Casabianca 

Objective type questions

 

 Who wrote the poem Casabianca?

Ans: - Mrs. Hemans

 Who was Casabianca?

Ans: - A brave French boy

 In which battle did Casabianca take part?

Ans: - Between the French and the British

 What happened to casabianca's ship?

Ans: - It caught fire

 What was casabianca waiting for?

Ans:- For the commands from his father

 What didn't casabianca know about his father?

Ans: - That he had died

About the Poet :-(Felicia Hermans)

 

Felicia Dorothea Hemans, née Felicia Dorothea Browne, (born Sept. 25, 1793, Liverpool—died May 16, 1835, Dublin), English poet who owed the immense popularity of her poems to a talent for treating Romantic themes—nature, the picturesque, childhood innocence, travels abroad, liberty, the heroic—with an easy and engaging fluency. Poems (1808), written when she was between 8 and 13, was the first of a series of 24 volumes of verse; from 1816 to 1834 one or more appeared almost every year. She has been chiefly remembered for her shorter pieces, notably “The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers,” “Dirge,” “Casabianca” (“The boy stood on the burning deck”), and “The Homes of England” (“The stately homes of England”), but was perhaps at her best in her sequence of poems on female experience, Records of Women (1828).

 

Summary of the poem

 

The poem 'Casabianca' was written by Mrs. Felicia Dorothea Hemans. It starts out with the well-known line, "the boy stood on the burning deck". The story relates to an extraordinary incident of devotion and heroism witnessed during the Battle of the Nile. It was on the evening of July 28 of 1798 that the English naval squadron under Lord Nelson sailed in. They had caught the French fleet at anchor and unprepared. The French flagship was the L'Orient and it soon found itself flanked by English ships attacking from both sides. A fierce battle was soon raging and the flashes of 2000 guns lit up the ships in the gathering darkness. L'Orient was caught by the English broadsides and was set ablaze. It was then that the English sailors saw an amazing sight. There on that burning deck they saw a boy standing alone. He was Casabianca, the 12 year old son of one of the ship's officers. There he stood, alone at his post. He was surrounded by flames and facing the astonished English foe. Soon afterwards the fire reached the powder magazine deep down in the hold. The boy perished when the whole ship erupted in a massive explosion. The sound of L'Orient blowing up was heard at Rosetta 20 miles away. And the glow of the fireball was seen in Alexandria. It was an enormous explosion of a magnitude rarely seen back in those times. The English sailors stood in awe at what they had just witnessed. For some twenty minutes the guns were silent. The English officers and men were absolutely horrified at the carnage that had taken place. They sent a ship to rescue the survivors from the water. About 70 French sailors were saved. The account of that boy who stood on that burning deck was told and retold. Eventually it passed on into legend. The story remains a classic example of devotion and faithful service. And the poem continues to serve as a source of inspiration and wonder for many throughout Christendom. That boy who stayed at his post on that burning deck has not been forgotten. And the story of his heroic stand is remembered right up to the present day.

 

Central Idea

 

The central idea of this poem is the noble characteristics like chivalirism, obedience and morality demand the impossible, the obsolete and the death which itself transfigured into eternal life. Deep-rooted faithfulness is majestic and unmatched which makes a man rise above all personal affiliation. The central idea of the poem “casabianca” is the devotion to our duty and to comply with our work even at the cost of our life.

 

Lines 1-5

 

The boy stood on the burning deck,

Whence all but he had fled;

The flame that lit the battle’s wreck

Shone round him o’er the dead.

 

Explanation:- In these lines poetess tells that Casabianca was standing on the board of the ship which was on fire. He was standing alone while all others had left the ship. The flames of fire rising on all sides. These flames were shining over dead bodies of the soldiers killed in the battle.

 

Lines 6-10

 

Yet beautiful and bright he stood,

As born to rule the storm,

A creature of Heroic blood

A proud, through child – like form.

 

Explanation: - In these lines poetess tells that the boy stood on the board of the ship in spite of burning flames. He looked very hard some in the light of these flames. It seemed that he was born to govern over storms. He had inherited nobility from his fore fathers. Though he was of tender age, he looked brave and proud to carry out the command of father.

 

Lines 11-15

 

The flames rolled on – he would not go

Without his father’s word

That father faint in death below

His voice no longer heard.

Explanation:- In these lines poetess says that flames rushed at Casabianca. But he had resolved not to leave the place unless his father permitted him. His father was laying dead in the lower part of the ship so his voice could be heard no more.

Lines 16-20

 

He called aloud: “Say father! Say

If yet my task is done?”

He knew no that the chieftain lay

Unconscious of his son.

Explanation: - In these lines poetess tells that the boy called his father in a loud voice. He asked whether, the duty assigned to him was complete or not. He did not know that commander of the ship was unaware about the condition of his son.

 

Lines 21-25

 

“Speak father!” Once again he cried.

“If I may yet be gone”!

And but the booming shots replied,

And fast the flames rolled on.

Explanation: - In these lines poetess tells that the boy again cried and asked his father if he could go. He wanted to say more but his voice was drowned in the midst of heavy noise of guns and the flames rushed on very fast.

 

Lines 26-30

 

Upon his brow he felt their breath,

And in his waving hair,

And looked from that lone post of death,

In still, yet brave despair.

Explanation: - In these lines poetess says that the flames rushed at the boy. He felt their heat on his fore head and in waving hair. Though he knew, that his death was near but he stood quite and calm. He looked around him from place of death with bold heart though he was disappointed.

 

Lines 31-35

And shouted but once more aloud

“My father! Must I stay”?

While o’er him fast, through sail and shroud

The wreathing fires made way.

Explanation: - In these lines poetess says that the boy once again cried out in loud voice. He wanted to know if it was necessary for him to stay there. Just then the flames rushed through sails and ropes.

 

Lines 36-40

They wrapped the ship in splendour wild,

They caught the flag high,

And streamed above the gallant child,

Like banners in the sky.

Explanation: - In these lines poetess tells that the flames surrounded the ship and covered it on all sides. They even reached the flag which was flying very high. They also surrounded the brave boy like the flag’s shadows in the sky.

 

Lines 41-45

There came a burst of thunder sound,

The boy oh! Where was he?

Ask of the winds that far around

With fragments strewed the sea.

Explanation: - In these lines poetess tells that suddenly a loud noise was heard there and no one can imagine that where the body of brave boy was. Only the winds could say which were blowing around the boy that where was he.

 

Lines 46-50

With mast and helm and pennon fair,

That well had borne their part;

But the noblest thing which perished there,

Was that young faithful heart!

Explanation: - In these lines poetess tells that part played by mast, rudder and the flag flying on mast is praise worthy. But the noblest thing which died there was the young obedient and disciplined heart, that was Casabianca.