Under The Greenwood Tree
William Shakespeare
(1564 - 1616)
He was an English poet, dramatist, and actor, often called the English national poet and considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time.
For more than 350 years, William Shakespeare has been the world's most popular
playwright. On the stage, in the movies, and on television his plays are
watched by vast audiences. People read his plays again and again for pleasure.
His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 38 plays,
154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of
uncertain authorship.
His plays have been translated into every major living language and are
performed more often than those of any other playwright
Shakespeare's continued popularity is due to many things. His plays are filled
with action, his characters are believable, and his language is thrilling to
hear or read. Underlying all this is Shakespeare's deep humanity. He was a
profound student of people and he understood them. He had a great tolerance,
sympathy, and love for all people, good or evil.
Under
The Greenwood Tree
This poem is a song, sung by Lord Amiens in Act II, Scene V of As You
Like It, a play written by
William Shakespeare in 1599.
The play, As You Like It, is set in two places: the royal court,
which Frederick has stolen from his brother, and the nearby Forest of Arden.
Frederick's brother, known simply as the Duke, is hiding in the forest with his
followers. Lord Amiens is one of the noblemen living a exile in the forest
with the Duke. Like nearly all the songs Shakespeare introduces into his
plays, it is completely relevant to the situation. The exiled Duke and his
followers have experience, and are experiencing, misfortunes brought about by
human enemies. In their simple life in the forest of Arden, they no longer have
human enemies. They have to contend only with "winter and rough
weather."
In this song, Lord Amiens invites people to join him in the simplistic mode of
living in a forest, far away from political conspiracies and struggle for
material prosperity. He also highlights the hardships they have to face and the
requirements they have to meet. On the other hand, Jaques, another of the
noblemen, considers such people fool.
Paraphrasing
I live under a
tree in a forest, and I invite you to come here and live with me if you love to
sing as happily as birds do in a free, cheerful atmosphere. Here, you don't
have to protect yourself from your enemies, but from cold weather and and heavy
rain.
In fact, you can sing happily only when you avoid any ambition to have power,
wealth, status, and fame; when you sleep on floor in an open area; when you go
and search out food for yourself; and mostly importantly, when you are happy
with such food and such living conditions. If your answer is a 'yes', come over
here. I assure you that there is no enemy in the forest. The only problem is
the cold weather and heavy rain.
Analysis
Theme: Lack of ambition leads to a simple, peaceful life.
Theme: Lack of ambition leads to a simple, peaceful life.
Form: This poem is a song which has
two stanzas, each with a rhyme scheme of aabbcddc.
The first stanza extends an invitation to all those who love to live in a
peaceful atmosphere of the jungle, where no one is an enemy to the others. The
second stanza outlines four requirements: lack of ambition, lack of property,
self-reliance, and contentment.
Questions from Past Papers
- What message has been conveyed
in the song ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’? (2015, Reg. & Pvt.)
- What is the theme of the poem
‘Under the Greenwood Tree’? (2014, Reg. & Pvt.)
- What kind of people are
eligible for living ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’? (2013, Reg. & Pvt.)
- What are the charms of forest
life according to Lord Amiens? (2011, Com. Pvt.)
Nice
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