English X - Chapter No.20 - Words/Meaning, About Poet, Central Idea and Summary

Go To Index
THE MINSTREL BOY

Words/Meaning

S.No	Words	Meaning
1.	A sunder	Into separate pieces
2.	Bard	A poet and singer
3.	Bravery	Boldness
4.	Bring his proud soul under	The enemy defeated him physically but could not conquer his spirit
5.	Chords	The strings of harp
6.	Foeman	Enemy
7.	Guard	Protect
8.	Girded	Worn around the waist
9.	Harp	A musical instrument
10.	Minstrel	A singer
11.	Sully	Defiled, Touched by impure hands, Disgrace on
12.	Tore	Broke
13.	Warrior	Soldier
14.	Wild	Violent

About Poet
Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

This poem is written by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) an Irish poet. He was born in Dublin where he studied at the best school. He was admitted to Trinity College at the age of 15 years. He became an enthusiastic Irish patriot. In imitation of Lora Byron, who was his friend, he wrote poem on an oriental theme called "Lalla Rookh." His patriotic feeling is well expressed in this poem.

Central Idea

Reference
This poem is written by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) an Irish poet. He was born in Dublin where he studied at the best school. He was admitted to Trinity College at the age of 15 years. He became an enthusiastic Irish Poet. In imitation of Lord Byron, who was his friend, he wrote poem on an oriental theme called “Lalla Rookh”. His patriotic feelings is well expressed in this poem.
Central Idea
Brave and patriotic people defend their homeland. Such people hate slavery. They prefer to die to maintain their freedom than to live in slavery.

OR

In this poem, Thomas Moore has shown the patriotic feelings of a boy. He was a singer and musician  who once went to the battlefield in order to fight for his country. His harp was hanging on his shoulder. During the battle, the boy was wounded. When he feared that he might be killed, he broke the strings of his harp because he did not want the song of freedom to be sung in slavery.

Theme

“Patriotism is not a short out burst of emotions but the tranquil and steady dedication of lifetime.”

OR

“Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul into great things"

Summary

The poem “The Minstrel Boy” has been written by a famous Irish poet Thomas Moore. He has expressed his patriotic feelings in this poem. The poem is in the praise of a minstrel boy. He was a great singer who used to sing songs on the time of his harp in the peacetime. But when the wartime came on his country, he joined the army of flight for his country. Actually he was continuing the legacy of his fore fathers i.e. to fight for their country.
He fought bravely, with his sward and sacrificed his life for the protection of his motherland. When he was near to death, he tore off all his belonging because he wanted the enemy to realize that people like him would never allow him to touch their beloved homeland.
In the end the poet has show his patriotic feelings in a convincing way. He says that the enemy might defeat the minstrel boy physically but they could not conquer his spirits. The minstrel boy’s harp was destroyed by the minstrel boy himself because it was meant to sing in peace not in slavery. The extreme limit of patriotism is exhibited by their action.