Root Cellar Summary
Introduction to the poem Root Cellar
In root
cellar most of the language is figurative (लाक्षणिक). The poet does not call the roots
lovely, but he admires their tough, persistent (अनवरत) life. The theme of the poem is the
speaker’s celebration of the hardship and determination of life forms. The poem
celebrates the strength and stamina (सहनशक्ति) of plant life.
Root Cellar is an eleven line poem written by Theodore Roethke. The poem is set in an old dank (गीलो वा चिसो) cellar (green house) where all plants are on the verge of death. The place is filled with foul odors (दुर्गन्ध) which makes breathing impossible. In the very deadly (घातक) situation, no one hopes to survive (जीवित रहनु). In such terrible situation every plants still fights for receiving light and strive for existence (अस्तित्व).
In the poem Roethke uses disgusting (घिनौना) words so as to arose pity and fear
in the reader's mind. The word "cellar" brings a much more filthy (फोहोरी), dingy (धूलो) and foul odor (दुर्गन्ध) of the underground compartment. The
cellar is too unlit that nobody is able of being there. The pest-infested (विनाशकारी कीट) cellar is unfit for human living and
nobody would dare to be there.
In the poem 'cellar' stands for worst possible and
unimaginable situation to support life of any being.
The stem of
plant is compared with snake. It looks as if it is waiting to hunt those who
live in cohabitation (साथ रह्नु). However, not even a single plant in the cellar is ready to
give up. They refuse to die despite severe difficulties. The plants carry hope
of survival.
By presenting the hope of plants, the poet concludes the poem delivering optimistic (आशावादी) note i. e. not to lose hope until heart stops beating of its own. He urges that living organism that fit under multiple circumstances survive and evolve for the best.
Message of the poem Root Cellar
- No matter how terrible problems may be, never stop living.
- Hardship, problems, tragedies, suffering, challenges are part of one's life and thus dare to face them.
- By
presenting such gloomy (उदास), fearful and deadly picture of the cellar, the poet wants
to tell that humans world is more convenient (सुविधाजनक) to live compared to any other
living being and there is no reason to give up living.
Points to remember
- The words “lolling”, “dark”, “mildewed”, “drooped”, “broke”, “evil”, indicate troubles in people’s life.
- The cellar in the poem symbolizes life.
- “Evil necks, like tropical snakes” is used as simile to create the horrible effect.
- The words like “Evil necks”, “tropical snakes” are used to frighten us, and to make us imagine the cellar as something terrible where it is impossible to live.
- The phrase “congress of stinks” is used to mark the worst possible scenario. “Congress of stinks” refers to the collection of different odors
- “Pulpy,” indicates the plants’ ripeness.
- “Silo” is storage where grains are kept and it is infested with pests.