Introduction

Create the following as HTML, with lovely buttons for each of the sections, and bounceback buttons to top button section labelled “Back to Index”, with SEO meta tags inserted – 12th English Unit 5 Poem A Father To His Son Paragraph Book Back Answers Samacheer Kalvi A Father To His Son Book Back Answers Class 12 English Guide Chapter 5 Tamilnadu Solutions 12th Standard English 5th Lesson A Father To His Son Questions and Answers

Poem Text

A father sees his son nearing manhood. What shall he tell that son? “Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.” And this might stand him for the storms and serve him for humdrum monotony and guide him among sudden betrayals and tighten him for slack moments. “Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy.” And this too might serve him. Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed. The growth of a frail flower in a path up has sometimes shattered and split a rock. A tough will counts. So does desire. So does a rich soft wanting. Without rich wanting nothing arrives. Tell him too much money has killed men and left them dead years before burial: the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs has twisted good enough men sometimes into dry thwarted worms. Tell him time as a stuff can be wasted. Tell him to be a fool ever so often and to have no shame over having been a fool yet learning something out of every folly hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies thus arriving at intimate understanding of a world numbering many fools. Tell him to be alone often and get at himself and above all tell himself no lies about himself whatever the white lies and protective fronts he may use against other people. Tell him solitude is creative if he is strong and the final decisions are made in silent rooms. Tell him to be different from other people if it comes natural and easy being different. Let him have lazy days seeking his deeper motives. Let him seek deep for where he is born natural. Then he may understand Shakespeare and the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov, Michael Faraday and free imaginations bringing changes into a world resenting change. He will be lonely enough to have time for the work he knows as his own.

Warm Up

Every parent is anxious about the welfare of his / her children. Parents express their anxiety by advising them almost all the time. What kind of advice do you frequently receive from your parents? Fill in the bubbles. Tick the ones you like to follow implicitly and reasons for the ones you don’t like to follow.

Answer:

• Wash your fingers before eating. • Don’t stay awake till late night. • Who are you talking to over the phone for a long time? 1. Fill in the blanks choosing the words from the box given and complete the summary of the poem. A father sees his son nearing manhood. What shall he tell that son? “Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.” And this might stand him for the storms and serve him for humdrum monotony and guide him among sudden betrayals and tighten him for slack moments. “Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy.” And this too might serve him. Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed. The growth of a frail flower in a path up has sometimes shattered and split a rock. A tough will counts. So does desire. So does a rich soft wanting. Without rich wanting nothing arrives. Tell him too much money has killed men and left them dead years before burial: the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs has twisted good enough men sometimes into dry thwarted worms

Tell him time as a stuff can be wasted. Tell him to be a fool ever so often and to have no shame over having been a fool yet learning something out of every folly hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies thus arriving at intimate understanding of a world numbering many fools. Tell him to be alone often and get at himself and above all tell himself no lies about himself whatever the white lies and protective fronts he may use against other people. Tell him solitude is creative if he is strong and the final decisions are made in silent rooms. Tell him to be different from other people if it comes natural and easy being different. Let him have lazy days seeking his deeper motives. Let him seek deep for where he is born natural. Then he may understand Shakespeare and the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov, Michael Faraday and free imaginations Bringing changes into a world resenting change. He will be lonely enough to have time for the work he knows as his own.

Summary Completion: Lines 1–25

deep desire manhood gentleness mistakes easy leisure fool life money repeat tender-flower rock challenges wisdom The poet Carl Sandburg gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly (1) _ in directing a son who is at the threshold of his (2) _ Here the father motivates his son to be like a hard (3) _ and withstand life’s (4) _ and sudden betrayals. (5) _ is like a fertile soil. We can make our life fruitful if we are gentle, and take life as it comes. At times (6) _ overtakes harshness. The growth of a (7) _ can split a rock. One should have a (8) _ and strong will to achieve. Greed for(9) _ has left men dead before they really die. Good men also have fallen prey in quest for (10) _ money. Time for (11) _ is not a waste. When you seek knowledge never feel ashamed to be called a (12) _ for not knowing, at the same time learn from your (13) _ and never (14) _ it. Answers: 1. wisdom 2. manhood 3. rock 4. challenges 5. life 6. gentleness 7. tender-flower 8. deep desire 9.money 10. easy 11. leisure 12. fool 13.mistakes 14. repeat

Summary Completion: Lines 26–44

changes introspect inherent work | resents white lies creative final decisions different : Do (15) often, and do not hesitate to accept your shortcomings, avoid (16) to protect self against other people. Solitude helps to be (17) and (18) are taken in silent rooms. Instead of being one among many, be (19) , if that is your nature. The son may need lazy days to find his (20) abilities, to seek what he is bom for. He will then know how free imaginations bring (21) to the world, which (22) change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own, and (23) to achieve like Shakespeare, the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov and Michael Faraday. Answer: 15. introspect 16. white lies 17. creative 18. final decisions 19. different 20. inherent 21. changes 22. resents 23. work

Book-Back Short Answers

(a) How would the poet’s advice help his son who is at the threshold of manhood? The poet’s advice would guide his son to grow into a positive, responsible individual. It would help him face challenges with courage and succeed in life, just as great scientists and dramatists have done. (b) ‘A tough will counts.’ Explain. Physical strength alone does not matter. A person with strong determination can achieve remarkable feats. Even a delicate plant can split a rock through its hard will. Thus, a tough will, described as “rich soft wanting,” is the true key to success. (c) What happened to the people who wanted too much money? Those who desired excessive wealth fell prey to greed. In the process, they lost their honour and reputation. (d) What has twisted good men into thwarted worms? Excessive love for money beyond basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter has degraded even good men. This dishonourable greed has twisted them into “thwarted worms.” (e) How would his being alone help the boy? Solitude would help the boy to reflect deeply, discover his creativity, and realise his true potential. (f) Where are the final decisions taken? Final decisions are taken in silent rooms, where calmness and reflection guide wise choices. (g) What are the poet’s thoughts on ‘being different’? The poet believes that one may be different if it is natural to one’s character. There is no need to make a conscious effort to stand apart merely for the sake of it. (h) Why does the poet advise his son to have lazy days? The poet advises his son to have lazy days so that he may explore his inner abilities and discover the true purpose of his life. . A Father To His Son Poem Summary In Tamil Question (i) The poet says ‘Without rich wanting nothing arrives’ but he condemns ‘the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs.’Analyse the difference and write. Answer: The poet says, “Without rich wanting nothing arrives” to emphasise the importance of strong desire and determination in achieving success. A person must have a deep inner urge, a “rich soft wanting,” to accomplish great things in life. This kind of willpower enables even a frail plant to split a rock. However, the poet condemns “the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs” because excessive greed for money corrupts human values. Wealth beyond basic necessities—food, clothing, and shelter—often leads to dishonour and degradation. Many good men, driven by greed, have been twisted into “thwarted worms.” Thus, Sandburg draws a clear distinction: while noble ambition and tough will are essential for growth and creativity, blind pursuit of lucre (money) destroys character. The poem teaches that true success lies in purposeful striving, not in material greed.3. Here are a few poetic devices used in the poem. A Father To His Son Poem Carl Sandburg Summary Question (a) Antithesis – It is a literary device that em phasises the idea of contrast, eg. The growth of a frail flower in a path up has sometimes shattered and split a rock. Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed. A Father To His Son Poem Question (b) Transferred Epithet – It is a figure of speech in which an epithet grammatically qualifies a noun other than the person or a thing, it is actually meant to describe. eg. and left them dead years before burial: Let him have lazy days seeking his deeper motives. Bringing changes into a world resenting change. A Father To His Son Figure Of Speech Question (c) Repetition – It is a figure of speech. eg. Tell him to be alone often and get at himself and above all tell himself no lies about himself

Appreciate the Poem

4. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow. (a) “Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.’’ Here are the rewritten answers in Indian English, with key words from the poem highlighted, for the questions from “A Father to His Son” by Carl Sandburg.

(a) “Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy.”

Question (i): Why does the poet suggest to take life easy?

The poet suggests that life is like soft loam — soft, wet clay. Sometimes we must handle life gently and go easy, without hard resistance. There are certain occasions when we need to treat life like wet clay, very carefully. The poet says, “Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed.” That means even wild, hard-hearted people can be changed by gentleness, not by force. So, taking life easy means being gentle and calm when the situation demands it.

Question (ii): Identify the figure of speech.

Metaphor — life is directly compared to soft loam.

(b) “Tell him solitude is creative if he is strong and the final decisions are made in silent rooms.”

Question (i): Can being in solitude help a strong human being? How?

Yes, solitude can definitely help a strong human being. When a person is alone, he gets time to introspect and analyse his own mistakes. In silent rooms, the final decisions are made. Solitude helps a strong person to be creative and to think deeply without any disturbance. So, being alone is not a weakness — it is a strength if the person is strong within.

Question (ii): Identify the figure of speech.

Personification — solitude is given the human quality of being creative.

(c) “Tell him time as a stuff can be wasted. Tell him to be a fool every so often.”

Question (i): Why does the poet suggest that time can be wasted?

The poet suggests that time can be wasted because unless one wastes time, one may not commit mistakes and learn from them. By being a fool every so often, a person learns something out of every folly. Learning not to repeat those mistakes naturally makes him wiser. So, wasting time occasionally is not always bad — it is part of learning and growing.

Question (ii): Identify the figure of speech.

Simile — time is compared to stuff using the word “as”.

(d) “Tell him to be a fool ever so often and to have no shame over having been a fool, yet learning something out of every folly, hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies.”

Question (i): Is it a shame to be a fool at times?

No, it is not a shame to be a fool at times. Everyone commits funny mistakes in life. One might just laugh at them. The important thing is to learn something out of every folly and hope to repeat none of the cheap follies. So, being a fool occasionally is part of being human.

Question (ii): What does one learn from every folly?

Every folly teaches a person his limitations and vulnerabilities. By making conscious efforts to avoid them in future, one becomes stronger and wiser. Each mistake is a lesson that helps a person grow and mature.

(e) ” Free imaginations Bringing changes into a world resenting change.”

Question (i): How does free imagination help the world?

Free imaginations bring changes into the world. Even though the world resents change, free imagination has the power to bring new ideas and transformation. It is the creative mind that moves the world forward, despite resistance.

Question (ii): Identify the figure of speech.

Personification — free imaginations are given the human quality of bringing changes.

Additional Questions

(a) “And this might stand him for the storms and serve him for humdrum monotony.”

Question (i): What does the poet mean by storms?

By storms, the poet means life’s challenges — the difficult times, problems, and hardships that a person faces in life.

Question (ii): What can help the son overcome “the boring routine” in life?

One can overcome the boring routine — the humdrum monotony — by keeping a strong steel-like will power and facing life boldly. The father advises his son to have the strength of steel and the firmness of rock to face life’s dull and boring moments.

(b) “And guide him among sudden betrayals and tighten him for slack moments.”

Question (i): What could guide the son among unexpected betrayals?

Rock-like and steel-like will power would guide the son among sudden betrayals. The father wants his son to be strong and firm like steel and rock so that he can face betrayals without breaking down.

Question (ii): What could happen to the boy during slack moments?

During slack moments — the easy, relaxed, and careless times — the boy may be betrayed by his trusted friends. That is why the father advises him to be tightened and alert even during such moments.

(c) “Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed.”

Question (i): When does the Government or law use lashes?

The Government or law uses lashes when a brute has committed a crime. Lashes are used as a punishment to discipline the wrongdoer.

Question (ii): What can transform brutes?

Gentleness can transform brutes. The poet says that even brutes have been gentled where lashes failed. This means that kindness and gentle handling can change even the hardest of hearts, where force and punishment fail.

(d) “The growth of a frail flower in a path up has sometimes shattered and split a rock.”

Question (i): What do you mean by ‘frail’?

Frail means weak and delicate — something that is very soft and easily broken.

Question (ii): How does a frail flower plant split a rock?

The frail flower plant splits a rock through its tough will to survive and grow. Even though the plant is weak and delicate, its determination to grow forces the rock to split. This shows that inner strength and perseverance can overcome even the hardest obstacles.

(e) “The quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs has twisted good enough men sometimes into dry thwarted worms.”

Question (i): What do you mean by ‘quest for lucre’?

‘Quest for lucre’ means seeking money in a dishonourable way — running behind wealth and greed beyond one’s easy needs.

Question (ii): What is the result of such a quest?

The result of such a quest is frustrating and ruining good men. It twists good enough men into dry thwarted worms — meaning it makes them lifeless, disappointed, and destroyed. The greed for money beyond one’s needs turns even good people into wretched and frustrated beings.

Key Words from the Poem

• soft loam — soft, wet clay
• gentle — kind and calm
• go easy — without force
• brutes — wild, hard-hearted people
• lashes — whips used for punishment
• gentled — made gentle
• solitude — being alone
• creative — full of new ideas
• silent rooms — quiet places for thinking
• introspect — look within oneself
• folly — foolishness; mistake
• cheap follies — silly mistakes
• free imaginations — creative thoughts
• resents change — dislikes change
• storms — life’s challenges
• humdrum monotony — boring routine
• betrayals — being cheated by trusted ones
• slack moments — careless, easy times
• frail — weak and delicate
• shattered and split — broken apart
• quest of lucre — greedy search for money
• dry thwarted worms — frustrated, lifeless people

Here are the answers rewritten in Indian English, with key words from the poem highlighted, for the line explanations from “A Father to His Son” by Carl Sandburg.

Question (a)

“And guide him among sudden betrayals and tighten him for slack moments.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while explaining the need to stay strong like a rock or steel. The steel will guide him when he is confronted with sudden betrayals from trusted friends. It will also tighten him and make him strong during slack moments — the easy, careless times when a person may become lazy and vulnerable. So, the father advises his son to be firm and alert always, so that betrayals and slack moments do not break him.

Question (b)

“Brutes have been gentled where lashes failed.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet highlights the importance of a soft but firm will to melt even hardened criminals. Love can transform even brutes. Harsh punishment may harden them further, but gentleness and love may bring about a change of heart. The poet says that brutes have been gentled — made gentle — where lashes — whips and punishment — failed. This shows that gentleness is more powerful than force.

Question (c)

“Yet learning something out of every folly hoping to repeat none of the cheap follies.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while hinting at the possibilities of failures in the pursuit of knowledge. People may mock at a beginner as a fool. He should not feel ashamed of being called a fool. He must continue the pursuit of knowledge doggedly to achieve success. Every folly teaches him something, and he must hope to repeat none of the cheap follies — the silly mistakes — in future. This way, he becomes wiser and stronger.

Question (d)

“He will be lonely enough to have time for the work.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words to explain how creative thinkers and those who strive to bring about changes are left alone to fend for themselves. The poet says his son must take advantage of this loneliness to pursue his creative imagination and succeed like Shakespeare, Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov, and Faraday. So, solitude is not a curse — it is a blessing for those who are strong and want to do creative work.

Additional Questions

Question (a)

“And above all tell himself no lies about himself whatever the white lies and protective fronts.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words to his son as to how to conduct himself after a folly is done. He wants him not to tell lies or defend himself or blame others for his predicament. He must learn from his follies and become wiser. White lies and protective fronts — false defences — will only weaken him. So, the father advises his son to be honest with himself always.

Question (b)

“Let him have lazy days seeking his deeper motives. Let him seek deep for where he is born natural.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while highlighting the advantages of spending leisure hours in introspection. When a person looks within in solitude, he will realise his inner strength, innate abilities, and also realise the purpose for which he has been created. Lazy days — quiet, relaxed days — give him time to seek deep and find where he is born natural. So, solitude and introspection help a person discover his true self.

Question (c)

“Life is hard; be steel; be a rock. And this might stand him for the storms.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet emphasises the need to have rock-like or steel-like determination to confront the challenges in life. He believes that such a stance would help his son to overcome the boredom of the routine — the humdrum monotony — in life. The storms — life’s challenges — will come, but if he is steel and rock, he will stand firm and not break down. So, strength and firmness are essential to face life’s storms.

Question (d)

“A tough will counts. So does desire. So does a rich soft wanting.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while stressing the need to have a tough will to create a path for success even on a rocky terrain. One needs to have deep passionate desire and strong will to succeed in life. A tough will counts — it matters. Desire also counts. And so does a rich soft wanting — a deep, gentle longing for something good. So, both strong will and soft desire are needed for success in life.

Question (e)

“The quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs has twisted good enough men.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while explaining how ill-gotten wealth suffocates good men. The money earned through dishonest means frustrates good men and even reduces them to the level of worms. The quest of lucre — the greedy search for money — beyond a few easy needs twists good enough men into dry thwarted worms. So, greed for money beyond one’s basic needs destroys a person’s goodness and humanity.

Question (f)

“Tell him too much money has killed men and left them dead years before burial.”

Reference: These lines are from the poem “A Father to His Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while dwelling on the evil effects of amassing wealth beyond the basic needs of men. Oliver Goldsmith says, “Where wealth accumulates, man decays.” The poet says that a man who amasses wealth against ethical principles is spiritually dead. Too much money has killed men and left them dead years before burial — meaning they are alive physically but dead inside. So, greed for wealth destroys a person’s soul long before his actual death.

Here are the rewritten answers in Indian English, with key words from the poem highlighted, for about 100–150 words each.

Question (a)

Explain how the poet guides his son who is at the threshold of manhood, to face the challenges of life.

Answer:

The poet shares his wisdom with his son who is at the threshold of manhood. He persuades his son to be hard like steel or rock to withstand challenges and sudden betrayals in life. A person with a soft heart will crumble before a breach of trust. Similarly, he wants his son to be discerning enough to be soft when needed — to grow like a frail flower plant that shatters and splits a rock. Occasionally, one has to go with the current because life is at times fertile with many opportunities to grow even among the harshest circumstances. Rich soft wanting can help a person win against all odds. He reiterates this idea by explaining how gentleness can reform a hardened criminal when lashes would, in contrast, harden them further.

Question (b)

How, according to the poet, is it possible for his son to bring changes into a world that resents change?

Answer:

The poet advises his son to introspect often and not feel ashamed of being called a fool, especially when he pursues knowledge. He can examine himself and remove his follies. He must enjoy the advantages of solitude. Solitude would help him to be creative. He would invariably learn that final decisions are always taken in silent rooms. Being alone, he can identify his innate potential and talents. His free imagination will bring about changes even if the world resents them. The zest to bring about changes will elevate him to the level of Shakespeare, Pasteur, Wright Brothers, Pavlov, and Michael Faraday. Thus, he will be remembered as one of the great men who changed the world.

Key Words from the Poem

• threshold of manhood — the beginning of adult life
• steel — symbol of strength and firmness
• rock — symbol of stability and determination
• sudden betrayals — unexpected cheating by trusted ones
• soft heart — a kind but weak heart
• crumble — break down
• breach of trust — betrayal
• discerning — able to judge well
• frail flower plant — weak but determined plant
• shatters and splits a rock — breaks the rock apart
• go with the current — accept things as they come
• fertile — full of growth and opportunity
• harshest circumstances — very difficult situations
• rich soft wanting — deep, gentle longing
• odds — difficulties
• gentleness — kindness and softness
• reform — change for the better
• hardened criminal — a person who has done many crimes
• lashes — whips used for punishment
• introspect — look within oneself
• fool — a silly person; one who makes mistakes
• knowledge — learning and wisdom
• follies — foolish mistakes
• solitude — being alone
• creative — full of new ideas
• final decisions — important choices
• silent rooms — quiet places for thinking
• innate potential — natural ability
• talents — skills and abilities
• free imagination — creative thoughts
• resents change — dislikes change
• zest — great enthusiasm
• great men — famous and respected people
• changed the world — made a big differenceListening Activity

Listen to the poem read by the teacher or to the recorded version and write a synopsis in about 100 words.

The teacher can choose any three stanzas. Lincoln’s Letter to his Son’s

Teacher: He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader.. .Teach him for every enemy there is a friend, Steer him away from envy, if you can, teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick… .Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books.. .But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside. In the school teach him it is far honourable to fail than to cheat…Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong .Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the band wagon…Teach him to listen to all men.. .but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through. Teach him if you can, how to laugh when he is sad…Teach him there is no shame in tears, Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness…Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right. Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient.. .let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will have sublime faith in mankind. This is a big order, but see what you can do.. .He is such a fine little fellow, my son! Abraham Lincoln

Synopsis of Lincoln’s Letter

Abraham Lincoln, in his letter to his son’s teacher, outlines the values and lessons he wishes his son to learn. He acknowledges that the world is full of injustice, falsehood, and selfishness, yet insists that the child must also be taught about heroes, dedicated leaders, and true friends. Lincoln stresses the importance of qualities such as courage, honesty, patience, and faith in oneself. He advises that his son should learn to laugh quietly, value books, and also spend time in solitude to appreciate nature’s mysteries. The boy must be taught that it is more honourable to fail than to cheat, and that tears are not shameful. Lincoln warns against envy, cynicism, and blind conformity, urging his son to filter truth from falsehood and to stand firm for what is right, even against a mob. Above all, he wants his son to grow strong yet gentle, brave yet patient, with sublime faith in himself and in mankind. Given below is a well-known quotation. “Cowards die many rimes before their death”. Study the quotations and identify the adverse human qualities that are worse than ‘death’ and discuss the underlying message conveyed.

Quotation Analysis

The quotation highlights that adverse human qualities such as fear, cowardice, lack of courage, and moral weakness are worse than death itself. A coward suffers repeated “deaths” because he constantly imagines dangers, shrinks from challenges, and lives in perpetual anxiety. His spirit dies every time he avoids responsibility or fails to stand for truth. In contrast, the brave face danger only once—at the moment of actual death. The underlying message is that fear and cowardice destroy the quality of life, while courage and integrity give meaning to existence. Shakespeare conveys that true living lies in facing risks boldly, standing firm for justice, and embracing challenges with dignity. Thus, the quotation inspires us to overcome fear, cultivate bravery, and live honourably, for a life of repeated cowardice is worse than death itself.

About the Poet

“Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what was seen during a moment.” – Carl Sandburg Sandburg was born in Galesburg, Illinois, to parents of Swedish ancestry. Carl August Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) was an American poet, writer, and editor. He won three Pulitzer Prizes. During his lifetime, Sandburg was widely regarded as “a major figure in contemporary literature”, especially for volumes of his collected verse, including Chicago Poems (1916), Cornhuskers (1918), and Smoke and Steel (1920). He enjoyed ; unrivalled appeal as a poet in his day. At his death in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson observed that “Carl Sandburg was more than the voice of America, more than the poet of its strength and genius. He was America.”

Summary in English

Summary Carl Sandburg’s A Father to His Son is a father’s heartfelt advice to his child standing at the threshold of manhood. The poet urges his son to cultivate courage, creativity, and determination, reminding him that “without rich wanting nothing arrives.” He stresses that a tough will matters more than physical strength, as even a frail plant can split a rock. At the same time, he warns against greed, saying that “the quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs” has degraded good men into “thwarted worms.” The father advises his son to value solitude, lazy days, and silent rooms, for they nurture reflection, creativity, and wise decisions. He encourages him to be himself, not to imitate others, and to discover his true purpose in life. Overall, the poem blends moral guidance with practical wisdom, teaching that success comes from willpower, humility, and inner strength rather than wealth or outward show.

Summary in Tamil

. கார்ல் சாண்ட்பர்க் எழுதிய A Father to His Son கவிதையின் சுருக்கம் (தமிழில்) இந்தக் கவிதையில், ஒரு தந்தை தனது மகனுக்கு வாழ்க்கை வழிகாட்டுதல்களை வழங்குகிறார். மனிதன் வெற்றி பெறுவதற்கு உடல் வலிமை மட்டுமல்ல, உறுதியான மனவலிமையும் (“rich wanting”) அவசியம் என அவர் கூறுகிறார். ஆனால், பணத்திற்கான அளவுக்கு மீறிய பேராசை (“quest of lucre beyond a few easy needs”) நல்ல மனிதர்களையும் “thwarted worms” ஆக மாற்றிவிடும் என எச்சரிக்கிறார். தனிமை, சோம்பேறித் தினங்கள், அமைதியான அறைகள் ஆகியவை சிந்தனை, படைப்பாற்றல், மற்றும் வாழ்க்கையின் உண்மைகளை உணர உதவும் என அவர் அறிவுறுத்துகிறார். மகன் தனித்துவமாக இருக்க வேண்டும்; பிறரைப் பின்பற்றாமல், தனது இயல்பை வெளிப்படுத்த வேண்டும். கவிதை முழுவதும், தந்தை மகனுக்கு தைரியம், பொறுமை, நேர்மை, மற்றும் தன்னம்பிக்கை ஆகியவற்றின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை வலியுறுத்துகிறார். உண்மையான வெற்றி செல்வத்திலும் வெளிப்புற அழகிலும் அல்ல, உள்ளார்ந்த வலிமை, பணிவு, மற்றும் சிந்தனையில்தான் உள்ளது என்பதை இந்தக் கவிதை உணர்த்துகிறது.

Glossary

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