Learning Objectives

• Understand the origin and meaning of the word 'poetry'.
• Identify the musical qualities of poetry, including rhythm, pitch, and metre.
• Recognize the use of figures of speech such as simile and metaphor in poetry.
• Differentiate between traditional and modern forms of poetry.
• Explore specific poetic forms like haiku and limerick.
• Analyze the imagery and descriptive details in Sujata Bhatt's poem 'The Peacock'.
• Discuss the cultural significance of the peacock in literature and as a national symbol.

Poetry

Introduction

• The word 'poetry' originates from a Greek word meaning 'to make'.
• A poet is thus a maker and the poem something that is made or created.
• No single definition of poetry is possible, but some characteristic features include:
  • Musical quality with rhythm, pitch, and metre.
  • Use of figures of speech such as simile and metaphor.
• The selection includes both traditional forms and modern poems free from formal restrictions.
• Examples of 'haiku' and 'limerick' are included to introduce learners to these forms.

The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt

About the Poet

• Sujata Bhatt (born 1956) was educated in the USA and now lives in Germany.
• She won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize for the Asia section for her collection of poems, Brunizem (1988).
• Other works include Monkey Shadows (1991) and The Stinking Rose (1994).
• She has translated Gujarati poetry into English.

Understanding the Poem

1. Comment on the lines that make you visualize the colorful image of the peacock.
2. What are the cues that signal the presence of the peacock in the vicinity?
3. How does the connection drawn between the tail and the eyes add to the descriptive detail of the poem?
4. How does the poem capture the elusive nature of the peacock?
5. The peacock is a colorful bird. How does the poem capture the various colors that its plumage displays?

Try This Out

1. In English, the peacock is associated with pride. 'As proud as a peacock' is a commonly used simile. With what qualities is the peacock associated in the literature of your language?
2. The peacock is the national bird of India. Why do you think the peacock has been chosen?

Suggested Reading

• The Bangle Sellers by Sarojini Naidu