write the summary of "the slaves dream"class 11
Answers
The man, a slave, sleeps and dreams of his native homeland. In the slave's dreams, he is back in his homeland, riding along the majestic Niger River. In his dream, he has been transformed into a “kingly” presence. ... In the dream, the dreamer then begins an uninhibited ride across his homeland.
Answer:
H. W. Longfellow is a prominent poet of American origin. In the poem “The Slave’s Dream”, Longfellow describes the slave’s dying moment as lost in a dream. He dreams of his African home, imagines a life of fun and gaiety in the company of his kinsfolk, and fancies himself as a king. The sights and sounds of his native land and the free life he had once led among his people are vividly recalled by the slave.
‘The Slave’s Dream’ portrays the lost dreams and ambitions of a slave. The slave is captivated by the images of his family and native land. Holding his sickle in hand, the slave lies in the field, bare-breasted, his matted hair covered by sand.
Along the stretch of scenery of his dreams, the river Niger flows regally. He imagines himself to be a king, no more bound to the shackles of slavery, but free to do whatever he wishes.
He strides majestically over the plains lined by palm trees. The slave is so empowered by his dream, that he visualizes himself in a land where he is an individual not just a slave.
The images of his family bring a tear to his eye. Like a king he rides his stallion in search of adventures. The lion’s roar, the hyena’s scream and the grunt of the hippopotamus sound like a glorious roll of drums to his ears. The sound from the forest and the desert introduces ideas of wildness and liberty in his mind. As he finally gasps for his last breath, he smiles in ‘tempestuous glee’.
The recollections are so strong that his abject slavery and shameful death hardly trouble him. ‘The Slaves Dream’ is celebration of liberty and dignity. No master can deprive his slave of his liberty to dream. As the driver whips the slave, as the sun beats heavily on his body, the slave lies motionless as his soul has broken away from the fetters of his body. Death illumines his land of sleep as death has saved him from the miseries of life.