Class: VII > The Vagabond > Textual Questions and Answers

TUTORIALevolution

THE VAGABOND

--by Robert Louis Stevenson

Substance: Vagabond is completely separated from the bondage of daily-life. Having the road as his home he avoids the company of men and enjoys the beauty of nature through rain and sunshine, winter and summer. Perhaps it is not so much the love of nature but the habit of roaming gets him out on the road especially the lanes or by-paths which he prefers more. He prefers to spend his night under the open sky instead of under the roof that shuts bout the stars of the sky. He does not long for cosy bed or the fireplace in winter. He does not want good food or wine. Even he does not want the friendship, love or fame. He is happy with his carefree and boundless life with only bread and butter as his food. He only wants the sky over his head and the by-path near him.

Word-Meanings :                                                                                    

Frosty- full of frost

Let- allow                                                      

Blow- Ill luck                                                

Field- meadow

Lave- Stream                                                           

O’er- Over                                       

Fire place-A place with fire to keep the room warm.

Jolly- Happy                                                 

The face of the earth- Open land                      

Yield- give in

Heaven- sky                                                 

Seek- want                                      

By-way- Lanes of Village                                                 

Nigh- near                                                                

afield- on the field

Bush-                                                                                     

Linger- spend a while

Bread- loaf                                                               

silencing- making silent

Dip- sink                                                                                

Biting-to hold between jaws

Answer the following Questions :
What kind of life does the vagabond want?
The Vagabond wants to have the cheerful sky over his head and the by-paths near him. He makes his bed in the bush to watch the sky. He likes to eat the bread dipped in the river.

What are the things that do not interest the vagabond?

The Vagabond is not interested in having a roof over his head. He wants to keep away from everyday life of comfort and love of friendship.

What would the Vagabond do when winter falls?

 When the winter falls, he would not care for the warmth of the fireplace at home. He will never submit to winter in spite of its biting cold wind and frosty field.

How does the poet describe the field in Autumn?

In Autumn when the frost begins to fall, it covers the field making it look like a white meal, a kind of white flour.

Why does the poet repeat the second stanza once again?

The poet repeats the second stanza once again to emphasis his strong and irresistible habit of roaming to have the sky over his head and the by-path near him.

What message does the poet want to give through the poem?

The poet wants to give the message freedom in life is more important than the comfort and luxury of life.  In order to achieve freedom in the true sense of the term, one has to give up the so-called comfort of  life through the power of endurance and sacrifice.