The Poem - The Eagle, By Alfred Tennyson - - Paraphrasing, Central Idea and Summary

The Poem “THE EAGLE” By Alfred Tennyson

1. Original readings (Text):

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.

2.. The Paraphrasing of the Poem “THE EAGLE” By Alfred Tennyson.

Stanza 1;

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.

Line-by-line paraphrasing:
Line 1: “He clasps the crag with crooked hands;”
The poet says that the eagle grips the rocky mountain tightly with its curved claws, showing its strength and power.

Line 2: “Close to the sun in lonely lands,”
The poet describes that the eagle lives high up in the mountains, close to the shining sun, far away from human presence in a lonely place.

Line 3: “Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.”
The poet says that the eagle stands proudly, surrounded by the blue sky all around him, symbolizing his majesty and freedom.

Paraphrasing stanza 1 in a paragraph:

In the stanza-1, the poet describe that the eagle is holding tightly onto a rocky mountain with his strong, curved claws. He lives high above the earth, in a lonely and elevated place, close to the bright sun and far away from human life. Surrounded by the vast blue sky, the eagle stands proudly and alone, symbolizing strength, freedom, and majesty in the natural world.

Stanza 2;

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;

He watches from his mountain walls,

And like a thunderbolt he falls.

Line 4: “The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;”
The poet describes that far below the eagle, the sea looks small and moves slowly, as if it is crawling. This shows how high the eagle is.
Line 5: “He watches from his mountain walls,”
The poet says that the eagle looks down from his high rocky home, carefully observing everything below.
Line 6: “And like a thunderbolt he falls.”
The poet describes how suddenly the eagle dives down from the sky with great speed and force, like a flash of lightning.

Paraphrasing of stanza 2 in a paragraph:

In the stanza-2, the poet further describes that far below the eagle, the sea looks small and moves slowly, as if it is crawling. The poet says that the eagle watches the world below from his high mountain home with sharp eyes. Suddenly, the eagle dives down with great speed and force like a thunderbolt, showing his strength, courage, and power as the king of the skies.

3. The Central Ideas of the Poem “THE EAGLE” By Alfred Tennyson.

1. The central idea of the poem "The Eagle" is the majesty and power of nature, embodied in the figure of the eagle. The poet vividly depicts the eagle's solitary strength and its commanding presence in the natural world, culminating in its powerful, sudden dive that emphasizes its dominance and grace.

2. The central idea of the poem “The Eagle” by Alfred Lord Tennyson is the majestic power and freedom of the eagle, which represents strength, freedom, and authority. The poet describes how the eagle lives high above the earth, close to the sun, surrounded by the blue sky in a lonely place far from human life. From his high rocky home, the eagle looks down upon the world beneath him and then suddenly dives with great speed and force like a thunderbolt. Through this powerful image, the poet shows the eagle as a symbol of nobility, confidence, and the greatness of nature.

4. The Summary of the Poem “THE EAGLE” By Alfred Tennyson.

1. “The Eagle” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a short poem that describes an eagle perched high up on a steep rock. The eagle grips the rock tightly and stands alone, very close to the sun and surrounded by the blue sky. The sea far below moves slowly, and the eagle watches from its high perch. Suddenly, the eagle dives down quickly and powerfully, like a lightning bolt, showing its strength and majesty.

2. The poem “The Eagle” by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a short but powerful description of the strength, beauty, and majesty of the eagle. The poet presents the eagle as a symbol of freedom and power, living high above the earth on Rocky Mountains, close to the sun and surrounded by the clear blue sky. From this great height, the eagle looks down upon the sea and land far below, watching everything with sharp and confident eyes. The poet describes the sea beneath him as “wrinkled,” showing how high the eagle is above it. In the final moment, the eagle dives suddenly and swiftly, like a thunderbolt, displaying his great power, grace, and control. Through this vivid and majestic image, Tennyson shows the eagle as the ruler of the skies and a powerful symbol of the grandeur of nature.

5. Poetic Devices in the Poem “The Eagle” By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

1. Imagery

Tennyson uses strong visual imagery to help the reader picture the eagle clearly:

“crooked hands”

“lonely lands”

“ring’d with the azure world”
These lines create a vivid picture of the eagle high above the earth.

2. Personification

The eagle is given human qualities to show its power and authority:

Hands (instead of claws)

A sense of pride and control
This makes the eagle appear like a majestic ruler of nature.

3. Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds adds beauty, rhythm, and musical quality:

“clasps the crag”

“lonely lands”

“watches… walls”
This device makes the poem memorable and smooth.

4. Simile

A direct comparison is used in the last line:

“He falls like a thunderbolt.”
This simile shows the speed, power, and sudden force of the eagle’s dive.

5. Metaphor

Indirect comparison is used to show majesty:

The sky is called the “azure world.”

The eagle is portrayed as a king-like figure dominating nature.

6. Hyperbole

The description of the eagle falling “like a thunderbolt” exaggerates its speed to show strength and dominance.

7. Rhyme Scheme

The poem has two stanzas, each with three lines (tercets).
Rhyme scheme for both stanzas: AAA
This pattern gives the poem unity, balance, and harmony.

8. Enjambment

Thoughts continue from one line to the next without a pause, creating flow and movement—just like the eagle’s silent glide.

9. Symbolism

The eagle symbolizes:

Power

Freedom

Majesty of nature

Leadership and dominance

6. Book Questions and Answers from the Poem - The Eagle, By Alfred Tennyson

1. What images or emotions come to mind when you read the words “crag,” “sun,” “sea,” and “thunderbolt”?

Answer:

Crag: It creates the image of a high, rough, rocky mountain, giving a sense of strength and isolation.
Sun: It suggests brightness, power, and height, showing that the eagle is flying very high.
Sea: It gives an image of vastness and depth, emphasizing the eagle’s great height above the world.
Thunderbolt: It creates a feeling of speed, power, and sudden force, showing the eagle’s swift and deadly dive.

Together, these words create emotions of awe, power, freedom, and majesty.

2. How do you interpret the relationship between the subject and the elements of nature in this poem?

Answer: The eagle appears to be in complete harmony with nature. He is described as ruling the sky, standing close to the sun, and looking down on the sea. Nature is not shown as hostile but as a setting that enhances the eagle’s power and dominance. The poem suggests that the eagle is a master of the natural world, perfectly adapted to it.

3. What emotions did you experience while reading this poem?

Answer: While reading the poem, I felt admiration and awe for the eagle’s strength and freedom. There is also a sense of sudden excitement and intensity when the eagle dives like a thunderbolt. Overall, the poem creates feelings of power, majesty, and respect for nature.

4. If you are given the chance of revising the poem’s current title, what would you choose it to be?

Answer: I would choose the title “The King of the Skies” because the poem presents the eagle as a powerful ruler who dominates the sky and the natural world.

(Other acceptable titles could be “The Mighty Eagle” or “Master of the Heights”.)

5. Can you identify any symbolic or metaphorical elements in the poem?

Answer: Yes, the poem contains strong symbolism and metaphor:

The Eagle symbolizes power, freedom, courage, and authority.
Clasping the crag metaphorically shows strength and firm control.
The thunderbolt symbolizes speed, power, and sudden action.
The sea crawling below symbolizes the smallness of the world compared to the eagle’s greatness.

These elements deepen the poem’s message about strength, dominance, and the grandeur of nature.

7. Miscellaneous Short Questions and Answers from the Poem - The Eagle, By Alfred Tennyson

Q1. Who is the poet of the poem “The Eagle”?
Ans. The poet of the poem “The Eagle” is Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Q2. What does the eagle clasp in the first line of the poem?
Ans. The eagle clasps the crag, which means a steep, rocky cliff, with its crooked claws.

Q3. Where does the eagle live according to the poet?
Ans. The poet says that the eagle lives high up in lonely lands, close to the sun, and surrounded by the blue sky.

Q4. What does the poet mean by “Ring’d with the azure world”?
Ans. The phrase means that the eagle is surrounded by the blue sky — “azure” means blue. It shows that the eagle lives high above, close to heaven.

Q5. How does the poet describe the sea beneath the eagle?
Ans. The poet describes the sea as “wrinkled” and slowly crawling, showing how small and distant it looks from the eagle’s great height.

Q6. What does the eagle do in the final line of the poem?
Ans. In the final line, the eagle dives down suddenly from the sky like a thunderbolt, showing his power and speed.

Q7. What does the eagle symbolize in the poem?
Ans. The eagle symbolizes strength, freedom, courage, and majesty — the qualities of a true king of the skies.

Q8. How does the poet show the grandeur of nature?
Ans. The poet shows the grandeur of nature through the eagle’s majestic image, describing its lonely power, calm observation, and thunderbolt-like dive.

Q9. What impression of the eagle does the poet give us?
Ans. The poet gives us the impression of the eagle as a powerful, independent, and royal creature, living proudly and fearlessly in its natural kingdom.

Q10. What is the central theme of the poem?
Ans. The central theme of the poem is the majesty and power of nature, represented through the strength and grace of the eagle.

8. NBF Book reading and critical Questions and Answers of the Poem - The Eagle, By Alfred Tennyson

Q1. Who or what is the main subject of the poem?

Answer:

The main subject of the poem is the eagle. Tennyson presents the eagle as a powerful, majestic bird that dominates the sky and stands as a symbol of strength, freedom, and authority.

Q2. What is the significance of the subject’s physical attributes, such as “crooked hands” and being close to the sun?

The phrase “crooked hands” refers to the eagle’s strong, curved claws, symbolizing power, grip, and control. Being close to the sun shows the eagle’s great height, bravery, and dominance in the sky. Together, these features highlight the eagle’s supreme strength and fearless nature.

Q3. How does the poem explore the theme of solitude or loneliness?

Answer:

The poem shows the eagle as alone on a high crag, far above the sea and the world below. This physical isolation suggests solitude. However, this loneliness is not negative; instead, it emphasizes the eagle’s independence, self-reliance, and superiority.

Q4. What is the overall tone of the poem, and how does it change throughout the stanzas?

Answer:

The overall tone of the poem is majestic and awe-inspiring.

In the first stanza, the tone is calm, proud, and dignified, focusing on the eagle’s height and strength.

In the final line, the tone becomes sudden and powerful, showing action and speed as the eagle dives.

This shift adds drama and intensity to the poem.

Q5. Which figure of speech is used in “He clasps the crag with crooked hands,” and comment on its effect?

Answer:

The figure of speech used here is metaphor and personification. The eagle’s claws are compared to human hands, making the image more vivid and powerful. This line emphasizes the eagle’s strength, control, and firm hold over nature.

Q6. How does the final line, “like a thunderbolt he falls,” relate to the preceding lines and the poem’s central theme?

Answer:

The final line contrasts with the calm description of the eagle standing still. After showing the eagle’s majestic height and control, the sudden fall like a thunderbolt highlights its speed, power, and precision. This line completes the poem’s central theme by showing that true power lies not only in position but also in swift and decisive action.

8. Miscellaneous Long Answer Questions and Answers of the Poem - The Eagle, By Alfred Tennyson

Q1. Describe how Alfred Lord Tennyson presents the eagle in the poem.

Ans. In the poem “The Eagle,” Alfred Lord Tennyson presents the eagle as a symbol of strength, freedom, and majesty. The poet describes how the eagle lives alone on a high mountain cliff, close to the sun and surrounded by the vast blue sky. From this great height, the eagle looks down upon the world below, watching everything calmly and confidently. When it finally dives, it falls like a thunderbolt, showing its great speed and power. Through this description, Tennyson portrays the eagle as the king of the skies, representing the grandeur and authority of nature.

Q2. What picture of nature is presented in the poem “The Eagle”?

Ans. The poem “The Eagle” presents a vivid picture of nature’s strength and beauty. The poet describes the eagle living high above the earth in a peaceful, lonely place, surrounded by the bright blue sky. Below him lies the wrinkled sea, moving slowly and quietly. This calm and majestic scene shows the power and harmony of nature. The eagle’s sudden, powerful dive at the end symbolizes the dynamic and energetic side of nature, reminding us that nature is both calm and forceful.

Q3. How does the poet use imagery to describe the eagle and its surroundings?

Ans. The poet Alfred Lord Tennyson uses strong visual imagery to make the eagle and its surroundings come alive in the reader’s mind. Phrases like “He clasps the crag with crooked hands” and “Ring’d with the azure world” help us picture the eagle gripping a rocky mountain and standing against the bright blue sky. The image of the “wrinkled sea beneath him crawls” shows the great height of the eagle’s position. Finally, the line “like a thunderbolt he falls” creates a powerful image of sudden movement and energy. This use of imagery makes the poem short yet very expressive.

Q4. What does the eagle symbolize in the poem, and how does the poet highlight its qualities?

Ans. The eagle in the poem symbolizes power, freedom, courage, and majesty. The poet highlights these qualities by describing how the bird lives high above the earth, close to the sun, far from human life. Its lonely and powerful position shows independence and strength. The eagle’s calm observation of the sea below represents wisdom and control, while its sudden fall “like a thunderbolt” symbolizes its unmatched speed and force. Through these descriptions, Tennyson shows the eagle as a representation of nature’s royal beauty and strength.

9. MCQs on “The Eagle” by Alfred Lord Tennyson

1. Who wrote the poem “The Eagle”?
A) William Wordsworth
B) Robert Frost
C) Alfred Lord Tennyson
D) John Keats
✅ Answer: C) Alfred Lord Tennyson

2. What does the eagle clasp with its crooked hands?
A) A tree branch
B) The crag
C) A mountain peak
D) The sky
✅ Answer: B) The crag

3. The word “crag” means —
A) A high rock or cliff
B) A tree branch
C) A river bank
D) A forest hill
✅ Answer: A) A high rock or cliff

4. The eagle lives —
A) In the forest
B) In the sky
C) High on the mountain
D) Near the sea
✅ Answer: C) High on the mountain

5. What does the phrase “Close to the sun” suggest?
A) The eagle flies at night
B) The eagle lives very high
C) The eagle loves sunlight
D) The eagle fears darkness
✅ Answer: B) The eagle lives very high

6. What is meant by “Ring’d with the azure world”?
A) Surrounded by forests
B) Surrounded by the blue sky
C) Trapped in a cage
D) Covered by clouds
✅ Answer: B) Surrounded by the blue sky

7. The poet compares the eagle’s fall to —
A) A storm
B) A thunderbolt
C) A waterfall
D) A shooting star
✅ Answer: B) A thunderbolt

8. The phrase “crooked hands” refers to —
A) The eagle’s claws
B) The eagle’s wings
C) The eagle’s beak
D) The eagle’s feathers
✅ Answer: A) The eagle’s claws

9. How many stanzas are in the poem “The Eagle”?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
✅ Answer: B) Two

10. How many lines are in each stanza of the poem?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Six
✅ Answer: B) Three

11. The total number of lines in the poem is —
A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 8
✅ Answer: C) 6

12. What does the sea appear to do beneath the eagle?
A) Dance
B) Crawl
C) Shine
D) Roar
✅ Answer: B) Crawl

13. What kind of poem is “The Eagle”?
A) A narrative poem
B) A lyric poem
C) A humorous poem
D) A ballad
✅ Answer: B) A lyric poem

14. What does the eagle symbolize in the poem?
A) Peace and love
B) Weakness and sadness
C) Power and freedom
D) Beauty and music
✅ Answer: C) Power and freedom

15. The phrase “He watches from his mountain walls” means —
A) The eagle guards his home
B) The eagle looks proudly from his height
C) The eagle is trapped in walls
D) The eagle builds nests
✅ Answer: B) The eagle looks proudly from his height

16. The word “azure” in the poem means —
A) Red
B) Golden
C) Blue
D) White
✅ Answer: C) Blue

17. Which sense does the poem mainly appeal to?
A) Taste
B) Smell
C) Sight
D) Touch
✅ Answer: C) Sight

18. What does the eagle’s dive “like a thunderbolt” suggest?
A) Slow movement
B) Sudden and powerful action
C) A gentle flight
D) A playful fall
✅ Answer: B) Sudden and powerful action

19. What is the mood of the poem?
A) Joyful and light
B) Majestic and powerful
C) Sad and lonely
D) Dark and fearful
✅ Answer: B) Majestic and powerful

20. What is the main theme of the poem?
A) The beauty of the sea
B) The power of nature through the eagle
C) The weakness of animals
D) The sadness of life
✅ Answer: B) The power of nature through the eagle

10. Vocabulary of the difficult used in the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", written by Robert Frost:

1. Crag

Meaning: A steep, rough rock or cliff
Synonym: Cliff, rock
Antonym: Plain, valley
Example: The eagle stood proudly on the rocky crag.

2. Crooked

Meaning: Bent or not straight
Synonym: Twisted, curved
Antonym: Straight
Example: The crooked branches of the tree were shaped by strong winds.

3. Hands (of the crag)

Meaning: A metaphor referring to the sharp edges of rocks holding the eagle
Synonym: Grip, hold
Antonym: Release
Example: The child held the rope tightly in his hands.

4. Azure

Meaning: Bright blue, especially the color of the sky
Synonym: Blue, sky-blue
Antonym: Dark, dull
Example: The bird flew high in the azure sky.

5. Wrinkled

Meaning: Having lines or folds
Synonym: Creased, folded
Antonym: Smooth
Example: The old man’s wrinkled face showed wisdom.

6. Crawls

Meaning: Moves slowly
Synonym: Creeps, inches
Antonym: Rushes, speeds
Example: The turtle crawls slowly across the sand.

7. Ringed (with the azure world)

Meaning: Surrounded
Synonym: Encircled, surrounded
Antonym: Isolated
Example: The city is ringed with mountains.

8. Thunderbolt

Meaning: A sudden flash of lightning; something very fast and powerful
Synonym: Lightning, flash
Antonym: Slowness, calm
Example: The car passed by like a thunderbolt.

9. He falls

Meaning: The eagle dives suddenly and swiftly
Synonym: Drops, dives
Antonym: Rises, ascends
Example: The hawk falls quickly to catch its prey.

10. Lonely

Meaning: Alone, without company
Synonym: Solitary, isolated
Antonym: Crowded, social
Example: The lonely tree stood on the hilltop.

Conclusion

These words help create powerful imagery and highlight the themes of strength, height, freedom, and dominance in the poem. Understanding this vocabulary makes the poem easier and more enjoyable to understand.