The Peacock Summary and Explanation
CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Poem 1- The Peacock Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from Woven Words Book
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CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Poem 1 – The Peacock
by Sujata Bhatt
The Peacock Introduction
The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt shows nature’s beauty and mystery through strong images, focusing on the peacock’s rare presence. The poem creates a calm atmosphere as the peacock appears, quieting the buzzing bees and waking a cat.
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The Peacock Summary
The poem describes the elusive and mesmerizing presence of a peacock, focusing on how one might truly experience its beauty rather than just spot it.
Initially, the peacock’s presence is announced by its loud, sharp call, which seems to come from an unknown location. Then, a quick flash of turquoise color is seen in the pipal tree. The bird descends, with its slender neck arched away, as if it’s intentionally avoiding direct eye contact. As it quickly moves away, one might only catch a brief glimpse of the very end of its tail. This opening shows how difficult it is to get a full, clear view of the peacock.
The poem then explains a unique method for truly seeing the peacock. One is advised to sit on the veranda and read a favorite book with deep concentration. The key is to become completely immersed, to “live inside the book.” At the exact moment one’s attention is fully absorbed, a blue shadow will fall over them. Several subtle changes in the environment will occur: the wind will shift direction, the constant buzzing of bees in nearby bushes will stop, and even a sleeping cat will wake up and stretch.
These environmental shifts signal that something has captured one’s attention, subtly breaking the concentration on the book. If one looks up at this precise moment, they might finally see the peacock. However, even then, the peacock is described as “turning away,” in the process of gathering its magnificent tail. The tail itself is described with striking imagery: its dark, glowing eyes, fringed with violet and golden amber. The poem ends by stating that it is the tail, with its many eye-like patterns, that “has to blink” for the bird’s actual eyes, which are always open. This suggests that the true spectacle and essence of the peacock lie in its display, rather than its direct gaze.
In essence, the poem suggests that true beauty and magic (represented by the peacock) cannot be actively sought or demanded, but rather reveals itself when one is completely present, absorbed, and in a state of quiet contemplation.
Summary of the Poem The Peacock in Hindi
यह कविता एक मोर की मायावी और मंत्रमुग्ध कर देने वाली उपस्थिति का वर्णन करती है, जो इस बात पर ध्यान केंद्रित करती है कि कैसे कोई वास्तव में इसकी सुंदरता का अनुभव कर सकता है न कि केवल इसे देख सकता है।
प्रारंभ में, मोर की उपस्थिति की घोषणा इसकी तेज, तेज आवाज से की जाती है, जो किसी अज्ञात स्थान से आती प्रतीत होती है। फिर, पीपल के पेड़ में फ़िरोज़ा रंग की एक त्वरित चमक दिखाई देती है। अपनी पतली गर्दन के साथ पक्षी उतरता है, जैसे कि यह जानबूझकर सीधे आंखों के संपर्क से बच रहा हो। जैसे-जैसे यह जल्दी से दूर जाता है, कोई भी इसकी पूंछ के अंत की एक संक्षिप्त झलक ही देख सकता है। यह उद्घाटन दर्शाता है कि मोर का पूर्ण, स्पष्ट दृश्य प्राप्त करना कितना कठिन है।
कविता तब मोर को सही मायने में देखने के लिए एक अनूठी विधि बताती है। बरामदे में बैठने और गहरी एकाग्रता के साथ किसी पसंदीदा पुस्तक को पढ़ने की सलाह दी जाती है। कुंजी पूरी तरह से डूबा हुआ होना है, “किताब के अंदर जीना”। जिस क्षण किसी का ध्यान पूरी तरह से अवशोषित हो जाता है, उसी क्षण उनके ऊपर एक नीली छाया गिर जाएगी। पर्यावरण में कई सूक्ष्म परिवर्तन होंगेः हवा की दिशा बदल जाएगी, आस-पास की झाड़ियों में मधुमक्खियों की लगातार गड़गड़ाहट बंद हो जाएगी, और यहां तक कि एक सो रही बिल्ली भी जाग जाएगी और खिंच जाएगी।
ये पर्यावरणीय बदलाव संकेत देते हैं कि किसी चीज़ ने किसी का ध्यान आकर्षित किया है, जो सूक्ष्मता से पुस्तक पर एकाग्रता को तोड़ रहा है। यदि कोई इस सटीक क्षण को देखता है, तो वे अंततः मोर को देख सकते हैं। हालाँकि, फिर भी, मोर को अपनी शानदार पूंछ इकट्ठा करने की प्रक्रिया में “दूर मुड़ने” के रूप में वर्णित किया गया है। पूंछ को ही आकर्षक कल्पना के साथ वर्णित किया गया हैः इसकी काली, चमकती आंखें, बैंगनी और सुनहरे एम्बर से घिरी हुई हैं। कविता यह कहते हुए समाप्त होती है कि यह पूंछ है, अपने कई आंखों जैसे पैटर्न के साथ, जिसे पक्षी की वास्तविक आंखों के लिए “पलक झपकाना पड़ता है”, जो हमेशा खुली रहती हैं। इससे पता चलता है कि मोर का वास्तविक तमाशा और सार इसकी प्रत्यक्ष दृष्टि के बजाय इसके प्रदर्शन में निहित है।
संक्षेप में, कविता से पता चलता है कि सच्ची सुंदरता और जादू (मोर द्वारा दर्शाया गया) की सक्रिय रूप से तलाश या मांग नहीं की जा सकती है, बल्कि जब कोई पूरी तरह से मौजूद, अवशोषित और शांत चिंतन की स्थिति में होता है तो वह खुद को प्रकट करता है।
Theme of the Poem The Peacock
The Elusiveness and Nature of True Beauty
One of the main themes is that true beauty is often fleeting and cannot be forced or directly pursued. The peacock is initially described as hard to see – a “flash of turquoise,” with its neck “arched away,” only giving a “glimpse” of its tail as it “darts away.” This suggests that profound beauty, like the peacock, reveals itself on its own terms and at unexpected moments, rather than being a spectacle that can be simply demanded or observed directly.
Patience, Immersion, and Indirect Observation
The poem teaches that to truly experience something magnificent, one needs patience and a state of deep immersion or detachment from active seeking. The advice to “sit in the veranda” and “read a book… with great concentration” is key. The peacock appears not when actively looked for, but when the observer is completely absorbed in something else, “living inside the book.” This suggests that sometimes, the most profound encounters happen when we are receptive and open, rather than actively hunting for them.
Perception and Revelation
The poem also explores the nature of perception and how true revelation occurs. It highlights the subtle cues nature provides: a “blue shadow,” a change in wind direction, bees stopping, a cat awakening. These are not direct sightings, but rather environmental shifts that break one’s attention, signaling the peacock’s presence. The poem suggests that a deeper level of awareness is needed to truly see beyond the superficial, allowing the essence of the peacock – its vibrant, all-seeing tail – to be fully appreciated.
Harmony and Subtle Communication in Nature
Finally, the poem touches on the subtle, interconnected language of nature. The environment (wind, bees, cat) responds to the peacock’s arrival, creating a delicate chain of signals. This suggests that humans are part of a larger natural world that communicates through subtle shifts and movements. To truly witness its wonders, one must be attuned to these quiet, indirect messages, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.
The Peacock Poem Explanation
Stanza
His loud sharp call
seems to come from nowhere.
Then, a flash of turquoise
in the pipal tree
The slender neck arched away from you
as he descends,
and as he darts away, a glimpse
of the very end of his tail.
Word meanings
Sharp: Clear and distinct, often loud or piercing.
Flash: A sudden brief burst of light or color, or a quick, sudden appearance.
Turquoise: A greenish-blue color, typical of a peacock’s feathers.
Pipal tree: A type of large, sacred fig tree found in India.
Slender: Thin and graceful.
Arched: Curved in the shape of an arch.
Descends: Moves or goes downwards.
Darts away: Moves suddenly and quickly in a particular direction, usually away from something.
Glimpse: A very brief, quick, or incomplete view.
Explanation of the above stanza—The peacock’s loud and clear call sounds as if it has no specific origin. After that, a quick, bright blue-green color flashes into view in the pipal tree. As the peacock moves down from the tree, its thin, graceful neck is curved away from the poetess. Then, as it quickly moves away, one can only catch a very brief look at the very end of its tail.
Stanza
I was told
that you have to sit in the veranda
And read a book,
preferably one of your favourites
with great concentration..
The moment you begin to live
inside the book
A blue shadow will fall over you.
The wind will change direction,
The steady hum of bees
In the bushes nearby
will stop.
Word meanings
Veranda: An open, roofed platform or gallery attached to the outside of a house. (Similar to a porch or balcony).
Preferably: More desirable or suitable; ideally.
Concentration: The ability to focus all one’s attention on something.
Immersed / To live inside the book: To become completely absorbed or deeply involved in the book’s content, feeling as though one is part of its world.
Hum: A low, steady, continuous buzzing sound, like that made by an insect (e.g., bees).
Explanation of the above stanza—The poetess was advised that to experience something special, she needs to sit on the veranda and read a book, ideally a favorite one, with deep focus. The instructions say that the moment she gets completely lost in the story of the book, a blue shadow will appear over her. At that exact time, the wind will shift its direction, and the constant buzzing sound of the bees in the nearby bushes will suddenly stop. Bhatt has used hyperbole to describe the magnificence of the peacock.
Stanza
The cat will awaken and stretch.
Something has broken your attention;
And if you look up in time
You might see the peacock turning away as he gathers
his tail
To shut those dark glowing eyes,
Violet fringed with golden amber.
It is the tail that has to blink
For eyes that are always open.
Word meanings
Awaken: To wake up from sleep.
Stretch: To extend one’s limbs or body to full length, often after waking up or to relax.
Broken your attention: Interrupted or disturbed your concentration.
In time: At the correct moment; not too late.
Gathers his tail: Brings his long, elaborate tail feathers together, often folding them up.
Glowing: Shining with a steady, soft light.
Fringed: Having an edge or border, often with decorative threads or projections.
Violet: A color in the spectrum between blue and purple.
Amber: A hard, translucent, yellowish-brown resin, often used as a color description for a warm, golden-yellow hue.
Blink: To close and open the eyes quickly. Here, it refers to the closing movement of the eye-like patterns on the tail.
Explanation of the above stanza—When the peacock is near, even a sleeping cat will wake up and stretch. This hyperbole suggests the grandeur of the peacock. It also suggests that the poetess’ focus has been interrupted. If one looks up at that precise moment, one might catch sight of the peacock. However, the peacock will likely be turning away, gathering its magnificent tail. The poem describes the “eyes” on the tail as dark, glowing, and edged with violet and golden amber. The poetess explains that these “eyes” on the tail must “blink” or close, because the peacock’s actual eyes remain open, implying that the true spectacle is in the elaborate tail display. The line “For eyes that are always open” refers to the peacock’s tail feathers, which have large, eye-like markings. Peacocks don’t actually have eyes on their tails, but the patterns on the feathers are large and eye-like, making it seem as if they have numerous eyes that are always open. The phrase “It is the tail that has to blink” is the kinesthetic imagery describing the movement of the peacock’s tail as it contracts or expands, which can be interpreted as a sort of collective “blinking” of all those eye-like markings.
Notice these words in the poem and guess their meaning from the context
turquoise: A greenish-blue color, typical of a peacock’s feathers.
darts: Moves suddenly and quickly in a particular direction, usually away from something.
The Peacock Poetic Devices
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within a short sequence of words. Some of the instances of Assonance in the poem The Peacock are ‘seems to come from nowhere’, ‘The slender neck arched’, ‘and as he darts away’, ‘arched away’, ‘bees/In the bushes nearby’, ‘glimpse/of the very end’, ‘veranda/And read a’, ‘one of your favourites’ ‘Violet fringed with golden amber’,and ‘The moment you begin to live/inside the book’.
Consonance
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds (not necessarily at the beginning of words) within a short sequence of words. Some of the instances in the poem The Peacock are ‘seems to come from’, ‘as he descends’, ‘told/that you have to sit in the’, ‘preferably one of your favourites/with great concentration’, ‘bees/In the bushes nearby’ and ‘he gathers/his tail/To shut those’.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together. The alliteration used in the poem The Peacock are ‘arched away’.
Personification
Personification is a figure of speech that is used to attribute human characteristics to something that is not human. Bhatt gives human-like qualities to the peacock. The peacock is referred to as “He” and “His” throughout the poem, lending it a sense of agency and importance. The idea of the peacock’s tail having to “blink / For eyes that are always open” personifies the eye patterns on its feathers, giving them a watchful, almost sentient quality.
Symbolism
Symbolism is a literary device where symbols—such as characters, objects, or ideas—represent something else. The peacock itself is a central symbol in the poem. It symbolizes cultural pride and the yearning for the poet’s homeland, India. The vibrant colors and majestic presence of the peacock are often associated with India’s rich heritage. The elusive nature of the peacock mirrors the challenges of reconnecting with one’s cultural identity, especially for a diasporic writer like Bhatt. The act of the peacock gathering its tail to “shut those dark glowing eyes” can symbolize the moment of withdrawal or mystery inherent in such a beautiful and wild creature.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid description that appeals to a readers’ senses to create an image or idea in their head. This is perhaps the most prominent device. Bhatt uses highly descriptive language to create a visual feast for the reader, focusing on the peacock’s beauty and movements. Some of the instances in the poem are “a flash of turquoise”, “blue shadow”, “dark glowing eyes, / Violet fringed with golden amber” and
“slender neck arched away”. These images engage the reader’s senses and make the peacock’s presence almost tangible. Beyond just visual imagery, the poem engages in auditory imagery like “His loud sharp call”, “steady hum of bees / In the bushes nearby will stop”. The phrase “It is the tail that has to blink” is the kinesthetic imagery describing the movement of the peacock’s tail as it contracts or expands, which can be interpreted as a sort of collective “blinking” of all those eye-like markings.
Allegory
Allegory is the expression of truths or generalizations about human existence by means of symbolic fictional figures and their actions. The Peacock can be read as an allegorical poem, where the description of the bird’s beauty extends to represent deeper themes. It encapsulates the poet’s deep affection and pride for India and her longing for her homeland and its scattered people.
Hyperbole
A hyperbole is a rhetorical device that is mainly used to make something look and sound a lot better than it actually is. The poet uses exaggeration to emphasize the magnificence of the peacock by describing the eye patterns on the peacock’s tail as eyes of “amber” and “gold” creates an ethereal and almost magical effect, going beyond a literal description.
Conclusion
The Peacock is a poem describing the elusive and mesmerizing presence of a peacock, focusing on how one might truly experience its beauty rather than just spot it. Students can take help from this post to understand the poem and also learn the difficult word meanings to get a better grasp of The Peacock. This lesson includes a summary of The Peacock, which will help students in class 11 English elective to get a quick recap of the poem.