The poem describes the journey of a brook from its source through the countryside. It flows over hills and through towns, passing over 50 bridges. Along the way it turns through curves, carrying flowers and fish, making noises as it passes over stones. The brook joins a larger overflowing river, but while men come and go, the brook will continue flowing forever.

1. THE BROOK – A POEM
BY ALFRED LORD
TENNYSON

2. 1st stanza
 The brook is personified with the
human quality of being expressive .
The poet says that it comes from a
place that is frequently visited by
coots and herns and makes a
sudden emerge . As it comes ,it
sparkles in the sunlight and flows
down a valley with a lot of noise.

3. 2nd stanza
It flows over thirty hills
and between mountain
ranges . It also flows
through towns, villages
and around fifty bridges.

4. 3rd stanza
In the end , flowing through the
farm owned by Mr. Philip it
joins the over flowing river . The
brook says that the men are
temporary who come and go but
the brook will exist and flow
forever .

5. 4th stanza
 As it flows over stones it makes
loud chattering noise . After
flowing past a block , a swirling
motion is created (eddying) which
produces lots of bubbles . And as it
flows through small stones it
makes a chorus sound , so the
phrase ‘babble on the pebble’.

6. 5th stanza
 The brook doesn't flow straight . It
flows in curves and turns as if
troubling its banks to change
shape . Next it flows through
places like uncultivated lands ,
beautiful lands and forelands ,
unwanted plants and pretty plants.

7. 6th stanza
It keeps making noise as
it flows to join the over
flowing river . And once
again the poet describes
the immortality of the
brook .

8. 7th stanza
The brook flows in a
zigzag manner and it
carries petals floating on
it . It also contains a lot of
different fishes . This
shows that it supports life

9. 8th stanza
 Due to raging flow foamy flakes are
generated that flows over the brook
. Water break is produced due to
the unevenness at its bed . It
reflects the sunlight hence it is
called silvery water break above
gravel . Gravel is a small stone in
brownish yellow color (golden

10. 9th stanza
It says that it carries all of them
and keeps flowing to join the
brimming river and once again it
emphasizes on its quality of
never stopping . According to
brook , men are temporary and
it is permanent .

11. 10th stanza
 The brook slowly flows by lawns and
grassy plots . It also passes by the land
covered with shrub (hazel bushes) .
Forget – me – not flowers are the
symbol of love and faithfulness which
grows at the banks of the brook
sometimes touching its surface . The
brook moves these flowers that
touches it .

12. 11th stanza
 The word slip , slide , gloom describes
the movement of the brook . It moves
along with the swallows . These birds
fly above , the brook to haunt for fishes
and insects . Due to the sunlight , the
bed of the brook containing sand looks
like a net . As it flows it makes them
look as if they are dancing .

13. 12th stanza
 In quiet nights the brook flows
slowly and makes a low voice while
passing through the forest full of
bushes . It passes from the small
stones at the bed of it which it calls
as shingly bars . It slowly moves by
the cresses which grows over it .

14. 13th stanza
And once again it bends
and flows to join the over
flowing river . And men
will take birth and die but
the brook will go on till
eternity .