2.6. Money - Class 12 - English Yuvakbharati

Mar 2
4 min read

Updated: Mar 6

Author: William H. Davies | Genre: Poetry

1. Comprehensive Glossary

Word	Meaning (English)	Meaning (Hindi)
Trumpet	A brass musical instrument	तुरही
Hum	Sing with closed lips	गुनगुनाना
Tramp	A person who travels from place to place on foot in search of work or as a vagrant	आवारा / पदयात्री
Hobo	A homeless person; a tramp	खानाबदोश
Peddler	A person who goes from place to place selling small goods	फेरीवाला
Wandering	Moving from place to place without a fixed plan	भटकना
Judiciously	With good judgment or sense	विवेकपूर्ण ढंग से
Evils	Profoundly immoral and wicked things	बुराइयाँ
Capital	Wealth in the form of money or other assets owned by a person or organization	पूँजी
Imaginary	Existing only in the imagination	काल्पनिक
Ponder	Think about something carefully	विचार करना
Brass	A bright yellow metal made by combining copper and zinc	पीतल
Steady	Firmly fixed, supported, or balanced	स्थिर
Stinging	Capable of wounding with a sting	डंक मारने वाला
Noisily	In a way that makes a lot of noise	शोर के साथ

2. Introduction & Summary

Ice Breakers:

Discuss whether you believe "Money is the root of all evils" or if it is a necessary tool for survival.
List the qualities of a "true friend" and discuss if those qualities change depending on your financial status.

Summary: "Money" by William H. Davies is a reflective poem that explores the relationship between wealth, poverty, and true happiness. Drawing from his own experiences as a tramp and street singer, Davies describes a time when he had "much money" but felt he lacked real friends, surrounded instead by "untrue" men who followed his wealth.

The poet contrasts the lives of the rich and the poor, noting that while the rich may outwardly appear happy, it is often the poor who experience genuine joy. He uses the imagery of "poor ones laugh" while the "rich ones coldly frown" to highlight this irony. The central theme is that true realization of money’s value—and the discovery of real friendship—often occurs only when one has lost their fortune. By the end of the poem, the poet concludes that although he now has very little money, he has found true friends, even if they are few in number.

4. HSC Board Activity Sheet Pattern (Poetry Section)

Part A: Appreciation of Poem (Q3-B Pattern)

About the Poem / Poet / Title: The poem "Money" is written by the Welsh poet William H. Davies, who spent a significant portion of his life as a wanderer. The title is direct and central to the theme, focusing on how financial status dictates human relationships and internal peace.
The Theme: The central theme is the search for real happiness and the deceptive nature of wealth. It argues that wealth brings false friends, while poverty reveals true ones.
Poetic Style: The poem uses simple, rhythmic language with a clear rhyme scheme that enhances its song-like quality. It employs a narrative style to convey a philosophical message based on personal experience.
Figures of Speech:
1. Inversion: Used to emphasize specific words by changing the standard word order.
2. Simile: "Like a child who holds a trumpet" – comparing the poet's inability to speak his mind to a child with a toy.
3. Antithesis: Contrasting the "rich" and "poor" or "laughing" and "frowning" to highlight social disparities.
Message / Values / Morals: The poem teaches that material wealth is not a prerequisite for happiness. It values sincerity in friendship and the spiritual peace found in a simple life over the stresses of maintaining an elite status.
Your Opinion: In my opinion, the poem is highly relatable because it challenges the modern obsession with wealth. Davies' perspective as a former tramp adds a layer of authenticity that makes the message about "true friends" very powerful.

Part B: Poetic Creativity (2 Marks)

Topic 1: True Friendship ->
A hand that stays when gold is gone,
A light that shines before the dawn.
No silver coins can ever buy,
The truth within a brother's eye.
Topic 2: The Joy of a Simple Life ->
A crust of bread, a roof of thatch,
A simple door with wooden latch.
The heart is light, the soul is free,
Beneath the shade of nature's tree.
Topic 3: The Burden of Wealth ->
Heavy pockets, heavy heart,
Watching as the years depart.
A golden cage is still a cell,
Where silent sorrows often dwell.
Topic 4: Helping the Needy ->
Give a little, gain a lot,
Bless the poor man’s humble cot.
Wealth is but a passing guest,
Kindness is the truest test.
Topic 5: Real Happiness ->
It is not found in iron chests,
Or where the weary traveler rests.
It blooms within a peaceful mind,
And leaves all bitter greed behind.

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