TARTARY Walter De La Mare (1873-1956) About the Poet: Walter De La Mare was born in 1873 and died in 1956.

He worked in a London office until 1906, when a book of his p oems won a governmental award of a hundred pounds a year and this enabled him to devote his time to writing. He wrote a good deal of prose in addition to poetry . He is one of the 20th century poet. The first collection of his poems appeared in 902 under the title Song of Childhood. According to Collins, the poetry of D e La Mare is unique, for it even more than that De La Mare spoke of the intimate self-communing of the poet with himself. He also spoke of the intimate self-rev elation of poets. Fairies, phantoms and mysterious presences haunt his poems. Al l the time we are conscious that the psychological insight of the poet is of the subtle By its strangeness of vision it might be thought that De La Mares poetry would have found only a small audience, but it had a supreme power to accommodat e its strangeness to many more than could share his inner vision with any intima cy the power of perfect music. In that sphere, it is hardly extravagant to claim that no poet of his half century could rival his continuous and varied lyric mastery. Another drawing power in th e earlier decades was undoubtedly in his imagery, which had its source in Bible, fair tales and pilgrims progress. In his imagery he also resembles the famous E nglish poet S.T. Coleridge. Theme or Substance of the Poem The poem Tartaryby Walt er De La Mare is an earnest desire of the poet to be transported in the world of Tartary. It is an epitome of an escape from harsh realities of life. Sick with day to day problems, the poet desires to go to an imaginative world to be relaxe d. Normally, the person daydreams, when his desires are unfulfilled for a long t ime and he finds for himself too difficult to face the stark realities of life. So dejected by this world, he makes an ideal world in Tartary to leadan ideal li fe. Thats why the poem opens with possibility such as If I were....

Main Points The poet imagines himself the Lord of a rich and fertile territory, where his palace is furnished with luxurious items of furniture and his court is decorated with golden throne. The pomp and show of his court is increased with the presence of peacocks spreading their wings. The forests of his territory abo und with wild animals and tigers are also found there. In the clear water of poo ls the fishes swim freely. In his dominion the trumpeters blow trumpets to annou nce royal meal times. In the evening multi-coloured lamps are lighted which shin e with full splendour. 7. Sweet and soul nourishing music is played with the help of various musical in struments. 8. The poet imagines to wear the royal robes fitted with diamonds and precious stones. 9. In the morning he equips himself with the arms and travels in a carriage drawn by seven zebras. 10. . This is a land of high mountains, den se forests, flowing rivers and fertile valleys, where all agricultural varieties grow in abundance and also many varieties of fruit are available to ensure the prosperity of general public. Summary In this poem the poet imagines himself the sole owner of a rich and fertile terr itory where every desirable item is available. He will live in a palace furnishe d with luxurious items of furniture like ivory bed and golden throne. Beautiful peacocks will spread their wings and will decorate his court. There will be tige rs in the forests of his imaginary land. Fishes would swim in the ponds and thei r shining bodies will enhance the beauty. He will live like a great king. The an nouncement of royal meal-times will be made by the trumpeters. In the evening mu lti-coloured lamps will be lighted to increase the splendour of royal palace. Th ey will shine in yellow and red colours. The music of different instruments like harp, flute and mandolin will be enchanting. He will wear robes of unknown valu e as they will be decorated with diamonds and precious stones. Before the appear ance of dawn he will wear his martial dress and equip himself with the arms to go out of palace in the carriage drawn by seven zebras. This territory will be ful l of natural gifts, i.e., Gods blessings in the form of high mountains, thick for ests and fertile valleys flowing with rivers of fresh water. He will be the owne r of all these things. The valleys and mountains will produce agricultural and f ruit varieties in abundance. The fragrant breeze will make the atmosphere extrem ely pleasant. The lakes, seas and chirping birds will fly from tree to tree and will increase the charm of the land.

So he will be the sovereign of such land. Thus in this manner the poet associate s himself with great kings and monarchs of the past I through great pomp and sho w. Resultantly his servants and general public will be overawed with his extraor dinary riches. Explanation with Reference to Context Lines 1-8 If l were Lord of Tartary. Myself and me alone, My bed should be of ivory Of beaten gold my thron e; And in my court should peacocks flaunt And in my pools great fishes slant The ir fins ath wart the sun. Reference: These lines have been taken from the poem Ta rtaiy composed by Walter De La Mare. Context: These lines have been taken from the poem Tartary by Walter De La Mare. This poem is a clear instance of mans reluctance and escapism into the world of imagination from the harsh and stark realities of life. It reflects how the poet wishes to become the lord of Tartary an imaginary place and enjoy all the royal facilities like male and maid servants, unparallel furniture, dress, scenes, music, etc. I n short poet longs lor the beauties and charms which are absent in his real life . Explanation: These lines show the poets cravings for the luxuries life as a lor d of Tartary. Without any partnership he wants to relish all things as he will s leep on ivory bed in place of wood. His royal chair will be made of gold. The at mosphere and scenes of the court will be unmatched as the peacocks will dance an d display their beauty. The forests will abound with all kinds of animals includ ing tigers. Fishes will enhance the charm of his pools as they will shine bright ly in the sun. So these lines are the reflection of poets intense ambition and hi s disturbance and vexation in real life. For the sake of comfort and soothing ef fect he wants to fly in the territory of unheard and unseen delights. The word p icture of poets ideal world is very convincing. Lines 9-16 If I were Lord of Tartary, Trumpeters everyday To every meal would su mmon me, And in my courtyard bray And in the evening lamps would shine, Yellow a s honey, red as

wine, Wlnle harp, and flute, and mandoline, Made music sweet and gay. Reference and the Context are the same as given above: Explanation: The poets amb ition of becoming the emperor of I he romantic land has been explained through t hese lines. His every life style will be tremendous there as the trumpeters will call him for royal meal in a grand way. They will blow the trumpets for the ann ouncement of his departure and arrival. The most enchanting sight could be seen in the evening as the lamps will shine in yellow as honey and red as wine colour . He has used similes to add the beauty of these colours. Their effect is pleasi ng. The last two lines of the stanza tell us about one more aspect of luxurious life as his ear will be soothed by the soul nourishing music of different instru ment like harp, flute and mandolin. Thus the poet will find and relish delight o f every sort as a lord of Tartary. From this thing we can conclude how miserable, sorrowful life is which forces man to take refuge in dreamland. Lines 17-24 if I were Lord of Tatary. Id wear a robe of beads, White and gold, an d green theyd beand clustered thick as seeds; and ere should wane the morning-sta r, Id don my robe and scimitar, and zebras seven should draw my car through Tarta rys dark glades. Reference and the Context are the same as given above: Explanati on: These lines tell us about poets magnificent and romantically impressive dress whi ch he will put on as a king of Tartary. It will be made of different, colourful be ads as white, gold and green and they will be in the form of bunches as seeds in fields. Before the disappearing of morning star, he will wear that dress and sw ord which will show his authority for the expedition of fabuolous land. He will be so powerful that even wild animals like zebras obey him and serve him by draw ing his royal carriage. This shows he would use nothing but extraordinary things which will be parallel to his royal pomp and show. He commands and controls eve ry thing. Once again poets romantic bent of mind has been described as he would b e away from the worries and cares of real life in the rich and beautiful land. L ines 25-32 Lord of the fruits of Tartary, Her rivers silver-pale! Lord of the hills of Tart ary,

Glen, thicket, wood, and dale! Her Hashing stars, her scented breeze, Her trembl ing lakes, like foamless seas, Her bird-delighting citron trees In every purple vale! Reference and the Context are the same as given above: Explanation: These lines are the expression of poets sense of possession of all the objects of Tartary. He w ill be commander and master of all resources such as fruits, gardens, rivers, hi lls, valleys, lakes and trees, etc. He would derive pleasure as a lord of all th e natural gifts of God. He will be owner of that land where stars will shine and the wind will be fragrant. The birds of that land will feel pleasure to sit on the citron trees in valleys full of violet and red leaves and flowers. There wont fall short of anything. In these lines the description of resources of Tartary se em natural as well as appealing. These pleasures also help us to derive pleasure from the land of magical beauty. In this way we come to know about the journey into any unknown, unseen land which is fertile, fantastic and far away from mise ries of real life. Questions and Answers Q.I. Explain Tartary by Walter De La Mare as a romantic poem . (P.U. 2004) Or The poem Tartary is of romantic temper. Discuss. Or The poem Tartary throws light on the romantic world. Discuss this statement. Ans. The poem Tartary is a fine example of romantic tempter. Romanticism is the individ ual expression. There is height of sensibility, adventure and imagination in it. It reveals strange, mysterious unheard, unseen and uncommon beauty and world. . There is escape from harsh realities of life. From this point of view the poem Ta rtary is romantic one as it indicates the imaginative charms as of power, comfort and pleasure. The poet visualizes to be

the lord of romantic land where he will relish everything he longs. It will prov ide what he has not in reality. His life will be ideal -there as there wont be sh ortfall of anything. His life style will be parallel to ancient kings. The poet, as the ruler of Tartary will be having ivory bed, golden throne. The atmosphere o f his court will be unmatched as peacocks will dance and display their beauty. T igers will move in his forests, and the charm of the court will be enhanced by t he shining fishes in the ponds. Trumpeters will announce the time of his meal. I n the evening multicoloured lamps will be lighted. Sweet and enchanting music wi ll have soothing effect. His royal dress will be in different colours. Zebras wi ll pull his carriage through open places in the forests. He will rule over every thing. He wishes to possess everything that is found Tartary its fruits, rivers, l akes, hills and trees etc. So natural products will be under his control. In thi s way the poet is taking .flight in the world of imagination. No one can have su ch place in real life. It is the result of imagination. It reminds us of Colerid ges romantic poem Xanadua. So poem is a perfect example of romantic temper. Q.2. Why is the poet taking refuge in the world of imagination? Or What is the signif icance of unheard and unseen delights? Discuss with reference of the poem. Ans. The poets shelter in the world of imagination shows the intensity and effect of r eal lifes sufferings, sorrows and uneasiness. How life is full of perplexity and disturbances. When there is lack of peace, calm and pleasure in real life, imagi nation plays a vital role to soothe man. Although it is for the time being but i t is necessary to continlie life. Imagination instil new life into man. Harsh an d stark realities take man towards pessimism whereas fancy prepares him for the new challenges of life, i.e., expectations are important than the fulfilment of desires. If there is no creativity of ornamental thoughts then there is nothing but cage of miseries. This poem is a journey into the realm of imagination. The poet is reluctant to face hard realities of life and wants to transport in the w orld of romantic land that is beautiful, rich, fertile and replete with delights . He wishes to become the lord of Tartary where he will relish royal life style. The ivory bed, the peacocks, lilting music, robe, throne: everything will be tr emendous. Rational mind knows such place does not exist but the poet and we allo w, ourselves to be allured by charmed delights. Hidden motive is dark life. So f ancy proves perfect, unique, zestful, attractive interesting and everything seem s in abundance. Moreover there is no problem of day to day life.

It is mans nature he always prefers unapproachable things. After achieving partic ular thing a new sort of vacuum is created in us so journey into imagination nev er ends. Attraction of everything lies in the non-availability of thing. So expe ctations make life more attractive than realization. John Keats says: A thing of beauty is a joy forever Here the significance of unheard and unseen delights is c rystal clear. Q.3. Critically evaluate the poem Tartary by Walter De La Mare. Or G ive the critical appreciation of the poem Tartary1 by Walter De La Mare, Ans. Ta rtary is a remarkable romantic poem. It describes poets journey into the dreamland of joy where there is perfection in each and everything. It also shows poets dis gust for real life which stores for man a long series of deep sorrows and vexati ons. The poem is romantically impressive as the imaginary land lies been created. The poet wants to become the ruler of that land. As a lord he will comm and, control and relish everything in a grand way. Not only the poet but we find ourselves to be allured by fantastic pleasures. He is painting the picture of l uxurious life. He tells he will have bed of ivory, throne of gold and beauty of his court will be enhanced by the dancing peacocks and shining -fishes. Tigers w ill move in the forests. Trumpeters will announce his meal timing. Soul nourishi ng music will be produced through the combination of different instruments. Noth ing will be of common sort. He will wear magnificent robe and sword for the expe dition of romantic land on the carriage driven by zebras. He will rule over all the resources of Tartary. For the presentation of an ideal world fine and impres sive images have been used to paint the natural picture of every object. Coloure d words have been used as bed of ivory, golden throne, colourful peacocks, tiger s, great fishes robe in beautiful colour, zebras, glades and morning star. The w hole poem is rhythmic. Similes have been used as yellow as honey, red as wine. Every thing occurs in a natural way. There is no ambiguity in the poem. Diction is qui te simple. Theme is approachable for every sort of reader. The poem reminds us o f Coleridges poem Kubla Khan. Q.4. Describe all the charms and delights which the .poet wishes to relish as a sovereign of Tartary. Or What sort of life style the poet wishes to have in the romantic land - Tartary. Ans. The poem Tartary is givi ng the lineament of a romantic land which is unique, rich, charming, fertile and fantastic. The poet as a lord of this land longs to enjoy everything that is tr emendous and occurs in a grand way. As his bed will be of ivory and his royal th rone will be of gold.

Scenes and sights of his court will be unsurpassable. The atmosphere of his cour t will be alluring as peacocks and great fishes will display their beauty. Tiger s will move in his (court) forests as well as show the power of their king. Trum peters will announce his royal meal hour. Lamps will shine in brilliance and col ours like yellow and red as honey and wine. He will get pleasure from the lively and soul-nourishing music of different instruments like flute, mandoline and ha rp. Every morning this imaginary lord will wear sword and new dress studded with colourful pearls. He will be so powerful even wild animals like zebras will obe y him and serve him by driving his royal carriage. He will be owner of all river s, hills, glens, valleys, woods, thickets and dales of Tartary. In Tartary there will be shining stars and fragrant cool breeze will blow all around. Birds will be delighted in citron trees and there will be flowers in plenty of various col ours. So there are all pleasures and royal facilities which the poet wishes to h ave. It is a feast for sense not only for the poet but also for us. Q.5. The her os dreams are pure, innocent and un-harmful. Elaborate (P.U. 2006). Ans. The poet as a lord of romantic land longs to dream and enjoy everything that is tremendo us and occurs in a grand way. His dreams are very pure, innocent and unharmful. The hidden motive is just to satisfy his disturbed real life. He is fulfilling h is every desire that is incomplete in the world of reality. His dreams are not base d on any ill will for others but on his intense aspiration of a tremendous life style. As his bed will be of ivory and his royal throne will be of gold. Scenes and sights of his court will be unsurpassable. The atmosphere of his court will be alluring as peacocks and great fishes will display their beauty. Tigers will move in his forest as well as show the power of their king. Trumpeters will anno unce his royal meal hours. Lamps will shine in brilliance and colours like yello w and red as honey and wine. He will get pleasure from the lively and soul nouri shing music of different instruments like flute, mandoline and harp. Every morni ng this imaginary lord will wear, sword and new dress studded with colourful pea rs. He will be so powerful even wild animals like zebras will obey and serve him by driving his royal carriage. He will owner of all rivers, hills, glens, valle ys, woods thickest and dales of tartary. In Tartary there will be shinning stars and fragrant cool breeze will blow all around. Birds will be delighted in citro n trees and there will be flowers in plenty of various colours. So these are all pleasures and royal facilities which the poet wishes to have. Intensity of his ambition focuses how his every dream is pure. Innocence is obvious when we reali se that everything is possible only in dreams everything cannot be achieved in r eal life. Sweet dreams are the production of bitterness in life. Which he can no t even see with open eyes gets with close eyes. His dreams are very naive as the y do not become the cause of harm for others.