Abou Ben Adhem

Abou Ben Adhem

Leigh Hunt

 

I. (i) Refer to The Real Abu Ben Adhem, under Critical Remarks section Page 137. The phrase "may his tribe increase" means that there should be more people like Abou Ben Adhem in this world. The narrator admires and respects Abou Ben Adhem.

(ii) Refer to Notes Section, Page 135. He is at peace as he loves and serves his fellowmen.

(iii) The bright silvery moonlight in Abou's room on a peaceful night had a magical effect. The room appeared rich and calm.

The comparison is made to reflect the similarities between blossoming lily and the sparkling moonlight. Both the flower and the moonlight are natural, beautiful and pleasing to the eyes. They are the symbols of peace and purity.

(iv) When Abou wakes up he finds his room brightened with moonlight and an angel writing something in "a book of gold". The "book of gold" is significant as it adds to the magical and supernatural quality of the poem. Moreover gold could also be a symbol purity of the subject matter of the book.

(v) The angel visits Abou again the next night with "a great wakening light." The angel shows him the names of those who had been blessed by God, Abou Ben Adhem sees that his name appears at the top, ahead of others. Refer to True Devotion to God under Themes, Page 135.

II. (i) The presence in the above extract is referred to the angel who woke Abou from his "deep dream of peace". Abou asked the presence in his room, what was he writing.

(ii) The vision here refers to the angel, or could be Abou's supernatural vision.  The vision raises its head to answer Abou's query about what was he writing in his book of gold.

(iii) The angel tells Abou that he is writing in his book the names of all those who love the Lord.

(iv) Abou curiously asks the angel if his name was written among those who love the Lord. When the angel replied in the negative, it made Abou feel low.

(v) Abou feels a little low but only for a moment. The words "cheerly" tells us this. Abou cheerfully requests the angel to write his name as the one who loves his fellow men.

III. (i) The angel might have written Abou's name as one who loves his fellow men. Refer to Lines 15-18, under The Poem in detail, page 135.

(ii) Abou Ben Adhem was a pure and simple man. He lived on humanistic ideals. He is the epitome of the idea that when you love your fellow men, you become worthy to be loved by God.

Moreover he was a positive man. On realising that his name was not there on the list of men who love the Lord, he was not disheartened, but cheerfully asked the angel to write his name the as the one who loves his fellow-men.

(iii) (a) The line is a reference to the angel's second visit to Abou's room. His first visit filled Abou's room with moonlight and the second time his visit is accompanied by "a great wakening light."

(b) This is the last line of the poem. The angel appears the next night and with a new set of names of people who have been blessed by God with Ben Adhem's name on top of the list. The word go' adds to the climax.

(iv) The angel shows Abou the names of people loved by God. Refer to Climax, under Style, Page 137.

(v) Refer to True Devotion to God, under Themes, Page 135.