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.”