Here are the notes, questions, answers, solutions, Assam, pdf, and extras for the poem Sonnet to Science by Edgar Allan Poe, which is a part of the Alternative English Syllabus for Class 9 for students studying under the Nagaland Board of School Education. However, these notes should be used only for references and additions/modifications should be made as per the requirements.
Summary
The poet Poe was unhappy with the technological advances that were sweeping America. He was well aware of the negative fallout of the industrial revolution in England, particularly concerning the living conditions of the working class, and the lives of women and children. In addition, he feared that undue emphasis on logic and facts alone, at the expense of imagination and intuition, could harm the way human beings felt and thought. For Poe and other Romantic writers, science held the threat of destroying humanity.
Sonnet To Science appears to initiate a debate: the advancement of the science of the modern world versus the imagination, values and ideals found in nature and in the human soul.
The poet is upset that Science, the daughter of Time, should prey upon the heart of the poet. He uses the image of the vulture for science. The poet also refers to classical mythology: Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon (who rides her moon chariot across the skies), of woodlands and hunting; and Hamadryad, the tree nymph. In Greek mythology, some believe the tree nymph is the actual tree. These nymphs are associated with particular trees, and when the trees die, they die too; Naiad, the water nymph. The argument appears to be that if science takes away myth, then it takes away the reality of the human imagination. The poet also makes a reference to elfins, or fairies, which science would regard as a non-fact.
Explain with reference to context.
1. Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!
Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.
Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart,
Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?
a. How does the poet present Science in line 1?
b. Pick out a verb and a phrase that relate Science and the vulture.
c. What do ‘dull realities’ refer to?
Answer: a) The poet presents science in line one as the daughter of Old Time.
b) The verb that relates science and the vulture is preyest.
c) Dull realities are referred to here as the reality that is not bound by human imaginations but by facts and figures that science gives emphasis on.
2. Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood,
The Elfin from the green grass, and from me
The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree?
a. The poet appears to accuse Science of having displaced people. Locate the subject and the dwelling place.
b. What is the possible outcome of the ‘summer dream’?
c. Identify the couplet and the rhyme scheme.
Answer: a) The subjects here are Naiad, Elfin, and the poet. Their dwelling places are the flood (water), green grass, and the tamarind tree respectively.
b) The possible outcome of the summer dream is that it could have led to new creative ideas in the mind of the poet.
c) The last two lines are the couplet. The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABAB, CDCD, EFEFGG.
Answer these questions.
1. What is the impression you form of the poet from this sonnet? Does this match your own image of a poet? Explain.
Answer: From this sonnet, I understand that the poet Edgar Allan Poe is disturbed by the way science has invaded the creative space of individuals and the way it tries to define everything on the basis of facts and figures, which limits imagination. The poet is a dreamer as well as slow to adapt to inevitable changes.
It does match my own image of a poet. I believe poets and writers are dreamers who need to be very imaginative. Understandably, Poe does not see the invasion of science which discredit imagination by facts and figures very positively.
2. Does this poem trouble you? Explain your reasons.
Answer: The poem does not trouble me as we have become very used to changes. We have marked clear lines between science and imagination, and do not confuse one for another. Science is inevitable, and acceptance is therefore necessary. In the 21st century, changes are happening at a very faster rate than they used to during the time of the poet and since we have understood that change is the only constant, it does not trouble the way it did the poet.
Think and answer
Why do you think the poet brings in mythological references in the second half of the poem? How does he use these references to convince his readers about the damage done by Science?
Answer: The poet uses mythological references to illustrate the conflict between scientific progress and the realm of imagination. By invoking figures such as Diana, the Hamadryad, and the Naiad, he highlights how Science, in its pursuit of knowledge, strips the natural world and human experience of their mystical and poetic elements. These references serve to emphasize the loss of wonder and creativity, convincing readers of the detrimental impact of Science on the human spirit and imagination.
Going Beyond
1. The right to dream is as important to a scientist as to a poet. Is there really a clash of interest? Explain what you think in not more than 150 words.
Answer: I believe there is no fundamental clash of interest between scientists and poets in their right to dream. Both realms thrive on imagination and creativity, albeit manifested differently. Scientists dream of discoveries and innovations that can advance human knowledge and solve real-world problems. Poets, on the other hand, dream of evoking emotions and crafting visions that resonate with human experiences. The apparent clash arises only when the methods or outcomes of one are viewed as diminishing the value of the other. However, both science and poetry contribute uniquely to our understanding and appreciation of the world. By embracing both perspectives, society can benefit from a fuller, richer experience of reality, blending factual understanding with emotional and spiritual insights.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
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