Table of Contents

Summary of the Flower-School Poem by Rabindranath Tagore

What is the poetic device of the flower school?,What is the personification of the flower school poem?,What type of poem is the flower school?, What is a metaphor in the flower school poem?,What is the flower metaphor for life?,The Flower-School by Rabindranath Tagore is a beautiful and contemplative poem that explores the metaphorical journey of flowers as they learn the lessons of life from nature. The poem presents the flowers as pupils in the classroom of life as it develops with rich imagery and symbolism.Summary of the Flower-School Poem by Rabindranath Tagore

The Flower-School Poem summary

Lines 1-4: The poem begins with the idea of flowers being students in a school where they learn the lessons of life. Tagore introduces the metaphor of the school to convey a deeper meaning about the cycle of life and the experiences of growth.

Lines 5-8: The poet describes how the flowers, like children, are eager to learn. They are open to receiving the teachings of nature, and their innocence and receptivity are emphasized.

Lines 9-12: The flowers, represented as students, are compared to children who are initially shy and reserved in the presence of their teacher, the sun. The sun is portrayed as a nurturing figure, guiding the flowers through their journey of life.

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Lines 13-16: Tagore introduces the concept of morning as the time when the flowers attend their classes. The morning light is described as the teacher’s stick, symbolizing the discipline and order inherent in the natural world.

Lines 17-20: The poet uses vivid imagery to portray the flowers as attentive students, sitting in rows and paying close attention to the lessons taught by the sun. The flowers are absorbing the warmth and light, essential for their growth.Summary of the Flower-School Poem by Rabindranath Tagore

Lines 21-24: Tagore explores the idea of the flowers learning the alphabet of fragrance. This metaphor suggests that the flowers are not just absorbing sunlight but are also imbibing the essential qualities that make them unique and beautiful.

Lines 25-28: The poem takes a reflective turn as Tagore contemplates the transient nature of life. He expresses that the flowers learn their lessons quickly, and soon it will be time for them to leave the school of life.

Lines 29-32: The poet introduces the metaphor of the wind as the messenger who conveys the news of departure to the flowers. The wind becomes a symbol of change and the inevitable passage of time.

Lines 33-36: The flowers, having completed their education, are described as preparing to leave the school. They are now ready to face the world and embrace their roles in the larger cycle of life.

Lines 37-40: Tagore reflects on the brevity of the flowers’ existence, comparing it to the short-lived joy of childhood. The flowers, like children, must eventually move on, and their departure is inevitable.

Lines 41-44: The poem concludes with a poignant message about the impermanence of life. Tagore suggests that even though the flowers have left the school, their fragrance and beauty will linger as a testament to the lessons they learned.

The Flower-School Poem

When storm-clouds rumble in the sky and June showers come down.
The moist east wind comes marching over the heath to blow its
bagpipes among the bamboos.
Then crowds of flowers come out of a sudden, from nobody knows
where, and dance upon the grass in wild glee.
Mother, I really think the flowers go to school underground.
They do their lessons with doors shut, and if they want to
come out to play before it is time, their master makes them stand
in a corner.
When the rain come they have their holidays.
Branches clash together in the forest, and the leaves rustle
in the wild wind, the thunder-clouds clap their giant hands and the
flower children rush out in dresses of pink and yellow and white.
Do you know, mother, their home is in the sky, where the stars
are.
Haven’t you see how eager they are to get there? Don’t you
know why they are in such a hurry?
Of course, I can guess to whom they raise their arms; they
have their mother as I have my own.

Conclusion

Rabindranath Tagore’s “The Flower-School” is a poignant and metaphorical exploration of life’s journey using the allegory of flowers attending a school. Through vivid imagery and symbolic language, Tagore presents the flowers as students learning essential lessons from their teacher, the sun. The poem beautifully captures the innocence, receptivity, and eventual departure of the flowers, paralleling the transient nature of life.Summary of the Flower-School Poem by Rabindranath Tagore

The metaphorical elements, such as the wind as a messenger and the alphabet of fragrance, add depth to the poem, inviting readers to reflect on the cyclical and impermanent nature of existence.What is the poetic device of the flower school?,What is the personification of the flower school poem?,What type of poem is the flower school?, What is a metaphor in the flower school poem?,What is the flower metaphor for life?,

FAQ:

1. What is the central theme of “The Flower-School”?

The central theme of the poem revolves around the metaphor of flowers attending a school to learn the lessons of life. It explores the cyclical nature of existence, the inevitability of change and departure, and the transient beauty of life.

2. What does the sun symbolize in the poem?

The sun serves as a symbolic representation of the teacher in the flower-school. It imparts essential lessons to the flowers, representing the nurturing and guiding force of nature. The sun’s light and warmth symbolize the life-giving energy that sustains the flowers.

3. How does Tagore use metaphor in the poem?

Tagore employs metaphor extensively in the poem by likening the flowers to students in a school. The sun becomes the teacher, the morning light the teacher’s stick, and the wind the messenger of departure. These metaphors add layers of meaning to the poem, inviting readers to interpret the deeper symbolic significance.

4. Why does the poem emphasize the brevity of life?

The emphasis on the brevity of life in the poem serves to highlight the ephemeral nature of the flowers’ existence. It prompts readers to reflect on the transient joy of childhood and the inevitability of departure, encouraging a deeper contemplation of the impermanence of life.

5. What is the role of the wind in the poem?

The wind in the poem acts as a symbolic messenger, conveying the news of departure to the flowers. It represents the force of change and the passage of time, signaling the end of the flowers’ time in the school of life. The wind adds a dynamic element to the poem, reinforcing the theme of impermanence.