The Poe "Work Without Hope"
written by
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Original Readings:
Line-by-line explanation of “Work Without Hope” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in simple, student-friendly language — ideal for understanding and exam preparation:
Stanza 1
Line 1: “All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair—”
→ The poet observes that everything in nature is busy and active. Even small creatures like slugs have come out of their hiding places to work.
Line 2: “The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing—”
→ Bees are buzzing and working, and birds are flying in the sky — all creatures are full of life and activity.
Line 3: “And Winter slumbering in the open air,”
→ Winter is coming to an end and seems to be peacefully sleeping outside, as if nature is preparing for a new season.
Line 4: “Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!”
→ Winter seems to be smiling because it is dreaming of the coming spring — a season of warmth, beauty, and new life.
Line 5: “And I, the while, the sole unbusy thing,”
→ While everything in nature is active, the poet feels that he alone is idle and doing nothing.
Line 6: “Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.”
→ Unlike bees who make honey, birds who pair and build nests, and creatures who sing, the poet feels unproductive and lifeless — he does none of these joyful, purposeful acts.
Stanza 2
Line 7: “Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow,”
→ The poet says he knows very well the places (banks) where the beautiful, everlasting flowers called amaranths bloom. (“Ken” means “know.”)
Line 8: “Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow.”
→ → The poet has even found the source of sweetness and joy in life (the “fountain of nectar”), yet he feels unable to taste or benefit from it.
Line 9: “Bloom, O ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may,”
→ The poet tells the flowers to bloom for others, since they do not bloom for him — he feels disconnected from life’s beauty and joy.
Line 10: “For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away!”
→ The poet sadly admits that nature’s beauty and blessings are not for him; the sweet streams can flow away because he cannot enjoy them.
Line 11: “With lips unbrightened, wreathless brow, I stroll:”
→ He walks around with dull lips and no wreath (symbol of joy or celebration) on his head — showing his lack of joy or purpose.
Line 12: “And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul?—”
→ The poet asks if anyone wants to know what has made his soul sleepy, dull, and hopeless.
Line 13: “Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve,”
→ The poet explains: working without hope is useless — it’s like trying to collect sweet nectar in a sieve (a tool full of holes). Nothing can be gained without hope.
Line 14: “And Hope without an object cannot live.”
→ The poet finally concludes that hope itself needs an object or goal to survive; without something to aim for, hope dies.
stanza-wise paraphrase of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “Work Without Hope”, written in simple, student-friendly language so it’s easy to understand for exams:
Stanza 1 Paraphrase (Lines 1–6) in a paragraph
The poet observes that all of nature is busy and full of life. Even the smallest creatures, like slugs, have come out of their hiding places. Bees are flying around collecting nectar, birds are singing and active in the sky, and even Winter seems to be gently fading away, smiling in its sleep as Spring approaches. While all of nature is busy and alive, the poet feels like he is the only one who is idle and without purpose. He neither creates anything like the bees, nor sings or builds like the birds. He feels disconnected and inactive in a world full of motion and renewal.
Stanza 2 Paraphrase (Lines 7–14) In a Paragraph
The poet says that he knows where beauty and joy exist — he has seen the places where the eternal flowers (amaranths) bloom and where streams of sweet nectar flow. But sadly, he feels that these joys are not meant for him. The flowers bloom for others, and the streams of happiness pass him by. He walks around with a dull face and without joy or success. Finally, he reveals the reason for his sadness: working without hope is useless, like trying to hold nectar in a sieve. Likewise, hope itself cannot survive if it doesn’t have a goal or purpose. Without hope or direction, life feels empty and meaningless.
Central Idea of “Work Without Hope” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in a simple, exam-style language for students:
Central Idea:
The central idea of the poem “Work Without Hope” is the importance of hope and purpose in human life. Coleridge compares himself to nature, where every creature is busy and full of life, while he feels idle and joyless. He realizes that all living things have a purpose. Everything around him works with energy and hope — bees make honey, birds build nests, and flowers bloom, but the poet feels disconnected from life’s beauty and joy. Through the final lines, he expresses a deep truth: work without hope is meaningless, just as it is impossible to collect nectar with a sieve. At the same time, hope cannot survive without a goal or purpose. The poem reminds us that both hope and purpose are essential to make life meaningful and productive.
Summary of the poem “Work Without Hope” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, written in simple and clear language for students to use in exams:
Summary:
In the poem “Work Without Hope,” Samuel Taylor Coleridge describes how everything in nature is active and full of life, while he alone feels useless and hopeless. He watches the bees, birds, and flowers, all working and growing as winter turns to spring, but he cannot take part in their joy and energy. The poet feels separated from the natural world and realizes that his life lacks purpose and inspiration. In the end, he concludes that work without hope is meaningless, just like trying to hold nectar in a sieve, and that hope itself cannot exist without a goal or purpose. The poem beautifully conveys the idea that hope gives life meaning and motivates us to act, while hopelessness leads to sadness and inactivity.
Question–Answer:
Q1. Who is the poet of “Work Without Hope”?
Ans: The poem “Work Without Hope” is written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Q2. What is the main theme of the poem?
Ans: The main theme of the poem is that hope gives meaning and purpose to life. Without hope, all work and effort become useless and meaningless.
Q3. What does the poet observe in nature at the beginning of the poem?
Ans: The poet observes that everything in nature is busy and active — slugs, bees, birds, and even Winter seem to be working joyfully as Spring approaches.
Q4. How does the poet feel compared to nature?
Ans: The poet feels lonely, hopeless, and inactive, while all of nature around him is full of energy, purpose, and happiness.
Q5. What does the poet mean by “Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve”?
Ans: The poet means that working without hope is useless, just like trying to collect nectar in a sieve (a tool which has holes). All efforts are wasted if there is no hope or goal.
Q6. What lesson does the poem teach us?
Ans: The poem teaches that hope is essential for success and happiness. It inspires people to work with purpose and makes life meaningful.
Q7. What does “Hope without an object cannot live” mean?
Ans: It means that hope needs a goal or purpose to stay alive. If a person has nothing to hope for, their hope and motivation will die.
Q8. How does the poet describe himself in the poem?
Ans: The poet describes himself as the only unbusy and joyless being in a world full of active and happy creatures. He feels detached and purposeless.
Q9. What images of nature are used in the poem?
Answer: The poet uses images of slugs, bees, birds, winter, and spring to show the lively activity in nature and to contrast it with his own inactivity.
Q10. Write the moral of the poem in one sentence.
Ans: The moral of the poem is that life and work become meaningful only when guided by hope and purpose.
Q11. What is the mood or tone of the poem?
Ans: The tone of the poem is sad, lonely, and reflective. The poet feels sorrowful about his lack of energy and purpose compared to nature’s liveliness.
Q12. What does “amaranths” symbolize in the poem?
Ans: The amaranths symbolize eternal beauty and everlasting life — something pure and immortal that the poet feels he cannot enjoy.
Q13. What message does Coleridge give through this poem?
Ans: Coleridge gives the message that life without hope is empty, and real happiness and success come only when one has hope and a clear purpose to live for.
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