Chapter 4.1 - Under the Greenwood Tree
The poet William Shakespeare tells us about the happiness of living in nature without fearing one’s enemies.
The poet invites the people who share his feelings to join him under the greenwood tree. He says that these people should sing merrily and listen to the cheery note of a happy bird. He asks them to come there, for they shall see no enemies there except for winter and rough weather.
He asks those who do not pursue ambition, who love to live in the sun and are happy with the food that they get to eat, to come into the lap of nature. He repeats that they shall see no enemies there except for winter and rough weather.
Meanings:
- hither (old English) – here.
- rough weather (here) – winter.
- shun – reject, deliberately avoid.
POINTERS
1. From the poem, find the old word used for each of the following :
• towards
Ans: unto
• here
Ans: hither
• does
Ans: doth
2. Write in your own words.
(a) Who does the poet invite to join him?
Ans: The poet invites the people who share his feelings to join him.
(b) How should that person sing?
Ans: That person should sing merrily.
(c) What message does the poem convey?
Ans: The poem conveys the message that if one deliberately avoids ambition and lives a simple life in the lap of nature, one will be very happy and have no real enemies. The only enemies will be winter and rough weather.
3. Pick out the lines that mean :
(a) Sing in such a manner :
Ans: And turn his merry note, unto the sweet bird’s throat.
(b) One who wishes to join me :
Ans: Who loves to lie with me.
(c) Who gives up his desire for wealth, power, fame, etc. :
Ans: Who doth ambition shun.
(d) Life in the forest is free from ill-wishers :
Ans: Here shall he see no enemy.
(e) Happy to eat whatever he can get :
Ans: Seeking the food he eats, And pleased with what he gets.
4. Find from the Internet and write down.
(a) In which century did William Shakespeare write his famous plays?
Ans: William Shakespeare was actively writing plays and dramas from 1585 until 1613. He is known as the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote his famous plays between the 16th and 17th centuries. His writings and plays are still widely known in the modern era.
(b) From which play is this song extracted?
Ans: The play “As You Like It” is a pastoral comedy (with love as the central theme) written by William Shakespeare and was performed for the first time in 1603. The play consists of 5 acts, the 2nd of which is the act from which the song “Under the Greenwood Tree” is extracted.
(c) Which character from the play sings this song?
Ans: Amiens is a lord who sings the song “Under the Greenwood Tree” in the forest to encourage people to give up on all the luxury of court and ambition and join him in the forest to enjoy what nature offers them.
5. Be a poet. Try to complete the following poem with words that rhyme with each other.
I’d love to live a life that’s ……………,
Relax under a shady t…………… ,
And fall into a dreamy s……………p,
With no strict hours, forced to k……………
And sing aloud a merry ……………,
Untrodden paths, as I walk a……………g.
You ask me what I’d get to ……………?
Fruits and nuts and berries sw……………
You ask me with whom I’d get to p……………
Birds and animals, happy and g……………
And if a woodcutter put a c……………p
Firmly, I would put a st……………
So that’s the life I’d like l……………d
Free from worries, free from gr……………d.
Ans:
I’d love to live a life that’s free,
Relax under a shady tree,
And fall into a dreamy sleep.
With no strict hours, forced to keep.
And sing aloud a merry song,
Untrodden paths, as I walk along.
You ask me what I’d get to eat?
Fruits and nuts and berries sweet.
You ask me with whom I’d get to play,
Birds and animals, happy and gay.
And if a woodcutter put a chop,
Firmly I’d put a stop.
So that’s the life I’d like to lead,
Free from worries, free from greed.