Here are the notes of the poem “The Hollow Men” for the students of 1st year English. 11th class students belonging to all Boards of Punjab can read Explanation of Stanzas, Questions, and Answers, theme, and Synonyms of “The Hollow Men” book-3 notes online.
Summary and Critical Notes of the Poem (The Hollow Men)
The poet says that human beings at present are derived of moral values and so they are worthless. Although they are living together and depending upon one another, yet they have failed in making a community or society.
We are dummy and hollow like puppets. Our brain is void of wisdom and sanity. Our voices are meaningless as a sound of the hissing wind through grass or the noise of rats running over broken pieces of grass. Although we look like human beings, yet we lack true human qualities and strength. Man has lost nobleness of mind. He does not seem the crown of the creations or sane being because he has become soulless.
Explanation With Reference to the Context
Stanza No. 1
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats’ feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar
Reference to the Context
These lines have been taken from the poem “The Hollow Men” by T. S. Eliot. In this poem, the poet says that human beings at present are deprived of moral values. Although they are living together and depending upon one another, yet they have failed in making a community or society. So they are worthless and soulless.
Explanation
In the given lines, the poet says that we are dummy and hollow people like poppets. Our brain is void of wisdom and sanity. Our voices are as meaningless as the sound of the hissing wind through grass or the noise of rats running over broken pieces of glass.
The poet feels sorry that man has lost moral values and nobleness of mind. He does not seem the crown of the creation or sane being because he has become soulless. His superficial words have no message or meaning because he never means what he says.
Stanza No. 2
Shape without form, shade without colour,
Paralysed force, gesture without motion;
Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death’s other kingdom
Remember us-if at all-not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.
Reference to the Context
Same as above
Explanation
In the given lines, the poet says that although we look like human beings, yet we lack true human qualities and strength. Our gesture is meaningless because it involves no movements of our body. Those who have departed from this world are unable to realize whether we have gone astray leaving the right path or are living in frustration and unrest. They only knew that we were soulless men like puppets and dummies.
The poet feels sorry that man has lost moral values and nobleness of mind. He does not seem the crown of the creation or sane being because he has become soulless. His superficial words have no message or meaning because he never means what he says.
Questions and Answers
Q. Why does the poet call the modern men as hollow men? “OR” Who has been called the Hollow men?
Ans. The poet calls the modern men as hollow men because they are deprived of moral values, virtue, and nobleness of mind. They do not seem the crown of creations because they lack true human traits.
Q. Who is the poet of “The Hollow Men”?
Ans. T. S. Eliot is the poet of “The Hollow Men”.
Q. What is the theme of the poem?
Ans. The theme of the poem is the lack of moral values and true human spirits in man of the present age. The poet says that human beings at present have become soulless because they are deprived of moral values, virtue, and nobleness of mind.
Q. How do whispers of the Hollow men sound?
Ans. The poet says that the Whispers of the hollow men are quiet and meaningless. They are like the sound of moving wind in dry grass or rats’ feet on broken glass.
Q. What does the poet say in the last stanza of the poem?
Ans. See reference to the context
Synonyms
- We are the hollow men (vacant, empty, void)
- We are the stuffed men (packed, filled, crammed)
- Headpieces filled with straw, Alas! (brain; skull)
- We whisper together (murmur, sigh)
- In our dry cellar. (basement, underground store)
- Paralysed force, gesture without motion (weakened by paralysis)
- Paralysed force, gesture without motion (signal, motion, wave)
For 1st Year all Subjects notes and 1st Year English Book-3 Poems complete notes, click on the following links.
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