How does sarojini naidu use imagery in the poem? Explain using examples from the poem (Indian weavers)
Answers
Answer:
The poem Indian weavers, it consists of three stanzas. The author expresses ideas by many times of imagery. Whole poem consists of a discussion within the poet and weavers.
She describes clothes as the wing of a halcyon wild because the color of the clothes is blue. Halcyon is the other name of the kingfisher.
She describes her garments with the plumes of a peacock, the color of the garments are purple, and green.
Detailed explanation of Imagery used in the "Indian Weavers" by Sarojini Naidu:
"Indian Weavers" is an excellent poem by Sarojini Naidu that runs at multi-layers at the same time.
On a surface layer, by reading the poem, we feel that the poet is talking about how hard the weavers work from day to night, everyday, and they create a number of designs for different kinds of cloth materials.
However, as we give a closer reading to the poem, we would find that the poem consists of meaningful imagery and their respective meanings as well.
It tries to focus on the different phases of a person, as a person moves from his/her birth stage, to marital stage and finally towards the death stage. The poet has wonderfully used colors to express this in each paragraph.
The first paragraph shows the nature of a "new born child" when he is fresh in actions and spirits, like a halcyon wild(i.e. a kingfisher) and this stage has been described by the color of blue.
In the second stanza, the poet describes about the marital stage of a person or woman's life when she starts to weave a number of hopes and aspirations for her new life. She has high hopes from her love and marriage and all this is signified by the colors of purple and green.
Brightness is expressed in heart as well as in external appearance i.e. dress and the woman feels herself to be the queen of her man. She flies in her thoughts. This is indicated by the reference of a peacock and its plumes, as it is the queen of all birds.
In the third stanza, the poet wants to show the sad part of life when a person has died and everything has stopped down and is now still and very silent. It is a sad state and ultimate state of life and the poet has referred about the white color to indicate peace, mourning and a lot more.
She has also mentioned about the shroud that indicates that the person has died.