Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDFs, and guides for poem Enterprise: MBOSE Class 12 Alternative English textbook Imprints, which is part of the syllabus for students studying under the board. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
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Summary
The poem Enterprise by Nissim Ezekiel describes a group’s journey that starts as a pilgrimage with high hopes and shared purpose. Initially, the travellers feel enthusiastic, believing the journey will enlighten them. They observe and note the lives of villagers, focusing on everyday activities and learning from a sage’s teachings. However, as they continue, difficulties arise, shifting the group’s mood. Disagreements emerge, and one member, skilled in writing, leaves, symbolizing the loss of idealism. A “shadow” grows, representing mounting challenges and doubts among them.
Further along, the pilgrims encounter attacks, lose direction, and some choose to abandon the mission. The group becomes weary and disheartened, with small conflicts weakening their unity. Their leader claims to sense the sea, suggesting hope or an end, yet they remain disconnected and unaware. They endure hardships like lack of basic necessities, showing how the initial excitement fades into a struggle for survival and simple needs. Some travellers break under pressure, while others endure but feel less inspired.
Upon reaching their destination, the pilgrims feel uncertain about the journey’s purpose and their achievement. The goal that once motivated them seems insignificant, leaving them wondering why they endured so much. The final line, “Home is where we have to gather grace,” implies that true wisdom or peace lies not in grand quests but in one’s everyday life and inner contentment. The journey’s ironical nature lies in how the promised enlightenment turns into a lesson about simplicity, teaching that life’s value may be found in familiar places rather than distant, arduous quests.
Video tutorial
Line-by-line explanation
It started as a pilgrimage,
The journey the poet and his companions undertook began with a sense of spiritual purpose. They viewed it as a pilgrimage, a sacred journey toward enlightenment or a higher goal.
Exalting minds and making all / the burdens light.
At the start, the journey uplifted their spirits and elevated their thoughts. They felt inspired, and the excitement and purpose of the pilgrimage seemed to make their burdens feel lighter, both physically and mentally.
The second stage / Explored but did not test the call.
As they moved further along their journey, they began to explore new places and experiences. However, this part of the journey didn’t yet challenge their commitment or “call” to the pilgrimage. It was still easygoing and enjoyable.
The sun beat down to match our rage.
The harsh sunlight seemed to intensify their emotions. The strong heat was so relentless that it mirrored the growing intensity within the group, hinting that there were already signs of irritation or discomfort.
We stood it very well, I thought,
Despite the challenges of the heat, the poet reflects that they were managing well, feeling resilient and capable of enduring the difficult conditions.
Observed and put down copious notes / On things the peasants sold and bought,
The pilgrims spent time observing everyday life around them, specifically focusing on the simple transactions of the local peasants. They took detailed notes, perhaps feeling a sense of importance in documenting these ordinary things.
The way of serpents and of goats,
They noticed the natural surroundings, observing animals like serpents and goats, which may symbolize wisdom and resilience, or even danger and stubbornness, reflecting the complexities they encountered on their journey.
Three cities where a sage had taught.
The group visited three cities known for being places of wisdom or knowledge, where a wise teacher had previously lived or shared teachings. This reinforces the idea that they sought enlightenment on their pilgrimage.
But when the differences arose / On how to cross a desert patch,
As they continued, conflicts emerged among the pilgrims, specifically over how to navigate a desert area. This disagreement shows the beginning of tension within the group as they faced a challenging environment.
We lost a friend whose stylish prose / Was quite the best of all our batch.
During this conflict, one of their companions—a gifted writer—left the group. His departure was a loss, not only because of his talent but also because it marked the first fracture in their unity.
A shadow falls on us—and grows.
This line suggests that the departure of their friend cast a gloom over the group, affecting their morale and casting a dark, foreboding atmosphere that only intensified as they continued.
Another phase was reached when we / Were twice attacked, and lost our way.
In this new stage of the journey, the group faced attacks, likely by people or circumstances they hadn’t anticipated. These attacks caused confusion and disorientation, leaving them unsure of their direction or purpose.
A section claimed its liberty / To leave the group. I tried to pray.
Some members of the group chose to abandon the pilgrimage entirely, seeking freedom from the journey’s hardships. The poet, in a moment of desperation, attempted to find solace in prayer, seeking guidance or strength.
Our leader said he smelt the sea.
The leader claimed to sense the ocean nearby, suggesting that their destination, or a place of relief, was close. However, this statement might reflect either a hopeful belief or a misguided attempt to rally the group.
We noticed nothing as we went, / A straggling crowd of little hope,
Despite the leader’s optimism, the group was too exhausted and demoralized to see or believe it. They moved forward, disorganized and lacking hope, with no clear vision or shared motivation left.
Ignoring what the thunder meant, / Deprived of common needs like soap.
They overlooked signs of looming danger, perhaps a storm, as they were too preoccupied with basic needs that were not met. Their standards of cleanliness and comfort had deteriorated, further symbolizing the decline in their morale.
Some were broken, some merely bent.
The hardships of the journey took a toll on them. Some pilgrims were emotionally or mentally shattered, while others were just barely holding on, showing the varying degrees to which they suffered.
When, finally, we reached the place,
Eventually, they arrived at their intended destination, though it no longer held the excitement or significance they once believed it would.
We hardly knew why we were there,
Upon arrival, they found themselves questioning the purpose of their journey. The pilgrimage had lost its original meaning, and they felt disconnected from the reason they had set out.
The trip had darkened every face,
The hardships they endured had visibly affected them, leaving a sense of weariness, disappointment, and sorrow evident in their expressions.
Our deeds were neither great nor rare.
Reflecting on the journey, they realized that their actions along the way were neither extraordinary nor unique. They had not achieved any significant spiritual or personal accomplishments as they might have hoped.
Home is where we have to gather grace.
The poem concludes with the realization that true grace, or peace, is found at home rather than through external journeys or pilgrimages. The line suggests that spiritual fulfillment comes from within and in familiar, everyday surroundings, not from distant travels.
Textbook solutions
Answer these questions briefly
Stanza 1
1. What was the mood of the pilgrims at the start of their pilgrimage?
Answer: The mood was exalting minds and making all burdens light.
2. How did they spend their time in the second stage?
Answer: They observed and put down copious notes on things the peasants sold and bought.
Stanza 2
1. Why did the poet feel satisfied?
Answer: He felt satisfied because they stood the sun very well.
2. Where did the pilgrims travel to?
Answer: They traveled to three cities where a sage had taught.
Stanza 3
1. The mood changes in this stanza. Why?
Answer: The mood changes due to differences arising on how to cross a desert patch.
2. ‘A shadow falls on us-and grows.’ Explain.
Answer: It signifies growing doubts and difficulties among the pilgrims.
Stanza 4
1. Problems seemed to follow the pilgrims. What were they?
Answer: They were twice attacked and lost their way.
2. Why did the leader say he smelt the sea?
Answer: He said it to give hope to the group in difficult times.
Stanza 5
1. What did the thunder mean?
Answer: The thunder meant impending challenges or warnings they ignored.
2. How would you describe the pilgrims’ situation?
Answer: They were a straggling crowd of little hope, deprived of common needs.
Stanza 6
1. What was their reaction on arriving at their destination?
Answer: They hardly knew why they were there.
2. At the end, why did they not know the reason for their pilgrimage?
Answer: The journey had darkened every face, and their deeds were neither great nor rare.
3. Explain: ‘Home is where we have to gather grace.’
Answer: It means that real fulfillment and grace are to be found in returning home, not in distant journeys.
Answer these questions in detail.
1. What positive action did the pilgrims take on their way?
Answer: The positive action taken by the pilgrims on their way was “exalting minds and making all the burdens light.”
2. Where did they face their first difficulty, and why?
Answer: They faced their first difficulty in the desert patch, where “differences arose on how to cross it,” leading to the loss of a friend.
3. How does Stanza 5 differ from Stanza 1? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Stanza 5 differs from Stanza 1 in terms of mood and hope. In Stanza 1, there is an exalted, hopeful tone as the pilgrims begin their journey with high spirits, whereas, in Stanza 5, the tone is despondent and weary as the pilgrims are “a straggling crowd of little hope,” reflecting their exhaustion and despair.
4. The pilgrimage is titled Enterprise. Justify the title.
Answer: The pilgrimage is titled Enterprise to reflect the ambitious undertaking of the journey, which initially seemed like a purposeful, organized mission but gradually revealed itself as a challenging and disillusioning experience, thus highlighting the irony and futility associated with such “enterprises.”
Appreciating form
The poet has used an ironical tone to hint at subtle changes in the situation or in the feelings of the pilgrims as they undertake the journey.
Example: ‘It started as a pilgrimage.’
The stress on the word ‘started’ hints at the disillusionment that the pilgrims experience after they set out on the actual journey.
Example: ‘A section claimed its liberty to leave the group.’
Here the word ‘liberty’ is used to denote freedom from bondage or restraint. But, at the start of the pilgrimage, each one willingly undertook the journey to ‘make all burdens light’.
Pick out and explain another similar example where the poet has used irony.
Answer: “Ignoring what the thunder meant.” This line ironically indicates that the pilgrims, despite their supposed purpose of spiritual and personal enlightenment, fail to heed the symbolic warning or deeper meaning in the natural phenomenon around them. Instead, they are preoccupied with their journey’s hardships, showing their disconnect from their initial purpose.
Beyond the text
Imagine you are one of the pilgrims. Make a diary entry written on the day after you complete your pilgrimage. Which pilgrim would you identify yourself with? Why? State your emotions on completing the pilgrimage. End on an optimistic note as the poet has done.
Diary Entry
Day after the pilgrimage
It is strange to sit here now, reflecting on the journey we’ve completed. I feel as if I am the pilgrim who tried to hold onto purpose, even as others faltered and left the group. I remember vividly those moments when our spirits began to wane, when disagreements flared, and when doubts crept in like shadows growing long under the setting sun. Yet, I held on, clinging to the hope that we would find meaning in the destination, even if it seemed so elusive.
Today, as I look back, there is a mix of exhaustion and quiet contentment in me. The pilgrimage has changed us; it has made us question, and perhaps that was the point. Although our deeds were “neither great nor rare,” as our poet put it, we have returned with a deeper understanding of ourselves. The journey may have tested us, but it has also refined us, leaving us with a subtle grace.
In the end, I realize that the true purpose lies not in the destination, but in the grace we gather along the way. Home now feels richer, filled with the wisdom that only such a journey could offer. I am grateful for the struggles, for they have made the return all the more meaningful. As I write, I hold onto hope that the lessons from this journey will light my path forward.
Extras
Additional questions and answers
1. What was the initial purpose of the pilgrimage?
Answer: The initial purpose of the pilgrimage was to uplift the minds of the pilgrims and make their burdens feel lighter.
14. Why is the title “Enterprise” significant to the poem?
Answer: The title “Enterprise” reflects the ambitious nature of the journey and the challenges they faced, despite their ultimate disappointment.
Additional fill in the blanks
1. The pilgrimage began with a mood of ______. (Hope/Despair)
Answer: Hope
10. The thunder they ignored hinted at their lack of ______. (Understanding/Fear)
Answer: Understanding
Additional true and false
1. The pilgrimage began with a sense of joy and lightness among the pilgrims.
Answer: True
10. The poem ends on an optimistic note, suggesting the importance of gathering grace at home.
Answer: True
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
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