The Awakening Age By: Ben Okri : Summary and Exercises

 

The Awakening Age

By: Ben Okri

1. Awaking ---- What is it ?

Awaking is the act of waking up from sleep. 

It also refers to a new or sudden consciousness. Any time you realize or accept something important and life changing, it can be called an 'awaking'.

2. The Awakening Age : Title Justification 

Ben Okri is a Nigerian poet. In this poem the poet communicates with his country people by addressing them directly. 

 The Nigerians have suffered a lot in the age long slavery imposed upon them by  their white rulers. Furthermore, the three years of devastating civil war smashed their lives into pieces. They are in the mud of poverty, misery, uneducatedness, despair and segmentation. 

Here the speaker presents a new vision for the betterment of his countrymen where there will be hopes, glory, joy, unity, and harmony. That is, they have to enter into an age of awakening.

The awakening age is a new age/era of enlightenment where a new new world is reigned by love, peace, togetherness, and a universal brotherhood.

Awakening age is the beginning of a new era. It indicates the Nigerians coming into awareness of their poor, pathetic miserable condition and beginning a new world. In the new world there will be joy, unity, and harmony. They will rise out of their despair and move towards the betterment of their being. 

3. Background :

This poem has its roots in the civil war (July, 1967 - January, 1970). This war is also known as the Biafran War. The war ended with the emergence of The  Republic of Biafra, declaring themselves independent.

The war had left Nigeria almost smashed, and the Nigerians had to go through the stage of poverty and chaos.

4. Summary : 

Ben Okri's 'The Awakening Age "is both a poem of pain, endurance and hardships and a poem of hope of getting out of such hardships. 

Their (Nigerian's) pain and hardships are only implied (understood/ indicated indirectly) whereas the hope for a better future is explicitly expressed.

The poem starts with an address of the speaker to his people (Nigerians) travelling the meridian line and he wishes for them too. These wishes show his vision of an awakening age for his people.

His vision of awakening age is the time when the Nigerian people would come out of poverty, miseries and other hardships. He thinks that they can attain (achieve/ reach) this goal by their unity, togetherness and a solidarity. They have a strong bond which is as strong as a mountain rope.

  Perception plays a great role on the path of betterment either of a country or of an entire community. Better changes depend upon new and better perception. It is as you perceive, so you act. So the speaker lays importance on perception. With a positive perception they can gain much. 

Poverty can never be permanent for anybody or any community, so they can gain victory over it by their wisdom and hard labour. He ends the poem with a hopeful note that they would harvest a better position in times ahead.

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5.Understanding the stanzas

Stanza 1.

O ye who travel the meridian line, 

May the vision of a new world within you shine.

Explanation : In this first couplet the speaker addresses his people who are travelling thee meridian line. They are travelling to a new place, a new world. He wishes them to have new experiences, and this travel will create the vision of a new world within them. . This new vision will be completely different than the pathetic miserable situation they have been living in since long.

Stanza 2.

May eyes that have lived with poverty's rage, 

See through to the glory of the awakening age.

Explanation : In this stanza he wishes that the Nigerian people, who have suffered through poverty and hunger, can see through the glory of the awakening age. This means they experience the new world (awakening age) they will have new recognition, hopes and better living conditions. Thus they will have a new beginning of life.

Stanza 3.

For we are all richly linked in hope, 

Woven in history, like a mountain rope.

Explanation : Here the speaker reminds his people that they have not been enemies for ever. Though the civil war separated them for a brief period of time, and though they have been enemies of each other during this time, still they have been in closer bonds since the historical period.

[Climbers using a mountain rope]

Their bond is as strong as a mountain rope. He is hopeful that the Nigerian people will work together, with a common goal. 

Stanza 4.

Together we can ascend to a new height, 

Guided by our heart's clearest light. 

Explanation : In these two line the speaker says that they can ascend (rise above) to new heights with their togetherness with a clear light. Here he pins his hopes on reaching on the heights of success with a clear heart and an unprejudiced mind.  

They can reach up to the height of peace, honour and recognition. Here he puts stress on togetherness. Without unity and togetherness it is impossible to get to such a height of achievement. They have to unitedly strive for that awakening age. 

Here he puts stress on togetherness. Without unity and togetherness it is just impossible to get to such a height of achievement. They have to unitedly strive for that awakening age.

Stanza 5.

When perceptions are changed there's much to gain, 

A flowering of truth instead of pain. 

Explanation : In this stanza the speaker urges his people to change their perception (the way to think and behave). With a new  perception, they will be free from all the prejudices and malice for each other. (This will help in togetherness). 

This unbiased outlook will help people to forget their pains and will bring the flowers of truth, and this will make life better.

Stanza 6. 

There's more to a people than their poverty;

 There's their work, wisdom, and creativity.

Explanation : In this stanza the speaker says that they can get victory over their poverty with the help of work, wisdom and creativity.

Poverty can never be an ultimate destiny for any person or community. It is nothing something unchangeable. There is more than that.

Applying their work, wisdom, labour etc. they can come out of their mud of poverty and misery.

Stanza 7.

Along the line may our lives rhyme,

 To make a loving harvest of space and time.

Explanation : In this conclusive stanza the speaker wishes for spreading love for each other. He wishes for the time when people would love and respect.

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6. Exercises 

Before reading 

Discuss the following questions :

Question a : Why do you think people from your country migrate to another country ?

Answer : There are several reasons behind it. Three of them are most common -- they migrate in search of work or economic opportunities, or to study, or some of them also migrate to join their families there.

Question b : Do people from other countries migrate to your country? Why?

Answer : Yes, people from other countries also migrate to Nepal. Mostly Indians do so. There are several reasons behind it. The main reason associate behind it is marriage, specially in the case of women. Further, many migrants come for economic reasons too. If blue-cloured peopled come for jobs like labourers, business people come for business purposes. 

 

Understanding the text 

Answer the following questions :

Question a. Who are the people 'who travel the meridian line'?

Answer : The people 'who travel the meridian line' are Africans, particularly the Nigerians.

Question b. What does the poet mean by ‘a new world’?

Answer : By the phrase 'a new world' the poet means the world where there is hope, freedom, unity and prosperity. The new world is a world of wide vision.

Question c. How are people connected to each other?

Answer : Since very beginning people are connected to each other with hope.

Question d. What can we gain after our perceptions are changed?

Answer : After our perceptions are changed, we can get a new perspective (outlook) to look, think and solve our problems. We understand the values of unity, brotherhood and prosperity.

Question e. How are we befitted by new people ?

Answer : We are benefitted by them in several ways. Firstly, we are benefitted by their new vision of a new and better world. Secondly, we are benefitted by their support to reach to the awakening age. 

Question f. Describe the rhyme scheme of this sonnet.

Answer : All the seven stanzas of this poem have rhyming couplet. The rhyming scheme is aa, bb, cc, dd, ee, ff, gg.

Reference to the context 

Question a. What does the poet mean by 'the awakening age' ?

or

Do you think the title of the poem is justified ?

Answer : The awakening age is the beginning of a new era. It indicates the Nigerians coming into awareness of their poor, pathetic miserable condition and beginning a new world. In the new world there will be joy, unity, and harmony.

In this way the title of the poem is quite justified.

Question b. Why, in your view, have these people 'lived with poverty's rage' ?

Answer : These peopled have lived with poverty's rage because they have never been given any educational, economic opportunities in the age long history of slavery. They were only exploited by their colonizers. Furthermore, they have been involved into a long civil war.

Question c. Why does the poet appeal for solidarity among the people ?

Answer : He appeals for solidarity because it is through solidarity that they can reach up to a new height. They can never reach up to an awakening age by being divided.

Question d. Does the poet present migration in a positive light ?

Answer : Yes, he has taken migration in a positive light. He thinks that by visiting new lands they will have a new and changed  perspective towards their problems and solutions. They will understand values of unity, labour and creativity.

Question e. Nepal is also known for its economic as well as educational migrants. Have you noticed any change in the perceptions and behaviors of these migrants when they return home from abroad?

Answer : Nepal is known for its migrants. Mostly people migrate for economic and educational purposes. Every time they return home back, they come up with new perceptions. They introduce new habits and culture in their respective villages. Some of them try to introduce new technologies in agricultural sector. They also inculcate new and better habits in their families. 

But some of them spend their money and energy only in show off. They try to prove themselves better than their people. They show attitude over others. 

Question f. Relate the rhyme-scheme of this sonnet to the kind of life idealized by the poet.

Answer : This poem is composed in rhyming couplets, and the rhyming scheme is aa, bb, cc, dd, ee, ff, gg

Rhyming couplets are used to emphasize an idea. They help to bring a complete thought (or, idea). Here the poet lays importance on unity and togetherness, and the connected rhymes have better expressed the idea of togetherness.

Reference beyond the text 

Question : Write an essay on 'The Impacts of Migration' on Nepali Society.

Answer :

'The Impacts of Migration on Nepali Society'

 Migration in Nepal is a very common phenomenon (happening). People go to foreign countries with different causes. But Nepal is mostly known for economic and educational migrants. They go to different countries in search of employment or to pursue higher education etc.

Certainly this big phenomenon has great impacts on our society. It has both positive and negative impacts. 

The very first positive impact is on remittances in our country. The migrant workers send money to their families, which certainly provides a great relief to them. 

But the sad thing is that   mostly such families don't use or invest such amounts in productive fields. Mostly they invest in building houses in more comfortable areas of country.

But this growing trend of external migration has some serious social impacts. As mostly youths tend to migrate, there is complete lack of youths in villages. Either old people or women of migrants are there. The old people are leading a miserable life. The agriculture sector is overlooked. As the young power is going to foreign countries, no body is there to to work in the fields. 

The result is Nepal's dependence on India and other foreign countries for agricultural products.

To talk about another point -- the festivals have also been only a rituals because youths are mostly in other countries. Now there is not much enthusiasm in Bhai tika or Bada Dashin Tika. With the changing world, they have started to celebrate such festivals on video chat. 

Thus migration certainly has socio-economic, cultural, political impacts on Nepalese society.

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7. A Short Analysis of the Poem : At a Glance

1. Name of the poem: The Awakening Age

2. The Poet: Ben Okri, Nigerian poet

[Poet's profile: Ben Okri is a Nigerian poet, novelist, short story writer, who mostly writes about the social and political chaos in the country of his birth. He is considered one of the foremost African authors in the post modern and post colonial traditions. 

His works have won numerous national and international prizes.

He was born in Nigeria and came to England as a child. He went to school in London and returned to Nigeria with his parents on the eve of the Nigerian Civil. War.

His works habitually center on the political, social and financial states of contemporary Nigeria. Although his books are written in English, but we find the use of myths, stories and local beliefs in his (Yoruba) culture. 

Here the poet has portrayed the hardships of the African people, and at the same time he appeals for unity, solidarity, peace, co-existence among his people. 

He wishes to awaken his people from the age of sufferings, hardships and poverty to the age of enlightenment. That is what is the true meaning of the awakening age.

This poem is not only about the miseries of the African people, but it applies to the entire human being. ]

3. Meaning of the poem: The poem explores the need of coming out of the miserable life that the Africans have been enduring since long. Now it is high time to ascend to the higher position of enlightenment. 

But the achievement is nothing like a cake walk at all, it's a challenging task. A strong sense of unity, togetherness and a clear vision is indispensable to achieve this goal.

4. Speaker: The poet, who had witnessed at first hand during the civil war in Nigeria/ who is fully aware of the miserable condition of the Nigerians

5. Addressee: The Nigerian people 

6. Theme: The clear themes of the poem are: 'Awakening' and 'Renewal'. It is about an urgency for a change in the socio, economic, educational status of the Nigerians (and all the Africans). Here he visualizes a better world for his people.

7. Composition and rhyme scheme: There are seven couplets in the poem. Every couplet rhymes. The rhyme scheme is : aa, bb, cc, dd, ee, ff, gg.

8. Tone of the poem : 

• Suggestive Tone
• Evocative Tone
• Optimistic Tone

9. Some Poetic Devices used in the poem : 

• Alliteration. Example: 'work, wisdom and creativity'
• Simile. Example: 'like a mountain rope'
• Metaphor: Example: 'a loving harvest of space and time'
• Visual imagery: 'the mountain rope'
• Symbol: 'a mountain rope', 'ascending a new height'

[Explanation of the symbol : Rope is used to climb the mountain. It is also a symbol of unity. The mountain rope does not only gives a safety, but it also gives the message that it has attached firmly. Thus it is the symbol of working unity. It conveys the individuals to be tied in a good team and the entire community. 

Symbolism of rope also represents the climbing to new summits in waking life. Thus rope is also a ascension symbol, since it provides the means to ascend. 

Mountain climb symbolizes effort, constancy and permanence.

The mountain peak spiritually signifies the state of absolute consciousness. Climbing a mountain depicts inner elevation.]

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