Chapter 9: Vocation
Introduction
"Vocation" is a poem by Rabindranath Tagore. In this poem, a child watches people at work — a hawker, a gardener, and a watchman — and wishes he could do their jobs instead of going to school. The poem beautifully captures the freedom, adventure, and wonder that a child sees in the lives of working people.
About the Poem
Poet: Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel Prize winner, 1913)
Theme: A child's imagination and longing for freedom; the appeal of the outdoors versus the routine of school.
- 1.The Three Workers:
- 2.The Hawker — calls out and sells bangles in the streets. The child admires his freedom to roam.
- 3.The Gardener — digs the earth and tends the garden. The child envies his connection with nature.
- 4.The Watchman — walks in the dark with a lantern, keeping guard at night. The child is fascinated by his independence.
Poetic Devices Used
- Rhyme: The poem has a regular rhyme scheme that makes it musical and easy to remember.
- Repetition: The child's longing is repeated in each stanza, building the poem's emotion.
- Imagery: Vivid word pictures — "Bangles, Crystal bangles!" — help readers imagine the scene.
- Contrast: The child is told to sit in school; the workers are free to move about.
Key Language Points
Identify the rhyme: "If I were a hawker I would call in the street, / The children would run to me before I could meet."
"Street" and "meet" form a rhyming pair.
Personification-like imagery: "The road is full of shadows and I do not see."
This creates a mysterious, adventurous picture of the night watchman's world.
Vocabulary — "vocation" means a calling or profession that a person feels strongly drawn to. The child feels "called" by the freedom of outdoor work.
Comprehension question: Why does the child want to be a hawker?
Answer: Because the hawker is free to roam the streets, shout his wares, and is not confined to a classroom.
Stanza analysis: In each stanza, the child describes a worker's life, then wishes he could join that worker. This structure gives the poem a pattern of longing.
Common mistakes
- Do not confuse "vocation" (a calling or career) with "vacation" (a holiday).
- The poem is written from a child's point of view — the child does not really want to leave school forever; it is a playful wish.
Summary
"Vocation" by Tagore shows a child's imagination and sense of wonder. It uses rhyme, repetition, and vivid imagery to contrast the freedom of outdoor workers with the structure of school life. The key vocabulary word is "vocation" — a calling or profession.