Toys

SUMMARY OF THE POEM "TOYS" INTRODUTION OF POET: The Toys in one of the beautiful poems composed by Conventr y Patmore. Conventry Patmore was born in London in 1823. He had a religious bend of mind deeply associated with the everyday happenings of life. His publication s are The Angel in the House and The Un nown Eros and Other Odes. Patmore died i n 1896. INTRODUTION OF POEM: The poem conveys the idea of mercy of God through an incide nt in the Poet s house. The verses of this poem are different from other poems. Th e lines are uneven and are rhymed in an irregular manner. SUMMARY: One night, the poet scolded his son for disobeying orders and tal ing i n loud voice. The child went quietly to his bedroom with a gloomy heart. After s ome time, the poet realized that he had made a mista e, as his son was lonely an d his mother had died. No one was there to cheer him up. The poet, went into his son s bedroom thin ing that his child must be weeping and trying to sleep. But when he entered the room, he saw the boy calmly sleeping in bed. The poet noticed mar s of tears on his chee s. He also saw some toys neatl y arranged on a table besides his son, which were ept to comfort the sad heart. The sight of the room was very uncomfortable for the poet. He felt sorry for hi s attitude and learning the importance of toys for the child. The poet was inspired by the whole incident. He issed his son and cleared the t ears in his eyes. He understood that God loves his fellowmen more than a father loves his son. Then why should not God forgive the people who commit mista es. H e also realized that as the toys were of no importance to him, this world has no worth before God. We only console our hearts by the beauty of this world. This thought gave the poet a New Hope. He prayed all night with the feeling that God is merciful and would forgive him. MESSAGE: We should forgive the mista es of people and live with a friendly atmosphere. Go d is merciful on us and he forgives those people who forgive the mista es of hum an beings. Let me be a little indness, let me be a little blinder to the faults of those ar ound me. Lines MY LITTLE SON, WHO LOOK D FROM THOUGHTFUL EYES AND MOVED AND SPOKE IN QUIET GROWN-UP WISE, HAVING MY LAW THE SEVENTH TIME DISOBEY D, I STRUCK HIM, AND DISMISS D WITH HARD WORDS AND UNKISS D, -HIS MOTHER, WHO WAS PATIENT, BEING DEAD. REFERENCE: This narative poem is written by Coventry Patmore (23 July 1823 - 26 November 1896 / Essex, England) CONTEXT: In this poem the poet points out that God is always ind and merciful t o man but man often fails to follow the commands of his Creator. The poem relate s the story of father and son. The father treats the son harshly but later reali

zes his mista e and as s for forgiveness from God for his foolish behaviour. He hopes that as he has forgiven his son, God would pardon him for his childishness . EXPLANATION: The poem tells the story of a father and his son. The little boy al ways appeared to be serious and thoughtful. He behaved li e grown-ups but someti me his childish instinct made him commit follies. When he disobeyed his father f or the seventh time, he was beaten, scolded and turned out without being issed. There was no one to defend or console him because his mother was no more in thi s world. Lines THEN FEARING LEST HIS GRIEF SHOULD HINDER SLEEP, I VISITEDHIS BED, BUT FOUND HIM SLUMBERING DEEP, WITH DARKEN D EYELIDS, AND THEIR LASHES YET FROM HIS LATE SOBBING WET. REFERENCE: This narative poem is written by Coventry Patmore (23 July 1823 - 26 November 1896 / Essex, England) CONTEXT: In this poem the poet points out that God is always ind and merciful t o man but man often fails to follow the commands of his Creator. The poem relate s the story of father and son. The father treats the son harshly but later reali zes his mista e and as s for forgiveness from God for his foolish behaviour. He hopes that as he has forgiven his son, God would pardon him for his childishness . EXPLANATION: The father realized that he had been too harsh with his son. He fea red that the child might not be able to sleep due to his grief. He visited his s on s bed and found him sound asleep. The boy had fallen into a slumber while weepi ng because his eyes appeared swollen and his eyelashes were still wet with tears . Lines AND I, WITH MOAM, KISSING AWAY HIS TEARS, LEFT OTHERS OF MY OWN; FOR, ON A TABLE DRAWN BESIDE HIS HEAD, HE HAD PUT, WITHIN HIS REACH, A BOX OF COUNTERS AND A RED-VEIN D STONE, A PIECE OF GLASS ABRADED BY THE BEACH, AND SIX OR SEVEN SHELLS, A BOTTLE WITH BLUE BELLS, AND TWO FRENCH COPPER COINS RANGED THERE WITH CAREFUL ART,

TO COMFORT HIS SAD HEART. REFERENCE: This narative poem is written by Coventry Patmore (23 July 1823 - 26 November 1896 / Essex, England) CONTEXT: In this poem the poet points out that God is always ind and merciful t o man but man often fails to follow the commands of his Creator. The poem relate s the story of father and son. The father treats the son harshly but later reali zes his mista e and as s for forgiveness from God for his foolish behaviour. He hopes that as he has forgiven his son, God would pardon him for his childishness . EXPLANATION: The father felt very repentant and aggrieved. He absorbed the tears of his son in his lips but left his own tears on his face. He noticed that the boy had sought consolation in small, ordinary objects. Near his bed, he had pull ed a table on which he had arranged very s illfully things li e counters, a red stone, a rough piece of glass, some flowers and shells and two coins. All these insignificant things provided ease and comfort to his sad heart. Lines SO WHEN THAT NIGHT I PRAY D TO GOD, I WEPT AND SAID: AH! WHEN AT LAST WE LIE WITH TRANCED BREATH, NOT VEXING THEE IN DEATH, AND THOU REMEMBEREST OF WHAT TOYS WE MADE OUR JOYS, HOW WEAKLY UNDERSTAND, THY GREAT COMMANDED GOOD, THEN, FATHERLY NOT LESS THAN I WHOM THOU HAST MOULDED FROM THE CLAY, THOU LT LEAVE THY WRATH, AND SAY, I WILL BE SORRY FOR THEIR CHILDISHNESS. REFERENCE: This narative poem is written by Coventry Patmore (23 July 1823 - 26 November 1896 / Essex, England) CONTEXT: In this poem the poet points out that God is always ind and merciful t o man but man often fails to follow the commands of his Creator. The poem relate s the story of father and son. The father treats the son harshly but later reali zes his mista e and as s for forgiveness from God for his foolish behaviour. He hopes that as he has forgiven his son, God would pardon him for his childishness . EXPLANATION: The father was so overawed with shame and grief that when that nigh t he prayed to God, he could not help shedding tears of sincere regret. He point ed out that man fails to understand the commands of God, and there are some who

do not fear God even on their death-bed. However, God is the most Beneficent and the most Merciful. He provides man with all the simple joys of life. The father forgives his son and hopes that God, being li e and guardian and benefactor of the entire human race would pardon him for his rash and unreasonable behaviour t owards his son.