Class 11 Compulsory English "CORONA Says"( a poem) by Vishnu S. Rai

 Summary

"CORONA Says" by Nepali poet Vishnu S. Rai is a reflective and poignant poem where the corona virus itself is given a voice. The poem begins with the virus introducing itself and addressing humanity directly, critiquing human actions and behaviors that have led to the current global crisis. The virus highlights how humans have polluted the environment, waged wars, and shown disregard for the natural world, suggesting that the pandemic is a consequence of these actions. Through this personification, the poem underscores the irony of human achievements juxtaposed with their self-destructive behaviors.

As the poem progresses, the tone shifts from critical to hopeful. The virus urges humans to learn from the pandemic and change their ways. It calls for greater compassion, environmental stewardship, and social justice. The poem concludes on a note of optimism, suggesting that if humans reflect on their actions and make necessary changes, they can emerge from the crisis stronger and more united. "CORONA Says" serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life and the need for humanity to act responsibly and compassionately.

Alternative Summary

The poem “Corona Says” is written by a Nepali poet Vishnu S. Rai who was educated in India, Nepal and UK. He is a retired professor of TU who taught English Language Education. In this poem the poet has taught about a pandemic (Covid-19) which has its devastating impact on human life.

This poem is written about the current issue of the Corona world crisis and its devastating impact on human life. This is a subtle satire about human behavior and attitudes. This poem considers Covid-19 as a by-product of human treatment of nature.

The speaker asks man not to cry and curses him for the damage. He claimed that the irrational behavior of humans had invited him (corona) and he had no choice but to let people suffer and die. For speakers, the number of deaths caused by war is higher than that of a pandemic. The so-called superiority of man over other creatures is criticized in the poem.

The pandemic questions us about our indifference to the living organisms that fly in the sky, live in the oceans and crawl on land, and the trees that provide oxygen. These organisms are considered as slaves. As per our wish, we will either kill them or sell them.

The poem mentions the positive effects of the disease too. During the pandemic, the sky is clear without dust and smoke because there is no human activity. People feel like animals locked up in a zoo. The pandemic has allowed the earth to rest.

The speaker wants humans to know themselves at first even if they claim to have control over everything. He says people should realize that the earth is a common home for all creatures. The speaker raised us by saying that the disease can be eradicated, and at the same time reminded us that there are still many other diseases that we can suffer from. It warns us that if we continue our immoral activities, we may incur irreparable harm and our civilization may be in danger.

Short Questions and Answers

1. Q: Who is the speaker in the poem "CORONA Says"?

  A: The speaker in the poem is the corona virus itself.

2. Q: What is the central theme of the poem?

  A: The central theme is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human lives and society.

3. Q: How does the poet personify the virus in the poem?

  A: The poet personifies the virus by giving it a voice and emotions, allowing it to express its thoughts.

4. Q: What message does the virus convey about human behavior?

  A: The virus criticizes human actions such as environmental destruction, war, and lack of compassion.

5. Q: How does the poem end?

 A: The poem ends with a hopeful note, urging humans to learn from the pandemic and change their ways.

Long Questions and Answers

1. Q: Describe the tone of the poem "CORONA Says" by Vishnu S. Rai. How does the tone contribute to the overall message of the poem?

A: The tone of the poem "CORONA Says" is a blend of irony, admonishment, and ultimately, hope. The virus speaks in a tone that is almost mocking, pointing out the flaws and hubris of human society. This ironic tone underscores the absurdity of human actions that have led to such a catastrophic event. As the poem progresses, the tone shifts to a more serious and reflective one, urging humans to reconsider their actions and behaviors. This shift in tone highlights the potential for change and the hope that humanity can learn from this crisis.

2. Q: Analyze the use of literary devices in "CORONA Says" and how they enhance the poem's message.

 A: Vishnu S. Rai employs several literary devices in "CORONA Says" to enhance the poem's message. Personification is the most prominent, as it gives the virus a human-like voice, making its critique of human society more impactful. Irony is used to highlight the contrast between human achievements and their destructive behaviors. Imagery is also prevalent, with vivid descriptions of the chaos and suffering caused by the pandemic, which help to evoke emotional responses from the readers. These devices work together to reinforce the poem's themes of reflection, criticism, and hope.

3. Q: What does the virus criticize about human society in the poem "CORONA Says"? Provide examples from the text.

A: In the poem "CORONA Says," the virus criticizes several aspects of human society, including environmental degradation, social inequality, and lack of compassion. The virus points out how humans have polluted the earth, leading to climate change and destruction of natural habitats. It also highlights the social injustices and inequalities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, such as the struggles of the poor and the vulnerable. The virus admonishes humans for their wars and conflicts, suggesting that the pandemic is a consequence of their actions. These criticisms are meant to provoke introspection and a reevaluation of human priorities and behaviors.

4. Q: How does "CORONA Says" reflect the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic?

A: "CORONA Says" reflects the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by addressing issues that resonate universally. The poem speaks to the widespread fear, suffering, and disruption caused by the virus. It touches on the loss of lives, the strain on healthcare systems, and the economic hardships faced by people around the world. The poem also highlights the shared human experience of the pandemic, emphasizing that the virus does not discriminate and affects everyone, regardless of nationality, race, or socioeconomic status. By giving a voice to the virus, the poet captures the pervasive and far-reaching consequences of the pandemic, making it a relatable and poignant commentary on the global crisis.

 

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions:

 

a. Who is the speaker in the poem?

The speaker in the poem is Corona.

b. Who claims that they are superior to all?

The humans of this modern world claim that they are superior to all.

c. Why has the speaker come to the Earth?

The speaker has come to Earth as a result of the abuse of nature by people.

d. What positive changes have occurred on Earth after the speaker’s visit?

After the speaker’s visit, the sky has been clean without dust and smoke. People have felt like caged animals do in a zoo. The disease has allowed the earth to have a little rest.

Reference to the context

 

a. What does the speaker mean when he says?

But have you ever counted
how many have died so far
Because of you and your wars?

In the given lines, the speaker blames that the human beings themselves are responsible for wars and loss of their lives. The consequences and effects caused by wars is more terrible than the pandemic has done. Wars are the result of disputes over resources and land, or of a government’s will to increase its influence, power and authority. The parties or government involving in wars never think of the consequences people have to face. Millions of people have lost their lives and properties because of wars. Aftereffects of wars are also causing them to suffer physically and psychologically.

b. Explain the following:

I will depart one day.
But remember
there’re many others like me.
They’ll come too.
If you don’t get rid of your inflated ego,
You’ll be back to your cave time
That you endured
Long, long, long ago …

In the given extract, the speaker warns us to terminate our egoistic behavior. No matter who we are, we have to preserve the nature and shouldn’t go against the law of nature. By saying the above line the poet aware us that the pandemic can be controlled but they may suffer from other fatal diseases due to their own behaviors, and finally they can be the cause of the extinction of human civilization.

c. What does the speaker mean in the following lines? Explain.

The earth is not your property alone –
It’s as much ours as yours.

In the given lines, the speaker denotes that the earth is the common habitat of all the living creatures. All of them have an equal right to use the resources available on earth, to sustain their lives. But we human beings are ruling over others thinking ourselves as superior and depriving them of using resources. The speaker is worried about growing human pressure on natural world. They have controlled all the natural resources for their own benefits though the earth is the common home for all the living organisms. In the name of development and progress, humans are destroying the sources of food and habitats of other creatures. In this way, slowly and slowly entire ecosystem is being destroyed.

Reference beyond the text

 

a. What human behaviors are responsible for suffering in people’s lives?

The human behaviors are the main cause behind all these sufferings of the people. Due to human egos, their greediness and bad deeds, the present world is facing a lot of crisis. Many people have lost their lives during this critical period. Due to their selfish nature, the earth has faced numerous problems of diseases. Their so-called egos and wars have snatched the lives of many people. Hence, human beings themselves are responsible for suffering in people’s lives.

b. How does an epidemic differ from a pandemic? Briefly explain the impact of Corona Virus on human life and environment.

An epidemic is a widespread disease that affects many people in a population whereas pandemic is a disease that affects a wide geographical area and a large proportion of the population. Epidemics occur when an agent and susceptible hosts are present in adequate number and the agent can be effectively conveyed from a source to the susceptible hosts.

Corona virus is one of the greatest threats of the twenty-first century. This disease has taken away the lives of numerous numbers of people. People in the world are panic-stricken and living their life in mental fear. Businesses are down and economic crisis is seen all over the world. Many people are jobless, homeless and due to the scarcity of food also many people are dying. But due to the impact of Corona Virus, environment is clean and pollution free than before. As peoples are caged inside their houses, many of the industries are closed and the numbers of vehicles on the road is also decreased. Due to this the environment is cleaner and fresher than before.