Poem New Year Resolutions (Elizabeth Sewell) Summary Imp Qs Ref Explanation

Poem New Year Resolutions (Elizabeth Sewell) Summary Imp Qs Ref Explanation

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Poem:

I will drain
Long draughts of quiet
As  purgation:

Remember
Twice daily
Who I am;

Will lie o' nights
In the bony arms
Of Reality and be comforted.

Elizabeth Sewell:

Elizabeth Sewell was born in India of English parents and schooled in England with a Degree in Modern Languages from Cambridge University. She visited the States in 1949 and became an American citizen in 1973. She now lives and works in States. She has visited Pakistan, and conducted a series of lectures on "Creative Writing" at Kinnaird College in 1988. She was given a National Award by the American Academy / Institute of Arts and Letters for her literary works.

 

Idea of Poems

New Year is traditionally the time of making resolutions of taking stock of our lives and resolving generally, to be better people. The poetess here makes an extraordinary resolution....that of facing and living with Reality. The "draining of long draughts" is generally associated with drinking wine. But here she is going to drink in quiet, as a means of cleansing herself. The nature of reality is uncomfortable; hence the use of the image of "bony arms"...but there will be comfort drawn from a resolution fulfilled.

New Year Resolutions

The poem is about the resolutions that the poetess makes on the New Year. The poem is an illustration of the novel approach of the poetess. In this poem, the poetess makes some New Year Resolutions for the arrival of the new year. She says that she would take an entirely new approach in the new year. The poem is an apt description of the poetess's innovative thoughts.

Summary

This is a brief and interesting poem by Elizabeth Sewel. She tells us about her resolutions on the start of a new year. Instead of celebrating and rejoicing, she is planning to be more serious and philosophical on New year's day.  She tells us that she would make some resolution on the new year. She told us about her promises for the future year.

Her first resolution is to purify her soul. She will remain quiet and serious in the coming year. Silence and quietness will purify her soul and will wash away her sins. She uses a simile that she will drink long droughts of quietness. In this way, she gives us an impression that she will not indulge in worldly affairs and will satisfy herself with what nature gives to her. This is really an innovative and untraditional resolution.

Her 2nd resolution is to remove her all shortcomings and bad things. She says that she will carefully examine her own soul. She will identify and remove her drawbacks and evil things to purify her soul.

The poetess makes another resolution that she will face reality. She will be more realistic and accepting. She will lead a simple and humble life. She will not feel proud of his beauty and riches.

Reality is bitter. But the poetess makes a resolution to accept it as it is. She says that she will lie on the bony arms of the reality. This is a good simile the poetess has used in the poem. She is trying to convey us an inspiring message that we should face the reality with all its bitterness and try to seek comfort in it.

The tone of the poetess suggests that she is willing to fulfill her new year's resolutions at any cost. Her resolutions seem to be unrealistic and inapplicable but she seems to be determined. The poem looks like imagery far away from reality. In real life, we are still not willing to make such extraordinary resolutions.

Important Questions

Question 1: What new year resolutions does Elizabeth Sewell make in her poem New Year Resolutions?

Answer: The poetess does not welcome the new year in a traditional manner. She has a firm belief that life must be spent consciously and with a sense of responsibility. She resolves that she will analyze her own mind and soul in order to find out her past follies and short-comings.

Firstly, the poetess resolves that she will remain silent. She will think over her past wrongs. The long hours of silence will help her in cleaning her inner self. She wants to commence the new year in a better and realistic manner.

She has no intention to repeat the mistakes she did last year. She is determined and resolute to correct and improve her self every day. Secondly, the poetess resolves that she will think about her identity.

She will think twice a day who she really is? What are her responsibilities in this world? Thirdly, the poetess pledges that she will decide to face the reality of her life. She will think over her shortcomings and blunders with a cool mind.

She decides to feel ashamed of her mistakes that were done before. She will never desire to remain in a dream world. She will face the bitter reality of life with a stout heart. In this way, she will welcome the new year with new zeal and zest.

Question 2: Discuss the literary qualities of the poem New Year Resolutions

Answer: The poem is a criticism of those people who lead their lives without aims. They do not make plans for the future. The poem is a satire on the lazy people. They do not want to face the reality of this world.

The poet expresses her views that are based on the resolutions of the poetess. Through her resolutions and decisions, The poetess wants to convey the moral message of the poem.

She says that human beings should live their lives according to the set rules. They must analyze their past and make good plans for a better future. The language of the poem is simple but impressive. The word Purgation is a medical term.

It means cleaning a wound from a germ. But poetess has used this term for cleansing the human shortcomings which are also like germs. The poem is based on realistic subject matter.

According to the poetess, life must spend consciously and with a sense of discipline. In this poem, Reality has been personified with a solace companion. The Potess sleeps in the company of reality. The poem is serious with a realistic theme

Question 3: What is the moral or central idea of the poem?

Answer: New Year Resolutions is a thought-provoking poem. In this poem, the poetess gives us an important message. She believes that life is temporary but we should spend life doing productive works. She says that we must take stock of our past life.

We must analyze our weaknesses at the beginning of the new year. Self-examination will help us to correct ourselves. The poem criticizes that people are lazy and have no aims or goals in their lives. They are not decisive by nature.

They do not make decisions for the future. They do not want to face the reality of this world. They do not make aims and resolution in their lives. This poem presents a philosophical lesson. The poetess urges us to examine our past deeds.

It advises us to be always ready to correct ourselves. We must face the bitter things in a sincere manner. We must work for the betterment of our country and fellow beings.

We must analyze our deeds twice in a day. We must accept the harsh realities of life with a smiling face. We should not be discouraged after facing difficult situations in our life. We must welcome the new year with a stout heart.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from the poem “New Year Resolutions”, written by Elizabeth Sewell.

Context:

This poem is about the New Year resolutions and promises. Another year has lapsed. On the start of the new year, the poetess takes stock of herself very realistically. She tries to make this world a better place by making new pledges. Her untraditional resolution is to face and lie with reality.

Explanation:

Lines: 1 – 3

I will drain
Long draughts of quiet
As  purgation:

In these lines the poetess describes her mental state and the way she would drink to purify her soul. She says that she will drink wine at night secretly. She will have long draughts during night and will purge herself from all kinds of evils. This will assist her in helping other people because her own mind and spirit will be free from all types of evils. “Long draughts of Quiet” also suggests that she will keep quiet most of time. This will be the best means for the purification of her soul and it will help her in leading beneficial and successful life. She says; she will talk less and hear more and mould her life into betterment.

Lines 4 – 6

Remember
Twice daily
Who I am;

In the given lines Elizabeth says, she will remember herself twice daily, in the evening and in the morning. She will take into consideration what her aim of creation is. She will try to understand the purpose of life in general. Perhaps she means that she should recognize herself, which will help her in recognizing God and leading life for benefit of others.

Lines 7 – 9

Will lie o' nights
In the bony arms
Of Reality and be comforted.

 

These are concluding lines of the poem. Here, the poetess says she will accept reality. While, sleeping at night, she will consider the bitter reality of life. During the new year she will make some promises and pledges. She will sleep on thin, less-fleshy arms of reality. Accepting reality and facts is always a difficult thing, but she will accept it bravely. She will feel relieved and satisfied, when she comes to know that she has spent her life for the benefit of others. The image of bony arms is a hard reality. Even then she will get delight and feel comforted when she has fulfilled her promises and resolutions, she has made on the start of the new year.