������ JAWAHAR NAVODAYA�� VIDYALAYA�

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MURSHIDABAD,�� WEST BENGAL

PREPARED BY �� DILIP KUMAR SAH �� TGT ENGLISH

THE LESSON:��WHEN I SET OUT FOR LYONNESSE�BY� � THOMAS HARDY

 �INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE POET:��THOMAS HARDY, A YOUNG APPRENTICE ARCHITECT, WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED POET AND NOVELIST WHO WAS BORN IN ENGLAND ON JUNE 2, 1840. HE WAS INFLUENCED BY THE WORKS OF CHARLES SWINBURNE, ROBERT BROWNING, AND CHARLES DARWIN. HARDY WROTE SHORT STORIES, POEMS, AND PLAYS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. HE COMPOSED ABOUT 900 POEMS ON A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS.� �

SUMMARY OF THE POEM:�� BY THIS POEM, THOMAS HARDY WANTS TO EXPRESS HIS SUCCESS OF HIS LIFE. ONCE HE VISITED A PARISH TO SUPERVISE THE RESTORATION OF A CHURCH. ON HIS RETURN FROM THE PARISH, PEOPLE NOTICED TWO THINGS ABOUT HIM — A NEW GLOW IN HIS EYES AND A CRUMPLED PIECE OF PAPER STICKING OUT OF HIS COAT POCKET. HIS BIOGRAPHIES WERE WRITTEN INON THAT PAPER THE FORM OF A POEM ‘WHEN I SET OUT FOR LYONNESSE’. THE POET GOT INSPIRATION AND SUCCESS AFTER VISITING TO A PLACE WHICH THE POET CALLED LYONNESSE THAT WAS AN IMAGINARY PLACE.�

STANZA 1��WHEN I SET OUT FOR LYONNESSE�A HUNDRED MILES AWAY,�THE RIME WAS ON THE SPRAY;�AND STARLIGHT LIT MY LONESOMENESS�WHEN I SET OUT FOR LYONNESSE�A HUNDRED MILES AWAY.�

MEANINGS OF WORDS AND PHRASES:��1.LYONNESSE: (IN ARTHURIAN LEGEND)THE MYTHICAL BIRTHPLACE OF SIR TRISTRAM, IN ENGLAND ,BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SUBMERGED BY THE SEA ; HERE IS AN IMAGINARY PLACE .�2.RIME: FROST FORMED ON COLD OBJECTS BY THE RAPID FREEZING OF WATER VAPOUR IN CLOUD OR FOG�3.LONESOMENESS : A STATE FOR FEELING LONELY�4. THE SPRAY : LEAVES AND BRANCHES OF TREES ; FOLIAGE�

EXPLANATION:�� BY THIS STANZA, THE POET WANTS TO EXPRESS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY. ONCE HE SET OUT FOR LYONNESSE WHICH WAS SITUATED A HUNDRED MILES AWAY. THERE WAS WINTER AND THE LEAVES WERE COVERED BY THE FROST. THE STARLIGHT HELPED THE POET IN HIS LONELINESS. �

STANZA 2��WHAT WOULD BECHANCE AT LYONNESSE�WHILE I SHOULD SOJOURN THERE,�NO PROPHET DURST DECLARE;�NOR DID THE WISEST WIZARD GUESS�WHAT WOULD BECHANCE AT LYONNESSE�WHILE I SHOULD SOJOURN THERE.�

MEANINGS OF WORDS AND PHRASES:��1.SOJOURN : A TEMPORARY STAY�2.BECHANCE: TO HAPPEN OR FIND BY CHANCE�3.PROPHET : MESSENGER OF GOD�4.GUESS : ASSUME

EXPLANATION:��BY THIS STANZA, THE POET WANTS TO EXPRESS HIS UNCERTAINTY. HE SAYS THAT HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT LYONNESSE DURING HIS STAY. THE POET SAYS THAT EVEN A PROPHET OR A ‘WISEST WIZARD’ CAN’T PREDICT ABOUT THE HAPPENING THERE.�

STANZA 3�WHEN I RETURNED FROM LYONNESSE�WITH MAGIC IN MY EYES,�ALL MARKED WITH MUTE SURMISE�MY RADIANCE RARE AND FATHOMLESS,�WHEN I RETURNED FROM LYONNESSE�WITH MAGIC IN MY EYES.�

MEANINGS OF WORDS AND PHRASES:��1.MAGIC: MYSTERIOUS JOY�2.MARKED: NOTICE�3.MUTE : SILENT�4.SURMISE : GUESS /SUPPOSE THAT SOMETHING IS TRUE WITHOUT HAVING EVIDENCE TO CONFIRM IT�5.RADIANCE : INNER JOY / LIGHT OR HEAT AS EMITTED OR REFLECTED BY SOMETHING�6.FATHOMLESS: ENDLESS / SOMETHING UNABLE TO BE MEASURED OR UNDERSTOOD�

EXPLANATION:��BY THIS STANZA THE POET EXPRESSES HIS FEELING ABOUT HIS HAPPINESS AFTER RETURNING FROM LYONNESSE . ON HIS RETURN FROM THE PARISH, PEOPLE NOTICE THE RARE AND ENDLESS GLOW AND JOY IN HIS EYES AFTER DOING THE WONDERFUL AND SUCCESSFUL JOB AT LYONNESSE.�