Gitanjali · Chapter
II explained
The chapter explores the profound emotional and spiritual impact of Tagore's poetry, describing how it moves the reader with its blend of divine love and earthly beauty.
What happens
The chapter explores the profound emotional and spiritual impact of Tagore's poetry, describing how it moves the reader with its blend of divine love and earthly beauty. It contrasts the gentle, courteous renunciation in Tagore's verses with the harsh asceticism of European saints, and celebrates a tradition where poetry and religion are one, accessible to all people.
Themes in this chapter
Divine Love and Devotion
The chapter emphasizes the heart's turning to God through images of lovers, servants, and brides, and the emotion that creates 'insidious sweetness' in love for the divine.
Death and Immortality
The poet's leave-taking and readiness for the journey, along with the line 'I know I shall love death as well,' highlight a peaceful embrace of death as part of life.
Beauty of the Ordinary and Nature
The lyrics are described as growing from the common soil like grass and rushes, and the chapter celebrates flowers, rivers, and the heavy rain of July as images of the divine.
Characters to notice
- The Poet
The poet is the speaker of the quoted verses, expressing leave-taking and readiness for the journey.
- Rabindranath Tagore
Tagore is the author of the lyrics being discussed; his work is compared to Chaucer's forerunners and praised for its spontaneity and musicality.
- The Divine
The divine is addressed as the king who enters the heart unbidden and presses the signet of eternity on fleeting moments.
- Chaucer
Chaucer is mentioned as a figure from a time when England had one mind, and his Troilus and Cressida was sung by minstrels.
- John of the Cross
John of the Cross is referenced as a saint whose writings are contrasted with the more gentle, courteous tone of Tagore's poetry.
Key passages
“I have got my leave. Bid me farewell, my brothers! I bow to you all and take my departure. Here I give back the keys of my door—and I give up all claims to my house. I only ask for last kind words from you.”
The poet announces his departure, returning his keys and renouncing his home, asking only for kind farewell words from his neighbors.
This passage illustrates the theme of renunciation and the courteous tone of the poet's leave-taking.
“Entering my heart unbidden even as one of the common crowd, unknown to me, my king, thou didst press the signet of eternity upon many a fleeting moment.”
The divine king entered the poet's heart unnoticed, like an ordinary person, and marked many transient moments with eternal significance.
This highlights the theme of divine love and the transformation of ordinary life into something sacred.
“And because I love this life, I know I shall love death as well.”
The poet's deep love for life naturally extends to an acceptance and love of death.
This expresses the theme of death and immortality, showing a harmonious view of life's end.