Welcome to “Death Be Not Proud Workbook Solution: ISC Rhapsody & Prism,” where we explore ISC English Literature’s profound narrative. Within these pages, we unravel the essence of “Death Be Not Proud” through meticulous workbook solutions. This post offers comprehensive answers to multiple-choice and contextual questions, deepening your understanding of this timeless poem. Meet the themes and delve into the nuances of their development and poetic exploration. Each question serves as a gateway to dissecting the text, urging readers to analyze subtle nuances and extract deeper meanings. Contextual inquiries broaden our canvas for exploration, encouraging critical engagement with socio-cultural backdrops and universal themes. Through this examination, readers sharpen analytical skills and develop a profound appreciation for literary craftsmanship. Whether a student navigating ISC English Literature or an avid reader exploring classic poetry, “Rhapsody & Prism: Death Be Not Proud Workbook Solutions” promises valuable companionship. Join us on this literary journey as we illuminate the path to understanding, one workbook solution at a time.
Table of Contents
Poem Summary :
The Poem in Detail
Lines 1 to 4
The poem is a dialogue between the speaker, i.., the poet persona and Death. Death has been personified i.e. it has been given human qualities. The speaker admonishes Death for being too proud just because some people are in awe of its power which they find intimidating. It is interesting to note that Death has been given the human quality of pride—one of the seven deadly sins.
The speaker defiantly says that he does not fear death. He suggests Death does not hold sway over the world nor it can overpower him individually. Even those who fear Death’s power are not killed by Death. Death is merely deceived into believing that it overthrows human life by claiming it. Further, the speaker calls Death ‘poor’ as it is not human beings who are the subject of pity but Death itself deserves that denigration.
In the first quatrain (four lines of the sonnet), the speaker has made a statement that forms the main theme of the poem, i.e., Death should not be proud because it is neither mighty nor dreadful.
Lines 5 to 8
In the second quatrain the speaker goes on to elaborate on the theme adding to it characteristics of Death that are nothing to be proud of. The speaker compares death to rest and sleep. A tired person feels rejuvenated after rest and sleep. Death, he claims, is a mere reflection of rest and sleep whereas life keeps on moving. Just like rest anq sleep make people feel good death becomes more pleasurable as it is nothing but a heightened version of rest and sleep.
In lines 7 and 8, the speaker says, the best of men on earth often die earliest, “ if they were chosen by God to get the reward of eternal life in heaven. When hey die, their bones’ Bet to ‘rest’ while their ‘soul[s]’ are ‘deliver[ed]’ to the afterlife. thus, Death is a form of transition from earthly life to eternal life in heaven.
Lines 9 to 12
The third quatrain goes on to elaborate on Death’s weakness robbing it of its mighty and intimidating qualities. The speaker here describes Death as a ‘slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men.’ Both fate and chance can cause deaths; kings can order executions and desperate men unthinkingly may kill others or themselves. Thus Death is not free. It is bound by impersonal and unpredictable forces. It is not the cause but the instrument. The speaker goes on to accuse Death of keeping undesirable company of poison, war and disease. As such Death here is represented as a miserable slave who lives in the wretched company of sickness and old age. In lines 11 and 12, the speaker denies Death as being the best sleep inducer. Flowers such as poppy and magic from charms are better sleep inducers as they are far gentler and more effective in their operation.
Lines 13 to 14
The last two lines of the poem, categorically state that there is no reason at all for Death to be proud of its powers. Death can make us sleep only for a short time and but then we awake in the other world and live there eternally (Refer to Critical Appreciation). Death will have no role to play. Thus, in reality Death does not kill us : it is Death itself which dies.
Workbook MCQs :
1. Who is addressed to by the speaker in the poem?
(a) Sleep
(b) Soul
(c) Death
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- (c) Death
2. From the following literary devices which one is used in the poem, while addressing Death?
(a) Allusion
(b) Apostrophe
(c) Simile
(d) Metonymy.
Answer :- (b) Apostrophe
3. Which of the following characteristic of Death is admonished by the speaker in the poem?
(a) Arrogance
(b) Power
(c) Charm
(d) Faith.
Answer :- (a) Arrogance
4. Who, according to the speaker, is the subject of pity in the poem?
(a) Sleep
(b) Human beings
(c) Slaves
(d) Death.
Answer :- (d) Death.
5. Which of the following have been described as ‘pictures’ of death?
(a) Poppy and charms
(b) Fate and chance
(c) Rest and sleep
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- (c) Rest and sleep
6. Who are the people who often die earliest?
(a) Virtuous
(b) Kings
(c) Slaves
(d) Sick.
Answer :- (a) Virtuous
7. Which trait of Death is referred to by describing it as ‘slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men’?
(a) Death has power over all except these
(b) Death is independent entity
(c) Death has no real power
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
8. Which of the following is NOT a part of the wretched company with whom Death hangs out?
(a) Poison
(b) War
(c) Sickness
(d) Desperate men .
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
9, Death is not a better inducer of sleep than which of the following”
(a) Poppy
(b) Charms
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Rest.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
10. Where will the people be when they will ‘wake eternally’?
(a) On earth
(b) In Heaven
(c) In their graves
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
11. Which literary device is used in the last line of the poem?
(a) Polyptoton
(b) Simile
(c) Allusion
(d) Paradox.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
12. What is the central theme of the poem which he wants to convey?
(a) Death is mighty and dreadful
(b) Death is a powerless non-entity
(c) Death changes fate, chance and kings
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
13. The poem, Death be Not Proud belongs to which category of poetry?
(a) Ballad
(b) Elegy
(c) Ode
(d) Sonnet.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
14. What is the tone of the poem, Death be Not Proud?
(a) Defiant
(b) Polite
(c) Ecstasy
(d) None of the above.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
15. Which literary device is used in the line given below: ‘One short sleep past, we wake eternally.’
(a) Enjambment
(b) Simile
(c) Caesura
(d) Personification.
Answer :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
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Complete The Sentences :
1. In the poem, Death be not Proud, the speaker says that some people find the Death, mighty and dreadful because such people believe that death marks the end of their life though the speaker believes that there is an eternal afterlife.
2. The speaker calls Death as ‘poor’ because it is not human beings who are the subject of pity but death for its foolish belief that it can end human existence.
3. The speaker has described Death as a picture of rest and sleep because he believes that death is a more intense version of sleep which provides only rest to the human body for some time but following death comes eternal afterlife which represents humanity’s ultimate triumph over Death.
4. According to the speaker, the ‘best men’ often die earliest because they are chosen by God to get the reward of eternal life in heaven earlier than anybody else.
5. Death is described as a form of transition from earthly life to eternal life because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
6. The speaker refers to Death as a ‘slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men’ because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
7. The speaker denies Death as being the best sleep inducer because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
8. The speaker has described Death as a pitiable braggart because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
9. The poet feels that Death is arrogant because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
10. In the poem, the speaker tells Death, ‘Death thou shalt die because [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
Short Question Answers :
1. Who is the poet addressing in the poem? In what tone is he addressing it? About what is he admonishing it?
Answers :- The poet is addressing Death directly in the poem, using an apostrophic tone to personify and confront it. He adopts a defiant and scornful tone, admonishing Death not to be proud or arrogant. The speaker reprimands Death, arguing that it is neither as powerful nor as fearsome as it believes. By belittling Death, the poet aims to strip away its perceived power and terror, emphasizing that it is not the ultimate end but merely a transition to an eternal, peaceful existence. The tone of the poem is one of scorn and challenge, as the poet seeks to diminish Death and strip it of its supposed might, asserting that human life transcends Death’s limited influence.
2. According to the speaker, how do some people view death? For the speaker, how is their viewpoint not correct?
Answers :- The speaker observes that some people view Death as mighty and dreadful, instilling fear and awe. However, he argues that this viewpoint is incorrect because Death is merely a temporary state leading to eternal life. The speaker believes that Death’s power is an illusion; it does not end life but rather liberates the soul from the physical body. Therefore, the fear of Death is misplaced, as it simply transitions the soul to an everlasting existence, rendering Death powerless and insignificant in the grand scheme of life. The poet’s perspective is rooted in the belief in an eternal life beyond physical death, thus diminishing Death’s perceived dominance.
3. Why does the poet feel that Death is arrogant?
Answers :- The poet perceives Death as arrogant because it sees itself as a powerful force that can control and end human lives. This perceived arrogance is challenged by the poet, who argues that Death is merely a servant to greater forces such as fate, chance, kings, and desperate men. Additionally, Death’s supposed power is further diminished by the comparison to sleep and rest, which are common and benign experiences. The poet’s critique of Death’s arrogance is aimed at stripping away its feared reputation and revealing its true lack of autonomy and power, highlighting that Death is not the ultimate conqueror it believes itself to be.
4. Why has Death been described in the poem as ‘poor’? Which literary device is used by describing Death in this manner?
Answers :- Death is described as “poor” to emphasize its lack of true power and to belittle its significance. This use of irony highlights the disparity between Death’s self-importance and its actual powerlessness. By calling Death “poor,” the poet diminishes its feared stature, suggesting that Death is pitiable and weak rather than formidable and terrifying. This literary device serves to further undermine Death’s perceived authority, portraying it as a powerless entity that merely transitions souls to eternal life. The ironic description of Death as “poor” effectively reduces its feared image, aligning with the poem’s overall theme of challenging Death’s power.
5. How has the speaker compared Death to rest and sleep? How is death related to sleep in the last two lines of the poem?
Answers :- The speaker compares Death to rest and sleep, suggesting that, like sleep, Death brings rest and peace to the body. This comparison aims to diminish Death’s fearsome reputation by equating it with something as benign and familiar as sleep. In the last two lines, death is portrayed as a brief slumber before the soul awakens to eternal life. This metaphor reinforces the idea that death is not a permanent end but a temporary state leading to a glorious awakening, thus stripping Death of its feared finality and presenting it as a gateway to eternal rest. The comparison underscores the poet’s belief in the continuity of life beyond death.
6. (a) Explain the meaning of the following: ‘Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.’ (b) Which figure of speech is used in the above line?
Answers :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
7. Explain how is Death a ‘slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men’?
Answers :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
8. Describe the three desperate elements with whom Death is said to hang out. What does it suggest about Death?
Answers :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
9. How is ‘Death Be Not Proud’ a sonnet?
Answers :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
10. Explain the paradox in the last two lines of the poem, ‘Death Be Not Proud.’
Answers :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
Long Question Answers :
1. What does the poet accuse Death of? Explain the arguments he gives to prove his accusations against Death.
Answers :- In “Death Be Not Proud,” the poet John Donne accuses Death of being arrogant and proud without justification. He personifies Death and directly confronts it, challenging its supposed power and terror. Donne argues that Death is not as formidable as it believes because it does not have control over life and death. He diminishes Death’s power by comparing it to sleep, which is restorative and not frightening. Donne further asserts that Death is merely a passage to eternal life, implying that it is not an end but a transition. He highlights that Death is a “slave” to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, suggesting that Death does not act independently but is subject to external forces. Additionally, he points out that various means such as poison, war, and sickness can bring death, further diminishing its grandeur. Ultimately, Donne concludes that Death itself will die, as those who die will awake to eternal life, thus rendering Death powerless and insignificant. By stripping Death of its perceived power and framing it as a temporary state leading to eternal life, Donne effectively argues that Death has no reason to be proud.
2. Explain with examples the central theme of the poem, “Death Be Not Proud.”
Answers :- The central theme of John Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud” is the defiance of Death’s perceived power and the affirmation of eternal life. The poem challenges the traditional view of Death as an all-powerful, fearsome force. Donne uses a confrontational tone to diminish Death’s significance, arguing that it is not to be feared. For instance, he compares Death to sleep, a restful and harmless state, suggesting that Death, like sleep, is merely a temporary phase. He also calls Death a “slave” to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, indicating that it lacks autonomy and power. By highlighting that various factors can bring about death, Donne reduces its perceived control over human lives. The ultimate assertion of the poem is that Death itself will die, as it is merely a gateway to eternal life. This idea is encapsulated in the concluding lines: “One short sleep past, we wake eternally / And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.” Here, Donne affirms the Christian belief in resurrection and eternal life, arguing that Death’s power is ultimately nullified. The theme revolves around the triumph of life and the soul’s immortality over the transient and illusory power of Death.
3. State the metaphors associated with Death used in the poem. What do these metaphors suggest about Death?
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4. “Death, thou shalt die.” Explain the poem “Death Be Not Proud” with reference to this statement.
Answers :- [ For Full Answers Get The Workbook Answers PDF – View ]
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