The Clock Tower (Summary for BBS Second Year and Four Levels for BBA/BI Second Semester)

The Clock Tower

- Composed by: Bhupi Sherchan

-Translated into English by: Padma Devkota (Mahakavi’s Devkota's Surviving Son/ Poet/

Writer/ English Professor at the English Department, TU)

Literal Comprehension:

Summary: (This summary part is for BBS Second Year)

The symbolical poem “The Clock Tower” is composed by a renowned Nepali poet and academician Bhupi Sherchan. Later, this poem was translated into English by Padma Devkota. In this poem, an old pensioner is compared with the Clock Tower. In the past, when only some people had watches, other people used the Clock Tower or Ghantaghar to know time and manage their works or activities. But now everyone has modern watches or advanced mobile phones, so Ghantaghar has become worthless and irrelevant. Similarly, when the old retired pensioner was young, active and courageous and working in his military force, he was honoured, respected and admired. So, his life was full of happiness and satisfaction. But in the present time, he has become old, weak, passive and rejected. Though he has lost everything in his life, he has kept two souvenirs of his army life. They are an old-modelled large round pocket watch and an ancient hat. In the present time, the clock tower is like the old pensioner who is passing long and sad days of his old age. It has a clock on its neck and a cap like the old pensioner on its head. It is standing all the time, but it has no meaning and relevance.

• Important Essay "Once More to the Lake" for BBS Second Year: Click here for reading the summary:https://2078notesenglish.blogspot.com/2022/06/once-more-to-the-lake-summary-bbs-second-year.html

• Important Story "The Great Answer" for BBA/BI Second Sem.: Click here for reading the four levels. https://2078notesenglish.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-great-answer-four-levels.html

Interpretation:

The symbolical and insightful poem is trying to tell people about the cruel nature of time. It even says that with the change of time everything gets changed and their significance and value does not remain the same. Besides, it tells them that the nature of time is inconstant, so all people or things change into powerless from powerful and worthless from meaningful. Thus, it suggests them to accept the universal nature of time because everything and everyone are dominated by time.

Critical Thinking:

The poem is meaningful, symbolical and interesting because it presents the universal law of time. But some unconvincing ideas and events are found in the text. So, we can raise some questions regarding them. The questions are:

- Is it justifiable to compare human beings with objects?

- Is it true that are all things become useless when they become old?

- Do military people lose their respect when they become old?

Assimilation:

After reading this beautiful poem, I came to know that we are the slaves of time, so we cannot stop and block time for our interests. Besides, I realized that time is powerful, so there remains nothing except lamentation and memories with us about any things or people.

• Must Read: Summary of the Poem "No Smoke from the Chimneys" for BBS Second Year and BBA/BI Second Semester: Click here for reading the summary: https://2078notesenglish.blogspot.com/2022/07/no-smoke-from-the-chimneys-summary.html