Death the Leveller: NBSE class 10 poem summary and answers

Leave a Comment

Get here the summary and solutions of the chapter Death the Leveller of NBSE Class 10 English. However, the given notes and solutions should only be used as references and should be mmodified or changedaccording to needs.

Summary

Death the Leveller by James Shirley is a reminder to the readers that death is one day going to take everyone. In the first stanza, the poet says that every achievement that a person can achieve in his life is temporary and there is nothing that one can do to protect him/her from death. Death will fall on a rich king and on a poor man equally.

In the second stanza, the poet says that the success earned by great warriors by doing courageous works mean nothing before death. Even the strongest of conquerors one day kneel down and is defeated by the power of Death. Sooner or later, everyone dies.

In the third stanza, the poet pictures death as a force that brings equality. Those who won and those who lose are made equal by Death because death is the ultimate equalizer. Every person goes to the grave in the end. The last two lines say that if there is anything that is going to last after a person has died, it is the good work that he does while he is alive and people remember them for those good work.

Textual questions and answers

MCQs

1. The sentence that best summarises the poem is that 

A. death is inevitable B. death only comes to the unhealthy C. death is temporary D. death is permanent sleep 

Answer: A. death is inevitable 

2. ‘Sceptre and crown’ and ‘scythe and spade’ in the poem depict 

A. kings and workers B. symbols of hard work C. equality in society D. equality in death 

Answer: D. equality in death 

3. The only thing that outlives death is 

A. fragrance of blossoms B. good actions C. murmuring breath D. laurels gained through war 

Answer: B. good actions 

4. Death is called the leveller because 

A. death raises the poor to the level of the rich B. death is the biggest equaliser C. death does not discriminate D. all of us face death helplessly 

Answer: C. death does not discriminate 

5. An antonym for ‘leveller’ is 

A. moderate B. elitist C. disequilibrium D. equalizer 

Answer: B. elitist

Reference to the context

1. The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against Fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:

a) Why does the poet say that the glories are shadows?
b) Explain the significance of the line ‘Death lays his icy hand on kings’.
c) Does death lay his hands only on kings?
d) What is the figure of speech used in this line?

Ans: a) By glories and shadows, the poet wants to send the message that no matter how great our achievements are, in the end, or at death, nothing matters. The glories mean nothing.

b) The significance of the line is that death discriminates none and doesn’t leave out even kings. In death everybody is equal. Wealth, religion, caste, class, etc. mean nothing to death.

c) No, death doesn’t lay his hands only on kings. Death befalls everyone equally regardless of being a king or a pauper.

d) The figure of speech used in this line is a metaphor. In this line, death is personified as a living entity with icy cold hands that makes everyone equal when he touches them.

2. The garlands wither on your brow;
Then boast no more your mighty deeds!
upon Death’s purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.

a) The poet cautions us not to boast of our mighty deeds. Why does he do so?
b) What is the significance of the colour purple? Why is death’s altar described as purple?
c) Explain ‘victor-victim’.

Ans: a) The poet cautions us not to boast of our mighty deeds because all the mighty deeds of ours mean nothing to death eventually and when death comes, he isn’t going to take note of our deeds and our deeds aren’t going to save us.

b) In many cultures, purple is a colour used during funerals. The poet described the altar of death as purple for the same reason.

c) In the poem, ‘victor-victim’ literally means people who succeeded in their lives and people who failed to find success. He used the expression in the poem to depict equality of both in front of death.

Think and Answer

1. Does the title of the poem give an indication of the theme of the poem? Discuss.

Ans: The title “death the leveller” is significant. In the poem, the poet tries to convey the message that death is the ultimate equaliser. It equalizes the difference between the rich and the poor and fills the gap between the victor and the victim. All are equal before death and no one is Immortal. The poem says that death is inevitable. A person cannot be spared by death on the basis of his high birth or high status. Even the great warriors who defeated others and earned names and fame, cannot defeat death. They become captive in the hands of death and creep to tombs. Thus, death is a great leveller.

2. Do you agree with the poet’s view that it is futile to take pride in one’s birth and state? Why/Why not?

Ans: Yes, I do agree with the view that it is futile to take pride in one’s birth or state because just taking birth in a high family does not reflect the real characteristics of a person. Taking pride in one’s birth or state just depicts the ignorance of that person. Further, the poet reminds us that these things are insignificant and like shadows that remain till the person is alive and there is no armour against fate. He says that every mighty king and his staffs have to come to dust and death lays his icy hands on every man irrespective of caste, creed, status etc.

Extra MCQs

1. “Death The Leveller” by James Shirley suggest

A. Victory in battle B. Wealth accumulation C. Death and equality D. Eternal glory 

Answer: C. Death and equality 

2. ……. cannot protect against fate 

A. Strength and bravery B. The glories of blood and state C. Wealth and possessions D. Armour 

Answer: D. Armour 

3. Imagery Shirley used to depict the equality brought by death 

A. A blooming garden B. Sceptre and Crown falling C. A shining armour D. A high mountain 

Answer: B. Sceptre and Crown falling 

4. Metaphor used to describe the eventual downfall of kings and rulers 

A. A crumbling castle B. Falling leaves C. Tumbling down of Sceptre and Crown D. A setting sun 

Answer: C. Tumbling down of Sceptre and Crown 

5. Shirley imply about the efforts to avoid death

A. They are ultimately successful B. They can extend life indefinitely C. They are futile D. They make death easier 

Answer: C. They are futile 

6. How does “Death The Leveller” portray the impact of death on human glory and achievements? 

A. Enhances their value B. Preserves them forever C. Renders them meaningless D. Transforms them into legends 

Answer: C. Renders them meaningless 

7. According to the poem, what remains of the just after death? 

A. Their wealth and treasures B. The memory of their deeds C. Their influence on others D. The sweet smell and blossom of their actions 

Answer: D. The sweet smell and blossom of their actions 

Extra Questions and Answers

1. What metaphor does the poem use to compare the inevitability of death for all people? 

Answer: The poem employs a powerful metaphor that likens death to a great equalizer, a force that renders all human distinctions moot. It suggests that death, indifferent to one’s social standing or accomplishments, levels the playing field between the powerful and the powerless. This metaphor is woven throughout the poem, illustrating how the inevitability of death unifies all, disregarding the achievements or possessions that people often use to differentiate themselves from others. 

2. How does the poem describe the effect of death on symbols of power like the sceptre and crown? 

Answer: Through vivid imagery, the poem articulates that death diminishes the value of traditional symbols of power, such as sceptres and crowns. These emblems, which in life signify authority and dominion, lose their significance and are metaphorically laid low alongside the tools of the commoner. This stark imagery serves to underline the message that in death, the symbols of earthly power hold no sway, emphasizing the futility of such temporal power. 

3. What does the line “There is no armour against Fate” suggest about the power of death? 

Answer: This line underscores the omnipotence of death over any human attempt to avoid or shield oneself from it. It conveys the idea that fate, as embodied by death, is an inescapable force against which no physical or metaphorical armour can protect us. This notion challenges the human propensity to seek immortality through deeds or legacies, highlighting the ultimate vulnerability of all human endeavors in the face of death’s inexorable advance. 

4. How does the poem contrast the actions of men who seek glory in battle with their eventual fate? 

Answer: The poem contrasts the transient glory sought by men in battle with their inevitable submission to death. It illustrates how individuals strive for honor and remembrance through acts of valor, yet regardless of their bravery or the laurels they earn, they cannot escape death. This contrast is poignant in its reminder that the quest for eternal glory in the eyes of humanity is ultimately futile when faced with the finality of death. 

5. What imagery is used to depict the finality of death for those who boast of their mighty deeds? 

Answer: Imagery of fading laurels and the ephemeral nature of human achievements is used to depict death’s finality. The poem suggests that regardless of how loudly one boasts of their deeds, these achievements cannot withstand the test of time. The metaphor of withering garlands symbolizes the transient nature of human glory, which, like the physical body, is subject to decay and obscurity in death. 

6. How does the poem use the image of “Death’s purple altar” to convey the idea of sacrifice? 

Answer: The “Death’s purple altar” is a compelling image that suggests the ultimate sacrifice all must make to death. Purple, often associated with royalty and sacrifice, here highlights the noble surrender to an inevitable fate. This altar serves as a metaphorical place where all human endeavors, regardless of their perceived greatness, are offered up and equalized in the face of death. It conveys the solemnity and finality of death as the ultimate destiny, where all distinctions are obliterated. 

7. How does the poem’s title, “Death the Leveller,” encapsulate its central message? 

Answer: “Death the Leveller” as a title succinctly captures the essence of the poem’s central message: the universal and equalizing nature of death. It encapsulates the inevitability of death and its power to erase the distinctions among people, regardless of their social status, achievements, or power. This title frames the poem’s exploration of mortality, underscoring the common destiny that awaits all humanity and challenging the value of temporal pursuits in the face of the eternal and impartial force of death.

8. How does the poem remind the readers of the futility of taking pride in anyone’s birth and state? Why does the poet feel so?

Answer: The poet reminds the readers that taking pride in one’s birth or state is insignificant and these are like shadows that remain till the person is alive. He adds that when death comes, death really does not care about these things.
The poet feels so because there is no armour against fate. He says that every mighty king and his staff have to come to dust and death lays his icy hands on every man irrespective of caste, creed, status etc.

9. What are the two classes of people that the poet talks about in the second last stanza? What does he want them about?

Answer: The two classes of people that the poet talks about in the second last stanza are the victor and the victim. He warns them that they would not be spared by death and both of them will bleed on the purple altar of death.

10. What does the poet say about strength and courage?

Answer: About strength and courage, the poet says that great warriors can win name and fame with the help of their strength and courage but ultimately the strongest and most courageous kneel down in front of the power of death and they are reduced to dust.

11. What is the poet’s underlying message in the poem?

Answer: The poet’s underlying message in the poem is that death is certain and everyone has to die one day. But the only thing that remains immortal is the noble deeds of a person.

Describe the character of death as presented by the poet by selecting words and phrases from the poem.
About death, the poet says that death does not discriminate between the rich and the poor. The glories of our blood and state cannot save us from death. The great warriors or courageous men may earn name and fame through their deeds but they are bound to creep to death. Both the victor and the victim are sacrificed upon the purple altar of death. Death is certain, impartial and powerful as stated in the poem.

12. Why is the final couplet separated from the rest of the poem?

Answer: The final couplet is separated from the rest of the poem because the idea in the couplet is quite different from the other stanzas. In the above stanzas, the poet depicts the power of death and says that everyone is powerless before death. But in the last two lines, the poet says that the noble deeds of a person remain immortal so death may destroy a person but not his noble deeds through which a person can become immortal though he is not physically present.

This poem highlights the uselessness of worldly power. What is it that cannot be snatched by death?
The things which cannot be snatched by death are the noble deeds of a person. They always remain immortal. The noble deeds of a person are like sweet-scented flowers that spread the message of nobility in the same manner as the flowers spread their fragrance in the air.

13. Which stands in the poem “Death the Leveller” do you like the best? Why?

Answer: I like the last stanza the most because it spreads the message of nobility. The poet says in these two lines that the noble deeds of a person remain immortal and a person survives even after his death. Death can destroy everything but it becomes powerless before the noble actions of a person.

Get notes of other classes and subjects