Books
By Eleanor Farjeon
Line-by-Line Meaning (English & Bangla)
| English Line | Bangla Meaning (বাংলা অর্থ) |
| What worlds of wonder are our books! | আমাদের বইগুলো বিস্ময়ের কী এক পৃথিবী! |
| As one opens them and looks, | যখন কেউ সেগুলো খোলে এবং দেখে, |
| New ideas and people rise | নতুন নতুন চিন্তা এবং মানুষ জেগে ওঠে |
| In our fancies and our eyes. | আমাদের কল্পনায় এবং আমাদের চোখে। |
| The room we sit in melts away, | আমরা যে ঘরে বসে আছি তা মিলিয়ে যায়, |
| And we find ourselves at play | এবং আমরা নিজেদের খেলারত অবস্থায় পাই |
| With someone who, before the end, | এমন কারোর সাথে, যে (বইটি) শেষ হওয়ার আগেই, |
| May become our chosen friend. | আমাদের প্রিয় বন্ধু হয়ে উঠতে পারে। |
| Or we sail along the page | অথবা আমরা পৃষ্ঠার ওপর দিয়ে পাল তুলে চলি |
| To some other land or age. | অন্য কোনো দেশে বা অন্য কোনো যুগে। |
| Here’s our body in the chair, | আমাদের শরীরটা এখানে চেয়ারেই পড়ে থাকে, |
| But our mind is over there. | কিন্তু আমাদের মন থাকে অন্য কোথাও। |
| Each book is a magic box | প্রতিটি বই একটি জাদুর বাক্স |
| Which with a touch a child unlocks. | যা একটি শিশু স্পর্শের মাধ্যমে খুলে ফেলে। |
| In between their outside covers | এদের বাইরের মলাট দুটির মাঝে |
| Everything that’s real he discovers. | সে সব বাস্তবতাকে খুঁজে পায় (আবিষ্কার করে)। |
Summary (English)
The poem "Books" highlights the transformative power of reading. Farjeon suggests that books are not just paper and ink, but gateways to different worlds. When we read, our physical surroundings disappear, and we travel across time and space. A book can introduce us to new friends (characters) and deep ideas. It acts as a "magic box" that allows a reader to discover the true essence of life and reality through imagination.
Summary (Bangla/সারসংক্ষেপ)
এই কবিতায় এলিনর ফারজন বইয়ের জাদুকরী ক্ষমতার কথা বর্ণনা করেছেন। বই কেবল কিছু কাগজের সমষ্টি নয়, বরং এটি অজানাকে জানার একটি মাধ্যম। যখন আমরা বই পড়ি, তখন আমাদের চারপাশের জগত হারিয়ে যায় এবং আমরা অন্য কোনো দেশ বা অন্য কোনো সময়ে পৌঁছে যাই। বই আমাদের নতুন বন্ধু এবং নতুন চিন্তার সাথে পরিচয় করিয়ে দেয়। কবির মতে, প্রতিটি বই একটি 'জাদুর বাক্স' যা পাঠকের কল্পনাশক্তিকে জাগিয়ে তোলে এবং জীবনের প্রকৃত সত্যকে আবিষ্কার করতে সাহায্য করে।
Theme (English)
The central theme of the poem is the power of imagination and the joy of reading. It emphasizes how books act as a bridge between the physical world and the world of ideas, allowing the human mind to transcend physical boundaries.
Theme (Bangla/মূলভাব)
কবিতাটির মূলভাব হলো কল্পনাশক্তির ক্ষমতা এবং পাঠের আনন্দ। বই মানুষের জাগতিক সীমাবদ্ধতা দূর করে মনকে এক অনন্য উচ্চতায় নিয়ে যায়। বই পড়ার মাধ্যমে মানুষ ঘরে বসেই বিশ্বভ্রমণ করতে পারে এবং অজানাকে জানতে পারে—এটাই কবিতার মূল উপজীব্য।
Important Questions & Answers (Class 9/10/SSC)
1. Why does the poet call books "magic boxes"? Ans: The poet calls books "magic boxes" because, like a magician's box, they contain endless surprises. By simply opening a book, a reader can unlock new worlds, meet new people, and explore different ages that were previously hidden.
2. What happens to the reader's surroundings when they start reading? Ans: When a reader starts reading, their physical surroundings (like the room they are sitting in) seem to "melt away." Though their body remains in the chair, their mind travels to distant lands or different times described in the book.
3. "Each book is a magic box" — Explain the line. Ans: This line suggests that books hold immense power within their covers. Just as a magic box reveals unexpected things, a book reveals new ideas, cultures, and stories that enrich the reader's mind and soul.
4. How can a reader find a "chosen friend" in a book? Ans: While reading, we encounter various characters. Sometimes, we connect with a character’s thoughts and actions so deeply that they feel real to us, thus becoming a "chosen friend" in our imagination.
5. What is the significance of the "outside covers" mentioned in the poem? Ans: The "outside covers" represent the physical boundary of the book. The poet suggests that while the book looks small from the outside, the world contained between those covers is vast and full of reality and discovery.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the "world of wonder" referred to in the first line? Ans: The "world of wonder" refers to the vast collection of stories, information, and imaginative journeys that books offer to a reader.
2. How do "new ideas and people rise" according to the poet? Ans: They rise in our fancies (imagination) and our eyes as soon as we open a book and begin to read.
3. What does the phrase "the room we sit in melts away" mean? Ans: It means that the reader becomes so absorbed in the book that they lose awareness of their physical surroundings.
4. Where does the mind go while the body stays in the chair? Ans: The mind travels "over there," which represents the setting, land, or era described in the book.
5. How does a child "unlock" the magic box? Ans: A child unlocks the magic box simply by touching and opening the book to read.
6. What does the poet mean by "at play with someone"? Ans: It refers to the mental interaction between the reader and the characters in the story, making the reading experience feel like a shared activity.
7. Does the poet think books are only for information? Ans: No, the poet views books as a source of adventure, friendship, and emotional discovery, rather than just a source of facts.
8. What does "some other land or age" signify? Ans: It signifies that books can transport us geographically to different countries and chronologically to the past or future.
9. Explain the phrase "before the end." Ans: It suggests that even before a reader finishes a book, they develop a strong emotional bond with the characters.
10. What is the role of "fancy" in this poem? Ans: "Fancy" or imagination is the tool that allows the reader to see the people and places the poet is describing.
Critical & Analytical Questions
11. Why does the poet use the word "sails" in "we sail along the page"? Ans: The word "sails" compares reading to a voyage or journey across an ocean, suggesting that the experience is smooth, adventurous, and expansive.
12. What is the significance of the word "choosing" in "chosen friend"? Ans: It implies that readers have the freedom to select which characters they resonate with and keep in their hearts as friends.
13. How does the poem contrast the physical world with the mental world? Ans: The poem contrasts the "body in the chair" (physical reality) with the "mind over there" (mental reality), showing that the mind is not limited by physical space.
14. What is the "everything that’s real" that a child discovers? Ans: Though books are works of fiction, they teach "real" truths about human emotions, bravery, kindness, and the nature of the world.
15. Is the tone of the poem formal or playful? Ans: The tone is playful, curious, and filled with wonder, aiming to inspire a love for reading in young minds.
16. What is the message of the poem to a student? Ans: The message is that reading is a powerful tool for self-discovery and that one is never truly alone or bored if they have a book.
17. Why is a child mentioned specifically instead of an adult? Ans: Children have a more vivid and pure imagination, making them more likely to see books as "magic boxes" and fully immerse themselves in the story.
18. Describe the imagery used in the poem. Ans: The poet uses visual imagery like "melting rooms," "sailing pages," and "magic boxes" to make the act of reading feel like a physical adventure.
19. How does the poem define a "book"? Ans: The poem defines a book as a magical gateway that connects the reader’s imagination to the reality of the wider world.
20. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? Ans: The poem follows a simple AABB rhyme scheme (e.g., books/looks, rise/eyes), which gives it a rhythmic, song-like quality that is easy for students to remember.
Quick Tips for SSC Students:
Keywords: When writing answers, use words like transcend, imagination, gateway, and perspective.
Context: Mention that Eleanor Farjeon is known for her ability to see the world through a child's eyes.
Bangla Context: Remember that "Fancies" means কল্পনা (Kalpana) and "Melts away" means মিলিয়ে যাওয়া (Miliye jawa).
