Saturday, September 4, 2021

Meeting at Night – A Detailed Analysis for Class XI Students of West Bengal. বিস্তারিত আলোচনা।

September 4, 2021
Created by Minhajuddin Mondal
Mobile : +917797243129  

“Meeting at Night” – A Detailed Analysis. This analysis is very helpful for all students. Read and prepare yourself. Very easy to understand. Don’t worry. Only read and get more marks in Final Exam.

“Meeting at Night” কবিতাটি এখানে বিস্তারিত ভাবে আলোচনা করলাম। প্রতিটি ইংরেজি শব্দের বাংলা মানে সহ খুবই সহজ করে আলোচনা করা হয়েছে। সমস্ত ছাত্র-ছাত্রী উপকৃত হবে। যদি একটু মন দিয়ে নীচে আলোচনাটি একবার পড়ো তাহলেই কবিতাটি সুন্দর ভাবে বুঝতে পারা যাবে।



Meeting at Night

Written by Robert Browning

(রবার্ট ব্রাওনিং এর দ্বারা লেখা হয়েছে।)


Robert Browning (1812-1889) was an English poet and playwright from the nineteenth century. Browning’s major works include The Last Ride TogetherMy Last Duchess, Fra Lippo LippiThe Pied Piper of Hamelin is a famous children’s verse written by him.

বঙ্গানুবাদ :  রবার্ট ব্রাউনিং (1812-1889) ছিলেন ঊনবিংশ শতাব্দীর একজন ইংরেজ কবি এবং নাট্যকার। ব্রাউনিং – এর প্রধান লেখা গুলি হলো- The Last Ride TogetherMy Last Duchess, Fra Lippo LippiThe Pied Piper of Hamelin হলো কবির লেখা একটি বিখ্যাত শিশুদের কবিতা।



In the poem, the poet describes a journey that ends in a secret meeting between lovers. The poet describes the journey and the meeting in detail. The poem concludes with the delighted meeting of the lovers by a farm near the sea beach.

বঙ্গানুবাদ :  এই কবিতায় কবি একটি ভ্রমণকাহিনীর কথা বর্ণনা করেছেন যেই ভ্রমণকাহিনীটি শেষ হয়েছে প্রেমিক-প্রেমিকার এক গোপন সাক্ষাতে। ভ্রমণ কাহিনীটি এবং প্রেমিক-প্রেমিকার  সাক্ষাতটি  কবি পুঙ্খানুপুঙ্খ ভাবে বর্ণনা করেছেন।  কবিতাটি শেষ হয়েছে সমুদ্র সৈকতের কাছে একটি গোলাবাড়িতে প্রেমিক-প্রেমিকার আনন্দপূর্ণ সাক্ষাতে।


Contents 




Here is the text of the poem Meeting at Night: “Meeting at Night” – কবিতাটির টেক্সট্:

The grey sea and the long black land;

ধূসর বর্ণের সমুদ্র এবং দীর্ঘ কালো বা অন্ধকার মাঠ/জমি/ভূমি;

And the yellow half-moon large and low;

এবং হলুদ রঙের বিশাল এবং নীচের দিকে (অর্থাৎ দিগন্তের দিকে) নেমে আসা অর্ধ-চন্দ্র;

And the startled little waves that leap

এবং চমকে যাওয়া বা বিরক্ত হওয়া ছোট ছোট ঢেউগুলি যেগুলি লাফিয়ে ওঠে

In fiery ringlets from their sleep,

অগ্নিভ ছোট ছোট বলয়ে তাদের ঘুম থেকে,

As I gain the cove with pushing prow,

যখন আমি খাঁড়িতে পৌঁছালাম ঠিলে নিয়ে যাওয়া নৌকার সুঁচালো অগ্রভাগ নিয়ে,

And quench its speed i’ the slushy sand.

এবং এর (অর্থাৎ নৌকাটির) গতি কমালাম কর্দমাক্ত বালুরাশিতে।

Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;

তারপর সমুদ্রের উষ্ণ গন্ধ-মাখা এক মাইল পথ; (পার হতে হলো)

Three fields to cross till a farm appears;

তিনটি জমি বা মাঠ অতিক্রম করতে হলো যতক্ষণ না একটি গোলাবাড়িতে পৌঁছায়;

A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch

তারপর জানলার কাচে বা শার্সিতে একটি ছোট্ট টোকা

And blue spurt of a lighted match,

এবং জ্বলে উঠল জ্বলন্ত দেশলাইয়ের নীল স্ফুলিঙ্গ,

And a voice less loud, through its joys and fears,

এবং আরও মৃদু একটি কন্ঠস্বর (শোনা গেল) আনন্দ ও ভয়ের মাঝে,

Than the two hearts beating each to each!

(যেই কন্ঠস্বর প্রেমিক-প্রেমিকার) দুটি হৃদয়ের স্পন্দনের শব্দের চেয়েও মৃদু।



Important Words: (গুরুত্বপূর্ণ শব্দ):


ringlets: small ring (ছোট বলয়)

cove : narrow cave (খাঁঁড়ি)

prow: the front of a boat (নৌকার অগ্রভাগ)

quench: here, slow down (কমানো)


i’: short form of in (poetical use) (in এর সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপ হলো i’, কাব্যিক ব্যবহার)


spurt: here, sudden glow (উৎসারণ)



Gist of the poem Meeting at Night: (“Meeting at Night” – কবিতাটির নির্যাস:)


The lover sets out his journey in a boat at night. His purpose is to meet his beloved. There is the half-moon in the sky at the time oc his journey. The sleepy sea wakes up in waves. The ship or boat reaches at the bay. The lover slows down the speed of the boat.




Word Meaning (শব্দের মানে)


grey – শব্দের মানে ‘ধূসর’। (of ash colour).

We have to keep in mind that the sea is grey due to dark night and winter mist. আমাদের মনে রাখতে হবে যে অন্ধকার রাত্রি এবং শীতের কুয়াশার জন্যই সমুদ্রকে ধূসর দেখাচ্ছে। The word ‘grey’ has been used as an adjective. এখানে ‘grey’ শব্দটি বিশেষণ হিসেবে ব্যবহৃত হয়েছে।

sea – সমুদ্র।
long –  দীর্ঘ বা লম্বা (of great length). It has been used as an adjective. এটি বিশেষণ হিসেবে ব্যবহৃত হয়েছে।

black – dark (অন্ধকার বা কালো). It has been used here as an Adjective

land – an area of earth (জমি বা মাঠ).

অন্ধকার রাত্রি, কুয়াশা এবং দূরত্বের জন্য জমি বা মাঠকে কালো দেখাচ্ছে।

The land and sea brings out the images of motion and stability.

yellow – হলুদ (of yellowish colour). It has been used here as an Adjective.

half-moon – অর্ধ-চন্দ্র (crescent or half in size).

large – (বিশাল) enormous. It has been used here as an Adjective.

low – (নীচের দিকে নেমে আসা বা ঝোঁকা) bending downward. It has been used here as an Adjective (এটি বিশেষণ হিসেবে ব্যবহৃত হয়েছে).

And the yellow half-moon large and low – the moon is half, large and low and yellow in colour.

The moon is pale. It seems to bend down.

startled – Surprised/ agitated/alarmed/disturbed/astonished (চমকিত হওয়া বা বিরক্ত হওয়া). It has been used here as an Adjective.

little – (ছোট্ট) small

waves – (ঢেউ) billows/ sparkes.

that – (যেই ঢেউগুলি) the waves are referred to here.

leap – (লাফিয়ে ওঠে বা জেগে ওঠে) jump/spring.

And the startled little waves that leap:

The sea at night is calm. It is in slumber. It does not expect any ship or boat. But
the lover is out in a boat. The boat advances. The sea wakes up. Waves rise. They
leap. The sea looks a bit disturbed.

fiery – (আগুনের মতো বা আগুন ঝরা) full of fire/fire-producing/blazing/burning.

It has been used here as an Adjective.

ringlets (আঙটির মতো গোল বা ছোট বলয়) – This is diminutive form of ‘ring’. Ringlets mean little rings / little circular shapes.

from their sleep – (তাদের ঘুম থেকে) from the slumber (ঘুম) the wavelets (ছোট ঢেউগুলি) wake up (জেগে ওঠে).
The sea is sleepy. So, there is current in the sea. That is why the sea seems to be sleepy. But the boat breaks the sleep. Immediately, the waves leap. Being disturbed, the waves look angry.

As – (যখন) when/at the time when.

I – (এখানে প্রেমিক) the speaker or, the lover.

gain – (পৌঁছালাম) reach/arrive. It is a verb.

cove – (ছোট উপসাগর বা খাঁড়ি) a small bay/creek.

pushing – (ঠিলে নিয়ে যাওয়া) advancing by applying force or driving forward.

prow – (জাহাজ বা নৌকার অগ্রভাগ) the pointed (সুঁচালো) front (সামনের) part (অংশ) of the ship (জাহাজের বা নৌকার).

quench – (কমিয়ে দিলাম) slow down

its – (নৌকাটির বা জাহাজটির) of the boat.

speed – (গতি) velocity/movement/rapidity/pace.

i’ –  (in এর সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপ) This is the short form of ‘in’.

slushy – (কাদা মাখা বা কর্দমাক্ত) muddy. This is an adjective (এটিএকটি বিশেষণ).

sand – (বালুরাশি) shore (এখানে সমুদ্র সৈকতকে বোঝানো হয়েছে)।
quench its speed i the slushy sand:

When the lover reaches the small bay with the boat, he slows down the speed of  the boat. Now he is going to get down from the boat.

(অর্থাৎ, যখন প্রেমিক তার নৌকা নিয়ে খাঁড়িতে পৌঁছাল, তখন সে তার নৌকাটির গতি কমিয়ে দিল। এবার সে নৌকা থেকে নামবে।)

Then – (তারপর) later, after. After coming down from the boat (অর্থাৎ নৌকা থেকে নামার পর)

A mile – (এক মাইল) a unit for measuring distance (দূরত্ব পরিমাপের একক)

Warm – (উষ্ণ বা গরম) hot.

Sea-scented – (সমুদ্রের গন্ধ মাখা) – filled with scent of the sea.

Beach – (সমুদ্র সৈকত বা সমুদ্র তট) shore.

(তারপর প্রেমিক কে পার হতে হলো এক মাইল দীর্ঘ সমুদ্র সৈকত।

Three fields – তিনটি মাঠ বা জমি।

To cross – (অতিক্রম করার)

The lover has to cross three fields to reach his destination.

(প্রেমিককে তিনটি জমি বা মাঠ অতিক্রম করতে হলো তার লক্ষ্যে পৌঁছানোর জন্য)।

Till – যতক্ষণ না পর্যন্ত।

A farm – ( একটি গোলাবাড়ি বা খামার বাড়ি) a place where harvesting (চাষ) of crop (শস্য) and cattle is done.

Appears – (দেখা যায় বা আবির্ভূত হয়) to come in view (অর্থাৎ যেটা দেখতে পাওয়া যায়)

* কবি এখানে বলতে চাইছেন একটি সমুদ্র, একমাইল দীর্ঘ সমুদ্র সৈকত এবং তিনটি মাঠ বা জমি পার হওয়ার পর একটি গোলাবাড়ি দেখা গেল। অর্থাৎ প্রেমিক একটি গোলাবাড়িতে এসে উপস্থিত হলো।

A tap – ( একটি মৃদু বা আলতো টোকা) a slight or gentle knock or hit.

Pane – (জানলার কাঁচ বা শার্সি) sheet or piece of glass of a window.

(After reaching the farm the lover slightly knocked at the window pane.)

গোলাবাড়িতে পৌঁছানোর পর প্রেমিক গোলাবাড়ির জানলার শার্সিতে আলতো করে টোকা মারলেন।

Quick – (দ্রুত বা তৎক্ষনাৎ বা সঙ্গে সঙ্গে) fast or immediate.

Sharp – তীক্ষ্ম

Scratch – (আঁচড় বা আঁচড়ের শব্দ) scrubbing sound. Here the striking of a match for making fire. (এখানে আগুন জ্বালানোর জন্য  দেশলাই কাঠি ঘসার শব্দের কথা বলা হয়েছে)।

And – এবং

Blue – (নীল রঙের) of bluish colour.

Spurt – (হঠাৎ উৎসারণ বা নিষ্ক্রমণ) sudden jet or gushing out.

(দেশলাই কাঠি ঘসার সঙ্গে সঙ্গে যে নীল রঙের আলোর উৎসারণ ঘটে তার কথা বলা হয়েছে।)

এখানে মনে রাখতে হবে যে প্রেমিক জানালায় টোকা মারার সঙ্গে সঙ্গে গোলাবাড়ির ভেতরে প্রেমিকা দেশলাই কাঠি দিয়ে আগুন জ্বালালো।

Lighted – (আলোকিত বা প্রজ্জ্বলিত)

Match – (দেশলাই কাঠি)

And – (এবং)

A voice – (একটি কন্ঠস্বর) Here the voice of lovers এখানে প্রেমিক প্রেমিকার কথোপকথনের কথা বলা হয়েছে।

Less – কম

Loud – (জোরের) অর্থাৎ প্রেমিক-প্রেমিকার কথোপকথনের কণ্ঠস্বরটি অতি ক্ষীণ বা মৃদু।

Through – মধ্যে দিয়ে

Joys – (আনন্দ)

And – (এবং)

Fears – (ভয়)

আনন্দ ও ভয় মিশ্রিত কন্ঠস্বর।

Than – (চেয়ে/থেকে)

(Less….than) – Comparative Degree.

The two hearts – (দুটি হৃদয়)

The two hearts of the lovers.

Beating – (হৃৎস্পন্দন) the beating of heart. (স্পন্দিত হচ্ছে)

Each to each – (পরস্পরের প্রতি) reciprocally. এখানে কবি বলতে চেয়েছেন তাদের (প্রেমিক-প্রেমিকার) কণ্ঠস্বর টি তাদের হৃদস্পন্দনের শব্দের থেকেও ক্ষীণ বা মৃদু।




Some important information about the poem:

(কবিতা সম্পর্কে কিছু গুরুত্বপূর্ণ তথ্য):

* The rhyme scheme used in this poem is  a b c c b a     d e f  f  e  d

* The poem is lyrical in quality.

* Actually “Meeting at Night” was first published  in “Dramatic Romances and Lyrics” in 1845.

* It was first written as “Night and Morning”.

* Later, it was rearranged and two separate poems were written. They are “Meeting at Night” and “Parting at Morning”.

I have discussed and analyzed the poem “Meeting at Night” minutely so that you can do an excellent performance in your final exam.


✍ Minhajuddin Mondal (+917797243129)  

Meeting at Night – Important Short Questions (SAQ) for Class XI Students, WBCHSE

Short Answer Type Questions (SAQ)


Created by Minhajuddin Mondal 
Date : September 5, 2021
Mobile : +917797243129
    

1. Why is the poet persona out on a journey at night?

Ans: The poet persona is out on a journey at night because he wants to meet his beloved secretly.

2. How does Browning describe the moon in the poem?

Ans: In the poem Browning describes the yellow half moon as large and low.

3. What is the colour of the sea?

Ans:  The colour of the sea is grey.

4. How long is the sea-scented beach?

Ans: The sea-scented beach is one mile long.

5. Why does the lover tap at the pane?

Ans: The lover taps at the pane to announce his arrival to his beloved.

6. Where does the boat slow down?

Ans: The boat slows down as it reaches the cove and touches the slushy sand.

7. What does the poem “Meeting at Night” record?

Ans: The poem “Meeting at Night” records the lover’s journey and his secret meeting with his beloved.

9. What does the word 'prow' mean?

Ans: The word 'prow' means the pointed face of a boat or ship.

10. What does the 'fiery ringlets' stand for?

Ans: The 'fiery ringlets' stand for the secret passion and anticipation of the lover before meeting his beloved.

11. In the poem what does the word 'cove' mean?

Ans: Here in the dramatic romance "Meeting at Night", the word 'cove' means bay.

12. What is the meaning of 'slushy sand'?

Ans: The 'slushy sand' means the soft sand mixed with mud at the shore where the lover slows down his boat.

13. Why does the waves startle?

Ans: The waves startle because of the approaching boat which, according to the poet, wakes them up from their sleep.

14. Where from does the 'blue spurt' come?

Ans: The sudden blue spurt of light comes from the lighting of a match stick from inside the farmhouse.

15. What did the beloved do to announce her presence?

Ans: The beloved scratches a matchstick which gives out a blue spurt of light to announce her presence.

16. The voice is less loud than what?

Ans: The voice is less loud than the sound produced by the two beating hearts.

17. How is the land described in the poem?

Ans: In the poem the land is black which indicates that the time of the journey was night.

18. Where do the lovers meet?

Ans: The lovers meet secretly at a farmhouse quite at a distance from the sea.

19. Why is the 'yellow half-moon' described as 'large and low'?

Ans: The 'yellow half-moon' is described as 'large' in size as the sky is very clear, and it is 'low' to the horizon. It may be that it is either rising or setting.

20. What type of poem is "Meeting at Night"?

Ans: "Meeting at Night" is a dramatic romance written by Robert Browning.

21. What does the "blue spurt of a lighted match" signify?

Ans: In Browning's poem "Meeting at Night", 'blue spurt of a lighted match' signifies that the very moment for meeting each other has ultimately come.

22. What sense does ‘long black land’ evoke in the poem “Meeting at Night”?

Ans: In the poem “Meeting at Night”, the ‘long black land’ evokes  a sense of depression and illusion of love.

23. How is the land in the poem “Meeting at Night”?

Ans: The land in the poem “Meeting at Night” is black and long.

24. “In fiery ringlets from their sleep” - who are imagined to sleep?

Ans: The little waves in the sea are imagined to sleep.

25. What does the speaker do after reaching the farm?

Ans: After reaching the farm, the speaker taps at the pane of the window in the poem “Meeting at Night”.

26. Why does the speaker meet his beloved at night?

Ans: In the poem “Meeting at Night”, the speaker meets his beloved in order to maintain the secrecy of his love affair.

27. How does the lover respond to the speaker in the poem “Meeting at Night”,?

Ans: In the poem “Meeting at Night”, responds to the speaker by maintaining silence and lighting the matchstick. The lover gives expression to her joys and fear in a hushed and almost inaudible voice.

28. Where does the speaker's sweetheart live?

Ans:The speaker's sweetheart lives in a secluded and lonely farm across the bay.

29. How did the moon look like?

Ans: The moon looked yellow and large and low.

30. Why are the waves startled in the poem “Meeting at Night”?

Ans: The waves in the poem “Meeting at Night” are startled at the approach of the man’s boat.

31. Who wrote the poem "Meeting at Night"?

Ans: Robert Browning, the famous English poet, wrote the poem "Meeting at Night".

32. What type of poem is "Meeting at Night"?

Ans: "Meeting at Night" is a lyrical love poem.

33. Which age did Robert Browning belong to?

Ans: Robert Browning belonged to the Victorian age.

34. What does the poem "Meeting at Night" depict?

Ans: The poem "Meeting at Night" depicts a lover's adventurous (ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ) journey to meet his beloved at night.

35. What is the meaning of the word 'cove'?

Ans: The meaning of the word 'cove' is 'a small bay'.



Last few year questions of Annual Examination ( With Answers) from the poem Meeting at Night.


Q.1:   What is the colour of the sea in ‘Meeting at night’? ( XI – ’18, ’15)

Ans:  In ‘Meeting at night’ the colour of the sea is grey.

Q.2:   Whose voice responds to the tap at the pane?       ( XI – ’19)

Ans:  The beloved’s voice responds to the tap at the pane.

Q.3:  How many fields will the poet have to cross before a farm appears? ( XI – ’19 ,’14)

Ans:  The poet will have to cross three fields before a farm appears.

Q.4:   What does the speaker do immediately after he reaches the house in ‘Meeting at Night’? (XI – ’16)

Ans:  The speaker immediately gives a tap at the windowpane of his beloved’s house after he reaches the house.

Q.5:  Where does the boat slow down?  (XI – ’16)

Ans:  The boat slows down in the slushy sand.

Q.6:  How long is the “Sea-scented beach”? (XI- ’14, ’20)

Ans: The ‘Sea-scented’ beach is a mile long.

Q.7:  How does Browning describe the half-moon? (XI - ’15, ’18, ’20)

Ans: Browning describes the half-moon as yellow, large and low.

Q.8:   What does the image ‘fiery ringlets’ suggest? (XI - ’19)

Ans:  The ‘fiery ringlets’ suggests the burning passion of love of the speaker.

God bless you all.

       Thanks 👍

Please like and share the page

Descriptive Question Answers from the poem "Meeting at Night"

1. Describe the lover’s journey to meet his lover in the poem “Meeting at Night”.

Ans.⇒    Robert Browning’s “Meeting at Night” describes the journey of a lover to meet his lady love secretly at night. The lover undertakes a journey by sea and by land to meet his beloved. First, he sails in the grey sea. In this course of his journey, the moon has been described as large and low and the very active waves as dancing in joy. And they look like firey ringlets. When the lover reaches the sea beach his boat hits the slushy sand. He covers the second half of his journey first by walking a mile on the sea beach and then by crossing three fields. At last, he reaches his destination, a farmhouse where his beloved is waiting for him. He taps at the window pan and his beloved lights a match. Then they hug each other and their hearts beat against each other.  Thus the lover completes his journey to meet his lady love by overcoming all obstacles.


 2. Justify the title of the poem “Meeting at Night”.  

Ans.⇒ Browning’s poem “Meeting at Night” deals with a nocturnal journey of a lover to meet his beloved.  He voyages the ‘grey sea’ in the darkness of night. The moon is described as large and low. When he reaches the land, he walks a mile on the sea beach and then covers three fields.  At last, he meets his beloved in a farmhouse. Those imageries, used in the poem such as ‘grey sea’, ‘the long black land’, the large and low’, ‘yellow half-moon’, imply that there is a risk in this meeting. On the other hand, the night is not only the ideal time for this meeting but it also gives us a feeling of secrecy. Since the meeting that takes place in this poem is evidently a secret one. Thus the title “Meeting at Night” for this poem is appropriate.


3. What does the lover observe in the course of his journey? What does he do as he reaches the farmhouse? 


Ans.⇒  In “Meeting at Night”, Browning gives a detailed description of the sceneries the lover across in the course of his journey to meet his ladylove in a farmhouse. The sea has been described as “grey sea” and the land as “long black land”. A very common cosmic object of night-sky, the moon, has been as “yellow half-moon large and low”. While sailing in the sea the lover sees the ripples of the sea which have been described as leaping in fiery ringlet. Finally, the sand, which is slushy, slowdowns the speed of his boat. Then the lover walks a mile warm sea-scented beach and three fields to reach the farmhouse to meet his beloved.

 
          When he reaches the farmhouse he knocks at the windowpane to inform her of his arrival.


 4. “And a voice less loud, through its joys and fears” – Why is the voice less loud? Give the significance of the line. 

Ans.⇒  In the poem “Meeting at Night”, a lover and his beloved decide to meet secretly. Therefore to keep their meeting secret, the ladylove speaks in a voice less loud. After a long tiresome journey, the lover reaches the farmhouse where his ladylove lives. Hearing the tap on the windowpane she becomes aware of his arrival and becomes impatient to meet him. Finally, when they meet, their hearts filled with love and joy. But as they are meeting secretly they have the feeling of fear as well. Ultimately the lovers unite and are locked in a passionate embrace having both the feeling, joy and fear. 


Created by Minhajuddin Mondal 
Date : September 5, 2021
Mobile : +917797243129