"Brotherhood" By Octavio Paz for Class XI

"Brotherhood"

By Octavio Paz

1. Give the substance of the poem, "Brotherhood".

Ans:    Standing under the starry sky, the speaker realizes his/her position on earth. His/her earthly existence is finite and bound by time. Life is very short, but the surrounding universe is enormous like the night sky. Looking up at the night sky, he/she watches the stars that act as our destiny. Intuitively, the speaker realizes that his/her life is likely to be predestined. This moment of self-realization, a reader of fate spells his/her destiny out.

2. Write a note on the significance of the title of the poem, "Brotherhood".

Ans:    The word, "Brotherhood" suggests that the poem is about brotherly relationship within a national or religious community sharing a common interest. But in the context of the poem, the title indicates the idea of the relationship that binds everything in the universe organically. The poet or the speaker acknowledges a superior power that controls our existence. Human being can neither explore the truth nor explain the cosmic force because of lack of knowledge. They can only understand that their lives are bound by a cosmic force and are pre-destined. Our life and existence is controlled and regulated by cosmic laws. In this sense, the universe and humanity are intertwined and share a brotherhood. The title focuses on the relationship between different entities that work organically. So the title is appropriate.

3. What is the central idea of the poem, "Brotherhood"?

Ans:    The poem exposes the insignificance of human being in the vast universe as well as the relationship between all entities of the world working organically. There is a cosmic force that binds everything in the universe. Human existence is only the passing of a period of time. Human knowledge cannot explain the cosmic laws that govern human life and activities because human ability to reason has its limitations. But we are all linked together in history. Every life has a purpose. Both the universe and humanity are intertwined. They follow a rhythm.

4. What is the significance of the stars in the poem, "Brotherhood"?

Ans:    In the poem, "Brotherhood", the poet-speaker, standing under the night-sky, looks up and discovers a vast universe. That twinkling stars strike him with new thought and open up new horizons of realization. His rational knowledge cannot explain the mystery of the universe. But intuitively, he realizes the vastness of the universe and his position on earth. The stars, as the thinks, move, shine and determine his fate. These stars represent the cosmic force that controls everything.

5. In the poem, "Brotherhood", what is the poet’s view on the universe around us?

Ans:    Standing under the starry sky, the speaker/poet feels that the night is enormous. The night opens up the universe before him. He wonders at the vastness of the universe and realizes his position on earth. He intuitively understands the rhythm of the universe. He realizes that the laws of the universe govern our life on earth.