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SUMMARY OF THE POEM: “THEPALM OF LIFE” by
Life is not full of sadness. It is an empty dream. A dream presents many pleasant things which vanish as
soon as it breaks. Similarly, some pessimistic people consider life as unreal and empty as dream. If they
find any happy thing, they don’t accept and enjoy it. They discard it as unreal too. Such people are dead
in there spirit. They value life in terms of its physical aspect.
But the poet empathetically says that life is real and earnest. It furnishes great opportunities for bettering
ourselves. Grave or death is not the destination of life. The Bible contains a remark, 'Dust thou art, to dust
returnest'. It is a remark about body. Body vanishes but the soul does not dissolve. Death can not trap
soul.
Life means to act at present. It is neither for enjoyment nor for to joy and sorrow. Instead of paying
attention to joy and sorrow, we aught to act, we must not waste time in expecting a more suitable time to
come. We should think that tomorrow is far away from today. Therefore, we must act right from now.
Death envelopes all both to the stories and the weak, the brave and the coward. All are marching to each
others grave. Time runs away and every body of us are losing our valuable period of life day by day. Life
is getting shorter day by day. In this short period a long art can not possibly be tried and achieved.
Life is a temporary rest camp. We are all soldiers in the world's broad field of battle. When we grow tired,
we take rest in that rest camp. The poet urges us to be creative and to be a hero in the battle. We must not
surrender. We must not be driven like dumb cattle. Dumb cattle lack creativity. But we must be brave
enough to face our life's battle.
Further the right time for work is present. Neither future nor past is suitable. Future may seem very
pleasant. But it is not dependable. Similarly, past is already passed and is buried like a dead body.
Thus we are left with only present. We should act in the living present. In our heart we must keep faith in
God. God will reward us for our work.
While working, we have to follow the footprints of great men in past. By reading their biography and by
following their footprints and examples we can make our own lives great and sublime. Our own greatness
and sublimity will be recorded as examples for the future generations too. If any person gets disappointed
or fails in his material or spiritual pursuits, he may look at the examples, set up by us, and may get
adequate consolation.
Hope of success is regenerated in him. Instead of being doomed to utter despair, he feels vibrant with
hopes.
Therefore the poet advises us to get rid of sloth and be brave enough to face any situation in our lives. We
must not cease at any; point of time. Pursuits and achievements must continue. Our endeavour must also
continue with undiminished faith in God.

Transcript
 1. “A Psalm of Life” Lit. Unit 1, Lesson 9
 2. Objectives: --to identify and understand rhyme scheme in poetry --to understand the
message in “A Psalm of Life”
 3. Rhyme Scheme? • The definition of a rhyme scheme is a specific pattern used in a
poem that determines which lines rhyme. (noun) • HUH???
 4. Example
 5. Turn your speakers up. Pay attention to the end rhymes. Green check when done.
 6. Can you think of other poems or songs that use the same rhyme scheme?
 7. 1. Mark of Lit. Unit 1, Lesson 9 as complete 2. Blackboard test is due by Friday. 3.
GUM/Vocab!! 4. Review tomorrow. 5. Exit ticket!

Transcript
 1. “We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what
we havealready done” (self-reliance and emphasis on the individual)
 2. • Inspired by American history, lore and landscape. What inspires you to achieve?
 3. • What gives life purpose? What is it that gives your life value or meaning? – self-
expression, creativity, following a dream, serving humanity
 4. • Think of a person you know or have read about who has led a life you truly admire.
How has this person made a difference in the world? Describe his or her impact on
family, community, or country.
 5. • Sublime: in literature, things in nature or art that affect the mind with a sense of
overwhelming grandeur and power; awe-inspiring; worthy of adoration and reverence;
high intellectual or moral value. Generally, makes the speaker feel small in comparison.
(ex. the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, the ocean)
 6. • Psalm: a biblical poem that generally comments on the fleeting nature of life. It is
meant to celebrate God and the afterlife. The speaker in this poem argues against life
being “an empty dream” and urges individuals to live life with purpose and focus on
goals.

 7. Stanza Summary1. Life is not a dream - a dreaming soul is dead, the soul needs to
engage in life.2. Life is real - death is not the goal of life; the soul does not return to dust
(just the body)
 8. Summary cont.3. The purpose of life is not sorrow or joy, but being a better person
each day; action.4. “Art is long” - poetry lives forever, even though time flies. Human
hearts are aware of death coming.
 9. Summary cont.5. In the battle of life - don’t be a follower, be a leader!6. Don’t look to
the future or get stuck in the past; live and act in the present.
 10. Summary cont.7. Take great men as your example - leave a legacy, make a
difference.8. Your actions might inspire a lost soul to do great things in the future.9.
Labor and wait; always active in your life.
 11. • What thoughts have you sometimes had about the purpose of life? How similar is
your view to the speaker’s view? Do you live life to the fullest?
 12. • -Look at the painting on pg. 337 and it’s title, “The Calm After the Storm.” How
does the title of the painting connect with the theme in the poem? – poem urges readers to
deal heroically with “storms” or difficulties and thus experience “calm”, or a sublime life.
Also, references the shipwreck in lines 29-32

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Psalm of life.summary

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