A Dream Within a Dream English Class 11 Notes

A Dream Within a Dream English Class 11 Notes is a poem by Edgar Allan A detailed summary and explanation of Stanza 1 in A Dream Within a Dream, Write a summary of the poem ‘A Dream Within a Dream for all Pakistani educational boards.

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What idea does the parting of the beloved bring into the Poet’s mind?

The parting of a beloved brings the thought of loneliness and dullness in the mind of the poet. He considers life meaningless and boring due to the absence of the beloved. It is just like a dream for the poet as nothing is permanent. He believes that their union is also like a dream.

What is the theme of the poem? And how is it developed in the poem ‘A Dream Within a Dream?’

The theme of the poem put the focus on the major feelings of frustration, hopelessness and sorrow. These elements are quite evident in both the stanzas of the poem as in the first stanza the poet is feeling depressed due to the departure of his beloved that represents the mortality of this life and love as well. Similarly, in the second stanza, the poet has the feeling of sadness as he is unable to hold the sand grains in his hands, this shows that life is near to end and he has no power to cease it.

What metaphor does the poet use for his inability to hold reality and fleeting times? Explain.

In order to show his inability to hold reality and fleeting times, the poet uses the metaphor of slipping sand grains. This metaphor represents the reality of human life that no one has the power to control time and other things that happen in anyone’s life. Hence, man is helpless either to cease time or life that is slipping from his hands every passing moment.

Q.4) What is the tone of the poem ‘A Dream Within a Dream?’ Illustrate it with references from the poem.

Answer:

Throughout the poem, the tone is melancholic as the poet expresses his feelings and emotions of sadness, despair, loneliness and helplessness in ‘A Dream Within a Dream.’ He is sad due to the departure of his beloved and transient nature of love, life and time. Phrases that highlight the desperate tone of the poem are ‘parting from you’, ‘hope has flown away’, ‘surf-tormented shore’, ‘while I weep’, and ‘pitiless wave.’

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Q.5) What type of imagery is used in the poem ‘A Dream Within a Dream?’ What feelings does it evoke in you? Analyze.

Answer:

The imagery of sight and touch are used by the poet in the poem ‘A Dream Within a Dream.’ While reading the poem, the readers get to know about the feelings and emotions of the poet that are well-represented through the imagery of sight and touch, for instance, ‘kiss upon the brow’, ‘hold within my hand’, ‘grains of the golden sand’, ‘tighter clasp’, and ‘pitiless waves.’ The imagery evokes the sympathetic feelings in the heart of the readers towards the poet.

Q.6) Pick out the examples of alliteration from the poem ‘A Dream Within a Dream’ also describe its rhyme scheme. How do these poetic devices contribute to the music of the poem?

Answer:

The alliterations used by the poet in ‘A Dream Within a Dream’ are ‘days dream’, ”hope has’, ‘see seem’, ‘dream within a dream’, ‘hold within my hand’, ‘grains of the golden sand’, and ‘while I weep.’ The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABBCCDDEEFFGGHH. Both alliteration and rhyme help in creating the rhythm of the poem that gives the musical touch to the poem. Furthermore, the rhyming words emphasize the last beat of every line. In both the stanzas, a sequence of three lines in a row rhyme together that contributes to the music of the poem as well.

Q.7) Why does the poet call life a dream within a dream?

Answer:

The poet calls life a dream within a dream because of the uncertainty of life and transient nature of love and flying time. He is of the opinion that there exists a void between our expectations from life and what life actually offers to us. According to the poet, life itself is a dream and what happens in our life is also a dream. Due to this reason, the poet calls life a dream within a dream on which man has no control either on the fleeting times or the incidents that happen in his life.

Q.8) What did the poem ‘A Dream Within a Dream’ make you think of? And how did it make you feel? Evaluate.

Answer:

The poem ‘A Dream  Within a Dream’ gave a clear message to the readers about the temporary nature of love and life. This poem made us think of the reality of life that nothing is permanent in this world and everything comes to an end whether it is our loved ones or life. It also strengthened the point that man is quite helpless against the forces of nature. After reading the poem, the readers felt sympathy and remorse not only for the poet alone but for the whole humanity.

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Write a summary of the poem ‘A Dream Within a Dream.’

Answer:
Summary:
In this poem, the poet at the time of parting from his beloved one makes a kiss at her hand and says that she is quite right in saying that his life has been a dream and all his days that are passed also the part of that dream. He believes that whatever we see is a dream. But he is also of the opinion that everything is a dream within a dream.’

The poet is standing at the ocean holding the golden grains of sand in his hands that are slowly and steadily slipping from his palms. At that moment, he lets out a sorrowful cry asking God that why is it not possible for him to save even a single grain of that sand? In the end, the poet is quite uncertain about his own theory that whatever we see or seem is a dream within a dream or not.

Grammar

A. Underline the adverbial phrase in each sentence.

1. We hope the package will arrive within the hour.
2. My sister reads books almost as quickly as you do.
3. The news reports the metro will be closed for a week.
4. Your pen writes better than my pen does.
5. Nawab takes the bus on Tuesdays.
6. Jamal and Maryam will arrive by train.
7. The dog digs under the fence.
   8.Mom helps me with my homework more often than Dad does.
8. Asma found her purse that afternoon.
9. We flew our kites on the big hill.

Answer:
1. We hope the package will arrive within the hour.
2. My sister reads books almost as quickly as you do.
3. The news reports the metro will be closed for a week.
4. Your pen writes better than my pen does.
5. Nawab takes the bus on Tuesdays.
6. Jamal and Maryam will arrive by train.
7. The dog digs under the fence.
8. Mom helps me with my homework more often than Dad does.
9. Asma found her purse that afternoon.
10. We flew our kites on the big hill.

b. Find out the adverb clauses in the following sentences.

1. Even if it rains, I will come.
2. When you have finished your work, you may go home.
3. You can put it wherever you like.
4. I did not buy that watch because it was expensive.
5. You must go whether you hear from him or not.
6. He speak in such a low voice that few people could hear him.
7. Since you have apologized, we will take no further action against you.
8. I have not been well since I returned from the hills.
9. He was so weak that he could not stand.
10. As he was not there, I spoke to his mother.

Answer:
1. Even if it rains, I will come.
2. When you have finished your work, you may go home.
3. You can put it wherever you like.
4. I did not buy that watch because it was expensive.
5. You must go whether you hear from him or not.
6. He speak in such a low voice that few people could hear him.
7. Since you have apologized, we will take no further action against you.
8. I have not been well since I returned from the hills.
9. He was so weak that he could not stand.
10. As he was not there, I spoke to his mother.

D. Underline the adverb phrases in the following sentences and use them in new sentences.

1. She lives in a palatial home.
2. Is there water on the moon?
3. She ran into her room.
4. They chatted for a while.
5. She performed the task with great skill.
6. The desert stretched towards the north.
7. The gun went off with a loud noise.
8. The fishers went sailing over the sea.
9. He lay beside the heap of corn.
10. She whispered in his ear.
11. He fought with all his might.
12. He shouted at the top of his voice.
13. It must be done at any cost.
14. Much water has run under the bridge.
15. Without pausing to consider he struck the blow.

Answer:

1. She lives in a palatial home.
2. Is there water on the moon?
3. She ran into her room.
4. They chatted for a while.
5. She performed the task with great skill.
6. The desert stretched towards the north.
7. The gun went off with a loud noise.
8. The fishers went sailing over the sea.
9. He lay beside the heap of corn.
10. She whispered in his ear.
11. He fought with all his might.
12. He shouted at the top of his voice.
13. It must be done at any cost.
14. Much water has run under the bridge.
15. Without pausing to consider he struck the blow.

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