1. The Peacock- Poetry- Class 11- Woven Words

BhashaLab
Jun 29
5 min read

Poet: Sujata Bhatt

Textbook: Woven Words

Genre: Poem (Descriptive / Nature Poetry)

Summary

Sujata Bhatt’s poem The Peacock presents a vivid and delicate picture of the elusive bird in its natural surroundings. The poet captures not only the physical beauty of the peacock but also the quiet drama of its sudden appearance and vanishing. It begins with a sharp call heard unexpectedly, followed by a flash of turquoise as the bird appears. The peacock does not stay long; it moves swiftly, leaving behind only glimpses—an arched neck, the flicker of a tail. The poet explains that one must be deeply absorbed in reading or quiet thought to be visited by this majestic bird. The surrounding atmosphere also changes—the wind shifts, bees go silent, and animals respond—before the peacock glides into view and then disappears again. The poem ends with a striking image: the peacock’s tail mimics the action of blinking, protecting eyes that are always open. The poet uses colour, movement, and sensory cues to describe the magical yet fleeting presence of the peacock. The poem blends observation with imagination, portraying the bird as a mystical and regal creature.

Character Sketch

The Peacock:

The peacock is portrayed as a graceful, shy, and mysterious bird. It appears suddenly with a sharp call and vanishes just as quickly, leaving behind glimpses of its colourful beauty. It is sensitive to its surroundings, arriving only when everything is calm and still. The bird’s tail, described like blinking eyes, adds an element of magic and elegance. The peacock symbolizes beauty, pride, and the fleeting nature of rare experiences.

Themes

Theme	Description
Beauty in Nature	The poem captures the peacock’s elegance and the wonder it brings to the observer.
Mystery and Elusiveness	The bird appears unexpectedly and leaves quickly, showing how beauty can be fleeting.
Stillness and Attention	The peacock’s arrival depends on quiet and focused attention, highlighting mindfulness.
Symbolism of the Peacock	The peacock is shown as majestic, almost divine, with descriptions of its colours and movements.

✨ Literary Devices

Device	Example / Explanation
Imagery	"A flash of turquoise," "dark glowing eyes" create vivid visual scenes.
Personification	“The tail that has to blink” gives lifelike qualities to the peacock’s feathers.
Metaphor	The tail as eyes that "blink" is a metaphor for the peacock’s movement and mystery.
Alliteration	“Slender neck,” “blue shadow,” add musical quality to the lines.
Symbolism	The peacock symbolizes fleeting beauty, mystery, and grace.

Title Justification

The title The Peacock is apt and meaningful as the entire poem revolves around the sudden and magical appearance of the peacock in its natural habitat. The poet uses the bird as a symbol of beauty, mystery, and alertness. It is not just a physical description, but a poetic exploration of how one must be present, calm, and observant to experience something as rare as seeing a peacock in full glory. The title focuses attention on this central figure and the deeper emotions it stirs.

One-Mark Questions

What is the first sign of the peacock’s arrival?
The first sign is a sharp, loud call that seems to come from nowhere. It startles the listener and signals the bird’s presence nearby.
Why does the poet advise sitting in the veranda and reading a favourite book?Because the peacock only appears when a person is calm and deeply absorbed. The quiet atmosphere encourages the bird to reveal itself.
What changes in nature signal the peacock's presence?
The wind changes direction, bees stop buzzing, and the cat stretches. These sudden changes hint at the bird’s mysterious arrival.
What is the significance of the peacock’s tail in the poem?
The tail is compared to eyes that blink, showing how the bird closes itself off when noticed. It reflects beauty, secrecy, and movement.
Why does the poet say “a blue shadow will fall over you”?
This line suggests the magical moment when the peacock’s colourful body passes by. It creates a visual and emotional impact on the observer.

Three-Mark Questions

How does the poet use imagery to describe the peacock?
The poet uses rich visual images like “flash of turquoise,” “slender neck,” and “dark glowing eyes” to paint a vivid picture. Auditory imagery is present in the sharp call and silence of bees. The description appeals to multiple senses—sight, sound, and even touch through the breeze. These details help the reader visualize and feel the presence of the peacock. The imagery makes the bird appear majestic and mysterious.
What is the connection between concentration and the appearance of the peacock?
The poet suggests that the peacock reveals itself only when one is deeply focused, such as when reading. This implies that beauty and rare experiences come quietly and unexpectedly. It teaches the value of patience and awareness. Distraction or movement may cause the bird to vanish, so stillness is key. This idea links outer nature to inner calm.
How does the poem reflect the elusive nature of the peacock?
The peacock appears with a sudden call and vanishes just as quickly. It offers only brief glimpses—a flash of tail, a turn of the neck. The poet emphasizes how it darts away and gathers its tail to close its “eyes.” All these actions make the peacock seem magical and hard to grasp. This reflects how beautiful things in life are often short-lived and must be appreciated in the moment.

Value-Based Question

What lesson can we learn about mindfulness and attention from the poem The Peacock?

The poem teaches that being fully present and attentive allows us to experience rare and beautiful moments in life. The peacock only appears when the observer is calm and still, suggesting that we must slow down and become mindful to connect with nature and beauty. In a world full of distractions, the poem reminds us to find peace in silence and focus. True joy often comes quietly, without announcement.

End

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