The Palanquin Bearers by Sarojini Naidu ANALYSIS πŸ‘°πŸ½

Caitlin Jessica・12 minutes read

The poem "The Palanquin Bearers" by Sarojini Naidu describes a traditional Indian practice where a bride is carried in a palanquin to her husband's house, highlighting the bearers' responsibility for her safety and comfort, using vivid imagery and similes to portray the bride's delicacy and beauty while conveying her mixed emotions of joy and sorrow.

Insights

  • The poem "The Palanquin Bearers" by Sarojini Naidu vividly portrays an ancient Indian custom where a bride is transported in a palanquin by bearers, emphasizing the significance and elegance of this traditional practice.
  • Through vivid imagery and similes, the poem beautifully captures the delicate nature and emotional complexity of the bride's journey, juxtaposing feelings of joy and sorrow while highlighting her grace and value as she is carried to her new life.

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Recent questions

  • What is a palanquin?

    A large box carried by men.

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Summary

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"The Palanquin Bearers: A Delicate Journey"

  • The poem "The Palanquin Bearers" by Sarojini Naidu depicts an old Indian tradition where a bride is carried in a palanquin to her husband's home.
  • A palanquin is a large box carried by four or six men, considered a privilege.
  • The poem is from the perspective of the palanquin bearers, responsible for the bride's safety and comfort.
  • The bearers sing while transporting the bride, describing her movements as gentle and swaying.
  • The poem consists of 12 lines in two stanzas with a musical rhythm and joyful tone.
  • The bride is compared to a flower, bird, star, pearl, and laugh, emphasizing her delicacy and beauty.
  • Similes are used to describe the bride's movements as swaying, skimming, floating, and gliding.
  • Contrasting images of laughter and tears depict the bride's mixed emotions of happiness and sadness.
  • The repetition of the phrase "like a pearl on a string" highlights the bride's value and the smooth movement of the palanquin.
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