Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Class XI, ENGLISH, Summary, "Abou Ben Adhem"

Introduction of the Poet

James Henry Leigh Hunt was born in 1784. He was a religious man educated at Christ Hospital. He then became the editor and writer of a newspaper called The Examiner. His early poems are The Story of Remini and Endymion. The earliest poems he wrote were published when he was in school. In English Literature, Leigh Hunt is known for his achievements as an editor, a critic and an essayist and not so much as a poet.

Introduction of the Poem

Abou Ben Adhem is a poem with a religious concept. The poet has conveyed the ideas of happiness, peace and love through easy and flowing rhymed couplets.

“Love is in your heart which is given by God, so give it to others.”

_____________________________________________________________________ John Keats

The poem consists of 2 stanzas, which are composed of 11 lines. It also has some archaic words.


Summary

Abou Ben Adhem was a religious person. One night when he was sleeping peacefully in his room, a sparkling light woke him up.

He found out that this bright light was due to the presence of an angel who was writing something in a golden book. Being a pious man, Abou was not afraid of the Angel and the silence in the room made him more courageous. He asked the angel what he was writing in the book. The reply Abou heard was that he was writing the names of all those people who love God. Abou asked the angel curiously if his name was in the list. The angel replied was negative. He then politely requested the angel to write his name as those people who love God’s fellow men. The angle wrote and disappeared.

The other night, it came again with a still glistening light and displayed the names of people whom God had blessed. Abou Ben Adhem saw that his name was on the top of the list and it led all the rest.

Moral

This poem conducts the idea that we should love humanity and care for people.

“To get love from God, love the board.”

29 comments:

  1. Abou Bin Adhem was a muslim mystic and king Of Balkh.He abandoned his throne in order to serve his fellow beings.HE was born in777 AD.He led his life according to the teachings of Holy Quran as it says in one of his noble verses:
    O people of Islam,you are the best people ever raised for the good of mankind because you have been raised to serve others;you enjoin what is good and forbid evil and believe in God.[3:111].
    The service of humanity is the essence of Islam.

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    1. I learned this Poem in the 6 th grade. I am 80 yrs old & I have not forgotten it

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  2. i like summry __Kashif Wahab kahna nau lahore

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  3. Muslims are supposed to serve others and let everyone else have a good life because in the end they will be the ones having the good life, in Heaven. while the rest regret it and beg to go back and change their ways.

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    1. every religion teaches good things. not only Islam. A real Muslim who really understand the real concept of holy Quran and the teachings of our prophets would never condemn,criticize or look down on other religions. there are good and bad people in all the religions. otherwise, the poem and the summary is good.

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  4. the word *about* in last fourth line of second stanza is *ABOU* please rectify the error.

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  5. wow!nice summary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. wonderful poem.....if everyone starts following the moral of the poem ,about 80% even,the world would become much-much better than what it is right now.

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  7. A very good summary but resembles with the real poem in words i.e word to word description. But its very good specially the moral...

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  8. awesum!!!!!!!!!!summary

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  9. very nice summary and it give very good moral

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  10. nicely analysed and took a meaningful summary & moral

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  11. Nice summary.. its realyy helps me.. thanx for the post :)

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  12. The indepth meanging between the lines is still missing.

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  13. awesome summury but the angle was she not he

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  14. a complete explanation is not given but other wise its good n moralising...!

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  15. in the last line,love the BOARD. what does that mean ?

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  16. why did god bless abou ben adhem with his love..???
    plzz give me answer

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