Indian Weavers
The poem describes the different stages of human life, ie Birth, Marriage and Death. In another way it tells about the life-cycle of human being, ie childhood, youth and old age. The poem is in dialogue form. The poetess puts a question to the weavers and from their answers, we come to know that they weave gay (colourful) garments for a new born baby at dawn, bright dresses for the queen's marriage at dusk and white cloth to wrap a dead body in the cold moonlit night. Thus, the colours of the garments and the time of weaving rightly tell us the special qualities of the three respective stages of man's life.
The poetess Sarojini Naidu asks the weavers at dawn, dusk and in the cold moon-light why they are weaving clothes of different colours. The weavers answer that they are weaving gay and blue garment for a new born baby at dawn; bright, green and purple marriage veil for a queen at dusk and a white shroud for a dead man in the cold moon-light. Thus, the colours of garments and the time of the weaving aptly suggest the characteristics of the respective three stages of man's life.
The poem also describes that life is not eternal. It may come to an end any time. It is full of joys and sorrows, both. So we should live it as such.
COMPREHENSION
Read the following stanzas and answerthe questions that follow:
[A] Weavers, weaving ...................................................new-born child.
Ans: Weavers are weaving the garments of a new born child.
Q2: Why are the clothes made by them so bright?
Ans: The clothes made by them are so bright because the birth of a child is an occasion of happiness.
Q3: Which stage of human life is referred to here?
Ans: The childhood of human life is referred to here.
Q4: What is the relation between childhood, brightness and dawn?
Ans: Childhood is the starting of human life. In the same way dawn is the starting of the day. Brightness is the indication of a starting and happy occasion.
[B] Weavers weaving.................................................. veil of a queen.
Ans: Weavers are weaving the marriage veil at fall of night.
Q2: Why are the marriage veils of queen bright?
Ans: The marriage veils of queen are bright because these are prepared for an occasion of happiness and joy.
Q3: What stage of human life is referred to here?
Ans: The youth of human life is referred to here.
Q4: What is the relationship between marriage, brightness and dusk?
Ans: Marriage, brightness and dusk all represent maturity, happiness and joy of youth.
[C] Weavers weaving.................................................. funeral shroud.
Q1: What do the weavers weave in the chill moon light?
Ans: The weavers weave a dead man's funeral shroud in the chill moon light.
Q2: Why are the weavers solemn and still
Ans: The weavers are solemn and still because this is the occasion of sorrow.
Q3: What colourof cloths are they weaving?
Ans: They are weaving white cloths.
Q4: What stage of life is referred to here?
Ans: Old age of man's life is referred to here.
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
Ans: The three stages of human life are
Q2: Who puts the questions and who answers them?
Ans: The poetess puts questions and weavers answer them.
Q3: Which stage is the symbol of energy and brightness in the life of man?
Ans: Youth is the symbol of energy and brightness in the life of man.
Q4: Which stage is the symbol of sorrow in the life of man?
Ans: Old age (death) is the symbol of sorrow in the life of man.
Q5: What is the physical and mental condition of weavers at night?
Ans: The weavers were physically and mentally serious and calm.
Q6: Clarify the comparison between colours of garments and different stages of human life.
Ans: Birth (childhood) and marriage (youth) are the occasions of happiness and joy so weavers are weaving garments of bright colours. Death(old age) is the occasion of sorrow so weavers are weaving garments of white colours.
Q7: Why is childhood compared with halcyon bird and youth with peacock?
Ans: The colour of halcyon bird is bright. Childhood (birth) is the event of delight. In the same way the colour of peacock is also bright. Youth (marriage) is also the event of delight and great pleasure. Bright colours are always used for happy events. So brightness of halcyon bird and peacock is compared to delight of childhood and youth.
Q8: What is the main theme of the poem?
Ans: Three stages of life ( birth, marriage and death) are the main theme of the poem.