Rickshaw Ride
John Hill
Grade 9,
English
Unit 18
Transportation and Communication
Reading II
Rickshaw
Ride
John Hill
a.
What does the rickshaw puller look like?
The rickshaw
puller in John Hill's poem "Rickshaw Ride" is described as being
"as old as China" with a "folded face like a sandbar at low
tide." The poet notes that he is made of leather, which suggests that his
skin has been worn and weathered due to years of hard work and exposure to the
sun. The man is depicted as having a rough appearance, which contrasts with the
carefree enjoyment of the tourists who hire him.
b.
Is the rickshaw rider happy? Give reasons.
I don't think
the rickshaw rider in this picture is happy. If he was happy, he would enjoy
the ride ignoring the miserable and painful condition of the rickshaw puller.
Instead of enjoying the ride and natural beauty, the rider is contemplating on
the situtation and hardship of poor rickshaw puller even in his old age.
About
the Poet:
John Hill
(1714-1775) was a British physician and botanist who was active in the 18th
century. He was born in London and trained as a physician, but he was also
interested in botany and became a fellow of the Royal Society. Hill was known
for his works on botany and agriculture, and he was a popular author and public
figure in his time. He was also a strong advocate for the study of natural
history and the importance of scientific knowledge for improving agriculture
and the economy. John Hill was an important figure in 18th-century British
science, and his works helped to lay the foundation for the study of botany and
horticulture in Britain.
Summary:
"Rickshaw
Ride" by John Hill is a poem that reflects on the experience of a tourist
riding in a rickshaw in Hong Kong. The poet describes the rickshaw puller as an
old man who has a face that is weathered and worn, resembling a sandbar at low
tide. The man is hard at work pulling the rickshaw up a hill towards Victoria
Peak, despite the small payment he will receive from the tourist. The poem
highlights the physical effort the man puts into his work, with his muscles
straining at "neck and calf and shoulder," and his dark veins
prominent in his effort. The poem raises questions about the inequality between
the rich and poor, as tourists take the rickshaw ride for enjoyment, while the
man toils tirelessly. Despite his hard work, the rickshaw puller does not thank
the tourist for his payment, as he understands that the dollar he pays means
little to him. The contrast between the tourist's carefree enjoyment and the
man's tireless effort underscores the ethics of labor and the significance of
material wealth. The poem ends with the speaker's realization that the
experience of riding in a rickshaw was not as enjoyable as he had expected. The
poem raises questions about the people's assumptions and expectations, as well
as their privilege and the ways in which they are detached from the reality of
the man's daily life and work. The poem serves as a reminder to be aware of and
reflect on the impact of our actions and experiences on those around us.
Stanza
by Staza Explanation of the Poem
Stanza 1
That man by
the harbour
spitting into
the water
Is as old as
China.
Explanation:
The first
stanza of the poem describes a man who is by the harbor and spitting into the
water. The man is described as being "as old as China," suggesting
that he is very old and has lived a long life. The image of the man spitting
into the water creates a picture of a battered, discontented individual who may
have seen and experienced much in his life. The phrase "as old as
China" is a figure of speech that is meant to convey the idea old age,
which further highlights the idea of the man's durability and experience.
Stanza 2
He is made of
leather
and his folded face
Is like a sandbar
At low tide.
Will you take
a ride
On his rickshaw?
Explanation:
The second
stanza of the poem introduces the rickshaw rickshaw puller. The rickshaw puller
is described as being "made of leather," which could suggest that he
is hard and durable. He has a rough body that has been shaped and formed by his
experiences. The description of his face as "folded" and "like a
sandbar at low tide" further reinforces the idea of a worn individual who
has seen and experienced much in his life. This stanza also invites the reader
to take a ride on the rickshaw along with more detail of his physical
appearance. The reader is presented with an opportunity to experience a journey
with this rickshaw puller, who is likely to be different from his passengers.
The description of the rickshaw puller as being made of leather and having a
weathered face suggests that the rickshaw puller is an experienced and strong
individual who is used to working hard. The contrast between the reader and the
rickshaw puller adds to the lively of the poem, and highlights the different
perspectives and experiences of the two characters: rider and rickshaw puller.
Stanza 3
He will not
thank you
For your
dollar,
He knows that
to you
A dollor does
not matter.
Off you go
with a clatter
Up to Victoria
On up the long
hill
Pass the cathedral
To the peak Tram
Explanation:
This stanza of
the poem focuses on the relationship between the reader and the rickshaw rickshaw
puller. The line "He will not thank you / For your dollar" suggests
that the rickshaw puller does not value the money that the reader is paying for
the journey. This could be because the rickshaw puller understands that the
payment is small in comparison to the reader's wealth, or because he is aware
that the money does not carry much significance for the reader. The line
"He knows that to you / A dollar does not matter" reinforces the idea
of the contrast between the reader and the rickshaw puller, and their different
conditions. The reader is wealthy and has the ability to pay for the journey,
while the rickshaw puller is likely to be poor and is in need of the money to
make a living. This contrast highlights the social and economic differences
between the two characters, and emphasizes the division that exists between
them. The lines "Off you go with a
clatter / Up to Victoria" describe the journey that the reader takes with
the rickshaw puller. The word "clatter" creates a sense of movement
and energy, and the reference to Victoria adds to the sense of progression and
change that the reader is experiencing. The journey up the hill, past the
cathedral, and to the peak tram provides a physical representation of the
reader's experience and the journey they are taking with the rickshaw puller.
Stanza 4
Pull! Pull!
He leans to it
His muscles at
neck and calf and shoulder
And his dark
veins that snake
Take you eye
Not what
passes by
Let him not
break
Something for
my sake,
For my dollar.
Explanation:
This stanza
describes the physical effort that the rickshaw rickshaw puller is putting into
the journey. The line "Pull! Pull!" conveys the sense of energy that
the rickshaw puller is experiencing, and the idea that he is working hard to
complete the journey. The line "His muscles at neck and calf and
shoulder" highlights the physical strain that the rickshaw puller is
under, and the idea that he is using all of his strength to pull the rickshaw.
The phrase "dark veins that snake" adds to the sense of physical effort,
and creates a intense image of the rickshaw puller's muscles and veins working
hard. The line "Take your eye, Not what passes by" suggests that the
reader is paying more attention to the rickshaw puller and his efforts, rather
than the sights and sounds of the journey. This supports the idea that the rickshaw
puller is the focus of the poem, and that the speaker is more interested in the
rickshaw puller's experience than his own. The final lines "Let him not
break, Something for my sake, For my dollar" express the speaker's concern
for the rickshaw puller, and the idea that the speaker does not want the rickshaw
puller to harm himself or collapse in order to complete the journey. This shows
the speaker's empathy and recognition of the rickshaw puller's humanity, and
highlights the sense of shared experience that exists between the two
characters despite their differences.
Stanza 5 and 6
You went to
Hong Kong
They will say.
Did you take a
rickshaw?
Was it fun?
Did he run,
your rickshaw man?
Yes, he ran.
No, it was not
much fun.
This stanza is
a reflection on the experience of the speaker and insights of people concerning
rickshaw ride in Hong Kong. The speaker imagines someone asking about his
experience in Hong Kong, specifically whether he took a rickshaw ride. The
question of whether the ride was fun is likely asked because taking a rickshaw
ride in Hong Kong is considered a popular tourist activity. The speaker
responds to the imaginary question by saying that he took a rickshaw ride, and
the man ran it. However, He also states that the experience was not very
enjoyable, indicating that he was not satisfied with the ride. He felt very
sorry of the rickshaw puller who labored hard to earn money to join hand-to-mouth
even in his old age. This stanza serves to underscore the disconnect between
the expectations of tourists and the reality of the experience, as well as the
distinction between material enjoyment and the hard work that goes into it.
Exercise:
A. Match the
words with their meanings.
a. Harbour - iii. a protected area on the
coast
b. Folded - viii. having slight folds;
wrinked
c. Sandbar -
vii. a long mass of sand, especially at the mouth
of the river
d. Snake - i. to move in long twisting curves
e. sake -
ii. for the purpose of; in the interest of; in order to achieve or preserve
f . clatter - vi. loud noise for hard
objects knocking together
g. Cathedral - iv. the main church
h. Tram -
v. a vehicle driven by electricity
B.
Fill in the blanks with the correct words/phrases from the poem.
a. The old man
is waiting for customer at the harbor.
b. He is very
weak with folded face.
c. He knows
that a dollar is nothing for the rider.
d. He takes
the rider as far as to Victoria.
e. The rider's
eyes are caught by the old man's twisted veins.
f. The rider
didn't have the fun when riding.
C.
Answer the following questions.
a.
How old is the rickshaw puller?
Ans: The
rickshaw puller is as old as "China".
b.
What does 'he is made of leather' mean?
Ans:- "He
is made of leader" means that the rickshaw puller is life is rought and
worn out because of his continuous hard work.
c.
What attracts the attention of the rider?
Ans:- His
muscles at neck, calf and shoulder and wreathing and twisting dark veins
attract the attention of the rider.
d.
Why does the rider want the rickshaw puller not to break?
Ans:- The
rickshaw rider doesn't want the rickshaw puller to break or collapse because he
feels sorry for the miserable condition of the rickshaw puller.
e.
Did the man enjoy the ricshaw ride? Give reasons.
Ans:- The man
did not enjoy the rickshwas ride because he felt sad for the rickshaw puller
who was working hard just for few dollar even at his old age for the sake of
his family.
D. Find
suitable adjectives to descrive the rickshaw puller. complete the mind map.
The suitable
adjectives to describe the rickshaw puller are:
· Elderly
· Weathered
· Worn-out
· Leathery
· Aged
· Experienced
· Folded
· Tired
· Veined
· Sinewy
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