Father to Son Class 11 English Hornbill Poem 5 Summary is available here. This summary is created by the subject experts of our website CBSE Wale. By reading this summary, students can better understand the poem.
Father to Son Class 11 English Hornbill Poem 5 Summary
Father to Son Short Summary
The poem “Father to Son” by Elizabeth Jennings is about a father who is struggling to connect with his son. The father feels like he doesn’t know his son anymore, and he’s worried that they’re drifting apart. He tries to talk to his son, but it’s like they’re speaking different languages. The father feels like he’s losing his son, and he’s heartbroken.
Father to Son Short Summary In Hindi
एलिजाबेथ जेनिंग्स की कविता “Father to Son” एक पिता के बारे में है जो अपने बेटे से जुड़ने के लिए संघर्ष कर रहा है। पिता को लगता है कि वह अब अपने बेटे को नहीं जानता, और उन्हें चिंता है कि वे अलग हो रहे हैं। वह अपने बेटे से बात करने की कोशिश करता है, लेकिन ऐसा लगता है जैसे वे अलग-अलग भाषाएं बोल रहे हों। पिता को ऐसा लग रहा है कि वह अपने बेटे को खो रहा है, और उसका दिल टूट गया है।
Father to Son Summary
In the poem “Father to Son” the poet is sad because he doesn’t understand his son. They have lived in the same house for many years, but the father still doesn’t know his son’s likes and dislikes. The father tried to build a relationship with his son when he was young, but now that his son is grown up, he has changed. The father is worried that he is losing his son.
The father admits that he’s partly responsible for the lack of communication between him and his son. He tries hard to bridge the gap, but it’s not working out. He feels like his son is in a different world that he can’t reach. Their communication feels distant, as if they’re strangers. They don’t seem to understand each other very well. Even though his son looks like him, the dad doesn’t know what his son really likes or enjoys.
The father and son have a strained relationship. When the son was younger, he had a rebellious nature and left home. The father wishes for his son to come back and be the person he used to be. The father doesn’t want his son to wander and create his own separate life. He is ready to forgive his son and let go of the sadness caused by their distance. The father truly wants to love his son again.
Now, the son finally speaks up and shares his feelings. He feels sad about the distance between him and his father. He’s going through a phase in his life where he’s struggling to understand himself. The son explains that his anger stems from his sadness. It’s clear that both the father and son are equally frustrated because of this gap in their relationship. They both want to forgive each other and move forward, but they can’t seem to find a solution to their problem. They’re reaching out to each other, but it feels like their efforts are in vain.
Father to Son Summary In Hindi
“Father to Son” कविता में कवि उदास है क्योंकि वह अपने पुत्र को नहीं समझता। वे कई सालों से एक ही घर में रहते हैं, लेकिन पिता को अभी भी अपने बेटे की पसंद-नापसंद का पता नहीं है। पिता ने अपने बेटे के साथ संबंध बनाने की कोशिश की जब वह छोटा था, लेकिन अब जब उसका बेटा बड़ा हो गया है, तो वह बदल गया है। पिता चिंतित है कि वह अपने बेटे को खो रहा है।
पिता स्वीकार करता है कि उसके और उसके बेटे के बीच संचार की कमी के लिए वह आंशिक रूप से जिम्मेदार है। वह इस खाई को पाटने की बहुत कोशिश करता है, लेकिन बात नहीं बनती। उन्हें लगता है कि उनका बेटा एक अलग दुनिया में है जहां वह नहीं पहुंच सकता। उनका संचार दूर का लगता है, जैसे कि वे अजनबी हों। ऐसा लगता है कि वे एक दूसरे को बहुत अच्छी तरह से नहीं समझते हैं। भले ही उसका बेटा उसके जैसा दिखता है, पिता नहीं जानता कि उसका बेटा वास्तव में क्या पसंद करता है या क्या आनंद लेता है।
पिता और पुत्र का तनावपूर्ण संबंध है। पुत्र जब छोटा था तो विद्रोही स्वभाव का था और घर छोड़ कर चला गया था। पिता चाहता है कि उसका बेटा वापस आए और वह पहले जैसा हो जाए। पिता नहीं चाहता कि उसका बेटा भटके और अपनी अलग जिंदगी बनाए। वह अपने बेटे को माफ करने और उनकी दूरी के कारण होने वाले दुख को दूर करने के लिए तैयार है। पिता वास्तव में अपने बेटे को फिर से प्यार करना चाहता है।
अब, बेटा अंत में बोलता है और अपनी भावनाओं को साझा करता है। वह अपने और अपने पिता के बीच की दूरी को लेकर दुखी है। वह अपने जीवन के एक ऐसे दौर से गुजर रहा है जहां वह खुद को समझने के लिए संघर्ष कर रहा है। बेटा समझाता है कि उसका गुस्सा उसकी उदासी से उपजा है। साफ है कि पिता और पुत्र दोनों ही अपने रिश्ते में इस फासले को लेकर समान रूप से निराश हैं। वे दोनों एक-दूसरे को माफ़ करना चाहते हैं और आगे बढ़ना चाहते हैं, लेकिन ऐसा लगता है कि उन्हें अपनी समस्या का कोई हल नहीं मिल रहा है। वे एक-दूसरे के पास पहुँच रहे हैं, लेकिन ऐसा लगता है कि उनके प्रयास व्यर्थ हैं।
The Explanation of the Poem “Father to Son”
Stanza 1
I do not understand this child
Though we have lived together now
In the same house for years. I know
Nothing of him, so try to build
Up a relationship from how
He was when small. Yet have I killed
Important Word Meaning
Child: A young human being below the age of puberty.
Understand: To know or comprehend the meaning of something.
Lived together: To have shared the same living space.
Know: To have knowledge of something.
Build: To construct or create something.
Relationship: A connection or association between two people.
Explanations
In the first stanza of the poem “Father to Son” the speaker is a father who is struggling to understand his son. They have lived together in the same house for years, but the father feels like he doesn’t know anything about his son. He tries to build a relationship with his son by remembering how he was when he was younger, but he is still having trouble connecting with him. The father wonders if he has done something wrong to cause this distance between them, or if it is simply a natural part of growing up.
Poetic Devices
Enjambment: The lines flow without pauses, creating a continuous flow of thoughts and movement.
Repetition: The word “I” is repeated at the beginning of several lines, highlighting the speaker’s personal perspective and struggles to understand the child.
Caesura: A pause or break in the middle of a line, marked by punctuation or phrasing, allows reflection. Commas in certain lines act as caesuras in this stanza.
Metaphor: The line “Yet have I killed” metaphorically expresses the harm caused by the speaker’s lack of understanding on their relationship with the child.
Paradox: The statement “I try to build / Up a relationship from how / He was when small” presents a paradox as the speaker tries to form a relationship based on memories while acknowledging their lack of knowledge about who the child has become.
Stanza 2
The seed I spent or sown it where
The land is his and none of mine?
We speak like strangers, there’s no sign
Of understanding in the air.
This child is built to my design
Yet what he loves I cannot share.
Important Word Meaning
Seed: A small, hard, dry fruit that contains an embryo plant. In the stanza, the seed represents the father’s hopes and dreams for his son.
Sown: Planted seeds. In the stanza, the father is wondering if he has planted the seed of his hopes and dreams in the right place.
Strangers: People who do not know each other. In the stanza, the father and son are speaking like strangers, which suggests that they do not understand each other.
Understanding: The ability to comprehend or grasp something. In the stanza, there is no sign of understanding between the father and son, which suggests that they are unable to communicate with each other.
Explanations
In the second stanza of the poem “Father to Son” the father is reflecting on his relationship with his son. He wonders if he has done enough to nurture his son, or if he has “sown the seed” in the wrong place. He feels like he and his son are unable to connect, and that they speak “like strangers.” He is heartbroken that he cannot share in his son’s interests.
The stanza is a powerful expression of the sense of alienation that can sometimes develop between parents and children. It is a reminder that even the closest relationships can be complicated, and that it is important to be patient and understanding with one another.
Poetic Devices
Enjambment: Enjambment occurs in the first line, “The seed I spent or sown it where,” where the sentence continues onto the next line without punctuation, creating a flow and connecting the two lines together.
Simile: The phrase “We speak like strangers” compares the way the speaker communicates or interacts with others to the behavior of strangers. It suggests a lack of familiarity, connection, or understanding.
Imagery: The line “There’s no sign of understanding in the air” creates a visual image of a lack of comprehension or mutual recognition between the speaker and others. It portrays a sense of disconnect or distance.
Metaphor: The phrase “This child is built to my design” employs a metaphor, comparing the child to something intentionally constructed or created according to the speaker’s intentions or plans.
Contrast: The stanza presents a contrast between the speaker’s efforts (the seed they spent or sown) and the land that does not belong to them, as well as between the child built to the speaker’s design and the inability to share in what the child loves. These contrasts highlight the disconnect and lack of belonging experienced by the speaker.
Stanza 3
Silence surrounds us. I would have
Him prodigal, returning to
His father’s house, the home he knew,
Rather than see him make and move
His world. I would forgive him too,
Shaping from sorrow a new love.
Important Word Meaning
Silence: In this context, “silence” refers to a lack of communication or understanding between the speaker and the person referred to as “him.” It indicates a void or absence of verbal interaction.
Prodigal: The term “prodigal” refers to someone who is extravagant or wasteful, often used in the context of the biblical parable of the prodigal son. Here, it suggests the speaker’s desire for the person to return to their father’s house, indicating a longing for reconciliation and a desire for the person to come back after a period of being away.
Returning: The word “returning” implies the act of coming back to a previous location or state. In this context, it suggests the speaker’s preference for the person to return to their father’s house, symbolizing a desire for reunion and familiarity.
Father’s house: The “father’s house” refers to a symbolic place of belonging, comfort, and family connection. It represents the home that the person already knows and is associated with their father.
Make and move: The phrase “make and move” suggests the person creating and establishing their own world or life separate from their father’s house. It conveys a sense of independence and the pursuit of personal ambitions or goals.
Forgive: “Forgive” means to let go of resentment, anger, or blame towards someone who has done wrong. In this stanza, it signifies the speaker’s willingness to forgive the person and move past any negative feelings or conflicts.
Shaping: “Shaping” refers to the act of forming or creating something. In this context, it signifies the speaker’s intention to transform sorrow or sadness into a new form of love or affection.
Sorrow: “Sorrow” represents deep sadness or grief. The speaker suggests that they can derive a new love or positive emotion from their sorrow, indicating a willingness to find beauty or growth even in difficult times.
Explanations
In the third stanza of the poem “Father to Son” the father feels a lack of communication with his son, as they are not able to talk to each other. The father prefers his son to come back to their familiar home rather than creating his own separate world. He is worried about losing his son and wants him to stay close.
The last two lines are especially touching. The father says he would forgive his son and find a new love from the sadness they have experienced. This means the father is ready to let go of anger and resentment and love his son no matter what.
This stanza portrays the complex emotions that can exist between parents and children. It reminds us that even in close relationships, things can be challenging, so it’s important to be patient and understanding with each other.
Poetic Devices
Alliteration: The repetition of the “s” sound in “Silence surrounds us” creates alliteration, adding a musical quality to the line.
Repetition: The repetition of the word “I” at the beginning of multiple lines (“I would have,” “I would forgive”) creates a sense of emphasis and personal conviction.
Metaphor: The metaphor of the prodigal son is used in the line “Him prodigal, returning to.” It compares the desired return of the person to the biblical narrative of the prodigal son coming back to his father.
Contrast: The contrast between “His father’s house, the home he knew” and “see him make and move / His world” creates a juxtaposition between the familiar and the new, emphasizing the speaker’s preference for the former.
Enjambment: The lines “His father’s house, the home he knew, / Rather than see him make and move” utilize enjambment, where the sentence continues without a pause from one line to the next. This technique adds a sense of flow and momentum to the stanza.
Personification: The phrase “Shaping from sorrow a new love” personifies sorrow by suggesting that it can be transformed or molded into something else, in this case, a new love.
Stanza 4
Father and son, we both must live
On the same globe and the same land,
He speaks: I cannot understand
Myself, why anger grows from grief.
We each put out an empty hand,
Longing for something to forgive.
Important Word Meaning
Globe: Refers to the Earth or the planet they live on.
Anger: A strong feeling of displeasure or hostility.
Grief: Intense sorrow or sadness, often caused by a loss.
Longing: A strong desire or yearning for something.
Forgive: To pardon or let go of resentment towards someone.
Explanations
The fourth stanza of the poem “Father to Son” talks about a father and son who live together on the same planet and the same land. The son expresses that he doesn’t understand why anger arises from grief within himself. Both the father and the son feel a sense of emptiness and reach out to each other, longing for something to forgive.
In simpler terms, the stanza conveys the shared experience of a father and son living in close proximity. The son is perplexed by how his sadness turns into anger. Both of them desire reconciliation and forgiveness, symbolized by their outstretched hands, as they seek to mend their relationship.
Poetic Devices
Assonance: The repetition of the long “e” sound in “We each put out an empty hand” creates assonance, a form of internal rhyme that adds musicality to the stanza.
Enjambment: The lines “He speaks: I cannot understand / Myself, why anger grows from grief” flow without a pause at the end of the first line, creating a sense of continuation and fluidity.
Metaphor: The phrase “anger grows from grief” uses metaphorical language to describe the connection between these emotions, suggesting that one can evolve or transform into the other.
Symbolism: The “empty hand” symbolizes the desire for reconciliation and forgiveness, representing their longing to mend their relationship.
Personification: The line “We each put out an empty hand” personifies their hands, giving them the ability to reach out and make gestures of reconciliation.
Parallelism: The repetition of “the same” in “the same globe and the same land” emphasizes the closeness and similarity of their living conditions.
Poet of the Poem “Father to Son”
The poem “Father to Son” is written by Elizabeth Jennings.
About the Poet of the Poem “Father to Son”
Elizabeth Jennings was an English poet who was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, in 1926. She studied at Oxford University and worked as a teacher and lecturer before becoming a full-time writer. She published over 20 collections of poetry, as well as several novels and plays. She was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 1982 and the Cholmondeley Award in 1987. She died in 2001.
Theme of the Poem “Father to Son”
The theme of the poem “Father to Son” is about the complicated relationship between a father and his son. It explores how they struggle to understand each other and want to make things right. Even though they live close to each other, they feel emotionally distant. The poem talks about the son’s confusion about why his sadness turns into anger. Both the father and son want to forgive each other and fix their strained relationship, as shown by their outstretched empty hands. The theme shows that people everywhere desire to connect with their family, understand each other, and reconcile their differences.
Main Idea of the Poem “Father to Son”
The main idea of the poem “Father to Son” is about the complicated relationship between a father and his son. It shows the difficulties they have in understanding each other and wanting to make things right. The poem talks about the emotional distance between family members, even when they live close to each other. It explores how the son deals with his sadness turning into anger and wanting to find answers and resolve their issues. The main idea is that everyone needs connection, understanding, and forgiveness within their family.
Moral of the Poem “Father to Son”
The moral of the poem “Father to Son” by Elizabeth Jennings is that it is important to try to understand the people around us, even if they are from a different generation. The poem shows the difficulty of relating to someone from a different generation and the pain that can come from a lack of understanding. However, it also shows that it is possible to bridge the gap between generations if we are willing to listen and learn from each other.
Message of the Poem “Father to Son”
The message of the poem “Father to Son” is about the importance of understanding and connecting with people from different generations.
Conclusion of the Poem “Father to Son”
The conclusion of the poem “Father to Son” by Elizabeth Jennings is a hopeful one. The father and son may not be able to understand each other completely, but they are both willing to try. This shows that it is possible to bridge the gap between generations, even if it is not always easy.
Rhyme Scheme of the poem “Father to Son”
The poem “Father to Son” by Elizabeth Jennings does not have a consistent rhyme scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To The poem Father to Son
Question 1. What is the title of the poem?
Answer. The title of the poem is “Father to Son.”
Question 2. Who is the author of the poem “Father to Son”?
Answer. The author of the poem is Elizabeth Jennings.
Question 3. What is the main theme of the poem “Father to Son”?
Answer. The main theme of the poem is the complex relationship between a father and his son, exploring understanding and the desire for reconciliation.
Question 4. What emotions are explored in the poem “Father to Son”?
Answer. The poem delves into emotions such as grief, anger, emptiness, and longing.
Question 5. What does the father and son’s proximity symbolize in the poem “Father to Son”?
Answer. Their proximity symbolizes physical closeness but also highlights the emotional distance between them.
Question 6. How does the son feel about the transformation of grief into anger in the poem “Father to Son”?
Answer. The son is perplexed by the transformation of grief into anger and struggles to understand it.
Question 7. What do the outstretched empty hands symbolize in the poem “Father to Son”?
Answer. The outstretched empty hands symbolize the desire for forgiveness and reconciliation.
Question 8. Does the poem “Father to Son” provide a clear resolution to the father-son relationship?
Answer. No, the poem does not provide a clear resolution but explores the longing for understanding and connection.
Question 9. What is the significance of the repeated phrase “Father and son”?
Answer. The repeated phrase emphasizes the bond and shared experience between the father and son.
Question 10. How does the poem “Father to Son” address the generational gap?
Answer. The poem highlights the difficulty of relating to someone from a different generation and the need for empathy and understanding to bridge the gap.
Question 11. What is the role of communication in the poem “Father to Son”?
Answer. Communication is portrayed as crucial for understanding and resolving the conflicts between the father and son.
Question 12. How does the poem “Father to Son” explore forgiveness?
Answer. The poem suggests that forgiveness is essential for repairing strained relationships and finding reconciliation.
Question 13. Does the poem “Father to Son” provide any guidance on improving father-son relationships?
Answer. The poem encourages open-mindedness, listening, and learning from one another as ways to bridge the gaps in generational relationships.
Question 14. How does the poem “Father to Son” evoke emotions in the reader?
Answer. The poem uses imagery, metaphors, and the exploration of complex emotions to evoke a strong emotional response in the reader.
Question 15. What is the overall message of the poem “Father to Son”?
Answer. The overall message of the poem is the importance of understanding, empathy, and forgiveness in navigating the complexities of father-son relationships and bridging generational gaps.