2.4 Have You Earned Your Tomorrow – Edgar Guest- Appreciation
2.4 Have You Earned Your Tomorrow – Edgar Guest
Appreciation-
About the Poet,
title and Poem -
‘Have You Earned Your Tomorrow’ was written by Edgar Guest (1881-1959). He was a British-born American poet and writer for Newspapers and Magazines. He was known as the ‘People’s
Poet’ for his simple style and optimistic tone of writing.
This poem is
motivational. It was first published in 1916. In this poem, the
speaker is asking to the readers whether they have done anything to improve the
life of another human being or not.
The title is apt, suitable, and meaningful. It suggests
verbal questions to the readers to rethink the treatment that they are giving to
others.
The Theme-
This poem is motivational. It motivates the readers
to do good deeds for the others. We should give up negative actions and
negative thoughts. The poem is also helpful to us in the process of
‘self-introspection’.
The language/ poetic devices used in the
poem-
The style and tone of the poem are simple, optimistic, and didactic. The poet used the interrogative technique to create awareness among
the readers to improve their inter-personal relations.
The rhyme scheme is “aabb ccaa ddee ffaa”. The major
figures of speech are Interrogative Antithesis and Synecdoche and minors are
Alliteration, Inversion, Metaphor, Paradox, Oxymoron, etc. An example of
Synecdoche is – “Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said”.
Special Features-
The poet uses an interrogative style to describe his
ideas of goodness. Eleven interrogation lines are used in this poem. The
sound ‘ay’ is repeated in each stanza.
Message, values, and Morals in the poem-
‘As you sow, so
you shall reap” as per this proverb our deeds calculate our tomorrow.
Your Opinion about the poem-
This poem is motivational and optimistic. We must act
and think for others. This poem taught me that “Today’s good investment is tomorrow’s gain” to develop interpersonal relationships and keep humanity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepared by - Mrs - Jyoti D. Walunj- Landge