7/31/2019 CH 19 Casabianca

1/2

Casabianca

CHAPTER 19

Central Idea

Reference

This poem is written by Felicia Dorethea Hemans (1973-1835). She was born at Liverpool,

but the family moved to Wales where she was brought up. She was quick in mind and hada fine memory. As a poet, she has been compared to Long fellow. Like Couper, she loved

the pathetic, and there is great enthusiasm for chivalry and heroism in her work. She also

stressed moral values.

ThemeA man of courage is full of faith.

or

Patriotism is a great virtue that makes people forgive their selfness.

Central IdeaThe central idea of this poem is the the noble characteristics like chivalirism, obedience

and morality demand the impossible, the obsolite and the death which itself transfigured

into eternal life. Deep-rooted faithfulness is majestic and unmatched which makes a manrise above all personal affiliation.

Summary

This poem is written by an English poetess Felicia Dorothea Hemans.

Casabianca is not purely fictitous story. It is a story of brave and innocent boy. The poetess

has depicted a scene of sea battle. Where a ship is own ablaze with casabiance standing onthe deck. During the battle when every part of ship was gutted with fire, most of the crew

members had died and the live ones had runaway to save their lives. But casabianca kept

standing, fearless of fire and enemys shelling where he was in obedience of his fathersorder who was the captain of the ship.

When the ship was burning with fire, Casabiancas impatient nature made him ask the

permission to leave the battle field but there was no reply as his father was dead.In the last three stanzas, the poetess has described the scene of casabiancas death when the

flames of fire engulfed him, the ship was also blasted and his body blown to bites. But in

reality his spirit and moral was not defeated. Till his last breath, he stood like rock facing

death and danger.

Question and Answers

7/31/2019 CH 19 Casabianca

2/2

Q.1 Write a short note on Casabianca?

Ans. Casabianca was a young and brave soldier of his country. He was a born hero and has

a very strong, composed and pleasant personality. Dutifulness and obedience were hismaking characteristics and he was proud of fighting for his country.

Q.2 What do you know about a battleship from this poem?Ans. As the poem was written in the 19th century, in these days ships made from wood.

There were different parts like most, helm, pennon fair etc. Moreover they also used,cannon balls for destruction purposes.

Q.3 How has the Felicia Dorothea Hemans been compared to other poets?

Ans. Felicia Dorothea Hemans has been compared to Henry Long Fellow and Couper. Shehad the same pathetic and there is a great enthusiasm for chivalry and heroism in her work

like the other poets. She also stressed moral values.

Q.4 What does the poetess mean by saying that Lone Post of Death?

Ans. The poetess is describing the death scene of Casabianca through the phrase. It meansthat when the fire was near to engulf him and his death time had arrived, than he was all

alone on the battleship. He had a desperation about his father, future i.e. about winning

over the battle.

Q.5 Why does the poetess call the Casabianca A Gallant Child?

Ans. The poetess calls the Casabianca a gallant child because he stood like a rock,

fairless of the fire, the enemys shelling and his despair in the moments of death and

danger. When his body blown into bites i.e. he was defeated by the death, but actually hisspirit was not overpowered and he remained as a brave and valiant soldier.