2. Steady throb
Staccato rhythm
Harmonic cacaphony to oblivious ears
The tempo is fickle –
Now synchronized, now not,
A mirror of his changing moods
Now sure, now steeped in thought.
3. He steps back surveys with
Close scrutiny, then sharp critical glare
The days of toil,
Hammer and chisel laid aside-
Only blood shot eyes betray
Deep pride, then reverence,
Lo! God in man’s image!
4. Bleary eyes, sinews taut yet steady
Decades of practice
Heirlooms of rich traditions
In stark evidence
The knocking softens, fades,
To a mild judicious tap.
Virgin rock takes form
Rugged lines melt,
Sharp edges merge
Into smooth well moulded curves
5. MEANINGS
• Steady throb- continuous hitting of the hammer
• Staccato rhythm – disconnected parts of sound
• Harmonic cacaphony- a mixture of pleasing and harsh
sounds
• Oblivious ears – ears unaccustomed to the sound of
hammer and chisel
• Tempo is fickle- The speed of the beats is not consistent
• Steeped in thought- Immersed in thought
6. • Bleary eyes – un clear vision due to focussing
of long tim
• Heirlooms of rich tradition- The sculptures
• Stark evidence – Perfect testimony
• Judicious tap – hitting carefully with the
hammer
7. • Virgin rock – uncut rock
• Rugged lines melt – The sculptor makes the
surface of the statue smooth
• Blood shot eyes – Eyes turned red because of
the stress
8. What do the words throb and rhythm refer?
The words’ throb’ and rhythm refer to the steady
hitting of hammer and chisel when the sculptor is
working
9. How can cacophony be harmonic? Explain the contrast
Harmonic and cacophony are contrasted words .
When the harsh sounds are repeated at regular
intervals. They form a rhythmic pattern and create a
pleasing harmony.
10. There is variation in the tempo Why?
The sculptor thinks deeply as to how he should
give form to the stone. So the tempo or the
speed of the rhythm changes.
11. What has shilpi attained through decades of practice?
He attained strong muscles and experience
12. How are the Shilpi’s moods connected to the tempo of his
hammer?
The tempo reflects the moods of Shilpi. When he is immersed in
thoughts it decreases.
When he is sure his strokes are fast.
13. What are the “heirlooms of rich traditions”?
“Heirlooms of rich traditions“ are the scriptures he has made.
They will be passed on from generation to generation.
14. Why does the knocking soften to mild tap?
The refining and smoothening of the statue is done carefully.
So the knocking softened to a mild tap .
15. What is the consequence of knocking?
The knocking is used to soften the rock, to carve the statue, to merge
the sharp edges into smooth well moulded curves.
16. What is surveyed closely and critically?
The statue is surveyed closely and critically.
17. Why are the tools aside?
The statue is completed after the days of
toil. So The tools are laid aside.
18. State the emotion portrayed in the blood shot
eyes.
Deep pride and then reverence are the
emotions portrayed in the blood shot eyes.
19. Why are the eyes bloodshot?
The sculptor focussed his eyes on the statue for a long time. Due
to his hard work his eyes became bloodshot.
20. The’ created’ assumes the role of the ‘creator ‘how?
Man creates God from the stone. This ‘created’ is worshipped as the
creator of man in temples. Thus the created assumes the role of the
‘creator’.
22. Four more instances of
alliteration.
Mirror, moods
Sure, steeped
Sinews, steady
Steps, surveys.
23. Attempt a description of the physical appearance of the shilpi as
portrayed in the poem.
Strong muscles due to years of experience
Bleary and Blood shot eyes due to constant focus on the statue.