2.1 Vocation - Std 8th - Balbharati

BhashaLab
Aug 19
4 min read

Poet: Rabindranath Tagore

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std VIII

Genre: Free Verse

English Summary

The poem Vocation is written from the perspective of a young school-going child who observes different people at work during the day. On his way to school in the morning, he sees a hawker selling bangles and admires his freedom to roam without restrictions. In the afternoon, the child notices a gardener digging the ground, enjoying the liberty to work as he pleases without being scolded. At night, from his window, the child watches the watchman walking freely in the lonely streets, swinging his lantern and never going to bed. The child longs to live such carefree lives, free from rules, restrictions, and scolding. The poem beautifully conveys the innocence of childhood and the desire for freedom from discipline.

Theme / Central Idea

The central idea of the poem is the longing for freedom seen through the eyes of a child. The child envies the hawker, gardener, and watchman because they seem free from discipline, restrictions, and scolding, unlike his own life that is bound by rules. The poem reflects the innocence of childhood and the desire for independence.

Word Meanings

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Gong	A flat metal bell rung to draw attention
Take someone to task	To scold or correct someone
Soils his clothes	Makes clothes dirty with dust
Baked in the sun	Exposed to heat
One-eyed giant	Reference to a cyclops from Greek mythology
Chasing the shadows	Following imaginary goals
Lantern	A portable lamp with a protective covering
Pastime	An activity done for enjoyment, not work

Figures of Speech (with examples)

Alliteration
– "Bangles, crystal bangles"
– repetition of the ‘b’ sound.
Repetition
– "I wish I were a…"
– emphasizes the child’s longing.
Simile
– "The street lamp stands like a giant with one red eye"
– compares the lamp to a giant.
Onomatopoeia
– "Gong sounds ten in the morning"
– sound word.

Grammar Questions

Use an infinitive:
Sentence: "I wish I were a hawker."
Question: Rewrite using an infinitive.
Answer: I wish to be a hawker.
Passive voice:
Sentence: "The gardener digs the ground."
Question: Change into passive voice.
Answer: The ground is dug by the gardener.
Modal:
Sentence: "Nobody takes him to task."
Question: Rewrite using ‘can’.Answer: Nobody can take him to task.
Tense transformation:
Sentence: "I walk to school by our lane." (Present Tense)Question: Change into past tense.
Answer: I walked to school by our lane.
Wh-question:
Sentence: "The watchman swings his lantern."
Question: Frame a Wh-question.
Answer: What does the watchman swing?

Personal Response Questions (2 Marks)

Why does the child admire the hawker, gardener, and watchman?
Answer: The child admires them because they appear free from discipline, restrictions, and scolding. Their carefree lives seem attractive to him compared to his own routine bound by school and parental rules.
Do you think freedom without responsibility is possible? Explain.
Answer: Freedom without responsibility is not possible because responsibilities shape discipline and growth. Complete freedom may lead to carelessness, while responsibility ensures balance in life.
What lesson does this poem teach us about childhood desires?
Answer: The poem teaches that childhood desires are innocent and often based on appearances. Children admire freedom but do not realize the responsibilities behind each vocation. It reminds us of the charm and simplicity of a child’s perspective.

True or False

The hawker sells flowers. – False
The gardener digs the ground freely. – True
The watchman goes to bed at night. – False
The child envies the freedom of others. – True
The street lamp is compared to a one-eyed giant. – True

Probable Board Questions

Why does the child wish to be a hawker?
Answer: The child wishes to be a hawker because he sees him enjoying freedom, moving wherever he likes without any restrictions or fixed routine.
How is the gardener described in the poem?
Answer: The gardener is free to dig the ground, soil his clothes, and face the sun or rain without being scolded, which makes the child admire him.
Why does the child admire the watchman?
Answer: The child admires the watchman because he roams freely in the streets at night with a lantern, never needing to go to bed early like the child.
What does the poem reveal about childhood?
Answer: The poem reveals that childhood is full of innocent wishes and the longing to escape discipline and live freely like grown-ups.
What is the significance of the title Vocation?
Answer: The title Vocation reflects the various occupations observed by the child. It highlights how each profession seems attractive to him because of the freedom he perceives in them.

Poem Appreciation

The poem Vocation by Rabindranath Tagore explores the longing for freedom seen through the eyes of a child. The poet uses a free verse style, making the flow natural and conversational. The language is simple yet imaginative, filled with striking images like the hawker’s cry, the gardener digging, and the watchman swinging his lantern. The tone is reflective, capturing the innocence of childhood desires. Figures of speech like repetition, simile, and onomatopoeia add beauty and depth. What I like about the poem is its simplicity and universal appeal, as every child has wished for such freedom. The poem leaves readers nostalgic about their own childhood experiences.

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