Class 12 English Lesson 11 Poem: The Awakening Age: Reference to Context & Reference beyond Text Literature Section
a. What does the poet mean by ‘the awakening age’?
According to the poet, the awakening age is an age of African people's recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of their condition, and the beginning of their new world. This age is the age of enlightenment where there is peace, prosperity, liberation, joy, unity and harmony among people. This age appears just after the bloody civil war in Nigeria.
b. Why, in your view, have these people ‘lived with poverty’s rage’?
In my view, these people have 'lived with poverty's rage' because they involved themselves in the bloody civil war for continuously three crucial years. During that time millions of people especially children died of starvation. They were concerned more with fighting for various internal issues regarding religion, culture, political ideology ethnicity etc. ignoring the sufferings of common Nigerians.
c. Why does the poet appeal for solidarity among the people?
The poet appeals for solidarity among people because he wants to see all the miserable Nigerians reach a new height of prosperity in a new world, a world of hope, prosperity, unity, truth, wisdom and creativity. He believes that solidarity among people can only lead them towards perfection and prosperity.
d. Does the poet present migration in a positive light? Why? Why not?
Yes, the poet presents migration in a positive light because he has presented this migration with immense positive hopes as well as good wishes. This isn't a physical migration of people but a migration of their state from one level to another through the mean of awakening. The poet wants to see them united, prosperous, truthful, wise, and creative in a new world of awakening age away from the concept of miseries.
e. Nepal is also known for its economic as well as educational migrants. Have you noticed any change in the perceptions and behaviours of these migrants when they return home from abroad?
Yes, I have noticed various changes in the perceptions and behaviours of these migrants when they return home from abroad. Migrants return home with immense joy in their minds and hearts. They feel extremely happy to step into their motherland. They have good financial status and knowledge related to their foreign life. They try to show their imposing attitude over others. They try to be a bit more standard and civilised than others. They try to expose themselves as if they are of high social status. After spending some days in Nepal, they start talking rubbish about their own country regarding jobs and opportunities. But some people wish to stay in their motherland and do business in their own country. People's perceptions and behaviours change according to their own experiences of the time and situations they have spent or faced.
Most of them wish to go to foreign lands again and again. Some of them wish to stay in Nepal and try to apply their skills for the development of their nation as well as their people. Some migrants try to reveal their experiences of foreign lands to others. They try to work for the welfare as well as the development of people and the nation.
f. Relate the rhyme scheme of this sonnet to the kind of life idealized by the poet.
This poem "The Awakening Age" by Ben Okri is a poem of hope where we find the rhyme scheme of AA BB CC DD EE FF and GG. Every couplet of seven different stanzas is perfect in its rhyme as well as meaning. With the help of the rhyme scheme of the poem, the poet can present the idealized life of Nigerian people in a new world of the awakening age. All these rhyming words at the end of couplets have a direct connection with the Nigerian people's lives and their ideal way of living along with wisdom, realisation, hope, prosperity, truth, opportunities and joy. His wonderful rhyming scheme perfectly presented his hopes as well wishes regarding the ideal life of Nigerian people in a new world.
Reference beyond the Text
a. Write an essay on '
The Impacts of Migration on Nepali Society
In recent days, migration in Nepal is a lot more in trend. Most Nepalese people are on the way to migration. People are seen migrating at both levels as internal migration and external migration. People are migrating to urban areas within the country and also to foreign lands. The sole cause behind their migration is to seek better living standards as well as opportunities. Nowadays, it is quite difficult to find out youth manpower in the country. Most of the youths of Nepal have moved to foreign lands in the name of education and jobs and settled their lives over there. Rural areas are facing a lack of youth. In most villages of Nepal, elderly people are living miserable lives. Most youths are spending their lives working in urban areas as well as in foreign lands. Nepali societies are facing very bad impacts due to this concept of migration. Following are some of the bad impacts of migration on Nepali society:
i. The number of youths is decreasing rapidly and most Nepalese societies are facing a lack of youth manpower.
ii. The most societies of Nepal, elderly people are spending their lonely life in a very miserable state.
iii. Due to the lack of people in societies, people are experiencing loneliness during the time of festivals.
iv. There is no sense of love, affection, care, cooperation, security, peace and harmony among people of societies.
v. The prime concept of humanity itself is in a question mark.
vi. People are seen away from relationships and selfishness among people is seen.
vii. The birth rate has also decreased dramatically.
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