Up-Hill, Explanation and Exercises || Grade 9 Compulsory English Unit 10 The Earth and Space

 

Up-Hill, Explanation and Exercises || Grade 9 Compulsory English Unit 10 The Earth and Space

Unit 10 : The Earth and Space

Reading II

Up-Hill

 

About the Poet: Christina Rossetti

v Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) was an English poet and writer. She was one of the leading poets of the Victorian era and a prominent member of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Her work is known for its religious themes, imagery, and use of traditional forms.

v Rossetti was born in London and was the sister of artist and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. She began writing at a young age and published her first book of poetry, "Goblin Market and Other Poems," in 1862. She went on to publish several more collections of poetry, including "The Prince's Progress and Other Poems" (1866), "Sing-Song: A Nursery Rhyme Book" (1872), and "Monna Innominata" (1881).

v Rossetti's poetry is characterized by its religious themes, imagery, and use of traditional forms such as sonnets and ballads. She often wrote about love, nature, and faith, and her work is known for its beauty, simplicity, and emotional depth.

v Rossetti's work was highly influential during her lifetime and continues to be widely read and studied today. She is considered a significant figure in Victorian literature and her poetry is known for its beauty, simplicity and emotional depth.

 

About the Poem: Up-HIll

"Up-Hill" is a poem by Christina Rossetti that describes the journey of life as an uphill climb. The poem is written in rhyming couplets with a consistent meter, giving it a steady and measured feel.

 

The first stanza of the poem raises the question of whether the journey of life is always uphill and if the journey will take the whole day. The second stanza asks if there is a place to rest at night, a metaphor for finding comfort and peace in life. The third stanza speaks of encountering other travelers on the journey and the possibility of finding comfort and rest with them. The fourth stanza asks if there will be beds for all who seek them, suggesting that everyone will find the rest they need at the end of their journey.

 

The poem uses imagery of a road, a journey, and a resting place to convey the idea of the struggles and difficulties of life. The tone is contemplative, with the speaker reflecting on the journey of life and its challenges. The theme of the poem is the journey of life and the struggles one faces along the way, but also the comfort and peace that can be found at the end of the journey.

 

Stanzawise Explanation of the Poem Up-Hill

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?

   Yes, to the very end.

Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?

   From morn to night, my friend.

 

This stanza of the poem "Up-Hill" by Christina Rossetti, raises the question of whether the journey of life is always uphill and if the journey will take the whole day. The first line "Does the road wind up-hill all the way?" suggests that the speaker is asking if the journey of life is always difficult and challenging. The second line "Yes, to the very end." confirms that the journey is indeed uphill all the way and that it will continue to be so until the end. The third line "Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?" asks if the struggles and challenges of life will take an entire day, from morning to night. The fourth line "From morn to night, my friend" confirms that the journey of life will take the whole day, from morning to night, and that the speaker is speaking to a friend, possibly giving comfort and support. Overall, this stanza sets a contemplative and reflective tone for the poem, with the speaker asking about the nature of life's journey, and acknowledging its uphill nature and the duration of the journey. It also establishes the idea that the journey is long and challenging and creates a sense of empathy and shared experience with the person the speaker is addressing.

 

But is there for the night a resting-place?

   A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.

May not the darkness hide it from my face?

   You cannot miss that inn.

 

This stanza of the poem "Up-Hill" by Christina Rossetti, builds on the theme of the journey of life and the struggles one faces along the way. It asks if there is a place to rest at night, a metaphor for finding comfort and peace in life. The first line "But is there for the night a resting-place?" expresses the speaker's doubt and uncertainty about whether there is a place to rest after a long day of climbing uphill. The second line "A roof for when the slow dark hours begin." suggests that the resting-place is a safe haven, a shelter, and a protection from the difficulties of the journey, specifically the "slow dark hours" that come with the night. The third line "May not the darkness hide it from my face?" expresses a fear that the resting-place may be hidden or difficult to find. The fourth line "You cannot miss that inn." reassures the speaker that the resting-place is not hidden and that it is easy to find, and it is a metaphor for the comfort and peace that can be found in life. Overall, this stanza reflects on the idea that despite the struggles and difficulties of life's journey, there is a place of rest and comfort that can be found. It creates a sense of hope and the possibility of finding peace after a long day of climbing uphill, and it also reassures the speaker that it is not difficult to find.

 

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?

   Those who have gone before.

Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?

   They will not keep you standing at that door.

 

This stanza of the poem "Up-Hill" by Christina Rossetti, speaks of encountering other travelers on the journey and the possibility of finding comfort and rest with them. The first line "Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?" suggests that the speaker is wondering if they will encounter other people who are also on the journey of life, and if they will meet them at night, when the journey is more challenging. The second line "Those who have gone before." confirms that the other travelers the speaker may encounter are people who have already completed the journey and have reached the end. The third line "Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?" implies that the speaker must take the initiative to reach out to these other travelers, whether by knocking on their door or calling out to them, when they are in sight. The fourth line "They will not keep you standing at that door." suggests that these other travelers, who have already completed the journey, will not leave the speaker waiting at the door, but will welcome them and offer them comfort and guidance. Overall, this stanza implies that the journey of life is not solitary, and that others have gone through similar struggles and have reached the end. It also suggests that the speaker can find comfort, guidance and support by reaching out to those who have gone before and have completed the journey. It creates a sense of community and shared experience on the journey of life.

 

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?

   Of labour you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

   Yea, beds for all who come.

 

This stanza of the poem "Up-Hill" by Christina Rossetti, asks if the speaker will find comfort and rest after a long and challenging journey, and if there will be beds for everyone who seeks them. The first line "Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?" expresses the speaker's hope and desire to find comfort and rest after a long and challenging journey, where they are feeling travel-sore and weak. The second line "Of labour you shall find the sum." suggests that the comfort and rest the speaker is looking for is the result of the hard work and effort put into the journey, and that the sum of that labour will be found in the rest. The third line "Will there be beds for me and all who seek?" expresses the speaker's concern that the resting-place may not be able to accommodate everyone who is looking for rest. The fourth line "Yea, beds for all who come." reassures the speaker that there will be beds and a place of rest for everyone who seeks it, regardless of how many people are looking for it. Overall, this stanza expresses the idea that despite the struggles and difficulties of life's journey, there is a place of rest and comfort that can be found for everyone who seeks it. It creates a sense of hope and the possibility of finding peace after a long day of climbing uphill, and it also reassures the speaker that it is not difficult to find and that everyone who seeks it will find it.

 

Glossary:

Up-hill: moving or going upward, uphill refers to the direction of the incline of a slope, typically used to describe the effort required to climb a hill or a mountain. In this poem, it is used as a metaphor for the difficulties and struggles of life's journey.

 

Journey: a trip or voyage, usually over a long distance, typically involving several stages and an end destination. In this poem, it refers to the journey of life and the struggles one faces along the way.

 

Morn: morning, the time period between midnight and noon. In this poem, it refers to the beginning of the day's journey.

 

Inn: a place where travelers can stay overnight, typically including sleeping accommodations and meals. In this poem, it is used as a metaphor for the resting-place or comfort that can be found in life.

 

Wayfarers: a person traveling on foot, a traveler, a wanderer. In this poem, it refers to other people on the journey of life.

 

Travel-sore: fatigued or worn out from traveling, referring to the physical and emotional weariness from a long journey.

 

Seek: to go in search of something, to look for, to try to find something. In this poem, it refers to the search for rest and comfort in life.

 

Exercise

A. Match the words in column A with their meanings in colum B.

 

Column A        Column B

a. Wind               - iii. to have many bens and twists

b. morn               - v. morning

c. inn                    - ii. a small hotel, usually in the country

d. wayfarer         - i. person who usually travels on foot

e. seek                 - iv. look for                 

 

B. Complete the summary of the poem using suitable words or phrases given below.

 

the road ahead, up-hill, someone,  a place , a journey, in the affirmative, on the way, everyone, fellow travellers, an inn

 

The speaker is making a journey with her guide. She asks the guide eight different questions about the road ahead. The first question is if the road is all up-hill and if the journey will take all day. The guide replies in the affirmative. Next, she asks if there is a place to rest for the night. The guide informs the speaker that there is an inn which she won'd miss. The speaker's fift question is, whether she will meet the other travellers on the way. At the inn, the speakers asks if she should knock of call the fellow travellers. The guide replies that someone will open the door. Lastly, the speaker asks if there will be a bed for her. The guide tells here that there are beds for everyone.

 

C. Answer the following questions.

a. How far is the road up-hill, according to the guide?

According to the guide in the poem "Up-Hill", the road is uphill all the way, meaning that the journey of life is always uphill and difficult with no end in sight.

 

b. What does the speaker doubt about the place to rest?

In the poem "Up-Hill", the speaker expresses doubt about whether there is a place to rest after a long day of climbing uphill, questioning if there is a place of comfort and peace in life.

 

c. Who has travelled the road before?

In the poem "Up-Hill" it is stated that the speaker may encounter other travelers on the journey who have gone before, meaning people who have already completed the journey and have reached the end.

 

d. What is the speaker's seventh question?

The speaker's seventh question in the poem "Up-Hill" is: "Will there be beds for me and all who seek?"

 

e. Who do you think opens the door?

I think, the wayfarers who have gone before may opent the door. But the actual person who opens the door is not mentioned in the poem.

 

Writing I

Imagine you have recently met someone from another planet and spent about an hour with him/her. Write an account describing your feelings and reactions.

 

I recently had the opportunity to meet someone from another planet, and it was an experience that I will never forget. I was initially filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness, wondering what this being would be like and what we would talk about.

 

As soon as I saw the being, I was struck by its appearance. It was tall and humanoid in shape, but with elongated limbs and a distinct, otherworldly appearance. I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder as I looked at this being from another world.

 

We spent about an hour together, and I was struck by how similar our thoughts and emotions were despite our vastly different appearances. We talked about our worlds and cultures, and I found myself fascinated by the being's perspectives on life and the universe. I felt like I was really getting a glimpse into a completely different way of life.

 

Throughout the conversation, I found myself feeling a sense of connection and empathy with the being. It was amazing to realize that despite our vastly different backgrounds, we shared many of the same hopes, fears, and aspirations.

 

Overall, meeting someone from another planet was an incredibly enlightening and humbling experience. It made me realize how interconnected we all are as inhabitants of the universe, and how much we have in common despite our differences. I felt grateful for the opportunity to have this unique encounter, and it will remain one of the most memorable experiences in my life.