ENGLISH LITERATURE-Stanza by stanza explanation of the poem THE BROOK by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

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 .