Poem "She Walks in Beauty"
is a famous poem by British Romantic poet Lord Byron.
It was first published in
1815. The poem praises and seeks to capture a sense of the beauty of a
particular woman.
The poet compares this woman to a lovely night with a clear starry
sky and goes on to convey her beauty as a harmonious "meeting"
between darkness and light.
After the discussion of physical attractiveness,
the poem then describes this outer beauty as representative of inner goodness
and virtue.
She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron- Get more information
Title-
The title ‘She Walks in Beauty’ gives idea that the poem deals with a woman who is walking gracefully expressing her beauty.
Poem-
‘She Walks in Beauty’ is a short lyrical poem. It is celebrating female beauty. The poet describes an unnamed woman who is exceptionally striking. The poet presents not only her external appearance but also her inner goodness. It makes her so captivatingly attractive.
Poet-
George Gordon Byron
He is also known as Lord Byron. He is a famous English Romantic Poet. He is also a satirist. He composed ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ which made him immensely popular in England.
While judging any person you would consider certain aspects. Complete the diagram after carefully thinking what aspects you would consider.
Answer-
Different aspects of a person
Personality Appearance Body Language Etiquettes Attire Facial Expression Eye contact Confidence Language Pronunciation of words Physical features Communication skill Attitude Style Modesty Frankness
Activity 2-
Make a list of proverbs and quotations related to ‘Beauty’.
Answer-
1) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
2) Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
3) Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.
4) Beauty is about enhancing what you have. Let yourself shine through.
5) Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.
6) The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw.
7) Beauty is power; a smile is its sword.
8) Outer beauty turns the head, but inner beauty turns the heart.
9) What is beautiful is good and what is good will soon also be beautiful.
10) If eyes were made for seeing, then beauty is its own excuse for being.
11) Outer beauty attracts, but inner beauty captivates.
12) When beauty lives in the heart, it doesn’t need to show up anywhere else.
Activity 3-
Discuss your impressions about someone's personality and say what you like the most and why.
Answer-
I like the personality of veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan.
1) Humility:
Amitabh Bachchan became a legend because of his humility and kind gesture. Being an actor, it becomes too difficult to maintain humbleness and treat people with so much love and dignity. But he achieved it.
2) Hunger to win
Mr. Bachchan has the attitude to win success. He tried everything to become successful in life. At this age too, he is eager to win so doing the hard work every time.
3) Never give up
This man beats every crisis in economics. He slept on benches in Marine Drive, became a superstar, lost the shine, his company ABCL went bankrupt, but he didn’t stop working. Mr. Bachchan returned, with success.
4) Trying new things
Mr. Bachchan has proved that there is nothing in the world that the senior actor cannot do. He uses lates media like blog, twitter, and other social medias effectively. He always searches new ideas, things and work. All these qualities fascinate me. So the personality of actor Amitabh Bachchan.
Glossary-
climes : climate
starry : full of stars
aspect : features of face
mellowed : made smooth and soft
tender light : dim soft glow
gaudy : bright and showy
impaired : weakened
raven : a large bird of the crow family with shiny black feathers
eloquent : expressive
tress : a long lock of a woman's hair
serenely : in a peaceful manner
brow : forehead
tints : shades of colour
Special Terms-
nameless grace :
The woman’s beauty and "grace" are so hard to define that they're “nameless.” She is perfect. So she does not need anything else. She is a complete girl.
The night of cloudless climes and starry skies :
The night is not dark. It is full of light due to the stars and cloudless climate. It is clear night lit by brightly by stars.
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes : Everything that is great about both "dark" and "bright" come together in this woman. Essentially, she's got the best of both. Her appearance and especially her eyes create harmony between ‘dark’ and ‘bright.’
Paraphrase of the poem- She Walks in Beauty
First Stanza-
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
Explanation-
The woman is not beautiful in herself, but she walks in an aura of beauty. The woman is compared to the night of cloudless climes and starry skies. The night is not dark. It is full of light due to the stars and cloudless climate. It is clear night lit by brightly by stars.
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Explanation-
Bright and dark colour have been harmoniously combined in her eyes and features of the face to make her pleasant in appearance. The poet has used two contradictory concepts (dark and bright) to highlight her smooth and shining appearance. She has the best of darkness and brightness. It enhances her outward look.
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
Explanation-
Everything that is great about both 'dark and bright' (line 03) is mellowed (made smooth and soft) to something that is "tender" and less intense than the light you get during the day (gaudy day).
Second Stanza-
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Explanation-
The balance between 'shade and light' in the lady is so perfect that if you added one more shade or took away a single ray of light, you would mess everything up. Fiddling with this balance at all would half impaired or damage the woman's beauty. We cannot tinker with the balance. Her beauty or grace is nameless. It cannot be defined.
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Explanation-
Her nameless grace is visible in her dark long hair and the appearance or the expression that lightens her face.
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
Explanation-
Her expression or appearance shows how serenely sweet her thoughts are. Her sweet expression is apt reflection of what is going on inside her mind which is the dwelling place of her thoughts. Here dear means precious or valuable. The sweet expression suggests that her mind is pure and innocent
Third Stanza
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
Explanation-
Here tinks means blushes and brow means forehead. Her smiles and her blushes that glow on her cheeks and over her forehead are soft and calm and win heart. Even though she is quit and calm, her smiles and blushes are eloquent. Her expressions speak everything.
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
Explanation-
These lines convey platonic love. The woman's serenity and smiles reflect the calmness of her mind. because she is a good person. Her smiles indicate that she spends all her time doing good things.
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
Explanation-
Her mind is at peace with all below. (Peace at below means everyone on earth.) Her love is innocent too. It means that she is in love with someone, but her love is innocent and pure. Peace of mind and heart can only be seen on the face of a person whose love is innocent. There is attraction for the inner goodness and not for the physical beauty.
The title is ‘The
New Dress’ is the central thing of the story. Though the dress is new, the main
character Mabel considers it as dull and inappropriate. Mabel wears this new dress
in one party. It is old-fashioned. She has taken great care to make it perfect.
But in the end, Mabel Waring feels deeply self-conscious and insecure due to
the dress.
The
Writer- Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf
wasanEnglishnovelist and essayist. She is considered a
modernist writer of the 20th century. She was the pioneer of the ‘stream of
consciousness’ as a narrative device. ‘A Haunted House’ is her famous short
story collection from which the present story ‘The New Dress’ is adapted.
Story-
The present
story is about a MabelWaring,whoisconstantly thinking about her
new yellow dress in negative terms. She herself has chosen the design, colour
and pattern of the dress. She has decided to wear the dress for a party at Mrs.
Dalloway. However,at that party she
keeps thinking that the dressis old
fashioned and everyone in the party is mocking at her dress. She thinks that
she is a fly at the edge of the saucer, drowning deep and deep, as she comes
seriously under the spell of her own negative mind and in a depression leaves
the party.
To show
Mabel’s suppressed desires, unfulfilled ambitions and meagre financial
conditions of her childhood, Virginia Woolf has employed the stream of
consciousness technique very effectively.
Ice
Breaker activities-
1)
Write in Column 'B' the description of the clothes you would choose to wear for
the occasions given in Column 'A'.
A
B
A birthday party
Aprizedistributionceremonyatschool
A picnic
An entertainment show
Answer-
A
B
A birthday party
Party wear, attractive, bright, and shining dress
Aprizedistributionceremonyatschool
Formal dress or uniform
A picnic
Casual jeans and T- shirt
An entertainment show
Semi formal and colourful dress
2)
Discuss the criterion of the choice of your clothes with the help of the
following points:
(a) Occasion-
Answer-
Celebration,
festival, formal ceremony, fun etc.
(b) Society
(people you may meet at the venue)-
Answer-
Friends,
relatives, college gathering, educational programme, ceremony etc.
(c) Availability-
Answer-
Bought fromShops or market, get from tailor or borrowing etc.
(d) Fashion-
Answer-
Designer
clothes, Indian traditional clothes, western dress
(e) Your
wish/whim-
Answer-
Get dresses as
per my favourite colour, design, uniqueness and fitting.
(f) A
suggestion or advice by someone (mother, sister, friend etc.)-
Answer-
Takes advice
from mother, father and friends.
(g) Any other
than the above mentioned reasons-
Answer-
I like to
choose my dress that suits me and enhances my personality.
3)
State whether you agree or disagree with the following statements and discuss
the reasons.
(a) A simple
dress makes one's personality look dull.
Answer-
I disagree
with this statement. If a simple dress is suit to me, it will enhance my
personality.
(b) We should
not judge ourselves from the comments we receive from others.
Answer-
I agree with
this statement. We have to keep faith on our selection and thinking. We should
neglect the negative comments of others.
(c) A
fashionable and costly dress makes you look rich, intelligent and beautiful.
Answer-
I disagree
with this statement. It is the self – confidence, mannered behaviour and good suitable
outfit make us look rich, intelligent and beautiful.
(d) We should
choose a dress according to the fashion rather than our choice.
Answer-
I agree with
this statement. Our choice and likes are more important that the fashion.
Sometimes the fashionable clothes may make us uncomfortable.
Mrs. Barnet is a maidservant in the Dalloway household. Her behavior in greeting Mabel Waring and taking her coat seem unremarkable to the reader but sets off great waves of insecurity in the party guest about her appearance and social role.
श्रीमती बार्नेट या दालोवे घरातील मोलकरीण आहेत. मेबेल वारिंगला अभिवादन करताना आणि तिचा कोट घेऊन जाण्याची तिची वागणूक वाचकांना वेगळो वाटते, परंतु तिच्या दिसण्याबद्दल आणि सामाजिक भूमिकेबद्दल पार्टीतील पाहुण्यांमध्ये असुरक्षिततेच्या निर्माण होते.
2) Mrs. Dalloway or Clarissa Dalloway
Clarissa Dalloway is the hostess of the party that Mabel attends. Clarissa is affable and courteous to her guests, and her presence lingers, though the reader only hears her speak once in the story—to encourage Mabel not to leave the party early.
क्लॅरिसा डॅलोवे ही मेबेल ज्या पार्टीला हजेरी लावते त्या पार्टीची होस्टेस आहे. क्लॅरिसा तिच्या पाहुण्यांशी प्रेमळ आणि विनम्रपणे वागते. तिची उपस्थिती वाचकांच्या जाणवते. वाचक तिचे बोलणे कथेत फक्त एकदाच ऐकतात. ती मेबेलला लवकर पार्टी सोडू नये म्हणून प्रोत्साहित करण्यासाठी प्रयत्न करतात.
3) Mabel Waring
Mabel Waring is a middle-aged woman. She had two children. She reflects constantly and, some might say, obsessively, about her alienation (separation) from the members of the elevated level of society she wants to join.
When she is invited to a party given by the wealthy and socially prominent Clarissa Dalloway, she is overwhelmed with worry about her inability to dress fashionably because of the cost.
She has an old-fashioned dress made from a book of dress patterns that had belonged to her mother, then spends much of her time at the party fearing over its inappropriateness and drawing the attention of other partygoers to it.
She also engages in perfunctory conversations that provide further evidence of her dissociation from these strata of society.
मेबेल वारिंग ही एक मध्यमवयीन महिला आहे जी सतत विचार करत राहते. असे जाणवते की कदाचित तिला ज्या समाजाच्या उच्च स्तरावरील सदस्यांपासून दूर राहायचे आहे त्या समुहातच तिला सामील ही व्हायचे आहे.
जेव्हा तिला श्रीमंत आणि सामाजिकदृष्ट्या प्रख्यात क्लेरिसा डॅलोवे यांनी दिलेल्या पार्टीसाठी आमंत्रित केले जाते, तेव्हा ती जादा किंमतीमुळे फॅशनेबल कपडे घालण्यास असमर्थ असल्याबद्दल चिंताग्रस्त होऊन जाते.
तिच्याकडे तिच्या आईच्या ड्रेस पॅटर्नच्या पुस्तकातून बनवलेला एक जुना-शैलीचा पोशाख घालून पार्टीत जाते. त्यानंतर ती पार्टीमध्ये तिचा बराचसा वेळ ड्रेसच्या योग्य - अयोग्यतेबद्दल चिंता करत घालवते आणि इतर मंडळींचे लक्ष त्याकडे लक्ष वेधून घेते.
ती असंबंध संभाषणांमध्ये देखील गुंतलेली असते. त्यातून समाजाच्या या स्तरांपासून तिच्या विभक्ततेचा आणखी पुरावा देते. येथे ती कथा नायिका म्हणून समोर येते. तिच्या मनातील विविध भावनांचे प्रकटीकरण दिसते.
4) Rose Shaw
Rose Shaw is a guest at Clarissa Dalloway’s party. Mabel Waring characterizes her as being dressed “in the height of fashion, precisely like everybody else, always.” Rose compliments Mabel on her new dress, but Mabel is convinced that she is being subtly mocked.
रोझ शॉ क्लेरिसा डेलोवेच्या पार्टीत पाहुणे असते. मेबेल वारिंगला वाटते की तिने फॅशनच्या नावाने इतर सर्वांप्रमाणेच कपडे घातले आहे. रोझ तिच्या नवीन ड्रेसबद्दल मेबेलचे कौतुक करते, परंतु मेबेलला खात्री आहे की तिची थट्टा केली जात आहे.
5) Robert Haydon
He is one of the party guests. He met Mabel at the party where she was staying in the corner. He tries to cheer up Mabel by saying polite words.
Mabel thinks that because of her strange behavior Robert have to say words to cheer her up. She thinks that everything he said was a lie.
तो पार्टीत आलेल्या पाहुण्यांपैकी एक आहे. तो पार्टीत कोपऱ्यात बसलेल्या मेबेलला भेटतो. विनम्र शब्द बोलून तो माबेलला खुश करण्याचा प्रयत्न करतो.
मेबेलला वाटते की तिच्या विचित्र वागण्यामुळे रॉबर्टने तिला आनंद देण्यासाठी असे शब्द बोलला आहे. तो जे काही बोलला ते खोटे आहे असे तिला वाटते.
6) Miss Milan
She is the dressmaker of Mabel’s yellow dress. She is a very warm and caring lady. She makes all the effort to make Mabel’s dress the best.
Though she is a poor lady, she takes pride in her tailoring work. She earns enough to keep a pet bird.
मिस मिलान मेबेलच्या पिवळ्या ड्रेसची ड्रेसमेकर आहे. ती एक अतिशय प्रेमळ आणि काळजी घेणारी महिला आहे. मेबेलचा ड्रेस सर्वोत्तम बनवण्यासाठी ती सर्व प्रयत्न करते.
ती गरीब महिला असली तरी तिला तिच्या टेलरिंग कामाचा अभिमान आहे. पाळीव पक्षी पाळण्याइतपत ती कमाई करते.
7) Charles Butt
He is a guest in the party. He is unkind and impolite towards Mable and her dress. He teases her by sarcastically saying, “Mabel’s got a new dress!” Mabel feels more negative and awkward because of his words.
चार्ल्स बट पार्टीत आलेला एक पाहुणा आहे. तो मेबल आणि तिच्या ड्रेसबद्दल उद्धटपणा दाखवतो. तो तिला उपहासाने म्हणतो, “मेबेलला नवीन ड्रेस मिळाला आहे!” मेबेलला त्याच्या शब्दांमुळे अधिक न्युनगंड जाणवतो.
8)Mrs.Holman
She is a guest in the party. She is filled with her own family problems. She meets to Mabel in the party and shares her problems. She desires to get sympathy from her.
As Mabel is buried in her own thoughts of negativity, the words of Mrs. Holman make her more anxious. She still tries to pretend that she is a part of Mrs. Holman’s conversation.
श्रीमती होल्मन पार्टीत आलेली अतिथी आहे. ती तिच्या स्वतःच्या कौटुंबिक समस्यांनी ग्रासलेली आहे. ती मेबेलला पार्टीत भेटते आणि तिच्या समस्या सांगते. तिच्याकडून सहानुभूती मिळवण्याची तिला इच्छा असते.
मेबेल स्वतःच्या नकारात्मक विचारांमध्ये दबलेली असताना, मिसेस होल्मनचे शब्द तिला अधिकच अस्वस्थ करतात. ती मात्र मिसेस होल्मनच्या संभाषणाचा मनापासून ऐकत असल्याचे भासवण्याचा प्रयत्न करते.
Glossary
suspicion -doubt
markedly -clearly
springing -jumping
conviction -belief
looking-glass-mirror
misery -depression/unhappiness
profound -deep/intense
relentlessly -continuously
remorselessly -ruthlessly/mercilessly
intensity-power/strength
beat off -overcome
Borrow or Scott- British writers
fright -terror
hideous -ugly
flickering -playing
appalling -terrible
inadequacy -lacking/ shortfall
cowardice -weakness
mean -unkind
water-sprinkled blood -weak thoughts
depressed- disappointed
sordid -dishonest/wrong
repulsive- disgust
shabby -untidy
puffed up- arrogant
vanity -excessive pride
show off -boast/brag
unutterably -cannot even describe
paltry -worthless
provincial -local
exploded -shattered
absurd -silly/stupid
guineas -shilling/money
Dignified
pluming herself -feeling proud
modest -humble
an orgy -celebration
chastised -corrected
rigged -dressed up
satirical – mocking/sarcastic
pucker -fold
precisely -exactly
spell -magic incantation
to annul -end
agony-suffering
endurable -manageable
over often -repeatedly
strained and strained -over stressed/nervous
hoist -lift/raise
meager -small
insignificant -unimportant
toiling -laboring
dragged -pulled
dowdy -dull/unfashionable
decrepit - worn out/weak
horribly-extremely
dingy -dirty
to reassure -comfort/encourage
furbishing up-giving a fresh look/renovate
a poor weak-kneed- weak/less encouraging
detached -disconnected
witty -funny
insincere -dishonest
in a flash -quickly
terribly -badly
stuffy -airless
sordid -very poor
bliss -happiness
Suffused -filled
sprang -jumped
existence -reality
Rid -free
scrolloping -with heavy floral ornaments
mahogany -dark reddish wood
mysteriously - strange
the core-center
vanity-pride
puckering -creasing
wits -reasons
fonder -loving
bulging -swollen
endurance -strength
content-happy
miserable-dejected
scanty-less
sordid- poor
vanished -disappeared
convictions -belief
weevils -insects
pecked - bite
fierce -angry
simpered -smiled
slouched - roam/move
mongrel -cross breed dog
malice-mean
mean-selfish
paltry-unimportant
feeble-minded-weak
shoved -pushed
drown -sink
veneer -coating/surface
pertly - bold
temper-angry
ruffled -messy
odious-hateful
vacillating -wavering
conchology -study of shells
etymology-study of origin of words
botany-study of plants
archeology-study of ancient human
fructify -grow
bore down -came quickly towards
beneath - unimportant
tumbling downstairs - falling down
the scarlet fever -disease causing fever and rashes
Elm Thorpe -name of a town
unutterably -unspeakably
furious -angry
grasp -hold
tadpoles -baby frogs
self-loathing -hating self
odder -strange
leaning -inclined
strained -injured by overexertion
detached -disconnected
gesticulating -gesturing
solitary -lonely
self-centered -selfish
suspiciously -doubtfully
grudgingly -complainingly
creaking -squeaking
clamor -roar/noise
cormorants -large birds
wring out -squeeze/twist
dreadfully -terribly
blue pool -action producing result
condemned -judged
despised -disliked
a backwater -isolated
feeble -weak
vacillating -wavering
penance-self-punishment
clinging -tight fitting
skimping -saving
paring -cutting
linoleum -liquid material for floor covering
worn - trash
sordid -sleazy/cheap
catastrophic -great damage
utterly -completely
petered out -diminish slowly
respectably -decently
squint at -look/examine
tolerably - bear
hash -dish with potatoes
twig -stick
absurdly -idiotically
magpies -birds
tuft -bunch
paddling -walking
wretched -inferior
fretful -worried
wobbly -unsteady
lolling -sprawling/lying
twilight -dusky/dark
midst -middle
creeping -sneaking
crest of a wave -feeling confident and happy
seldom -rarely
degrees -this stage/point
deplorable -unacceptable
endured -suffered patiently
clergyman -priest
Strand -shore of the sea
Activity Sheet No. 1
Q. Read the extract and complete the activities given below. (12)
Mabel had her first serious suspicion that something was wrong as she took her cloak off and Mrs. Barnet, while handing her the mirror and touching the brushes and thus drawing her attention, perhaps rather markedly, to all the appliances for tidying and improving hair, complexion, clothes, which existed on the dressing table, confirmed the suspicion - that it was not right, not quite right, which growing stronger as she went upstairs and springing at her, with conviction as she greeted Clarissa Dalloway, she went straight to the far end of the room, to a shaded corner where a looking-glass hung and looked. No! It was not RIGHT. And at once the misery which she always tried to hide, the profound dissatisfaction - the sense she had had, ever since she was a child, of being inferior to other people - set upon her, relentlessly, remorselessly, with an intensity which she could not beat off, as she would when she woke at night at home, by reading Borrow or Scott; for oh these men, oh these women, all were thinking- “What’s Mabel wearing? What a fright she looks! What a hideous new dress!”- their eyelids flickering as they came up and then their lids shutting rather tight. It was her own appalling inadequacy; her cowardice; her mean, water-sprinkled blood that depressed her. And at once the whole of the room where, for ever so many hours, she had planned with the little dressmaker how it was to go, seemed sordid, repulsive; and her own drawing-room so shabby, and herself, going out, puffed up with vanity as she touched the letters on the hall table and said: “How dull!” to show off - all this now seemed unutterably silly, paltry, and provincial. All this had been absolutely destroyed, shown up, exploded, the moment she came into Mrs. Dalloway’s drawing-room.
A1. True or false (2)
Rewrite the statements and state whether they are true or false.
1) Mabel was worried about her dress that she had chosen for the party.
2) From childhood Mabel had the sense of being inferior to other people.
3) Mabel was suspicious about her look in the mirror.
4) The drawing room of Mabel was beautiful and rich.
A2. Pick out (2)
Pick out four sentences which show the anxious mood of Mabel.
A3. Explain (2)
Mabel said, “It was not RIGHT.” Explain the sentence.
A4. Personal Response (2)
Give information about your favourite dress in 50 words.
A5. Language Study (Do as directed) (2)
a) What a hideous new dress!
(Choose the alternative showing correct assertive sentence form.)
i) It is hideous new dress.
ii) It is a very hideous new dress.
iii) It is a very new dress hideous.
iv) It is a very new hideous dress.
b) It was not right.
(Choose the alternative showing the correct transformation of this sentence into an affirmative sentence)
i) It was right.
ii) It was never right.
iii) It was wrong.
iv) It was always wrong.
A6. Vocabulary (2)
Write antonyms for the following from the extract.
a) Weaker
b) satisfaction
c) superior
d) adequacy
The New Dress- Virginia Woolf - See more activity sheets and answers in the following book.
Activity Work book for Std. XII by Prof. Tushar Chavan
Get book by sending money by phone pay or Google pay to 9850737199
Price Rs. 400 + Courier Rs. 50 Total Rs. 450
Send address to 9850737199 on whats app of Prof. Tushar Chavan
