragic, rather on a next
world optimistic note.
 
In the given lines the poet, through the mouth of the deposed leader says that he was brought
honorably to the chair and with great pomp and show but now he is being taken very insultingly to
the gallows. He says sometimes great heroes fall from their climax and die. Such has not
happened to him. Had he died in the peak of his power, he would have been happy. Further the
leader ridiculously says that heroes can not expect reward from God in the next world because
they get their reward in this world. In his case people have not done him justice. They have killed
him. He says after death he will go to his Lord Creator where God Might question him about his
deeds he had done for the people. He would reply that he had done his best for them but they
rewarded him with shame. Now he will ask God for a reward because God is just and He would
give him the best reward – in the other world for his service to his people. He would be safe with
God in the work  here after.
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