ANY WOMAN BY KATHERINE TYNAN

Any Woman -Explanation in Malayalam

Any Woman Summary

Summary of the Poem

The poem ‘Any Woman’ glorifies the position of woman/ mother in the family. The speaker (mother/Woman) begins by introducing the central metaphor of the house. She says that she is the pillars of the house. She is the keystone of the arch without which the roof and wall would fall and the house would be ruined completely.

Mother is the fire upon the hearth, the light of the good sun, the heat that warms the earth. Without her, the family would become colder than a stone.

 The children warm their hands at her. She is their ever-living light of love. Without her, the house would be cold and lifeless and the children would not grow.

The mother is also like a twist or a knot in the ring that holds the different pearls together. She holds the children together in the sacred ring of love. Without the knot of love, children may go wandering and get lost. 

In the final stanza, the poet describes the myriad chores a mother does daily in the house. She decorates the house, prepares food and gets the table ready for dinner, spins the curtains, and makes their soft bed.   She protects them from the wind and snow and all other dangers. The poem ends with the mother’s prayer to God to keep her alive until her children grow.

Textual Questions

Question 1

Mention the ideas underlying the expression 'pillars of the house'.

Answer:

The idea underlying the expression is that a woman is an integral part of the family. Without her, no family can exist.

Question 2

How does the poet portray the bond between mother and children?

Answer:

Mother is the fire of the hearth upon which children warm their hands. She is her living light of love. Children cannot thrive without the warmth of the mother's presence.

Question 3

Comment on the expression 'from floor to roof'. Attempt to coin another expression without changing the meaning. 

Answer:

By the expression 'floor to the roof' the poet means she is the all-pervading spirit in the house. She is like the floor that absorbs all the shock in the house. She is also the roof that bears all the emotional burden of the family. Without her the house remains unprotected. 

From Top to bottom, top to toe, head to heel.

Question 4.

What is the Symbolic significance of "wind and snow'.

Answer.

Here, wind and snow signify the adversities and problems (troubles and trepidations) that a family face.

Question 5.

Explain, in your own words, the concluding line of the poem.

Answer.

The poem ends with a prayer to Jesus to spare her life till her children grow.

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS

Question 1

Analyze the theme of the poem keeping in mind the plight of women in the Indian scenario.

Answer.

The poem ‘Any Woman' illustrate the unique role of women in families. The speaker in the poem represents the mother in any family.  She is the backbone of her family.  She has multifarious responsibilities. She brings up children, cares and protects them and manages the house. She is over-burdened. She devotes her entire life for her family.  

In the Indian scenario, many women are left to live a sorrowful life.  Some women have to struggle hard to earn their bread and manage their house. Their work is not appreciated by others. This is the plight of women in the Indian social scenario.

Question 2

Identify the major figure of speech used in the poem and describe its significance.

Answer.

Metaphor is the major figure of speech used in the poem.  The woman is the 'pillars of the house’, ‘keystone of the arch, ‘the 'fire upon the hearth’, ‘light of good sun’, etc. The use of metaphor is quite apt as the woman stands out as the axis upon which everything revolves. The roof and wall fall down when once the pillar or keystone is taken away. Likewise, the family will shatter if the woman is taken away. She is the fire that gives warmth and light. A woman alone can give the warmth and light of love to her children making them thrive well. It is the woman who protects her children from all wind and snow (here trials and trepidations in life) and she is, therefore, the roof, the wall and the door.

Question 3.

What is the quantum of work done by a woman in a household? Can it be reduced?  How?

Answer:

The quantum of work done by women in their household is enormous. they do all homely chores such as cooking, serving food, washing clothes, looking after the aged parents, bringing up children and attending to the needs of all family members, and keeping the house and premises clean and neat. In most families, it is women who ensure the well being of all family members. They are forced to take multiple roles. This can sometimes affect her physical and mental health.  The modern home appliances can reduce the volume of daily work to some extent. This workload can be further reduced if the male members of the family come forward to do some of the household works like cleaning and cooking.