Questions Answers

1. Based on your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions in one or two sentences each.

a)        Who is the narrator in the poem?

One of the soldiers lodged in the castle is the narrator in the poem.

b)       How long had the soldiers been in the castle?

All through the summer, the soldiers had been in the castle.

c)        Why were the soldiers in the castle fearless?

The soldiers have plenty of arms and food. So they were fearless in the castle.

d)       Where were the enemies?

The enemies were half a mile away from the castle.

e)        Why does the narrator say that the enemy was no threat at all?

The narrator says that the enemy was no threat at all because their captain was brave and the soldiers were loyal.

f)         Did the soldiers fight with the enemies face to face?

No, The soldiers did not fight with the enemies face to face.

g)        Who had let the enemies in?

The warder, who guards the wicket gate, let the enemies inside the famous citadel.

h)       How did the enemies enter the castle?

The strong castle became weak and thin because of the greedy, disloyal and corrupt warder.

The citadel was captured by the enemies for gold.

i)          Why were the secret galleries bare?

The secret galleries were captured by the enemies.

j)          What was the ‘shameful act’?

The castle was captured by the enemies because of the greedy, disloyal and corrupt warder. This was the shameful act.

k)       Why didn’t the narrator want to tell the tale to anybody?

Since the defeat of the castle was treacherous but not by face to face war, the narrator didn’t want to tell the tale to anybody.

l)          Why did the narrator feel helpless?

The narrator’s troop and castle were defeated by the enemies. He could not accept this treacherous defeat. So he felt helpless.

m)     Who was the real enemy?

The gold which was received as bribe by the warder, was the real enemy.

2. Read the poem again and complete the summary using the words given in box.

Stanzas 1–3

‘The Castle’ by Edwin Muir is a moving poem on the (1) capture of a well- guarded (2) castle The soldiers of the castle were totally stress-free and relaxed. They were (3) confident of their castle’s physical strength. Through the turrets they were able to watch the mowers and no enemy was found up to the distance of (4) half-a-kilometre and so they seemed no threat to the castle. They had (5) plenty of weapons to protect them and a large quantity of (6) ration in stock to take care of the well- being of the soldiers inside the castle. The soldiers stood one above the other on the towering (7) watching to shoot the enemy at sight. They believed that the castle was absolutely safe because their captain was (8) brave and the soldiers were loyal.

Stanzas 4–6

Even by a trick no one but the birds could enter. The enemy could not use a (9)bait for their entry inside the castle. But there was a wicket gate guarded by a (10) wicked guard He (11) let in the enemies inside the famous citadel that had been known for its secret gallery and intricate path. The strong castle became (12) weak  and thin because of the greedy disloyal warder. The (13) citadel was captured by the enemies for (14) gold. The narrator (15) lamented over the (16) disloyalty of the useless warder and also decided not to disclose this (17) shameful story to anyone. He  was  (18) helpless  and  wondered  how he would keep this truth to himself. He regretted not finding any (19) weapon to fight with the (20) enemy called ‘gold’.

3. Read the poem and answer the following in a short paragraph of 8-10 sentences each.

a) How safe was the castle? How was it conquered?

The soldiers of the castle were confident of their castle’s physical strength. Through the turrets they were able to watch the mowers and no enemy was found up to the distance of half-a-mile. They had plenty of weapons to protect them and a large quantity of ration in stock. The soldiers stood one above the other. They were watching the tower to shoot the enemy at sight. They believed that the castle was absolutely safe because their captain was brave and the soldiers were loyal. But there was a wicket gate guarded by a wicked guard. He let in the enemies inside the famous citadel through the secret gallery and intricate path. The strong castle became weak and thin because of the greedy disloyal warder. The citadel was captured by the enemies for gold. Thus the castle was conquered.

b) Bring out the contrasting picture of the castle as depicted in stanzas 3 and 5.

Stanza 3 depicted that the castle was very strong. Through the turrets, the soldiers could watch up to the distance of half-a-mile. They had plenty of weapons and a large quantity of food in stock. The soldiers stood one above the other. They were watching the tower to shoot the enemy at sight. They believed that the castle was absolutely safe because their captain was brave and the soldiers were loyal.

Stanza 5 depicted that the strong castle’s maze of tunneled stone became weak and thin. It was lost without any fight. The citadel was captured by the enemies for gold. The secret galleries were bare. Thus the castle was conquered.

c) Human greed led to the mighty fall of the citadel. Explain.

The soldiers of the castle were confident of their castle’s physical strength. Through the turrets they were able to watch the mowers and no enemy was found up to the distance of half-a-mile. They had plenty of weapons to protect them and a large quantity of ration in stock. The soldiers stood one above the other. They were watching the tower to shoot the enemy at sight. They believed that the castle was absolutely safe because their captain was brave and the soldiers were loyal. But there was a wicket gate guarded by a wicked guard. He let in the enemies inside the famous citadel through the secret gallery and intricate path. The strong castle became weak and thin because of the greedy disloyal warder. The citadel was captured by the enemies for gold. Thus the warder’s greed led to the mighty fall of the citadel.

Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow in a line or two.

a) All through the summer at ease we lay, 

And daily from the turret wall

We watched the mowers in the hay

i. Who does ‘we’ refer to?

‘We’ refers to the soldiers lodged in the castle.

ii. How did the soldiers spend the summer days?

The soldiers spent the summer days by laying and taking rest.

iii. What could they watch from the turret wall?

Through the turrets they were able to watch the mowers and no enemy was found up to the distance of half-a-mile.

b) Our gates were strong, our walls were thick, 

So smooth and high, no man could win.

i. How safe was the castle?

The castle’s gate was very strong and the walls were very thick.

ii. What was the firm belief of the soldiers?

As the gate was strong, and wall was thick, no one can enter the castle. This was the firm belief of the soldiers.

c) A foothold there, no clever trick 

Could take us dead or quick, 

Only a bird could have got in.

i. What was challenging?

The castle’s strong gates, thick walls, their vigilance and security were challenging.

ii. Which aspect of the castle’s strength is conveyed by the above line?

No one could enter the gate but only a bird could have got in. This aspect of the castle’s strength is conveyed by the above line.

d) Oh then our maze of tunneled stone 

Grew thin and treacherous as air. 

The castle was lost without a groan, 

The famous citadel overthrown,

i. Bring out the contrast in the first two lines.

‘Maze of tunneled stone’ means very strong in the first line. But ‘grew thin’ means very weak in the second line. This was the contrast.

ii. What happened to the castle?

The castle was captured by the enemies.

e) We could do nothing, being sold.

i. Why couldn’t they do anything?

As the warder was disloyal, the castle was captured and all were arrested. So they couldn’t do anything.

ii. Why did they feel helpless?

The castle was defeated by the enemies in the crook way. The soldiers could not accept this treacherous defeat. So they felt helpless.

5. Explain the following with reference to the context in about 50-60 words each.

a)        They seemed no threat to us at all.

Context : The above line is taken from the poem “The castle” written by Edwin Muir.

Explanation : Here the narrator assures that no one could capture their castle, since it was very strong. Through the turrets they were able to watch the mowers and no enemy was found up to the distance of half-a-mile. He tells that his enemies were not a threat to his army.

Comment : The narrator expresses his confident about their castle’s strength.

b)       How can this shameful tale be told?

Context : The above line is taken from the poem “The castle” written by Edwin Muir.

Explanation : Here the narrator lamented how their castle was captured though it had strong gates, sufficient food and a brave captain. It was because of the greedy disloyal warder who received gold as bribe. The narrator felt that was the shameful act. And he worried about how this shameful defeat could be told others.

Comment : The narrator feels ashame of his castle’s warder and their defeat.

c)        I will maintain until my death

Context : The above line is taken from the poem “The castle” written by Edwin Muir.

Explanation : Here the narrator lamented how their castle was captured though it had strong gates, sufficient food and a brave captain. It was because of the greedy disloyal warder who received gold as bribe. The narrator felt that was the shameful act. And he worried about how this shameful defeat could be told others and also he would maintain the secret of their defeat until his death.

Comment : The narrator expresses his confident and determination.

d)       Our only enemy was gold

Context : The above line is taken from the poem “The castle” written by Edwin Muir.

Here the narrator lamented how their castle was captured though it had strong gates, sufficient food and a brave captain. It was because of the greedy disloyal warder who received gold as bribe. The narrator felt that the gold received as bribe by the warder was their real enemy.

Explanation : Here the narrator lamented how their castle was captured though it had strong gates, sufficient food and a brave captain. It was because of the greedy disloyal warder who received gold as bribe. The narrator felt that the gold received as bribe by the warder was their real enemy.

Comment : The narrator finds the real reason for their defeat.

6. Read the poem and complete the table with suitable rhyming words.

lay : hay

wall : all

fear : near

load : road

thick : trick

bait : gate

stone groan

air : bare

told : sold

7. Underline the alliterated words in the following lines.

a)        With our arms and provender, load on load. 

load, load

b)       A little wicked wicket gate.

wicked, wicket

c)        The wizened warder let them through.

wizened, warder

8. Identify the figure of speech used in the following lines.

a)        A little wicked wicket gate. - Metaphor

b)       Oh then our maze of tunneled stone - Metaphor

c)        Grew thin and treacherous as air. - Simile

d)       How can this shameful tale be told? - Interrogation

e)        Our only enemy was gold, - Personification

Allegory: An allegory is a complete narrative that involves characters and events that stand for an abstract idea or event. In other words, a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

9. Can you call ‘The Castle’ an allegorical poem? Discuss.

‘The castle’ is an allegorical poem. In this poem the speaker is one of the soldiers lodged in a castle. He narrates how strong their castle is. He tells that they have plenty of arms and food. He hopes that they are strong enough to face their enemies. But they are defeated when the enemy bribes one of their own warders, who lets the enemy soldiers through a little gate. The citadel was captured by the enemies for gold. Allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. This poem uses this defeat to highlight the moral and political points. It tells the idea of corruption and betrayal is often secret and subtle. The poet regretted not finding any weapon to fight with the enemy called ‘gold’. And also reveals the truth that an army is only strong, if its men can’t be bribed.

ESSAY

Introduction

Safety of the castle

Captured the castle

Real enemy

Conclusion

Introduction:

In his poem ‘The castle’ Edwin Muir reveals the truth that an army is only strong, if its men can’t be bribed.

Safety of the castle:

The soldiers had been in the castle all through the summer. They were totally stress-free and relaxed. They had plenty of arms and food to protect the castle. They were confident of their castle’s physical strength. The castle’s gate was very strong and walls were very thick. Their captain was brave and the soldiers were loyal.

Captured the castle:

The enemies were half-a-mile away from the castle. But no one could enter the castle. There was a wicket gate, guarded by a wicked guard. He let in the enemies inside the citadel for gold through the secret gallery and intricate path. So the strong castle became weak and thin. Thus the citadel was captured by the enemies because of the greedy disloyal warder.

Real enemy:

The narrator felt that the gold got as bribe by the warder was their real enemy. Without fight, the castle was captured. So he decided not to disclose this shameful story to anyone.

Conclusion:

We can fight with the enemy face to face. But we never defeat the disloyal. So the narrator regretted for not finding any weapon to fight with the enemy called ‘Gold’.

Moral: Greediness defeats not just the castle but everything.