This poem is taken from Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”, Act 1st scene 2nd; Here in this scene, Ariel, the spirit sings this song to Ferdinand, Prince of Naples, who mistakenly thinks his father is drowned. In this poem, Ariel suggests to Ferdinand that his father’s body is thirty feet under the sea. His father’s death has been meaningful. All bones of the dead body have been changed into corals. The eyes have now been changed into pearls. No parts of his body have been disappeared and decayed but they have been changed into something valuable. Every hour the sea nymphs ring the funeral bell for his honour in a ding-dong sound.
SUMMARY
The poem “Full Fathom Five Thy Father Lies” is a song sung by the Spirit Ariel in Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”. The Spirit sings this song to Ferdinand, the Prince of Naples, who mistakenly thinks that his father is drowned.
The speaker of this poem is Ariel who is a very powerful spirit of wind who flies lightly and invisibly playing music and singing songs. Here he sings the song about the death of Ferdinand’s father. According to him, Ferdinand’s father lies thirty feet below the surface of the sea. Ferdinand is very worried about the death of his father. Giving him sympathy Ariel says that his father has got quite meaningful death. His body is not decayed. Every part of his body has been changed into something beautiful, valuable and strange. His eyes are transformed into pearls and bones are’ changed into coral. The sea nymphs welcome his death by ringing the death bell “Ding-dong” every hour.
In this poem, the spirit Ariel has presented a very artful and melodious description of the death of Ferdinand’s father. The prince of Naples is worried thinking that his father is drowned. He is very sad about the meaningless death of his father. However, Ariel gives him sympathy by making death meaningful through his powerful and magical description. He says that nothing of the dead body has decayed or rotten wastefully. Everything of the dead body is changed into meaningful and precious objects at the bottom of the sea. Ariel finally requests Ferdinand to listen to the death-bell rung by the sea nymphs to welcome his father’s beautiful and meaningful death.
Important Questions and Answers:
1. Define the poetic devices used in the poem with examples.
Ans: The following are the poetic devices used in this poem.
a) Alliteration: It is the repetition of the initial sound of the word many times in a sentence. Example: Full Fathom Five thy Father lies. Here, the ‘F’ sound is repeated four times in the sentence.
b) Onomatopoeia: It is a way of expressing an object by imitating its sound instead of naming the object. Example: Ding-dong-bell Mew-cat
c) Assonance: It’s the process of making a vowel sound long and nasal to create a special effect and to maintain the poetic matter. Example: d-i-ng, do-ng
2. Write a summary in one paragraph.
Ans: In this poem, Ariel suggests to Ferdinand that his father’s body is thirty feet under the sea. His father’s death has been meaningful. All bones of the dead body have been changed into corals. The eyes have now been changed into pearls. No parts of his body have been disappeared and decayed but they have been changed into something valuable. Every hour the sea nymphs ring the funeral bell for his honour in a ding-dong sound.
3. Is death is meaningful in this poem?
OR
Does death have any meaning in the poem? Explain.(2075 short)
Ans: Yes, death is meaningful in this poem. Yes, death has some meaning in the poem. The dead body is lying at the bottom of the sea about thirty feet. It is thought that the dead body is decayed and disappeared but it has not happened. Every part of the dead body has been changed into something strange and valuable. The dead body has brought a change in the entire sea and left a new feeling of happiness to the sea creatures. Every hour the sea nymphs ring his funeral bell to inform about his death.
4. What is the relation between life and art? (2071 Short)
Ans: The relation between life and art is so intimate. Both of the terms are interrelated with each other. Where there is life, there is the presence of art. Where there is art, there is life indeed. Human life imitates art in every step. The flow of life itself is an art through which the concept of life gets meaning in its actual sense. Art remains forever to nourish life. It is the art that speaks the reality of life. The different aspects that are observed in life are related to art. Art and life move on simultaneously. Both are never being seen in a separated way.
5. Central idea of this poem. (2067 Short)
Ans: The central idea of this poem is that death is a natural thing. Everyone has to leave this beautiful world one day. Death is a natural demand, so one should not worry or mourn too much on the death of closers. Everything, which is in existence, has to turn into ashes or soil one day. The human who is part of nature transforms into another thing after death.
6. How does Shakespeare present the meaningfulness of death in the poem “Full Fathom Five Thy Father Lies?” give your ideas about the meaningfulness of death in your life. (2069 Long)
Ans: This poem is written by William Shakespeare. He has presented the meaningfulness of death here in this poem. He has related the dead body of the king of Naples with something valuable things of the sea. In this poem, the king of Naples is supposed to be drowned 30 feet below somewhere in the sea. The king’s son Ferdinand is mourning in the memory of his beloved father. To counsel Ferdinand, the poet has presented a character named Ariel (spirit). Ariel counsels Ferdinand in such a way so that he could forget about his father’s death and realize the meaningfulness of death. Ariel says that his father’s dead body is not decayed and disappeared but has been changed into something valuable. All bones of the dead body have been changed into corals. The eyes have now been changed into pearls. In honour of his father’s dead body, sea nymphs use to ring his funeral bell to inform him about his death. The poet wants to show the vital aspect of death. Death is a natural demand, so one should not worry or mourn too much on the death of closers. Everything, which is in existence, has to turn into ashes or soil one day. The human who is part of nature transforms after death.
7. Write an essay on Life and Art
Ans:
Life and Art
Life is a beautiful and most valuable gift from God to all living beings. Life is natural and we are not permanent. Life is transitory and ends one day naturally. Life grows older day by day. According to time life regulates. Art is a fine tool that makes life better. Art teaches us every of life. It develops the living standard. It makes life so beautiful. Art flourishes life with joy or happiness. The mixture of artistic quality makes life perfect. Behind every act of human’s life, art plays a role. So art and life are interrelated with each other. Art remains with life up to the final time. Art finishes when life finishes. Life is mortal. Man desires to achieve goals, has visions, passions, insights (transfer and aspirations. We experience emotions and feelings in life. These experiences and ideas come and go, and life goes on. Art brings success. Without art, life becomes dull and boring, like a barren land.
Man has a natural tendency to give an outlet faith to his passions, emotions and sentiments, writing poems, novels, dramas, etc, painting and drawing a picture, and composing music, being actors are all arts. Man indulges in such activities. Art is the main source of joy and it makes our lives joyful and attractive. Art makes life beautiful and meaningful. Without art, life seems meaningless and unattractive. Fine art attracts our mind. Works of art among the things that provide the deepest experiences and are of higher value in our lives. When we enjoy the arts, we perceive harmony in the object and feel harmony within ourselves.
All activities related to the production of art give us deep satisfaction. That is why, we seek refuse in literature, painting, architecture, music, dance, etc. Works of art have value for us. So there is a strong relationship between art and life.
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