The Clock Tower Four Levels and Question Answers
Four Levels of The Clock Tower - Bhupi Sherchan (1986-1989)
Bhupi Sherchan
1.LITERAL COMPREHENSION :
The Poem "The Clock Tower" was composed by Nepali poet Bhupi Sherchan and translated into English by Padma Devkota. In this poem, the poet has captured the image of a retired army and has compared his present condition with the clock tower.
The speaker says that the pensioned senior vet's belongings are snatched from him. All of his clothes are damaged. Either they are worn off or are gnawed by the rats. Some good ones are distributed to his relatives. So he doesn't have his military outfits which would cherish his glorious past life. He has only two things left of his army life. They are; old modeled large round pocket watch hanging from the neck and an ancient hat which he is wearing. He has spent his youth in the service of his country and it is time to rest and enjoy the life freely but he seems upset because he feels lonely since there is no one to talk to him. It is very difficult for him to pass long time. So, he goes to Ranipokhari and passes long sad days of old age sometimes by Casting bait to fishes and sometimes staring at the clock tower. The clock tower reminds him of his beautiful vigorous past life. At the same time, it makes him realize his approaching death.
The poet compares the clock tower with the senior vet as both of them are weak and lonely. Both of them seem to be meditating / contemplating On the fleeing nature of time which leaves nothing unchanged. Both of them are victimized by time and are suffering from loss and loneliness of old age.
2.INTERPRETATION :
The poem may be trying to tell us that time and tides waits for none. The poet was an army in his young age and passed a very fantastic life. But now he is old and passing retired monotonous life. The poem is also trying to show old people's feelings of loneliness and uncertainly due to their old age and retired life. It may also be trying to show that old people involve in many activities like fishing, hunting etc. to kill the monotonous moments in life.
3.CRITICAL THINKING :
Although the poem is very interesting to read and is in favour of old people,there are some points in the poem with which I don't agree. The poem seems to be saying that retired life is monotonous and full of anxieties which is not true.The retired life can also be interesting and fun. All the old people who are passing retired life may not have monotonous life.
4.ASSIMILATION :
After reading this poem I remembered my dad.He is retired army and he is missing his past life. He helps my mom in kitchen. He always does something to keep himself away from the monotonous life.
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Question Answers of The Clock Tower
Q.1.The clock Tower" captures, the Image of a pensioned veteran who passes his days without worry or anxiety. Do you think the veteran is happy with his present life ?
OR,
Is the speaker of the poem "The clock Tower" happy with his present situation ? How?
ANSWER : I do not think that the old veteran is happy with his present situation because he is old now and no old can be happy in his old age. When we -grow old, we are simply a tatter coat upon a stick, a scarecrow. No one talk to him. He feels lonely. Thus he is not happy.
Q.2.What are two cherished souvenirs that are left with the pensioned vet?
ANSWER: The old modeled large round pocket watch and an ancient hat are the two cherished souvenirs that left with the pensioned vet.
Q.3.Is the poet sympathetic towards the clock tower? If So, what words in the text express the poet's sympathy?
ANSWER : Yes, he is sympathetic towards the clock tower "sad old age", "having cast bait" and "broods" are the words that express the poet's sympathy.
Q.4.What has happened to the old military attire?
ANSWER: The old military attire is damaged. Either they are worn off or are gnawed by the rats. Some good ones are distributed to his relatives.
Q.5. Is the simile in the third stanza apt?
ANSWER: Yes the simile in the third stanza which compares the old man with the clock tower is an appropriate. Physically also they resemble because both of them have a round watch or a clock and both of them are wearing round hat and their condition is also same. Both of them have grown old and both of them are left alone, they are lonely and helpless.
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