ASLEEP IN THE VALLEY

WBCHSE POETRY Asleep In The Valley Broad Question

Q.1. Substance of the poem "Asleep in the Valley".

Ans: A slow stream flows through a small valley as if it spreads silver ribbons on the grass. The entire valley is flooded with sunlight. A young soldier sleeps there with his mouth wide open. He keeps his head on a pillow made of fern. He seems to be taking a nap and the bushes and plants of the valley prepare his green bed which has absorbed the energy of the sun.

His feet are among the flowers, which grow abundantly in the valley. He looks pale and seems to be smiling like an innocent infant. Nature provides the necessary heat to keep him warm and protect him from catching cold. The humming insects do not disturb his sleep at all. He sleeps peacefully keeping his one hand on his breast. But there are two red holes on his body. The holes are the bullet wounds. The wounds indicate that the soldier is dead.

Q. 2. Write a note on the poet’s attitude to war as revealed in the poem “Asleep in the Valley”.

     Ans: Being a soldier Arthur Rimboud had seen the brutality of warfare with his own eyes. He has expressed his critical view of war in his poem “Asleep in the Valley”. The poet suggests that the futility of war lies in the merciless killing of young boys in a organized manner. In the poem a young soldier appears to be sleeping peacefully in a small green valley flooded with bright sunlight. The innocent smile on his face indicates that he is quite innocent about the horrors of warfare. The landscape in beautiful and picturesque and peaceful. But two red holes in the body of the soldier bring s the readers to the reality of war. Here the innocence of the young soldier is in sharp contrast with the extreme horror of war. No objects of nature can bring the dead soldier into life again. The poet is there fore ironical in his attitude towards the war in this poem.