“Authorship” by Rabindranath Tagore Structure and Form

  You say that father write a lot of books, but what he writes I don’t
understand.
    He was reading to you all evening, but could you really
make out what he meant?
    What nice stores, mother, you can tell us! Why can’t father
write like that, I wonder?
    Did he never hear from his own mother stories of giants and
fairies and princesses?
    Has he forgotten them all?
    Often when he gets late for his bath you have to call him
a hundred times.
    You wait and keep his dishes warm for him, but he goes on
writing and forgets.
    Father always plays at making books.
    If ever I go to play in father’s room, you come and call me,
“What a naughty child!”
    If I make the slightest noise you say, “Don’t you see that
father’s at his work?”
    What’s the fun of always writing and writing?
    When I take up father’s pen or pencil and write upon his book
just as he does,-a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,-why do you get cross with me
then, mother?
    You never say a word when father writes.
    When my father wastes such heaps of paper, mother, you don’t
seem to mind at all.
    But if I take only one sheet to make a boat with, you say,
“Child, how troublesome you are!”
    What do you think of father’s spoiling sheets and sheets of
paper with black marks all over both sides?

“Authorship” by Rabindranath Tagore is a free verse poem, and its structure and form contribute to the overall impact of the poem.

Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse, which is distinguished by the lack of a rigid metre or rhyme pattern. Because of the absence of a formal framework, Tagore is able to convey the child’s viewpoint in an organic and uninhibited way. The narrative is made more authentic by the use of free verse, which fits with the child’s genuine and impromptu voice.

Conversational Tone: The tone of the poem is conversational, as if we were reading aloud to the child and an unidentified listener—probably the mother. The poem feels more intimate because of the conversational form, which conveys the child’s questions and reflections in a direct and personal manner.

Repetition: The tone of the poem is conversational, as if we were reading aloud to the child and an unidentified listener—probably the mother. The poem feels more intimate because of the conversational form, which conveys the child’s questions and reflections in a direct and personal manner.

Questioning Structure: The child poses a sequence of questions that form the framework of the poem. These inquiries accomplish a number of goals, such as illustrating the child’s attempts to make sense of the father’s behaviour, conveying the child’s interest, and getting the reader to think about the subjects discussed. Readers are encouraged to consider the intricacies in the family and creative spheres by the use of questions.

Imagery and Symbolism: Although it isn’t directly related to the poem’s formal structure, Tagore uses rich symbolism and imagery to imply deeper meanings. The poem is made richer overall by the addition of layers through the use of imagery such as giants, fairies, and paper boats. The child’s paper boat and the father’s use of paper as a medium for creativity both have symbolic meaning that deepens the theme.

Varied Line Lengths: The poem features varied line lengths, contributing to its natural and flowing rhythm. By reflecting the ebb and flow of the child’s ideas and observations, the employment of shorter and longer lines improves the conversational character.

To sum up, the composition and format of “Authorship” are essential for expressing the viewpoint of the child, highlighting inquisitiveness, and delving into topics related to creativity and generational disparities. The poem’s authenticity and emotional effect are largely due to its free verse style, conversational tone, repetition, and questioning structure.