Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers
After Blenheim Summary by Robert Southey
After Blenheim Summary About the Poet
Robert Southey (12 August, 1774 – 21 March, 1843) was a prolific writer of verse and histories and an accomplished ; biographer. After meeting Samuel Taylor Coleridge, he published his first collection of poems in 1794.
Though contemporary with Coleridge and Wordsworth, he is one of the less celebrated poets, and he wrote one i of the first anti-war poems, ‘After Blenheim’. His other famous work being ‘The Inchcape Rock.’
After Blenheim Summary
Robert Southey’s poem ‘After Blenheim’ illustrates the theme that war, though being pointless and brutal, affects everyone. The poem is set at the site of the ‘Battle of Blenheim (1704)’. It is narrated in the form of questions of small children and about a skull one of them has found. An old man tells his grandchildren about the burnt homes, civil causalities and rotting corpses, while repeatedly referring to the poem as a ‘famous victory.’
After Blenheim Explanation of the Poem
Stanza 1 & 2
“It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar’s work was done,
And he before is cottage door
Was sitting in the sun,
And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild Wilhelmine.
She saw her brother Peterkin
Roll something large and round,
Which he beside the rivulet In playing there had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.”
Explanation: Old Kaspar has finished his work and was sitting in the sun in front of the cottage, watching his little Y granddaughter play. Peterkin, his grandson, has been rolling a large round object he found near the stream. Out of curiosity he brings it to the old man.
Word Meanings :
1. Sported – Played
2. Rivulet – A small stream
Stanza 3 & 4
“Old Kaspar took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by?
And then the old man shook his head,
And, with a natural sigh,
“T is some poor fellow’s skull,’ said he,
‘Who fell in the great victory?
‘I find them in the garden,
For there’s many here about;
And often when I go to plough,
The ploughshare turns them out!
For many thousand men,’ said he
‘Were slain in that great victory.”
Explanation: Kaspar took the object from the boy – who waited anxiously. The old man examines it and tells that he has found many such objects while ploughing the fields or in their garden, and it is the skull of a soldier who died in the Battle of Blenheim, which was a ‘great victory/ as many men were killed in that battle and were not given a decent burial.
Word Meanings :
1. Expectant – Curious
2. Slain – Killed
Stanza 5 & 6
“Now tell us what ’twas all about,’
Young peterkin, he cries;
And little wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
‘Now tell us about the war,
And what they fought each other for.’
‘It was the English,’ Kaspar cried,
‘Who put the French to rout?
. But what they fought each other for,
I could not well make out;
But everybody said,’ guoth he,
‘That ’twas a famous victory.”
Explanation: Peterkin and Wilhenmine are interested to know more about it and urge their grandfather to tell them about the war and why it was fought. They anticipated a thrilling and exciting story which they waited to hear with a gleam in their eyes.
Old Kaspar recollects that, in this ‘famous battle’, as what people called it, the English defeated the French. But he himself had no clue of the reason behind the war. It shows a common man’s ignorance about the cause and purpose of war.
Word Meanings :
1. Wonder-waiting – Anxious
2. To rout – Defeat
3. Quoth – Said
Stanza 7, 8 & 9
“My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little steam hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly;
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.
‘With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide,
And many a chiding mother then,
And new-born baby died;
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.”
Explanation: The old grandfather tells the children that, during the war his father lived by a stream at Blenheim. As a consequence of the war, his father’s house was burnt down and he was forced to flee with his wife and child, Kaspar. They were, thus, rendered homeless.
In this stanza, the poet highlights the fact that, wars and battles are a massive source of misery and pain. It shows the destruction caused by them. Kaspar tells that, when the war was over, it was a shocking sight to see. Houses were burnt, innocent people were killed, many pregnant women-and new-born babies lost their lives. There was death and horror everywhere. Thousands of dead bodies of soldiers lay rotting in the field. But Kaspar talks about those killings casually and thinks that such terrible consequences are part of such a famous war.
Word Meanings :
1. Dwelling – House
2. Childing – Expecting, pregnant
Stanza 10 & 11
“Great praise the Duke of Marlbro’s won
And our good Prince Eugene.’
‘Why, ’twas a very wicked thing!’
Said little Wilhelmine.
‘Nay …. nay my little girl,’ quoth he,
‘It was a famous victory.
‘And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win.’
‘But what good came of it at last?’
Quoth little Peterkin.
‘Why that I cannot tell,’ said he,
‘But’t was a famous victory”
Explanation: An English General, Duke of Marlborough along with Prince Eugene, an Austrian General, led the war against the French and defeated them in the famous ‘Battle of Blenheim’ and thus, brought glory to their country.
Little Wilhenmine was confused and asks her grandfather, how could he praise such a bloody affair. She terms the killing of innocent people as wicked. But he contradicts her. According to him, it was a great victory. Peterkin raises an important question about what good came out of the fighting. To this Kaspar replies that, he had no reply but he just knows that it was a famous victory.
Thus, the poet ironically states the fact that, the wars are seen as a glorifying act and the war-heroes are held in high esteem, without understanding what good they have brought to mankind and why such victory becomes great or famous.
Word Meaning :
1. Duke – A man of very high rank in the British nobility
After Blenheim Summary Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh-
“T is some poor fellow’s skull,” said he,
“Who fell in the great victory.”
(After Blenheim, Robert Southey)
(i) Who is the old man? What causes him to sigh?
(ii) What incident prompted the old man to give an account of the Battle of Blenheim?
(iii) How did the battle affect the old’s man family?
(iv) Name the two countries that fought each other in the battle. Which army won? What reason does the old man give for the victory?
(v) Point out the refrain in the poem. What effect does the refrain have on the reader? What do you think is the poet’s attitude to war?
Answer:
(i) The old man in the poem is ‘Old Kaspar’. His grandson Peterkin had brought a round large and smooth object to him for inspection, which he had found while playing near the small river. The child was curious to see the strange thing. Old Kaspar looks at it and sighs, explaining to Peterkin that it was the skull of one of the soldiers who was slain in the ‘famous and great War of Blenheim, and the corpses lie deep scattered in the field, which was a common sight for him as many a times he had come across them while plowing.
(ii) The mention of the war as a !great war1 and ‘a famous victory’, excites the curiosity of Kaspar’s little grand children. They get anxious to know more about it, expecting some thrilling stories behind it. So they prompt him to narrate them whatever he knew about the Battle of Blenhein, and what was it fought for.
(iii) Old Kaspar recollects that, at the time of the battle his father lived in a small village of Blenheim, near a river. During the battle, the homes of several innocent people, including his father’s were burnt to the ground and they were forced to migrate in search of shelter. The young Kaspar along with his parents, fled to a different place, but could not find a home because of the impending war. They had to roam from place to place seeking for shelter.
(iv) The two countries that fought each other were Austria and France. England and Netherlands formed a coalition with Austria whereas , France was aided by the Bravaria. The English alliance defeated the Franco- Bravarian army. The old man gives credit of the victory to the brave English Duke of Malbro and Prince Eugene, who led the war and brought glory to the nation.
(v) The refrain in the poem is-
‘But t’was a famous victory’
This line is the epitomy of irony. The refrain questions the readers about the validity and the purposes of war. The poet successfully conveys his message that it is futile and should be avoided. The wars which are fought over a trivial dispute cause the loss of thousands and thousands of soldiers. They lead to devastation of life and property on a large scale. Thus, this poem, by Robert Southey, is an anti-war poem highlighting the casualties caused by wars and their after affects.
Kaspar was a farmer. This is understood when he says- “And often when I go to plough”. The poet is ‘Robert Southey’.
Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
‘ It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar’s work was done,
And he before is cottage door
Was sitting in the sun,
And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild Wilhelmine.
She saw her brother Peterkin
Roll something large and round,
Which he beside the rivulet
In playing there had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.
(i) What time was it and what was ‘Old Kaspar’ doing?
(ii) Who was beside him and what was she doing? What did she see her brother doing?
(iii) What was her brother’s name? Where did he find the object? Why did he bring it along?
(iv) What did Wilhelmina refer as ‘wicked’? Was she justified in her perception? Give reason?
(v) Who were responsible for the victory of Blenheim which in portrait question is noised by Peter kin? What is the moral of the poem?
Answer:
(i) It was an evening in summer. ‘Old Kaspar’, an elderly farmer, after finishing his work was sitting in the sun, watching his grandchildren play in the lush green field outside the cottage.
(ii) His granddaughter, Wilhelmine, was beside him and playing in the greenery outside the cottage. She saw her brother rolling a large and round object.
(iii) His name was Peterkin. Peterkin found the object while playing near the river. Out of curiosity, he brings the object to his grandfather, wanting to know about it.
(iv) Though quite young, Wilhenmine could not reconcile herself to the idea of praising the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, for the battle they had won because, several lives were lost and a lot of destruction was done to achieve it. It was surely a ‘wicked thing.’
Yes, she is completely justified in her perception because, it is a fact that, the Kings and Princes take away the praise and prizes, while the common man suffers the complete brunt leading to grief and devastation.
(v) The Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, who represented Britain, fought bravely and defeated the French, bringing laurels to their nation.
When Kaspar says that everyone praised the Duke for having won the war, Peterkin questions the relevance of the war. He targeted on the purpose and utility of the ‘famous victory’, to which Old Kaspar gives up saying that he had no clue to that except that it was a ‘famous victory’.
Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Old Kaspar took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by?
And then the old man shook his head,
And, with a natural sigh,
“T is some poor fellow’s skull,’ said he,
‘Who fell in the great victory ?
‘I find them in the garden,
For there’s many here about;
And often when I go to plough,
The ploughshare turns them out!
For many thousand men,’ said he
‘Were slain in that great victory.’
(i) Why did the boy stand in anticipation?
(ii) What response and information does he get from Old Kaspar?
(iii) Where does the old man find similar things and why?
(iv) Give the meaning of (a) expectant (b) ploughshare
(v) What was probably the profession of Kaspar? Which lines show this? Name the poet
Answer:
(i) Being a child, Peterkin was quite curious about the strange object he had found, so he was expecting some thrilling revelation from his grandfather regarding it.
(ii) Kaspar shook his head with a sigh and explained to Peterkin that it was the skull of a poor fellow which refers to an unfortunate soldier, who had died in the war, namely, the Battle of Blenheim.
(iii) The old man found many such objects in the garden as well as in his field where he went ploughing. During the Battle of Blenheim, thousands of soldiers died whose carcasses lay scattered in the field. According to Kaspar, they were the soldiers who sacrificed themselves to win victory for their people.
(iv) (a) expectant-to know (b) ploughshare-the main cutting of a plough, behind the coulter.
(v) Kaspar was a farmer. This is understood from when he says— “And often when I go to plough, The ploughshare, turns then out\” The poet is ‘Rober Southey’.
Question 4.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
‘Now tell us what ’twas all about,’
Young peterkin, he cries; .
And little wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
‘Now tell us about the war,
And what they fought each other for.’
‘It was the English,’ Kaspar cried,
‘Who put the French to rout? .
But what they fought each other for,
I could not well make out;
But everybody said,’guoth he,
‘That ‘twos a famous victory.
(i) What demand is put up by the little boy? What is the subject of discussion?
(ii) What is meant by ‘wonder-waiting’ eyes? Name the Figure of Speech.
(iii) What answer does Kaspar give to satisfy the expectation of the grandchildren? Was the information complete?
(iv) Why does he call it a ‘famous victory’? What does it reflect about him?
(v) Give the background on which the poem ‘After Blenheim’ is set.
Answer:
(i) The little children get anxious to know more about the war. The war which was referred as a ‘Great Victory’ by old Kaspar, creates thrill and excitement in their minds. So, young Peterkin demands to know what the war was about. The subject of discussion is, the cause of the war in which many people were killed.
(ii) ‘Wonder-Waiting’ eyes mean, eyes gleaming in anticipation. Little Wilhelmine was listening to the conversation between her brother and grandfather and so, she too was enthralled to know more about it like Peterkin, which made her watch them with curious eyes. The figure of speech is ‘alliteration.’
(iii) On the basis of his knowledge, Kaspar tells the kids that it was the ‘British who defeated the French army.’ But he is unable to satisfy Peterkin because he did not know the cause of the war.
(iv) Old Kaspar had no idea for the reason behind the war. He just believed What the others said – that it was a ‘famous victory’. It shows that he was one of the common men who are completely ignorant of the cause and purpose of the war, and simply follow the conventional myth that victory in war is always something td be proud of.
(v) The poem refers to the 1704 war of Spanish succession, in which a coalition of forces including, The English, defeated the Franco-Bavarian army on the land of Blenheim, a small village in southern Germany.
Question 5.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little steam hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly;
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.
‘With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,
And many a chiding mother then,
And new-born baby died;
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.
Answer:
(i) Kaspar’s father lived in the German village of Blenheim, situated on the left bank of the Danube River in Bavaria in Germany.
The enemy burnt his house and he was forced to escape with his family with no place to take shelter.
(ii) ‘Wasted far and widef refers to the destruction and havoc caused by the war of Blenheim. Thousands of people were killed or rendered homeless. Houses were burnt down.
(iii) ‘A childing mother’ is referred to ‘pregnant ladies’. Many expecting mothers died with babies in their wombs, which signifies the cruelty of war which does not differentiate between guilty or innocent. Wars are, thus, a catastrophe for both, the present and the future generations.
(iv) No, it was a part of a great and famous war. This is evident from Kaspar’s words – “But things like that, you know, must be, At every famous victory.’
(v) The people, in the poem, had to pay a heavy price for the ‘great victory’. The whole countryside was wasted with fire and sword. The houses were burned down and people became homeless. Many pregnant ladies and new-born babies were killed. Many soldiers were killed whose bodies lay rotting in the sun. There was death and destruction everywhere.
Question 6.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
‘They say it was a shocking sight
After the field was won;
For many thousand bodies here lay rotting in the sun;
But things like that, you know, must be
After a famous victory.
‘Great praise the Duke of Marlbro’s won
And our good Prince Eugene.’
‘Why, ‘twos a very wicked thing!’
Said little Wilhelmine.
‘Nay……… nay ……… my little girl,’ quoth he,
‘It was a famous victory.
‘And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win. ’
‘But what good came of it at last?’
Quoth little Peterkin.
‘Why that I cannot tell,’said he, ‘
‘But’t was a famous victory.’
(i) Who are ‘They’ mentioned here? Why was it ‘a shocking sight’, though the war was won?
(ii) Who was praised and why?
(iii) What objection is raised by Wilhelmine? Is her objection justified?
(iv) Why does Old Kaspar repeat that it was a famous victory? What does it highlight about his character?
(v) What message does the poet, Robert Southey, convey through his poem?
Answer:
(i) ‘The/ refers to the people who witnessed the war or narrated the events to Kaspar.
Though the war was won, the sight was shocking as thousands of dead bodies of soldiers Lay rotting in the field, which shows the undignified aspects of war. The poem has a universal appeal. It is an anti-war poem. It disapproves the destruction to the life and property caused by war. Common man and innocent children suffer while the aristocrats win the acclaim. Trivial disputes lead to the death of thousands of people. Thus, the poem highlights that wars are futile and should be strictly avoided.
(ii) Duke of Marlborough and Prince Evgene were praised for being great War heroes who brought victory to their country.
(iii) When Kaspar says that the Duke and Prince were praised for bringing victory to their country, little Wilhelmine is shocked and objects.
‘Why, ‘twus a very wicked thing? She is unable to reconcile with the fact that they could be appreciated for being the leaders of a war which brought immense destruction and took away so many lives.
Her objection is truly justified as people participating in a war and killing others for no solid reason, commit a heinous crime towards humanity.
(iv) In the poem, Kaspar stands for the old school of people who believed undoubtedly, whatever was told to them by their elders. He had heard people referring to the war as a ‘famous’ or ‘great’ victory. He too has come to believe it and rejects the doubts of his grand children who question him about how could such a destructive war be a ‘great victor/. Thus, the poet wishes to emphasize through repetition of the line that it was a great victory. This tells that Kaspar belongs to the group of those people who have positive notions about war and who feel proud at the victory achieved during war, ignoring the harm caused by it.
(v) The message conveyed by Robert Southey in this poem is that, ordinary people, like Kaspar themselves, fall victim to the havoc caused by war and glorify war instead of poising its validity. But through the grand children, the poet presents new ideas which are based on analytical thinking and questioning. The poet has conveyed an anti-war message. It is a protest against the heroic ideals of war.