New year resolution By Elizabeth Sewell

 New Year Resolutions

Poet's Introduction| Elizabeth Sewell

Elizabeth Missing Sewell (1815-1906) was born at main street, Newport, Isle of Wight (an island in England), in 1815. She belonged to a reasonably large family of 11 siblings. Sewell was an author of educational and non-secular texts.

She was very famous for her crisp, lucid, and pedagogical way of writing. She had attained well-settled literary fame during the 19th century. She was famous for her dry humour. Her feministic efforts helped her raising her voice for women's rights.

She never married and devoted all her life to the explanation for better education for females. Her sister, Emma's death in 1897 left Sewell very sad dejected and she or he never recovered from this shock. She died at Ash cliff, Bo church.

Main Idea
New Year is traditionally a time of creating new resolutions. The poetess makes extraordinary resolutions. Her first resolution is that she would remain silent most of the time. She would think for long hours and purifies herself for the longer term.

Her second resolution is that she would ask herself twice each day who is she? What are her responsibilities? Her third resolution is to face the truth of life. Albeit reality is best and supported bony arms but she would feel comfortable within the company of reality.



It is a criticism of these people that lead their lives without aims. They are doing not make decisions for the longer term. They are doing not want to face the truth of this world. They are doing not make aims and decisions for future life.

Through the resolutions, the poetess wants to convey the moral message of the poem. She says that the citizenry should live their lives consistent with the set pattern. They need to analyze their past shortcomings. After taking stock of all past misdeeds the people should make plans for the longer term.

Explanation

Lines 1-3

I will drain
Long draughts of quiet
As a purgation;

Reference
These lines are taken from the poem New Year Resolutions written by Elizabeth Sewell.

Context
The poem New Year Resolutions is extremely interesting and thought-provoking. The poetess has decided to form some resolutions at the arrival of the New Year. She has decided to require a stock of her past life. She wants to remember her shortcomings.

She has also resolved to understand the aim of her creation and her duties as a humble creation of God. She has decided that she is going to be aware of her good and bad deeds. She has the choice to spend a true and honest life.

Explanation
In these lines, the poetess expresses That she has decided to welcome the New Year with a far better understanding of life. She vows to try to do three things within the New Year. She is going to attempt to become a pure person. She is going to purify her soul from all past follies and foibles.

She will sit silently for an extended time and size up her past life. She believes that meditation in silence will help her in knowing all her past shortcomings. Thus, she is going to get obviate all of them easily and become an individual with a pure soul after self-assessment.

Lines 4-6

Remember
Twice daily
Who I am;

Explanation
This is the second stanza of the poem. During this stanza, The Poetess describes her second resolution that she is going to attempt to know her true identity and therefore the true object of her life. She is going to attempt to know who she is. Why has been sent to the present world? What are her duties and responsibilities? What has she done and what is left undone?

In fact, she is going to attempt to realize her duties towards God, towards herself, and towards humanity. After knowing the true object of her life, getting to |she's going to"> she is going to commit it to memory twice each day before going to sleep. She is going to always remember her tasks and duties in her future life.

Lines 7-9

Will lie o'nights
In the bony arms
Of Reality and be comforted


Explanation

These are the last lines of the poem. In these lines, the poetess says that getting to |she's going to"> she is going to undergo the method of harsh accountability before going to sleep in the dark. She is going to face the truth, sweet or bitter, to research her own behaviour during the day. Her own faults and bitter truths won't offend her.

They will give her a weird quiet comfort and relief then she is going to enjoy a sound sleep. In other words, she believes that though the trail of truth and reality is filled with hardships and bitter realities which a person of conscience has got to face yet this is often the very path that gives real mental and spiritual peace.



Actually, Elizabeth Sewell believes that life must be spent consciously and with a way of responsibility. We should always review our life, remove our follies and reform ourselves. We must cherish hopes for the achievement of noble deeds. We must face the bitter realities of life in sincere manners.

Important Questions and Answers
Question 1:

What New Year resolutions does Elizabeth Sewell make in her poem New Year Resolutions?

Answer:

The poetess doesn't welcome the New Year in a traditional manner. She features a firm belief that life must be spent consciously and with a way of responsibility. She resolves that she is going to analyze her own mind and soul so as to seek out her past follies and shortcomings.

Firstly, the poetess resolves that she is going to remain silent. She is going to chew over her past wrongs. The long hours of silence will help her in cleaning her inner self. She wants to commence the New Year in a better and realistic manner.



She has no intention to repeat the mistakes she did last year. She is decided and resolute to correct and improve herself a day. Secondly, the poetess resolves that she is going to believe her identity.

She will consider each day who she really is? What are her responsibilities in this world? Thirdly, the poetess pledges that she is going to plan to face the truth of her life. She is going to chew over her shortcomings and blunders with a cool mind.

She decides to feel ashamed of her mistakes that were done before. she is going to never desire to stay in a dream world. She is going to face the bitter reality of life with a stout heart. In this way, she is going to welcome the New Year with new zeal and zest.

Question 2:

 Discuss the literary qualities of the poem New Year Resolutions

Answer:

The poem may be a criticism of these people that lead their lives without aims. They are doing not make plans for the longer term. The poem may be a satire on lazy people. They are doing not want to face the truth of this world.

The poet expresses her views that are supported the resolutions of the poetess. Through her resolutions and decisions, the poetess wants to convey the moral message of the poem.



She says that the citizenry should live their lives consistent with the set rules. they need to analyze their past and observe plans for a far better future. The language of the poem is straightforward but impressive. The word Purgation may be a medical term.

It means cleaning a wound from a germ. But poetess has used this term for cleansing the human shortcomings which also are like germs. The poem is predicated on realistic material.

According to the poetess, life must spend consciously and with a way of discipline. during this poem, Reality has been personified with a solace companion. The Poetess sleeps within the company of reality. The poem is serious with a sensible theme

Question 3:

What is the moral or central idea of the poem?

Answer:

New Year Resolutions may be a thought-provoking poem. During this poem, the poetess gives us a crucial message. She believes that life is temporary but we should always spend life doing productive works. She says that we must size up our past life.

We must analyze our weaknesses at the start of the New Year. Self-examination will help us to correct ourselves. The poem criticizes that folks are lazy and haven't any aims or goals in their lives. They’re not decisive naturally.



They do not make decisions for the longer term. They are doing not want to face the truth of this world. They are doing not make aims and determination in their lives. This poem presents a philosophical lesson. The poetess urges us to look at our past deeds.

It advises us to be always able to correct ourselves. We must face bitter things in a sincere manner. We must work for the betterment of our country and fellow beings.

We must analyze our deeds twice a day. We must accept the tough realities of life with a smiling face. We should always not be discouraged after facing difficult situations in our life. We must welcome the New Year with a stout heart.