Class 9 English Unit 4: Reading II: Crossing the bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson

 

Reading II: Poem: Crossing the Bar

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Vocabulary

·        Moaning - /ˈməʊ.nɪŋ/ - Noun/Verb - a long, low sound of pain or sorrow

·        Foam - /fəʊm/ - Noun - bubbles formed on a liquid

·        Put out - /ˌpʊt ˈaʊt/ - Phrasal Verb - extinguish; cause inconvenience

·        Boundless - /ˈbaʊnd.ləs/ - Adjective - unlimited or immense

·        Twilight - /ˈtwaɪ.laɪt/ - Noun - the time of day immediately following sunset

·        Farewell - /ˌfeəˈwel/ - Noun/Interjection - goodbye

·        Embark - /ɪmˈbɑːk/ - Verb - to begin a journey, especially by ship

·        Bourne - /bɔːn/ - Noun - a goal or destination

·        Crost - /krɒst/ - Verb (archaic) - crossed (past tense of a cross)

Main Summary of the Poem

"Crossing the Bar" by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a contemplative poem that explores the theme of death and the transition from life to the afterlife. The poet uses the metaphor of a ship setting out to sea to represent this journey. Tennyson expresses a calm acceptance of death, viewing it as a natural and inevitable part of life. He hopes for a peaceful transition, marked by a "clear call" and the absence of pain or sorrow ("no moaning of the bar"). The "Pilot" mentioned at the end of the poem symbolizes God or a higher power who will guide him through this final journey. Overall, the poem conveys a sense of serenity and faith, suggesting that death is not an end, but a passage to a new and eternal existence.

Stanza-wise Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1:

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

In this stanza, Tennyson introduces the metaphor of a journey at sea to represent the transition from life to death. The "sunset and evening star" symbolizes the end of life, and the "clear call" represents the moment of death. The poet hopes for a peaceful departure without any "moaning of the bar" (the sound of waves breaking on a sandbar), indicating a smooth and calm transition.

Stanza 2:

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Here, Tennyson describes the ideal conditions for his final journey. He envisions a tide so full and gentle that it seems to be asleep, without sound or foam. This imagery suggests a tranquil and undisturbed passage. The phrase "turns again home" implies returning to the origin, reinforcing the idea of life coming full circle and returning to the divine source.

Stanza 3:

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

In the third stanza, the poet continues the imagery of the end of the day with "twilight and evening bell," followed by the darkness of night, symbolizing death. He expresses a wish for no sadness or mourning when he begins this final journey. The tone remains calm and accepting, emphasizing a desire for a serene and dignified departure.

Stanza 4:

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face-to-face

When I have crost the bar.

In the final stanza, Tennyson reflects on the journey beyond the physical world ("our bourne of Time and Place"). He acknowledges that death will take him far from the familiar, but he holds a hopeful belief in meeting the "Pilot" (a metaphor for God or a divine guide) face to face after crossing the bar. This conveys a sense of faith and assurance that death is a passage to a higher existence and a reunion with the divine.

A.         Match the words in column A with tier meanings in column B. (Answers only)

Column A	Column B
i.       Moaning	v. complaining
ii.     Boundless	iv. never-ending ; infinite
iii.  Twilight	vii. dusk
iv.   Embark	iii. go on board
v.     Tho'	ii. though
vi.   Bourne	i.       a limit
vii.             crost	vi. crossed

B.          Fill in the gaps with the words/phrases given below to complete the paraphrase of the poem.

the sandbar              return          the evening bell               float in

the sunset and the evening star    on a tide      sad goodbyes        God

I notice the sunset and evening stars in the sky and hear a sound calling for me loud and clear. I hope that the sandbar will not be disturbed when I go out to sea.

Instead, I want to be carried out on a tide moving so slowly it seems almost asleep, and which is too swollen to make a sound. That's what I want when I return home to the depths of the great unknown.

Twilight comes with the evening bell, which will be followed by darkness. There don't need to be any sad goodbyes when I go.

Even though I'll be going far from this time and place floating on the tide of death. I hope to meet God who has been like my pilot in this journey, when I've made it across the bar.

C.          Answer the following questions. (Answers only)

i          The speaker has to go to the sea crossing the sandbar.

ii       The fide can't make a huge sound or create a lather because it seems asleep.

iii    The twilight and the evening bell suggest the end of the day in the poem that the speaker is reaching his end.

iv     The speaker is going on a sea journey without accepting sad goodbyes.

v        His pilot (God) is the only agent that helps the speaker to go far on his journey.

vi     No, the speaker does not fear death because he believes that he will be able to see his creator face-to-face in the afterlife.

vii  The pilot symbolizes God.

D.         The speaker tries to convey that finally; good things remain with him before he sets off on his ultimate journey to the sea. 'Sea' is taken as something blank, unknown, and an unpredictable world after death. Do you believe in life after death? Give reasons.

In Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Crossing the Bar," the speaker portrays death as a serene and inevitable journey, using the metaphor of setting out to sea. The sea represents the unknown and unpredictable realm that lies beyond life. The speaker's calm acceptance and hopeful anticipation of meeting the "Pilot" (symbolizing God or a divine guide) face to face suggest a belief in an existence beyond death.

Reflecting on the poem, the speaker's attitude towards death inspires a belief in life after death. Tennyson's serene and composed tone conveys a sense of peace and faith in what lies beyond this life. The metaphor of crossing the bar, moving from the known world into the boundless deep, implies a transition rather than an end. The speaker’s hope to meet the Pilot face to face further suggests a reunion with a higher power, hinting at an afterlife.

The imagery of the sunset and evening star, followed by twilight and darkness, symbolizes the natural progression towards the end of life, but it is not portrayed with fear or despair. Instead, there is a sense of readiness and trust in the journey ahead. The absence of "moaning of the bar" and "sadness of farewell" reinforces the idea that death is not to be feared but embraced as a passage to a new and eternal existence.

Thus, based on Tennyson's portrayal in "Crossing the Bar," I believe that there is a strong implication of life after death. The poem encourages the reader to see death as a continuation of the soul’s journey, guided by faith and culminating in a peaceful reunion with the divine.

 

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