I Vow To Thee My Country
"I Vow To Thee My Country" is a patriotic poem. In this poem the poet‘Sir Cecil Spring Rice’takes a pledge to serve his country with his love whole-heartedly. He promises to love his country more than anything else in the world. He shall remain firm in the service of his motherland in the face of all difficulties. He shall sacrifice all his best and the dearest, at the altar of patriotism without any hesitation. Finally the poet pledges to sacrifice his life fearlessly in the service of his motherland.
Central Idea of the Poem
The poet is a great lover of his motherland. Inspired by the feelings of love for his mother country, he is ready to make the heaviest sacrifices. He takes a vow to love her whole-heartedly, to give her his best and ready to make bold sacrifice for the motherland.
COMPREHENSION
Read the following stanzas and answerthe questions that follow :
[A] I vow ......................................................service of my love.
Ans: The poet vows to his country his whole love.
Q2: What does he think of his country?
Ans: The poet thinks of his country above all earthly things.
Q3: Whom does the poet love most dearly?
Ans: The poet loves his country most dearly.
[B] The love............................................... and the best.
Ans: Here the poet describes his unselfish love for his country.
Q2: Is the poet a weak ora strong loverof his country?
Ans: The poet is a strong lover of his country.
Q3: What makes his love so strong?
Ans: His feelings of sacrifice make his love so strong.
Q4: What all can the poet sacrifice forhis country?
Ans: The poet can sacrifice his dearest and the best thing, iehis life for his country.
[C] The love that never............................................... final sacrifice.
Ans: The poet is fearless so his love for his county never weakens.
Ans: The qualities of the poet's love for his country described in this stanza are following:
(ii) His love is ready to pay price and
(iii) His love can make the final sacrifice fearlessly.
Ans: ‘final sacrifice’means– sacrifice of life.
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
Ans: The title of the poem suggests the poet's unconditional love for his country.
Q2: What does the poet promise his country?
Ans: The poet promises his country to sacrifice his dearest and the best thing, i.e. his life for his country.
Q3: How does the poet want to repay his debt to the country?
Ans: The poet wants to repay the debt to the country by the sacrifice of his life.
Q4: What does the poet's love forhis country make him to do?
Ans: The poet's love for his country prompts him to serve the country wholeheartedly, selflessly and sincerely.
Q5: Explain these words :
means completely.
(b) all earthly things:
all worldly things.
(c) asks no question:
without any interest,
firm in the face of all difficulties.
Q6: Give the central idea of the poem.
Ans: Central Idea of the Poem
The poet is a great lover of his motherland. Inspired by the feelings of unconditional love for his mother country, he is ready to make the heaviest sacrifices. He takes a vow to love her wholeheartedly. He is ready to sacrifice his best fearlessly.