BSc BA ADP English Notes Poem The Huntsman (Edward Lowbury) Important Questions

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Question 1: The poem Huntsman is a blend of funny and unfunny aspects of life the elements of suspense and irony create a shocking impact. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

Discuss in detail the use of elements of suspense and irony in the poem.

Write a note on the irony in The Huntsman.

Answer: The poem The Huntsman deals with the elements of suspense and irony. lt is written in a very simple and lucid style. The suspense and irony improve the literary quality of the poem. Suspense means mental and thrill. The poem The Huntsman is full of elements of suspense. 

The suspense starts from the very beginning of the poem when Kagwa finds a talking skull. Suspense goes on when Kagwa reaches the court of the king. The readers cannot guess what will happen with Kagwa in the future. But later suspense ends, when readers come to know that Kagwa has died by his talkative nature.

Irony is a literary term, which means the difference between appearance and reality In this poem, the irony of fate is hidden in the first line; Kagwa hunted the lion.This line expresses the brave nature of Kagwa.

Although Kagwa is physically a strong person yet in At the end of the poem he is killed by his foolish talkative nature. So here irony reveals that Kagwa appears to us as a brave person but he dies like a foolish person.

Question 2: Discuss the role of fate in the poem, The Huntsman.

Answer: The poem huntsman delineates the role of fate in man's life in a very attractive way. It also revolves around the more serious and important thing in life, i-e, think before you speak but it also makes it clear that man cannot escape fate.

Kagwa, no doubt was very brave and daring as he hunted lions in the forests all alone but he fell a helpless prey to fate when he could not understand the message of the skull. The skull explicitly told Kagwa that talking brought it there.

His talking frivolously brought about the death of that person but Kagwa's fate was also the same. He could have gone directly to his home, he could have told about the talking skull to his close friend or to his wife if he had comprehended the understandable message of the skull. 

But it was in the fate of Kagwa to go to the king straight. He went to the king's seat and told the unbelievable thing that he had seen some talking Skull. The king surely could not believe this kind of foolish and absurd tale.

The rulers are often offended easily, especially; when they are busy in an important state matters. The same thing occurred and the king sent Kagwa back royal guards with the order to kill Kagwa if his story proved. 

Again we, the readers could not understand fate when the skull did not utter a single word besides the requests of Kagwa. It was really horrible and astonishing but it was the role of fate that is unavoidable. Kagwa had to meet his fate, death, in this way, so he was unable to understand the message of the skull.

Question 3: How did the Hunter get hunted in  The Huntsman?

The Huntsman does discover his blunder but too late. Elaborate.

What is Kagwa's story in The Huntsman?

Answer: The poem The Huntsman explains the uncertainty of human life. It proves that life is full of unexpected turns. Man is playing ball and puppet in the hands of fate.

As flies are to the wanton boys

Are we to gods?

They kill us for their sports

                           Shakespeare

If fate turns hostile, it destroys man. Kagwa fell a victim to a cruel fate. Fate constantly plotted against him and brought about his death. 

It is an irony of fate that he was killed with the same spear and sword with which he used to hunt the lions. His hostile fate arranged a meeting with him and the talking skull that proved killing. 

How many innocent people like Kagwa fall prey to cruel fate. The irony of the poem is that a brave man who hunted lions more powerful than himself was hunted mercilessly by fate.

Question 5: Discuss the moral lesson or basic theme of The Huntsman

Answer: The poem urges the readers to think about the value and significance of human life. Is It really so worthless and futile? Does the loss of human life bring no remorse(at all? Is man so helpless in front Of unseen savage forces of nature? 

These questions naturally lead to certain moral conclusions. Firstly the poem teaches us that we should think before we speak. Secondly, we should not speak too much. Thirdly we should not make haste. 

Sometimes by our hasty nature, we become the victim of unexpected dangers, So one should be very careful in his talking and actions. Sometimes a little carelessness results in a horrible disaster. 

A man should be very cautious about what he says and to whom he says. He should be ready to face the consequences of his words and deeds. He must accept responsibility for his behavior.