The Character Of Happy Life 4c1l20

SUMMARY OF THE CARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE. INTRODUCTION OF POET:The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wotton has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be call ed a happy man. INTRODUCTION OF POEM: We find Wotton s poem is a sharp sense of contrast between t he uneasy life of the ambitious man and the contented life of man satisfied to l ive an obscure life of peaceful virtue. Sir Henry Wotton wrote from experience; for he was a distinguished servant of the crown who had seen for himself the ris e and fall of ambitious men. The poem consisting of six stanzas of regular coupl et rhymed. SUMMARY A person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He does not act according to other people s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity and truth. Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. He is always prepared for dea th. This man is not concerned about being famous or in what people say about him publicly or privately. This upright man is not jealous of chance or foul play. He knows that flattery g ives the deepest wounds. He does not abide by the rules of the society which com pel a person to do unwanted deeds. He follows the rules of goodness which will l ead him to the right path. A happy man s life is free from numerous when he is sad he retires in his comfort of clear conscience. He hasn t got a high position. Therefore people don t flatter h im or nick him at his down fall. A happy man prays to God regularly. In this pra yer he does not ask for rocks but he asks God to be gracious and merciful on him . His favourite positive is good book or friend. A man who is truly happy is fre e from slavery of his desires. He isn t ambitious. He does not expect too much the refore his hopes aren t shattered. He doesn t fear a downfall. This man hasn t got lan ds or wealth and yet he has everything. He has got the greatest wealth of conten tment and happiness. MESSAGE: Nature is the peace not the Land. by John Keats Lines HOW HAPPY IS HE BORN OR TAUGHT THAT SERVETH NOT ANOTHER S WILL: WHOSE ARMOUR IS HIS HONEST THOUGHT AND SIMPLE TRUTH HIS UTMOST SKILL! REFERENCE: The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wott on has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be called a happy man. CONTEXT: A person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He doe s not act according to other people s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity an d truth.Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. He is always prepared for death. This man is not concerned about being famous or in what people say a bout him publicly or privately.This upright man is not jealous of chance or foul play. He knows that flattery gives the deepest wounds. He does not abide by the rules of the society which compel a person to do unwanted deeds. He follows the

rules of goodness which will lead him to the right path. EXPLANATION: In the lines given for elucidation, the poet is referring to three outstanding characteristics of a person willing to a happy, contented life. Such a person should be independent in all his actions. He should never be a sl ave to the will of others. His honest and humble thoughts prove to be his best p rotective device and truthfulness is his most outstanding and remarkable feature . Lines WHOSE IONS NOT HIS MASTERS ARE, WHOSE SOUL IS STILL PREPARED FOR DEATH, UNTIED UTO THE WORLD BY CARE OF PUBLIC FAME, OR PRIVATE BREATH; REFERENCE: The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wott on has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be called a happy man. CONTEXT: A person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He doe s not act according to other people s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity an d truth.Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. He is always prepared for death. This man is not concerned about being famous or in what people say a bout him publicly or privately.This upright man is not jealous of chance or foul play. He knows that flattery gives the deepest wounds. He does not abide by the rules of the society which compel a person to do unwanted deeds. He follows the rules of goodness which will lead him to the right path. EXPLANATION: The lines given for explanation bring out some prominent qualities of a person who wishes to life a cheerful, satisfied life. He should have full c ontrol over his feelings and should never be swayed by his emotions. He should n ot be afraid of death and should be bold enough to encounter all the ups and dow ns in life. He should follow the path of simplicity and sobriety. He should not care for the individual and collective opinion form about him. He should never r un after earthly name and fame. Lines WHO ENVIES NONE THAT CHANCE DOTH RAISE, NOR VICE; WHO NEVER UNDERSTOOD HOW DEEPEST WOUNDS ARE GIVEN BY PRAISE; NOR RULES OF STATE, BUT RULES OF GOOD; REFERENCE: The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wott on has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be called a happy man. CONTEXT: A person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He doe s not act according to other people s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity an

d truth.Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. He is always prepared for death. This man is not concerned about being famous or in what people say a bout him publicly or privately.This upright man is not jealous of chance or foul play. He knows that flattery gives the deepest wounds. He does not abide by the rules of the society which compel a person to do unwanted deeds. He follows the rules of goodness which will lead him to the right path. EXPLANATION: In these lines, the poet is referring to the qualities needed in a person desirous of leading a simple, innocent life. Such a person never fall a v ictim to the green-eyed monster by looking at others who acquire wealth and repu tation. He never gets involved in any kind of evil of sight, speech or hearing. He is not interested in politics and government and is simply aware of the golde n principles of a life without ostentation. He realizes that flattery is harmful for both who is flattered and the one who is over-praising. Thus he keeps away from false praise at all cost. Lines WHO HATH HIS LIFE FROM RUMOURS FREED; WHOSE CONSCIENCE IS HIS STRONG RETREAT; WHOSE STATE CAN NEITHER FLATTERERS FEED, NOR RUIN MAKE OPPRESSORS GREAT; REFERENCE: The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wott on has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be called a happy man. CONTEXT: A person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He doe s not act according to other people s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity an d truth.Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. He is always prepared for death. This man is not concerned about being famous or in what people say a bout him publicly or privately.This upright man is not jealous of chance or foul play. He knows that flattery gives the deepest wounds. He does not abide by the rules of the society which compel a person to do unwanted deeds. He follows the rules of goodness which will lead him to the right path. EXPLANATION: In the lines given for explanation, the poet believes that a person who wants to live a simple, contented life keeps his life free from rumours by never trying to become a public figure. Such a person always depends upon his co nscience and acts according to it. He is not so affluent that people may flatter him and take undue advantage of his wealthy state. Such flatterers often fill t heir own coffers but when their benefactors are ruined and deprived of their wea lth, they accuse them and find all kinds of faults in them. Lines WHO GOD DOTH LATE AND EARLY PRAY MORE OF HIS GRACE THAN GIFTS TO LEND; AND ENTERTAINS THE HARMLESS DAY WITH A RELIGIOUS BOOK OR FRIEND

REFERENCE: The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wott on has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be called a happy man. CONTEXT: A person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He doe s not act according to other people s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity an d truth.Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. He is always prepared for death. This man is not concerned about being famous or in what people say a bout him publicly or privately.This upright man is not jealous of chance or foul play. He knows that flattery gives the deepest wounds. He does not abide by the rules of the society which compel a person to do unwanted deeds. He follows the rules of goodness which will lead him to the right path. EXPLANATION: The lines given for elucidation points to one of the salient featur es of the character of a person wishing to live a happy life. Such a person is r eligious-minded, morally sound, pious and God-fearing. He prays to Almighty God whenever it is possible. He asks God for his benevolence and blessings and not f or worldly comfort and luxuries. He es his time in healthy activities by rea ding good books or being in the company of good, virtuous friends. Lines -THIS MAN IS FREED FROM SERVILE BANDS OF HOPE TO RISE, OR FEAR TO FALL: LORD OF HIMSELF, THOUGH NOT OF LANDS, AND HAVING NOTHING, YET HATH ALL REFERENCE: The poem The Character of a Happy Life, has been written by Sir Henry Wotton. He was born in Kent and the son of country gentleman. In this poem Wott on has described the characteristics of a person who can truly be called a happy man. CONTEXT: A person who has freedom of will and thought leads a happy life. He doe s not act according to other people s wishes. His only weapon is his simplicity an d truth.Such an upright man is not a slave of his desires. He is always prepared for death. This man is not concerned about being famous or in what people say a bout him publicly or privately.This upright man is not jealous of chance or foul play. He knows that flattery gives the deepest wounds. He does not abide by the rules of the society which compel a person to do unwanted deeds. He follows the rules of goodness which will lead him to the right path. EXPLANATION: The lines given for explanation present in a nutshell all the advan tages of having sterling qualities of head and heart, so necessary to a lif e of joy and satisfaction. A person who is the master of his won will, follows t he path of honesty, truthfulness, simplicity, piety and self-confidence, and is courageous enough to face all the challenges, can definitely lead a life of cont entment. He is not bound by the chains of slavery, and has neither the hope of a chieving loftier goals nor the fear of suffering a fall. He is not a feudal lord , possessing big estates but is lord of himself, having all the noble qualities. Thus he is able to his life in ease, joy and comfort.