Every Morning I wake Exercise Class 12 English: Question Answers

Exercise questions answers solution PDF of Every Morning I Wake Poem written by Dylan Thomas

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. When does the speaker pray to the Lord?

= The speaker prays to the Lord in the morning time and evening time.

b. What does the speaker pray for?

= The speaker prays for the grace, sympathy and protection from the god to the residents of Milk wood.

c. Who are the ‘poor creatures’? Why does the speaker call them ‘poor creatures’?

= Poor creatures actually mean all the innocent creatures that are on planet earth. However, in the prayer, the speaker is referring to the residents of Milk wood as poor creatures. They are referred to as "poor animals" by the speaker since they are made up of "bone and flesh" and are destined to die.

d. What does Milk Wood sound like? A type of wood or a place? Why?

= It seems that Milk Wood is a location since there is no article before the word. There is no need for an article in the case of a single proper noun that refers to a single location. 

e. Why do the inhabitants of Milk Wood bow to the setting sun ‘but just for now’?

 = Milk Wood's residents make a bow to the setting sun as a way of saying farewell for the time being. They expect the sun to be shining the following morning. They believe that God's grace and the warmth of the sun will help them survive another day.

Reference to the context

a. Discuss “Every Morning When I Wake” as a prayer to God.

=  Dylan Thomas "Every Morning When I Wake" is a prayer poem. In a prayer poem, the speaker asks God for blessings and guidance throughout his life and the lives of all human types and animals. "Dear Lord, a small prayer I make/O please do keep Thy loving eye/on all poor creatures born to die," from these lines we can say the speaker is praying to God. The speaker is pleading with God to maintain his loving gaze on all of creation and to shower blessings on them.

b. Why does the speaker make a prayer to God, but not to a king, a billionaire or a scientist?

= The speaker makes a prayer to God, but not to a king, a billionaire or a scientist because he knows well that none can be above god. The speaker prays to God because He is the ultimate being, the source of all creation, and the focal point of every religious belief. 

There are three things that he possesses in abundance: his strength, knowledge, and reality. What makes one rich, one famous, and one powerful is all due to God's grace and blessings. First and foremost, there are no permanent entities like monarchs or billionaires. There is no substitute for God's protection. God's existence is sacred; he created and saved us; we adore and rely on him; and he steers us on a straight and narrow path. Even if someone is very powerful, affluent, or intelligent, they cannot compare to God. 

As a result, we turn to him in prayer in order to obtain his mercy and favor. In the end, we're all made of bone and flesh, no matter who we are or where we come from. So the speaker goes to the deity and prays to him.

c. How does the poet highlight the magnificence of God?

= The poet highlights God's magnificence by pointing out that God's presence is holy; He created and rescued us; we revere and depend on Him; and He directs us on a right path from the moment we are born until we die.

d. How does the rhyme scheme of the poem reinforce its message?

= The rhyme pattern used throughout the poem is AABB. There's an organised structure to this poem's rhymes, due to the usage of AABB rhyme scheme. Most prayer poems follow this rhyme pattern in order to make a genuine appeal to God. Every second line of every verse rhymes with the previous one. Such rhymes have the effect of making a song more enjoyable to listen to.

Reference beyond the text

a. Does God exist? Give your opinion.

= Yes, of course, I am a theist and I believe in God. For those who are seeking God, don't rush; God is already inside you. In my opinion, as long as you have a happy attitude and continue to do acts of kindness, you may be certain that God will reward you for them.
Despite the fact that we can't see God, we may nevertheless feel his presence in our everyday routines. The presence of God is as certain as the existence of air. We say that something isn't real because we can't see, but it doesn't make any sense. Things that are unusual and unexpected may be evidence of God's presence. Many sixth-sensors believe in a higher power. Our five senses have accustomed us only to the physical world. No one has yet seen or felt God, hence some argue he doesn't exist. Still, I have faith in him.

b. In his Epistle to the author of the book, The Three Impostors (1768), Voltaire says, “Even if God didn’t exist, it would be necessary to invent him.” Write an essay highlighting the importance of God in the society.

= Good individuals build civilized civilizations. That means we must develop an idealized version of God.

Most soul-believers also believe in God. A healthy society needs God or He must be manufactured. Those who lived by moral principles rest quietly in God's presence. Faith in God keeps people believing this. Without God, the world is a mess. We'd have to create God without him. According to 18th century French philosopher Voltaire, true happiness requires faith in a higher power-God. And he is the source of all natural laws. Every culture must believe in Him.

Our supreme creator has maintained our life. He instructs us to let go of vengeance, greed, and passion. People's ideas influence culture. Fear of God drives criminals. God represents everything good in our civilization, while evil represents everything bad. If they don't repent, they'll spend eternity in purgatory. We learn to be more kind, caring, loving, and compassionate. People don't do horrible things for God. Without God, people die, and chaos occurs.