Class 11 English Lesson 11: who are you,little i? References beyond the text

 

References beyond the text

a.      How does nature inspire the speaker in “who are you, little i”? Explain.

Nature inspires the speaker a lot in “who are you, little i”. The beauty of nature has made him go back to his beautiful childhood experience. He finds himself as a little boy of five or six years old in his childhood. He used to look at the beautiful golden sunset and feel for the beautiful way of the transition of the day into the night.

b.     Recall a childhood moment when you felt closely connected with nature. Describe the time and place as well as your feelings and thoughts about it.

I was born and raised in the busy city of Kathmandu. My father works there. I grew up in the city, with little connection to nature. As I was about to take my school graduation exams, my father announced that we would go to our native village during the long vacation. My happiness knew no bounds. It was like a dream coming true. Finally, I was in my native village. It was so different. Opposite to the hustle and bustle of the busy city, it was so calm and tranquil. It was the first time I saw a milking cow. Otherwise, I used to think that all produce comes from supermarkets or dairies.

The next morning, my grandpa took me to our paddy field. I was surprised to see the vast stretch of greenery. It was so different from the concrete jungle of the place where I live. The chirping of birds in mango groves was so sweet. It was not like a caged bird. I never knew before that winds can play so delightfully. There I learnt how to connect with nature. I enjoyed sunrises and sunsets, which were always covered by the big buildings of my city. We stayed there for about a month. But I shall never forget my first introduction to nature.

c.      Interpret the poem in any way you like.

This little poem is in the form of a dramatic monologue where he addresses his childhood. It opens with a nostalgic mood. Watching sunset through his window one evening, the speaker suddenly goes into flashback when he used to enjoy such natural scenes. 

He asks his "little i" who he is. No doubt, the 'little i' is his childhood version (his childhood). It shows that although the worries of his childhood have kept suppressed his childhood pleasures, it is still there in some corner of his heart. That is the happiest thing. As the poem proceeds, the mood changes from nostalgic to a sad, pensive one, when he talks about the passing days, indicating 'death'. Here we find an unwelcome transition (change) from a pleasing childhood to approaching death. But here again, he finds a beautiful way of approaching a dreaded finale (that is, fear of death). By putting “I” with “little,” he de-emphasizes (minimizes the importance of) the self and promotes time.

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