Bihar Board Class 10 English The Sleeping Porter Summary, Lesson Explanation with difficult word meanings from Panorama-II Book
The Sleeping Porter– Are you looking for Summary and Lesson Explanation for Bihar Board Class 10 English Poem 7 The Sleeping Porter from Panorama-II Book. Get notes, summary of the Lesson followed by line by line explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words.
The Sleeping Porter Bihar Board Class 10 English
Laxmi Prasad Devkota
- The Sleeping Porter Introduction
- Theme of the Lesson The Sleeping Porter
- The Sleeping Porter Summary
- The Sleeping Porter Summary in Hindi
- The Sleeping Porter Lesson Explanation
- The Sleeping Porter Figures of Speech
The Sleeping Porter Introduction
The poem “The Sleeping Porter” by Laxmi Prasad Devkota tells us about the life of a porter, a person who carries heavy loads for a living. Despite facing immense hardships and physical challenges, the porter shows remarkable strength and resilience. The poem describes the porter as he climbs a steep, snowy mountain with a heavy load on his back. His body is frail and worn out, and his cap is dirty and has marks of dried sweat. He struggles with hunger and cold, but he continues to work hard for his family. The porter’s heart beats fast like a bird’s, and he is out of breath as he makes his way to a small hut on a cliff where his family waits for him. In the end, after all his hard work, the porter finds peace in sleep, dreaming under the starry sky.
Theme of the Lesson The Sleeping Porter
The theme of “The Sleeping Porter” by Laxmi Prasad Devkota revolves around resilience and perseverance of the human spirit when facing hardship and adversity. The poem tells the story of a porter who carries a heavy load up a snowy mountain. Even though his body is weak and he faces many hardships, his spirit is strong. The poem shows how much he sacrifices for his loved ones and how he keeps pushing forward no matter what. When he finally rests and sleeps under the stars, it symbolizes a moment of peace and reward for all his hard work. The poem highlights the porter’s heroism and the resilience of the human spirit.
The Sleeping Porter Summary
The poem “The Sleeping Porter” by Laxmi Prasad Devkota talks about a hardworking porter who faces many difficulties as he climbs a snowy mountain. The porter carries a heavy load on his back, which makes his spine bend double. Despite being weak and frail, he pushes on, determined to complete his journey. The porter wears a black cap that is dirty and stained with sweat. His body is infested with fleas and lice, and he has a dull mind that gives off a sour smell like sulfur. Despite his poor physical condition, he has a stout and strong appearance.
As he climbs, the porter’s heart beats rapidly, like a bird’s, and he struggles to catch his breath. He is sweating and exhausted, but he continues to climb because his family depends on him. At the top of the cliff, there is a small hut where his son is shivering with cold and his wife is searching for nettles and vines to feed the family. They are suffering from hunger and cold, and the porter’s efforts are their hope for survival. Underneath the porter, the snow-covered peaks stretch out, and above him, the sky is filled with stars. After his long and grueling journey, the porter finally lies down to sleep. In his sleep, he finds peace and comfort, reigning over the “rich kingdom of sleep.”
The Sleeping Porter Summary in Hindi
लक्ष्मी प्रसाद देवकोटा की कविता “द स्लीपिंग पोर्टर” एक मेहनती कुली के बारे में बात करती है जो बर्फीले पहाड़ पर चढ़ते समय कई कठिनाइयों का सामना करता है। कुली की पीठ पर भारी बोझ होता है, जिससे उसकी रीढ़ की हड्डी दोगुनी झुक जाती है। कमजोर और कमजोर होने के बावजूद, वह अपनी यात्रा पूरी करने के लिए दृढ़ संकल्पित होकर आगे बढ़ता है। कुली काली टोपी पहनता है जो गंदी और पसीने से सनी हुई है। उसका शरीर पिस्सू और जूँ से ग्रस्त है, और उसका दिमाग सुस्त है जिससे गंधक जैसी खट्टी गंध आती है। अपनी खराब शारीरिक स्थिति के बावजूद, उनका रूप मजबूत और मजबूत है। जैसे ही वह चढ़ता है, कुली का दिल तेजी से धड़कता है, पक्षी की तरह, और वह अपनी सांस लेने के लिए संघर्ष करता है। उसे पसीना आ रहा है और वह थक गया है, लेकिन वह चढ़ना जारी रखता है क्योंकि उसका परिवार उस पर निर्भर है। चट्टान के शीर्ष पर, एक छोटी सी झोपड़ी है जहाँ उसका बेटा ठंड से कांप रहा है और उसकी पत्नी परिवार को खिलाने के लिए बिछुआ और लताएँ खोज रही है। वे भूख और ठंड से पीड़ित हैं, और कुली के प्रयास उनके जीवित रहने की आशा हैं। पोर्टर के नीचे, बर्फ से ढकी चोटियाँ फैली हुई हैं, और उसके ऊपर, आकाश तारों से भरा हुआ है। अपनी लंबी और कठिन यात्रा के बाद, कुली अंततः सो गया। अपनी नींद में, वह “नींद के समृद्ध साम्राज्य” पर शासन करते हुए शांति और आराम पाता है।
The Sleeping Porter Lesson Explanation
Poem:
A twenty-five kilo load on his back
spine double bent
a six-mile climb up in the snows of winter
naked bones, skeleton-like frail frame
yet facing an uphill task
he is challenging the mountain.
Word Meanings:
spine (n): the back bone
naked (adj): unclothed, uncovered, nude
skeleton (n): the bony framework of the body
frail (adj): weak, infirm
frame (n): a structure, shape
uphill (adj): ascending
Explanation: The poet describes the difficult and exhausting journey of a porter. The porter is carrying a heavy load that weighs twenty-five kilos on his back. This load is so heavy that it makes his spine bend in an unnatural, painful way. Despite his body being extremely weak and thin, almost like a skeleton, he bravely continues his climb. The journey is long and tough, spanning six miles through snowy, cold conditions in the winter. Even though his physical condition is very poor, he remains determined and keeps moving forward. The porter is shown as someone who is not just climbing a mountain, but also overcoming great difficulties and challenges in life. His persistence and courage in the face of such a tough task show his inner strength and resilience.
Poem:
He is wearing a black cap
dirty, sweat-stained
his body is an abode of fleas and lice
his mind very dull
although it emits a sulphur-like sour smell
but what a stout human figure!
Word Meanings:
abode (n): a place in which one lives, one’s home
sour (adj.): having an unpleasant or foul smell
sulphur-like (adj.): a scent resembling that of sulfur or sulfur compounds. This smell is often described as similar to rotten eggs, burnt matches, or sewage.
sweat (n): perspiration
stain (n): mark
fleas (n): a kind of small jumping insect
lice (n): pl. of louse, a parasitic insect
stout (adj): strong, brave
Explanation: In this passage, the poet provides a description of the porter’s appearance and condition. The porter is wearing a black cap that is dirty and stained with sweat, indicating his hard work and the tough conditions he endures. His body is infested with fleas and lice, showing the poor and unsanitary conditions he lives in. The porter’s mind is described as very dull, meaning that he is exhausted by his daily struggles. The poet uses the metaphor of a “sulfur-like sour smell” to emphasize the harshness of his life and the unpleasantness of his surroundings.
Despite all these hardships, the porter has a well-built, strong figure. This shows us a contrast, even though he is surrounded by difficulties and his body and mind are worn down, he remains physically strong and capable.
Poem:
Like a bird
his heart is twittering, panting
he is sweating and out of breath
a hut on the cliff
his son shivering with cold
woes of hunger
the mother searching for nettles and vines.
Word Meanings:
cliff (n): a high area of land with a steep side
twittering (adj/n): uttering interrupted sound
panting (n): gasping
woe (n): grief, sorrow
nettle (n): stinging plant
vines (n): the creeper which bears grapes
Explanation: The physical and emotional state of the porter as he continues his difficult journey is described here. The porter’s heart is “twittering” like a bird, meaning that it is beating rapidly due to the exertion and stress he is experiencing. The word “panting” suggests that he is breathing heavily, further emphasizing his exhaustion. He is sweating and struggling to catch his breath, which shows how physically demanding his task is. The porter’s family is waiting for him in a small hut on the cliff. His son is shivering with cold, depicting the harsh conditions they are facing. The family is also suffering from hunger. The mother is searching for nettles and vines, which are likely the only available food to the family, showing the extreme lack of food and their desperate situation.
Poem:
Beneath this hero of the mountain
the proud conqueror of nature
are the snow-clad peaks
above
only the star-studded lid of night.
in this might
the porter is in deep slumber
“reigning over the rich kingdom of sleep.
Word Meanings:
conqueror (n): one who conquers, a victor
clad (adj): clothed, here, covered
studded (v): p.t. of stud adorned with studs
lid (n): the cover for the top of something, here, the darkness of the night is like a cover
slumber (n): a short sleep
Explanation: The porter here is described as a “hero of the mountain” and a “proud conqueror of nature.” These phrases honor the porter and recognize his incredible strength and resilience in the face of difficult natural challenges. Despite his frail physical appearance and the harsh conditions he faces, he is portrayed as a hero for his determination. The snow-covered peaks below him, symbolize the difficult terrain he has conquered. Above him is the “star-studded lid of night,” creating a peaceful and majestic image of the night sky. This contrast between the challenging ground and the peaceful sky shows us the magnitude of his achievement.
The porter finally finds rest. He is in “deep slumber,” emphasizing a well-deserved break from his relentless toil and struggle. The phrase “reigning over the rich kingdom of sleep” suggests that in his sleep, he finds peace and relief, almost as if he is a king in a realm of peacefulness. This restful state is depicted as his reward for the hard work and suffering he has faced.
BSEB Class 10 English Poem 7 The Sleeping Porter Figures of Speech
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects that are different in nature.
- “His body is an abode of fleas and lice.”- This metaphor compares the porter’s body to a dwelling place, emphasizing the extent of the infestation.
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses.
- “snow-clad peaks”- This phrase creates a vivid image of mountains covered in snow.
- Hyperbole: Hyperbole is a literary device used to draw emphasis through extreme exaggeration, with examples in film and literature.
- “reigning over the rich kingdom of sleep.” – This phrase exaggerates the porter’s sleep as if he is a monarch ruling over a kingdom.
- Simile: It is a literary device that compares two unlike or different things.
- “Like a bird, his heart is twittering, painting.”- The poet compares the porter’s heart beating rapidly to the twittering of a bird, using the word “like” to establish the comparison.
- Personification: Personification is the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc., as in art and literature.
- “Beneath this hero of the mountain…”- The mountain is personified as if it has the ability to acknowledge the porter as a hero.