CHAPTER 7 I’ll DEATH THE LEVELLER (POEM)

Question 1. What is the theme or the central idea of the poem ?
Or Question 2. Write the summary of the poem in your own words.

CENTRAL IDEA

Death the Leveller – James Shirley
This is a very beautiful poem. It gives a very good message. Death is very powerful. It is a great leveller. All are same before death. It spares no one. Only good works of a person remain after his death.

Question 3. What lesson do you get from this poem ?

Answer: Death spares none. It reduces everyone to dust. It treats the mighty and the weak equally. Therefore, it is useless to boast of one’s power or wealth. Only our good actions remain after our death. So we should always be just in our actions.

Question 4. What does the expression ‘scythe and spade’ stand for ?
Answer: The given expression stands for the poor peasants and labourers. These people become equal with the kings in death. Death makes no difference between them and the kings.

Question 5. Do the conquerors tame death or the dead ?
Answer: Conquerors can tame only the dead. They have no power over death. Rather it is death that one day overpowers them and reduces them to dust.

Question 6. Explain the lines :

“Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.”

Ans  The lines, “Only the actions of the just / Smell sweet and blossom in their dust,” convey a profound message about the significance of leading a righteous and virtuous life. The word “just” refers to individuals who uphold moral values, fairness, and integrity in their actions. The phrase “smell sweet” implies that these righteous deeds leave behind a positive and pleasing impression, much like the pleasant fragrance of flowers. Furthermore, “blossom in their dust” suggests that even after these just individuals pass away or are no longer present, their actions continue to have a positive impact and flourish. In essence, these lines emphasize the importance of living a life guided by principles and ethical behavior, for such actions have a lasting and beneficial influence on society, even beyond one’s lifetime.

Question 7. This poem highlights the uselessness of human power and might. What is it that cannot be snatched by death ?
Answer: It is only our good and just actions that cannot be snatched by death. All other things – living and non-living – mix with dust in the end. Death spares none. Only our good actions live after our death.

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS:

POEM 2: DEATH THE LEVELLER

Q1. Ultimate fate of all human beings is _____.
i) old age ii) life iii) youth iv) death

Q2. What lives after death?
i) name ii) good deeds iii) fame iv) glory

Q3. The glories of blood and state are just shadows. (True/ false)

ANSWER KEY:

A1. Ultimate fate of all human beings is death.
i) old age ii) life iii) youth iv) death

A2. What lives after death?
i) name ii) good deeds iii) fame iv) glory

A3. The glories of blood and state are just shadows. (True)

One liner

Question 1. Who wrote the poem, ‘Death the Leveller ?
Answer: James Shirley.

Question 2. Who have to stoop to fate ?
Answer: All men.

Question 3. What are not substantial things ?
Answer: The glories of our high birth and position.

Question 4. What does the expression ‘scythe and spade stand for?
Answer: For the poor peasants and labourers.

Question 5. How does Death treat the mighty and the weak ?
Answer: It treats the mighty and the weak equally.

(1) The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against Fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings.

Q1. Name the poem and the poet.
Answer: 1. The name of the poem is Death the Leveller?. The name of the poet is James Shirley.

Q2. What are not substantial things ?
Answer: 2. The glories of our high birth and position are mere shadows. They are not substantial things.

Q3. Explain : ‘Death lays his icy hand on kings.’
Answer:  3. Death spares not even kings. It treats the mighty and the weak equally.

(2) Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.

Q1. Write the name of the poem and the poet.
Answer: 1. The name of the poem is ‘Death the Leveller. The name of the poet is James Shirley.

Q2. Who are equal before death ?
Answer:  2. Mighty kings and the poor peasants are equal before death.

Q3. What does the expression “scythe and spade’ stand for ?
Answer:   3. The given expression stands for the poor peasants and labourers.

(3) Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill
But their strong nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still.

Q1. Name the poem and the poet.
Answers 1. The name of the poem is ‘Death the Leveller’and the name of the poet is James Shirley.

Q2. What do some men do with swords ?
Ans 2. Some men win battles with their swords.

Q3. What do they fail to do ?
Ans 3. They fail to gain victory over death.

(4) Early or late
They stoop to fate,
And must give up their murmuring breath
When they, pale captives, creep to death.

Q1. Who stoop to fate ?
Ans 1. All men have to stoop to fate.

Q2. Which two words show that meh.don’t want to die ?
Ans 2. Murmuring breath.

Q3. What is meant by ‘pale captives’?
Ans 3. The words ‘pale captives’ create an image of the helpless ones who are at the point of death.

(5) The garlands wither on your brow;
Then boast no more your mighty deeds!
Upon Death’s purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.

Q1. What are the garlands that wither ?
Ans 1. Garlands refer to the honours of victory in wars. All these honours prove useless in death.

Q2. Why should one not boast of one’s mighty deeds ?
Ans 2. Mighty deeds can’t save one from death. Therefore, it is useless to boast of one’s mighty deeds.

Q3. What is meant by the victor-victim ?
Answer: 3. The victor of any war becomes a victim by death. The poet calls him victor-victim.

(6) Your heads must come
To the cold tomb 
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.

Q1. What is that which must happen ?
Ans 1. Everyone must meet death in the end.

Q2. What is “cold tomb’ a symbol of ?
Ans2. The words ‘cold tomb’are a symbol of death.

Q3. What idea does the poet want to convey ?

Answer: 3. Only good actions live after one’s death. Therefore, one should always be just in one’s actions.

Death the Leveller Poem Summary in English

“Death the Leveller” is a poem by James Shirley that explores the theme of mortality and the inevitability of death. The poem presents death as a great equalizer, leveling all individuals regardless of their social status or achievements.

The poem opens by stating that death comes to everyone, whether they are kings or beggars. It emphasizes that no one can escape death’s grasp, regardless of their wealth, power, or fame. Death is portrayed as a relentless force that does not discriminate and treats all individuals equally.

The second stanza delves into the transient nature of human life and the futility of worldly possessions and achievements. It suggests that despite one’s wealth, beauty, or accomplishments, they will eventually succumb to death and be reduced to mere dust. This emphasizes the ephemeral nature of human existence and the insignificance of material possessions in the face of death.

The third stanza introduces the idea that only the actions of the righteous or just individuals have a lasting impact. It suggests that the only things that have a sweet fragrance and continue to flourish even after death are the virtuous deeds of the righteous. This implies that leading a morally upright life and performing good actions can leave a positive and lasting legacy.

The final stanza concludes the poem by emphasizing that death is the ultimate equalizer, robbing individuals of their power, wealth, and earthly achievements. It implies that in the face of death, all human accomplishments and worldly possessions become meaningless, as everyone eventually meets the same fate.

Overall, “Death the Leveller” presents a somber reflection on the universal nature of death and emphasizes the importance of leading a righteous life, as that is what truly matters in the face of mortality.