Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions Poem 4 Once upon a Time Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 12 English Poem 4 Once upon a Time
1. Once upon a time son,
they used to laugh with their hearts
and laugh with their eyes ;
but now they only laugh with their teeth,
while their ice-block-cold eyes
search behind my shadow.
Word-Notes.
Laugh with their hearts – laughed sincerely ; they laughed with real joy in their hearts. Laughter was sincere and natural. Laugh with their eyes – expression of joy in the eyes. Laugh with their teeth – their laughter is artificial. There is no feeling of joy in their laughter. Ice-block-cold eyescold and feelingless eyes almost as cold as a block of ice.
Explanation.
In these lines the poet says that there was a time when people laughed out of real joy at heart. Such laughter could be seen reflected even in their eyes. Their eyes looked bright and cheerful. But now, they laugh even when they are not happy. Their eyes remain cold and they do not express any joy. They are as cold and expressionless as a block of ice.
इन पंक्तियों में कवि कहता है कि कोई ज़माना था जब लोग अपने हृदय की प्रसन्नता के कारण हंसा करते थे। ऐसी हंसी उनकी आँखों में भी देखी जा सकती थी। उनकी आंखें चमकीली और प्रसन्न दिखती थीं। लेकिन अब तो लोग तब भी हंसते हैं जब वे वास्तव में प्रसन्न नहीं होते। उनकी आँखों में रूखापन होता है और वे प्रसन्नता को व्यक्त नहीं करते। अब उनकी आंखें भावशून्य और बर्फ की तरह ठंडी होती हैं।
2. There was a time indeed
they used to shake hands with their hearts,
but that’s gone, son.
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left hands search
my empty pockets.
Word-Notes. Shake hands with their hearts – sincere warmth of feelings. That’s gone rob the person.
Explanation.
In these lines the poet tells his son that in the past people shook hands with others out of friendship and good feelings. People were genuine and honest. Now that is changed. People shake hands with one hand and with the other they try to rob the pockets of the other person. The poet expresses his nostalgic feelings for the past.
इन पंक्तियों में कवि अपने बेटे को बताता है कि भूतकाल में लोग दूसरों के साथ मित्रतापूर्ण और अच्छी भावनाओं के साथ हाथ मिलाते थे। वे सच्चे और ईमानदार थे। अब तो परिवर्तन आ गया है। अब लोग एकदूसरे के साथ हाथ मिलाते हैं और दूसरे हाथ के साथ दूसरे आदमी की जेब काटने की कोशिश करते हैं। कवि भूतकाल से अपने बिछुड़ने की भावनाओं को उजागर करता है।
3. ‘Feel at home,’ ‘Come again’,
they say, and when I come
again and feel
at home, once, twice,
there will be no thrice
for then I find the doors shut on me.
Word-Notes. Feel at home – make yourself feel. easy.
Explanation. In these lines the poet tells his son that in the past people were very hospitable. They used to give a warm welcome to their guests. Now there is a change in their attitude. Now people welcome their guests, ask them to feel at home insincerely. When the guest leaves, they invite him to come again.
But if the guests come again, the guest may be entertained once or twice. After that he is no more welcomed. The doors of the host are shut on that guest for ever. People become inhospitable towards their guest. The poet regrets that there is a lot of change in the attitude of people towards their guests.
इन पंक्तियों में कवि अपने बेटे से कहता है कि भूतकाल के लोग बड़े मेहमाननवाज़ थे। वे अपने मेहमानों का बड़ी गर्मजोशी से स्वागत करते थे। अब उनके व्यवहार में परिवर्तन आ गया है। अब लोग अपने अतिथियों का सत्कार करते हैं, उनको झूठ बोल कर कह देते है कि उनके घर को अपना ही घर समझें। जब अतिथि जाने लगता है वे उसे फिर उनके यहाँ दोबारा आने का न्यौता देते है।
लेकिन यदि मेहमान दोबारा आ जाये, तो एक या दो बार मेहमान का सत्कार कर दिया जाता है। उसके बाद उसका बिल्कुल सत्कार नहीं किया जाता। यजमान के द्वारा ऐसे मेहमान के लिए दरवाज़े सदा के लिए बन्द कर दिए जाते हैं। लोग अपने मेहमान का आदर नहीं करते। कवि खेद से कहता है कि लोगों का अपने मेहमानों के प्रति व्यवहार में काफ़ी परिवर्तन आ गया है।
4. So, I have learnt many things, son,
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses-homeface,
office face, streetface, hostface,
cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile.
Word-Notes.
Wear faces—put on false expressions on the face. Homeface–face sported when one is at home. Officeface—face worn by a person in an office. Streetface-face worn in the street while encountering other people. Hostface-a face worn by the host when entertaining a guest. Cocktailface-face worn at the time of a party. Conforming-suiting to. A portrait smile-artificial smile for a portrait or picture or painting. Fixed—a smile that remains on the face but does not change.
Explanation.
In these lines the poet tells his son that he has learnt many things from this changed situation. He has learnt to change the expression on his face. He has different face expressions at home, in the office, in the street, as a host and as a guest. He has also a fixed smile suiting the occasion and situation of the guest.
कवि अपने बेटे को कहता है कि उसने बदली हुई स्थिति से कई चीजें सीख ली हैं। उसने अपने चेहरे की अभिव्यक्ति को भिन्न-भिन्न स्थानों पर बदल लेना सीख लिया है। उसके चेहरे का हाव-भाव दफ्तर में, गली में, बतौर यजमान और अतिथि बदल जाता है। अवसर और स्थिति के अनुसार उसकी एक निश्चित मुस्कान भी होती है।
5. [And I have learned, too,
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart.]
I have also learnt to say, ‘Goodbye’
when I mean ‘Good-riddance’ ;
to say ‘Glad to meet you’.
without being glad ; and to say ‘It’s been
nice talking to you’, after being bored.
Word-Notes. Good-riddance—feeling a sense of relief on getting free of an unwanted guest or person. Bored-having been fed up with someone.
Explanation. In these lines the poet explains to his son that he too has learnt to laugh without being happy and to shake hands without any warmth of feelings. He can say: goodbye to a person whom he has not liked to be with. He says ‘glad to meet you’ without being glad and ‘It has been nice talking to you’, without enjoying the talk.
इन पंक्तियों में कवि अपने बेटे को समझाता है कि बिना प्रसन्न हुए उसने हंसना सीख लिया है और उसने यह भी सीख लिया है कि बिना गर्मजोशी के दूसरों के साथ कैसे हाथ मिलाना है। उसने उस आदमी से भी विदा लेना सीख लिया है जिस आदमी के साथ वह पल भर भी नहीं टिक सकता। बिना खुश हुए वह किसी को भी कह सकता है कि ‘मुझे तुमको मिलकर बहुत खुशी हुई।’ ‘तुम्हारे साथ बातचीत करके बहुत अच्छा लगा’, हालांकि बातचीत करके कोई मज़ा नहीं आया।
6. But believe me, son,
I want to be what I used to be
when I was like you. I want,
to unlearn all these muting things.
Most of all, I want to relearn
how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror
shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!
Word-Notes. Unlearn-forget. Muting things-things that change the nature of man. Bare-naked. Fangs-serpent’s teeth with which it injects poison into the victim of its bite.
Explanation. In these lines the poet tells his son that he wants to be as he was earlier. He wants to be innocent, genuine and sincere-hearted like his son. He wants to forget all those things which have changed his nature. He wants to learn laughing in the real sense once again.
Now when he looks at himself laughing in the mirror, his teeth look like the poisonous teeth of a snake. Modern men are like Shakespeare’s villain lago who used to say, “I am not what I am.” We are not to judge the modern people by what they say. They are insincere, hypocritical and deceptive.
इन पंक्तियों में कवि अपने बेटे को कहता है कि वह ऐसे बनना चाहता है जैसे वह पहले था। वह अपने बेटे की तरह भोलाभाला, निष्कपट और सच्चे हृदय वाला बनना चाहता है। वह उन सब चीज़ों को भूल जाना चाहता है जिन्होंने उसके स्वभाव को बदल दिया है। वह असली अर्थ में एक बार फिर हंसना सीखना चाहता है।
अब जब वह अपने को दर्पण में हंसते हुए देखता है तो उसके दांत ऐसे दिखते हैं जैसे सांप के जहरीले दांत हों। आधुनिक युग के सब आदमी ऐसे होते हैं जैसे Shakespeare का खलनायक Iago जो कहा करता था, “मैं वैसे नहीं दिखता जैसे मैं वास्तव में हूँ।” हमें आधुनिक काल के लोगों को उनके शब्दों द्वारा जज नहीं करना चाहिए। वे झूठे, कपटी और धोखेबाज़ हैं।
7. So, show me son
how to laugh ; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
Once upon a time when I was like you.
Word-Notes. When I was like you—when I had the innocence and simplicity of childhood.
Explanation. In these lines the poet expresses a strong desire to get back the simplicity and innocence of his childhood days. He requests his son to teach him how to laugh in the real sense of the word. He should show to his father how he laughs and smiles now. The poet himself used to laugh and smile innocently in his childhood. He would like to get back the simplicity and innocence of his earlier days when he was like his son.
इन पंक्तियों में कवि अपने बचपन के दिनों की सादगी और भोलेपन को फिर हासिल करने की बड़ी ज़ोरदार इच्छा व्यक्त करता है। वह अपने बेटे को कहता है कि वह उसे सिखलाये कि शब्द के असली अर्थ में किस तरह हंसना चाहिए। उसे अपने पिता को यह दिखाना चाहिए कि वह अब कैसे हंसता और मुस्कराता है। कवि भी अपने बचपन में स्वयं भी निष्कपट रूप से हंसता और मुस्कराया करता था। वह अपने पिछले दिनों की सादगी और भोलापन पुनः प्राप्त करना चाहता है जब वह अपने बेटे की तरह था।
Comprehension Of Stanzas
1. Once upon a time son,
they used to laugh with their hearts
but now they only laugh with their teeth,
while their ice-block-cold eyes
search behind my shadow.
Questions :
(a) How did the people laugh in olden days ? How do they laugh now?
(b) Name the poem and its poet.
(c) Explain : They laugh with their teeth.
(d) How do their eyes look now ?
Answers :
(a) In olden days people laughed sincerely and naturally. They laughed out of real joy at heart.
(b) The name of the poem is ‘Once Upon a Time’. It is written by Gabriel Okara.
(c) Their laughter is artificial. There is no feeling of joy in their laughter.
(d) Their eyes look cold and feelingless.
2. There was a time indeed
they used to shake hands with their hearts,
but that’s gone, son.
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left hands search
my empty pockets.
Questions :
(a) What is gone, according to the poet ?
(b) How do people shake hands now?
(c) What do the people do with their left hands ?
(d) What kind of feelings does the poet express for the past ?
Answers :
(a) The genuineness and sincerity of the people is gone now. Now people are insincere.
(b) They shake hands insincerely. They shake hands with one hand.
(c) With their left hands, they try to rob the pockets of the other person.
(d) He expresses nostalgic (thinking of things of the past) feelings for the past.
3. “Feel at home,’ ‘Come again’,
they say, and when I come
again and feel
at home, once, twice,
there will be no thrice
for then I find the doors shut on me.
Questions :
(a) Who is being asked to come again ?
(b) Where is he being invited to ?
(c) By whom is he being invited ?
(d) What is meant by ‘feel at home’ ?
Answers :
(a) The poet is being asked to come again.
(b) He is being invited to the home of the host.
(c) He is being invited by the host.
(d) It means to make oneself comfortable and to feel easy.
4. So, I have learnt many things, son,
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses – homeface,
officeface with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile
And I have learned, too,
to laugh with only teeth.
Questions :
(a) What has the poet learned ?
(b) What is involved in wearing faces ?
(c) What is a portrait smile ?
(d) What is a cocktail face ?
Answers :
(a) He has learned to wear many faces like dresses.
(b) Wearing faces involves putting on false expressions on the face.
(c) It is an artificial smile for a portrait or picture or painting.
(d) It is a face worn at the time of a cocktail party.
5. And I have learned, too,
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart.
I have also learned to say, ‘Goodbye
when I mean “Good riddance’ ;
to say ‘Glad to meet you’
without being glad ; and to say “It’s been
nice talking to you,’ after being bored.
Questions :
(a) Who is the speaker in the poem ?
(b) What has the poet learned to do with his feelings ?
(c) What is the meaning of laughing with only my teeth ?
(d) What kind of life is the poet living ?
Answers :
(a) The poet (Gabriel Okara) is the speaker in the poem.
(b) He has learned to put on false expressions on his face to hide his real feelings.
(c) He has learned to laugh without being happy. His laughter is artificial. It does not express the joy of his heart.
(d) He is living an artificial life.
6. But believe me, son,
I want to be what I used to be
when I was like you. I want
to unlearn all these muting things.
Most of all, I want to relearn
how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror
shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs.
Questions :
(a) Whom is the poet talking to ?
(b) What are the things that the poet wants to unlearn ?
(c) What does the poet compare his teeth to ?.
(d) Write the significance of the title, ‘Once Upon a Time’. (V.V. Imp.)
Answers :
(a) The poet is talking to his son.
(b) The poet wants to unlearn the muting things like hypocrisy and deception.
(c) He compares his teeth to the poisonous teeth of a snake.
(d) The title brings out the difference between the past and the present. The title shows the poet’s longing for the past. He glorifies the past simplicity and innocence in man’s behaviour. In olden days there was love in man’s heart for others. All his actions sprang from the depth of his heart. His eyes showed the depth of his feelings. The modern man is hypocritical in his behaviour.
Once upon a Time Summary in English
Once upon a Time Introduction:
This poem has been written by a Nigerian poet Gabriel Okara. In this poem the poet satirises (criticises) the hypocrisy and artificial behaviour of the modern man. He presents two contrasted pictures of human behaviour. In the past human beings were true, sincere and friendly in their relations with others. But now the situation is entirely different Outwardly man appears to be cordial and friendly, but in reality, it is a pose entirely. At heart, he is selfish and cunning. The poet himself has seen a change in his own behaviour with growing years. He sees innocence and purity in the nature of his son. He wants his son to help him get back his basic nature.
Once upon a Time Summary in English:
The poet tells his son that there was a time when human beings were true and free from any kind of artificiality. When they laughed, they laughed from the heart. Even their eyes shone with the light of joy. But now, they laugh only to show to others that they are laughing. So, their laughter shows only their teeth. It is not an expression of real joy. Their eyes also remain cold and feelingless, as if looking not at the man in front of them, but at his shadow.
In the past, human beings were sincere in their relationship with others. When they shook hands with somebody, it showed the warmth of their feelings. But now that sincerity does not exist in human relationships. When they shake hands, it is a mere formality. While they are shaking hands one tries to pick the pocket of the other with his left hand. Thus, a handshake is no more an expression of warm feelings.
The modern man poses to be a good and happy host in front of his guests. When his friends and relatives visit him, he pretends to be happy over their coming. He entertains them and asks them to feel at home. He does so once or twice only. When the same guest visits him for the third time, the doors are closed for him.
The poet tells his son that seeing this kind of behaviour around him, he too, has changed. He has now learnt to change his face, his expressions and behaviour like his dresses. Now he can pose well. He wears different face expressions for different places and occasions. He knows what kind of face he should wear at home, in the office, in the street, as a host and as a guest in a cocktail party. His smile changes according to the situation and the type of persons he is with.
The poet says that he has now learnt all kinds of artificial behaviour. He can laugh without being happy at heart. He shakes hands with others without any warmth of feelings. Now he can say goodbye to his guests when at heart he is happy to be rid of them. When he is not glad to see a person, he can tell him that he is glad to meet him. Similarly, when he is bored in conversation with someone, he can say that it was nice talking to him. Thus, he has become an expert in hypocrisy.
The poet is not happy with all this. He tells his son that he heartily wants to regain his old self. He wants to be true and sincere as he was in his childhood. Then he used to be like his son simple, sincere and straightforward. He wants to forget all those things which have caused a change in his nature.
Above everything else, he wants to learn real laughter once again. Now when he sees his laughter in the mirror, he sees only his teeth. They look like the poisonous and dangerous fangs of a snake. No real joy is reflected in that laughter. So he requests his son to show him how to laugh sincerely. He wants to laugh and smile as he used to when he was innocent and true at heart like his son.
Once upon a Time Summary in Hindi
Once upon a Time Introduction:
यह कविता Nigeria के एक कवि Gabriel Okara द्वारा लिखी गई है। इस कविता में कवि आधुनिक व्यक्ति के ढोंगी और बनावटी व्यवहार का उपहास करता है। वह मानवीय व्यवहार के दो भिन्न-भिन्न चित्रों को प्रस्तुत करता है। भूतकाल में मनुष्य सच्चे, निष्कपट और मैत्रीपूर्ण हुआ करते थे। लेकिन अब स्थिति बिल्कुल भिन्न है। बाहरी तौर पर तो मनुष्य स्नेहपूर्ण और मैत्रीपूर्ण दिखाई देता है लेकिन वास्तव में यह केवल एक pose या आडम्बर होता है। उसका दिल टटोलने पर पता चलता है कि वह स्वार्थी और मक्कार होता है। समय बीतने के साथसाथ कवि को स्वयम् अपने व्यवहार में परिवर्तन नज़र आता है। उसको अपने बेटे के स्वभाव में निष्कपटता और शुद्धता नज़र आती है। वह चाहता है कि उसका बेटा बुनियादी स्वभाव को वापिस लाने में उसकी सहायता करे।
Once upon a Time Summary in Hindi:
यह कविता नाईजीरियाई कवि गैबरियल ओकारा के द्वारा लिखी गई है। इस कविता में वह आधुनिक व्यक्ति पर व्यंग्य करता है जो दूसरों के प्रति अपने व्यवहार में अति पाखण्डी और छलपूर्ण हो गया है। अब उसके व्यवहार में वह पहले जैसे सादगी, ईमानदारी और प्रेम-भावना नहीं रही है। वह अपने व्यवहार में प्यार और स्नेह का मात्र खोखला आडम्बर करता है जबकि उसके दिल में छल और कपट भरा होता है। बाहरी रूप से वह किसी व्यक्ति के आने का स्वागत करता है जबकि अपने दिल में वह उससे छुटकारा पाना चाहता है।
बाहर से वह मुस्करा रहा होता है जबकि उसके दिल में क्रोध भरा होता है। कवि को ये सभी बातें स्वयं अपने में भी दिखलाई देने लगी हैं। वह स्वयं अपने में और अपने पुत्र में बहुत बड़ा अन्तर देखता है। उसका पुत्र अब भी वही पुराने समय की सच्चाई और सादगी रखता है। उसके व्यवहार में कोई छल-कपट नहीं हैं। इसलिए कवि अपने पुत्र से कहता है कि वह उसे भी अपना भोलापन और अपनी सच्ची सादगी सिखला दे ताकि वह पहले की भांति अपने दिल से हंसना और मुस्कराना सीख जाए।
Once upon a Time Central Ideas
This poem is a criticism of modern life. The poet satirises the modern man’s hypocrisy and insincerity. His actions do not reflect his feelings. They are a mere pose. He can laugh without being happy. He can shake his right hand with you while picking your pocket with his left hand. He says ‘good-bye’ when he means good riddance’. There are no feelings of love and sincerity in the heart of the modern man. In good old days people were sincere, affectionate and virtuous. The poet glorifies the past simplicity and sincerity in man’s behaviour.
Once upon a Time Central Idea In Hindi
यह कविता आधुनिक जीवन की कड़ी आलोचना करती है। कवि वर्तमान समय के आदमी के ढोंग और पाखंड का उपहास करता है। उसके व्यवहार से उसकी असली भावनाओं का पता नहीं लगता। उसकी कार्यप्रणाली में आडम्बर होता है। बिना खुश हुए वह हंसता है। वह तुम्हारे साथ दांया हाथ मिलाते समय बाएं हाथ से तुम्हारी जेब काट सकता है। वह तुम्हें अलविदा कहते हुए वास्तव में तुम्हारे जाने पर तुमसे छुटकारा पाता है। आधुनिक मनुष्य के हृदय में प्रेम और सच्चाई की भावनाएं नहीं होतीं। भूतकाल के दिनों में लोग सच्चे, स्नेही और वास्तविक गुणों वाले होते थे। कवि आदमी के व्यवहार में पुराने समय की सादगी और संजीदगी का गुणगान करता है।