On Friendship Summary and Explanation
PSEB Class 12 English Poem 2 On Friendship Summary, Theme, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from A Rainbow of English Book
On Friendship Summary – Are you looking for the summary, theme and lesson explanation for PSEB 12 English Poem 2 – On Friendship from English A Rainbow of English Book . Get Poem summary, theme, explanation along with difficult word meanings and poetic devices.
PSEB Class 12 English Poem 2 – On Friendship
Kahlil Gibran
The poem “On Friendship” by Kahlil Gibran was written in 1923 and has been taken from his book ‘The Prophet’. The poem highlights the importance of friendship. In the poem, Gibran calls his friend a gift from God, and refers to the friend as someone who fulfills our needs and provides us with warmth and comfort. Gibran believes that true friendship allows honesty without fear, understanding without words, and sharing of both joys and sorrows. True friendship according to him refreshes our heart like the morning dew. Through vivid imagery, Gibran highlights how honest and true friendship enriches our life and brings one comfort, warmth and happiness.
- On Friendship Summary
- On Friendship Summary in Hindi
- On Friendship Theme
- On Friendship Explanation
- On Friendship Poetic Devices
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On Friendship Summary
The poem “On Friendship” by Kahlil Gibran talks about the true value of friendship. The poem explains that a friend is someone who fulfills your needs, comforts you, and gives you a sense of contentment and peace. Gibran goes on to emphasize that a true friend IS like a field which you nurture with love, a table you share meals at, and a fireside where you find warmth and security. Friendship is showcased as a relationship where silence is often as meaningful as words, and thoughts, desires, and joys are shared without any expectation from one another. Gibran highlights that friendship should aim at the growth of the spirit and growing emotionally, rather than personal gain. A real friend is aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and the friendship is filled with laughter, sharing of pleasures, and appreciating the small moments in life. Gibran believes that friendship is meant to be lived fully, and not just to pass the time or fill one’s loneliness, and that friendship brightens one’s heart like the morning dew.
Summary of the Poem On Friendship in Hindi
खलील जिब्रान की कविता “ऑन फ्रेंडशिप” दोस्ती के असली मूल्य के बारे में बताती है। कविता बताती है कि एक दोस्त वह होता है जो आपकी ज़रूरतों को पूरा करता है, आपको दिलासा देता है और आपको संतुष्टि और शांति का एहसास देता है। जिब्रान इस बात पर ज़ोर देते हैं कि एक सच्चा दोस्त उस खेत की तरह होता है जिसे आप प्यार से सींचते हैं, एक मेज़ जिस पर आप खाना खाते हैं, और एक आग के पास जहाँ आपको गर्मी और सुरक्षा मिलती है। दोस्ती को एक ऐसे रिश्ते के रूप में दर्शाया गया है जहाँ मौन अक्सर शब्दों जितना ही सार्थक होता है, और विचार, इच्छाएँ और खुशियाँ एक-दूसरे से बिना किसी अपेक्षा के साझा की जाती हैं। जिब्रान इस बात पर ज़ोर देते हैं कि दोस्ती का उद्देश्य व्यक्तिगत लाभ के बजाय आत्मिक विकास और भावनात्मक रूप से विकसित होना होना चाहिए। एक सच्चा दोस्त आपकी खूबियों और कमज़ोरियों से वाकिफ होता है, और यह रिश्ता हँसी, खुशियाँ बाँटने और जीवन के छोटे-छोटे पलों की कद्र करने से भरा होता है। जिब्रान का मानना है कि दोस्ती पूरी तरह से जीने के लिए होती है, न कि केवल समय बिताने या अकेलेपन को भरने के लिए, और दोस्ती सुबह की ओस की तरह दिल को तरोताज़ा कर देती है।
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Theme of the Poem On Friendship
The poem “On Friendship” by Kahlil Gibran revolves around the following themes:-
Selfless Love and Giving
The poem beautifully tells us that true friendship is based on selfless love, where one individual gives without expecting anything in return. A friend meets your needs and supports you willingly in all circumstances. Friendship requires offering your best to another, with sincerity and generosity.
Mutual Understanding and Acceptance
The poem highlights that a true friend accepts your thoughts and feelings freely, without judgment or fear. Friends communicate honestly and openly, valuing each other’s perspectives. Differences among friends do not weaken the bond of genuine friendship.
Emotional and Spiritual Bond
The poem suggests that friendship deepens the spirit and nurtures one’s inner peace and tranquility. It creates a connection that goes beyond the physical or material level, touching the soul. A friend provides emotional support and strengthens your overall well-being.
On Friendship Poem Explanation
Poem:
And a youth said, “Speak to us of Friendship.”
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanks giving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the “nay” in your own mind, nor do you withhold the “ay.”
Word Meanings:
sow (v): to plant or spread seeds in the ground
reap (v): to cut and collect a crop from a field. In the poem, it means to obtain something good as a direct result of something you have done
fireside (n): the part of a room that surrounds a fireplace
withhold (v): to refuse to give something or to keep back something
Explanation of the stanza: Kahlil Gibran begins the poem with a youth asking him to speak about friendship. He begins to explain that a true friend fulfills your needs and supports you in life, just like a fertile field that you plant with love and later harvest the same field with gratitude. He goes on to explain that a friend is also like your home, your board and fireside, where you find comfort, joy and peace just like how you find those in your home. He explains that when a friend talks to you openly and honestly, you should not fear disagreement, and you can freely agree or disagree to their opinion without hesitating. He highlights that friendship allows open, honest, and mutual understanding and communication, where both hearts connect emotionally and spiritually.
Poem:
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
Word Meanings:
ceases(v): stops happening or existing
unacclaimed (adj.): not receiving praise or recognition
grieve (v): to feel or express great sadness
Explanation of the stanza: Gibran continues to explain that in true and honest friendship, even when your friend is silent, your heart still feels and understands theirs. Words are not always needed because, in friendship, all thoughts, feelings, and desires are shared, bringing a quiet joy to each of the person. The poet advises that when you are away from a friend, you do not need to feel sad, because sometimes their best qualities and the importance of their presences become even clearer in their absence, just like how a mountain looks more distinct when seen from a distance. True friendship goes beyond being in the constant presence of the other person, it is about understanding, connection, and appreciation even when apart.
Poem:
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth; and only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Word Meanings:
net cast forth (v): to throw forth (a net, fishing line, hook), in the poem, it symbolizes selfish love or friendship that tries to gain something rather than being genuine
ebb (v): the period of time when the sea flows away from the land
spirit (n): the inner character of a person, thought of as different from the material person we can see and touch
aught (pronoun): anything
unprofitable (adj.): not making a profit
Explanation of the stanza: The poet believes that the primary purpose of friendship should be to grow and enrich one’s spirit. True love in friendship is not about gaining something for yourself rather, it exists for the joy and mystery of connection itself. He advises that one should always give their best to their friend and be honest with them about your life, struggles and your joys. Khalil states that in friendship, one should not only share difficulties but also joys and successes. If a friend must know our lowest moments, he should equally be allowed to share in our happiest times. A friend should not be someone you meet just to pass time or to fill in your loneliness; instead, you should spend meaningful moments with them, share experiences that truly matter and bring happiness to your lives.
Poem:
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
Word Meanings:
seek (v): to search for something or someone
dew (n): the small drops of water that form on the ground etc. during the night
Explanation of the stanza: Lastly, Gibran says that you should spend time with your friend in moments that are full of life, not just when you are lonely, bored or empty. A true friend is there to meet your real needs, not to fill a sense of loneliness. Friendship should be sweet, filled with laughter and joy. He goes on to say that it is often the small, simple moments with friends that refresh the heart, like morning dew that makes the day fresh and bright. True friendship, he believes, lies in these little joyful moments and shared happiness that give life meaning.
On Friendship Poetic Devices
The poem “On Friendship ” by Kahlil Gibran consists of the following poetic devices:-
Imagery
Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses.
- “He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.”
- “As the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.”
The poet uses vivid images to describe friendship. These images help readers visualize friendship as something living, nurturing, and spiritual.
Personification
Personification is the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc., as in art and literature.
- “Your friend is your needs answered.”
- “Your heart ceases not to listen to his heart.”
Friendship is given human-like qualities, making it seem alive.
Metaphor
It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects that are different in nature.
- The poet compares a friend to many things without using “like” or “as”. Such as, a field, board, fireside, and mountain, all metaphors used to explain different aspects of friendship.
Symbolism
It is the use of an object, person, situation or word to represent something else, like an idea, in literature.
- “He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.”- The field symbolizes the effort, care, and love that we put into a friendship, which eventually brings joy and gratitude.
- “And he is your board and your fireside.”- The board and fireside symbolize comfort, warmth, and support that a friend provides in life.
- “For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.”- The mountain symbolizes perspective, such as sometimes a friend’s true value is clearer when they are not near.
- “If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.”- The tide symbolizes the highs and lows of life that a true friend understands and shares with you fully.
Conclusion
This post provides the students with a comprehensive understanding of the Poem 2 – On Friendship By Kahlil Gibran from the PSEB Class 12 English A Rainbow of English Book. It provides the students with the introduction, theme, summary, poem explanation with word meanings, ensuring that the students comprehend the chapter effectively.