Question No. 44 :
Write the summary of 'The Cold Within'.
[ICSE, 10th class]
Answers
1-)A DIDACTIC POEM
The poem The Cold within is a didactic poem though they poem is simple and straight forward in style it conveys a profound meaning it conveys a noble message in the form of parable the message is suggestive.
2-)TRAPPING OF SIX MEN
The setting can be anywhere just by chance six human beings get trapped in bitter cold they all are sitting near the dying fire there only hope of Survival each each one of them has a stick of wood if any one of the gives of the stick it will the fire burning and all of them will survive but the sadly and strangely is as a person is a reason to no give his/her stick.
3-)EACH HUMAN BEING HOLDS BACK HIS STICK
The first of the group is a man who does not want to give his stick.As it will save the black man's life who says he has seen in the light of Fire.The second man holds back his stick as one of them he has noticed does not belong to which religion. Third one is a very poor man in tattered cloth he hold back his take thinking that it should not be used to warm the rich man among them.Fourth one is a rich man holds back his stick he wants to keep his wealth away from the undeserving lazy poor persons.Fifth the black man is full of hatred for the white people he wants to hurt the white someone by holding back his stick.The Last Man of the group has his own reason to hold his stick that has no one else is ready to renounce his stick so he to will not see things he will only give to those who give first.
4-)ALL PERISH
all of them Perish not because of the coldness from the outdoors but the coldness in their hearts.
hope it helps you out.
Summary of the poem " Cold Within "
There was a group of six people who met by chance and were trapped in a cold and bleak weather .
Each one had a piece of log of wood in their hand and they had a dying fire in front.
Anyone , if would have gave the log to the fire , then they would have saved the fire and could have survived the weather .
However their hearts were cold and they showed lack of human feeling to one another.
The first woman refused to give the log because she had racial bias and noticed a black face in the group.
The second man saw no one from his Church.
The third man was poor and he did not want to serve the rich.
The rich thought not to offer the log for the idle poor.
The fifth man was black and he wanted to take revenge on the white.
The sixth man did not give unless he has been given too .
These group completely were dominated by their prejudices and they had a cold heart.
It was this coldness that resulted in their death rather than the cold weather .
We should remember " Love thy neighbor as thyself ".