Death the Leveller by James Shirley with all Stanzas
Prepared by Daya Krishan
CENTRAL IDEA
Death the Leveller – James Shirley
This is a very beautiful poem written by James Shirley . It gives a very good message. Death is very powerful. It is a great leveller. All are same before death. It spares no one. Only good works of a person remain after his death.We should not boast on our mighty deeds.
ਇਹ ਜੇਮਜ਼ ਸ਼ਰਲੇ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਲਿਖੀ ਗਈ ਇੱਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਸੁਨੇਹਾ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਮੌਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਮਹਾਨ ਪੱਧਰ ਹੈ। ਮੌਤ ਤੋਂ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਇੱਕੋ ਜਿਹੇ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਖਸ਼ਦਾ। ਕਿਸੇ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਦੇ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਚੰਗੇ ਕੰਮ ਹੀ ਉਸਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਸਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਕੰਮਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਸ਼ੇਖੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਮਾਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ।
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This is very beautiful poem written by James Shirley.It gives a very good message.Death is very powerful.It is a great leveller. All are same before death.Death comes to all. It spares no one. The high and low, the rich and the poor can not escape from the icy hand of death.It treats the mighty and the weak equally. All earthly glory and achievements are temporary “shadows” that vanish at death. It reduces everyone to dust. Therefore, it is useless to boast of one’s power or wealth. Only our good actions remain after our death. Therefore, we should always be just in our actions.
ਇਹ ਜੇਮਜ਼ ਸ਼ਰਲੀ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਲਿਖੀ ਗਈ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਸੁਨੇਹਾ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਮੌਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਮਹਾਨ ਪੱਧਰੀ ਹੈ। ਮੌਤ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਭ ਇੱਕੋ ਜਿਹੇ ਹਨ। ਮੌਤ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਖਸ਼ਦੀ। ਉੱਚ ਅਤੇ ਨੀਵਾਂ, ਅਮੀਰ ਅਤੇ ਗਰੀਬ ਮੌਤ ਦੇ ਬਰਫੀਲੇ ਹੱਥ ਤੋਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਚ ਸਕਦੇ। ਇਹ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ ਨਾਲ ਬਰਾਬਰ ਵਿਵਹਾਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਧਰਤੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀਆਂ ਅਸਥਾਈ "ਪਰਛਾਵੇਂ" ਹਨ ਜੋ ਮੌਤ 'ਤੇ ਅਲੋਪ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਿੱਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਿਲਾ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ, ਕਿਸੇ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਦੌਲਤ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੇਖੀ ਮਾਰਨਾ ਬੇਕਾਰ ਹੈ। ਸਾਡੀ ਮੌਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਸਾਡੇ ਚੰਗੇ ਕੰਮ ਹੀ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ, ਸਾਨੂੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਆਪਣੇ ਕੰਮਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਆਂ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS:
POEM 2: DEATH THE LEVELLER
1. Ultimate fate of all human beings is _____.
i) old age ii) life iii) youth iv) death
2. What lives after death?
i) name ii) good deeds iii) fame iv) glory
3. The glories of blood and state are just shadows. (True/ false)
ANSWER KEY:
1. Ultimate fate of all human beings is death.
i) old age ii) life iii) youth iv) death
2. What lives after death?
i) name ii) good deeds iii) fame iv) glory
3. The glories of blood and state are just shadows. (True)
Reading Comprehension Stanza
Stanza no.1
(1) The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against Fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings.
1. Name the poem and the poet.
2. What are not substantial ( ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ) things ?ਕਿਹੜੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਨ
3. Explain : ‘Death lays his icy hand on kings.’
ਮੌਤ ਰਾਜਿਆਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਬਰਫੀਲਾ ਹੱਥ ਰੱਖਦੀ ਹੈ।
Answer:
1. The name of the poem is Death the Leveller?. The name of the poet is James Shirley.
2. The glories of our high birth and position are mere shadows. They are not substantial things.
3. Death spares not even kings. It treats the mighty and the weak equally.
Stanza no.2
(2) Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.
1. Write the name of the poem and the poet.
2. Who are equal before death ?
3. What does the expression “scythe and spade’ stand for ?
"ਦਾਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਕੁੱਦਲ / ਕਹੀ" ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਾ ਕੀ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ?
Answer:
1. The name of the poem is ‘Death the Leveller. The name of the poet is James Shirley.
2. Mighty kings and the poor peasants are equal before death.
3. The given expression stands for the poor peasants and labourers.
ਇਹ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵਾ ਗਰੀਬ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਮਜ਼ਦੂਰਾਂ ਲਈ ਹੈ।
Stanza no.3
(3) Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill
But their strong nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still.
1. Name the poem and the poet.
2. What do some men do with swords ? ਕੁਝ ਆਦਮੀ ਤਲਵਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਕੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ?
3. What do they fail to do ?
ਉਹ ਕੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਸਫਲ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ?
Answers
1. The name of the poem is ‘Death the Leveller’and the name of the poet is James Shirley.
2. Some men win battles with their swords.
3. They fail to gain victory over death.
Stanza no.4
(4) Early or late
They stoop to fate,
And must give up their murmuring breath
When they, pale captives, creep to death.
1. Who stoop to fate ?
2. Which two words show that men don’t want to die ?
3. What is meant by ‘pale captives’?
'ਫਿੱਕੇ/ਪੀਲੇ ਕੈਦੀ' ਤੋਂ ਕੀ ਭਾਵ ਹੈ?
Answers
1. All men have to stoop to fate.
2. Murmuring breath.
3. The words ‘pale captives’ create an image of the helpless ones who are at the point of death.
Stanza no.5
(5) The garlands wither on your brow;
Then boast no more your mighty deeds!
Upon Death’s purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.
1. What are the garlands that wither ?
ਉਹ ਕਿਹੜੇ ਹਾਰ/ਮਾਲਾ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਮੁਰਝਾ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ?
2. Why should one not boast of one’s mighty deeds ?
3. What is meant by the victor-victim ?
ਜੇਤੂ-ਪੀੜਤ/ਸ਼ਿਕਾਰ ਤੋਂ ਕੀ ਭਾਵ ਹੈ?
Answer:
1. Garlands refer to the honours of victory in wars. All these honours prove useless in death.
ਹਾਰ/ਮਾਲਾ ਜੰਗਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਿੱਤ ਦੇ ਸਨਮਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਮੌਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੇਕਾਰ ਸਾਬਤ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
2. Mighty deeds can’t save one from death. Therefore, it is useless to boast of one’s mighty deeds.
3. The victor of any
war becomes a victim by death. The poet calls him victor-victim.
Stanza no.6
(6) Your heads must come
To the cold tomb
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.
1. What is that which must happen ?
2. What is “cold tomb’ a symbol of ?
"ਠੰਡੀ ਕਬਰ" ਕਿਸ ਚੀਜ਼ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਕ ਹੈ?
3. What idea does the poet want to convey ?
Answer:
1. Everyone must meet death in the end.
2. The words ‘cold tomb’are a symbol of death.
3. Only good actions live after one’s death. Therefore, one should always be just in one’s actions.
1. What is the theme or the central idea of the poem?
Ans: This is very beautiful poem written by James Shirley.It gives a very good message.Death is very powerful.It is a great leveller. All are same before death.Death comes to all. It spares no one. The high and low, the rich and the poor can not escape from the icy hand of death.It treats the mighty and the weak equally. All earthly glory and achievements are temporary “shadows” that vanish at death. It reduces everyone to dust. Therefore, it is useless to boast of one’s power or wealth. Only our good actions remain after our death. Therefore, we should always be just in our actions.
ਇਹ ਜੇਮਜ਼ ਸ਼ਰਲੀ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਲਿਖੀ ਗਈ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਸੁਨੇਹਾ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਮੌਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਮਹਾਨ ਪੱਧਰੀ ਹੈ। ਮੌਤ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਭ ਇੱਕੋ ਜਿਹੇ ਹਨ। ਮੌਤ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਖਸ਼ਦੀ। ਉੱਚ ਅਤੇ ਨੀਵਾਂ, ਅਮੀਰ ਅਤੇ ਗਰੀਬ ਮੌਤ ਦੇ ਬਰਫੀਲੇ ਹੱਥ ਤੋਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਚ ਸਕਦੇ। ਇਹ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ ਨਾਲ ਬਰਾਬਰ ਵਿਵਹਾਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਧਰਤੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀਆਂ ਅਸਥਾਈ "ਪਰਛਾਵੇਂ" ਹਨ ਜੋ ਮੌਤ 'ਤੇ ਅਲੋਪ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਿੱਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਿਲਾ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ, ਕਿਸੇ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਦੌਲਤ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੇਖੀ ਮਾਰਨਾ ਬੇਕਾਰ ਹੈ। ਸਾਡੀ ਮੌਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਸਾਡੇ ਚੰਗੇ ਕੰਮ ਹੀ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ, ਸਾਨੂੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਆਪਣੇ ਕੰਮਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਆਂ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
2. Write the summary of the poem in your own words.
Ans: The poem declares that all glories from noble birth and high status are mere shadows without real substance. No armor can protect against death, which places its icy hand even on kings. Royal symbols like the sceptre and crown must fall into the dust and become equal with the poor farmer’s tools.
Warriors who kill in battle and win victories must also eventually surrender to death. They conquer each other but cannot conquer death itself. Early or late, all must bow to fate and become pale captives creeping toward death.
The final stanza warns people not to boast of mighty deeds because victory garlands wither. On death’s purple altar, both victor and victim bleed equally. Everyone must go to the cold tomb. Only the actions of just people create a lasting legacy, their good deeds smell sweet and blossom even after death.
3. What lesson do you get from this poem?
Ans: The poem teaches us to be humble rather than proud of our achievements, wealth, or status because death makes everything equal. All humans are fundamentally the same, we all face the same inevitable fate. We should not attach importance to material success, power, or glory as these are temporary illusions that vanish at death.
The only thing that survives death is the memory of good deeds and virtuous actions. Therefore, we should focus on living righteously, being just, kind, and compassionate rather than pursuing power or boasting of achievements. Only moral goodness creates lasting value beyond death.
4. What does the expression ‘scythe and spade’ stand for in line 8?
Ans: “Scythe and spade” symbolically represent common people, particularly poor farmers and laborers. A scythe is a tool for cutting grain and a spade is for digging, both are simple, humble tools used by the working class.
The poet contrasts these with “Sceptre and Crown” (symbols of royal power) to show death’s equalizing power. In death, there is no difference between the highest king and the lowest peasant, both become equal in the dust. This emphasizes that social status is meaningless in death’s eyes.
5. Do the conquerors tame death or the dead?
Ans: Conquerors tame neither death nor the dead, they only tame “one another still,” meaning they conquer fellow human beings in battle.
Despite their military might and physical strength, warriors cannot conquer or control death itself. They may defeat other humans, but they must eventually surrender to death, becoming “pale captives” who creep to death. This shows the futility of military conquest, death conquers the conquerors. No matter how many battles you win, death wins the final battle.
6. Explain the lines “Only the actions of the just / Smell sweet and blossom in their dust”.
Ans: These lines mean that only the good deeds of virtuous, righteous people survive death. While the physical body decays to dust, moral actions continue to “smell sweet” (create pleasant memories and positive legacy) and “blossom” (grow, flourish, continue influencing others).
This is a paradox: while physical things die and decay, virtue actually grows after death. Good deeds are like seeds planted in soil that bloom into flowers, they create lasting positive impact. This is the only true immortality, not physical survival but moral and spiritual legacy. The lines teach that we should focus on being virtuous since only goodness has permanent value beyond death.
7. Write true or false against the following sentences:
(a) There is no armour against fate.
(b) Death spares the mighty but punishes the weak.
(c) Death can even kill good deeds.
(d) Death lays his icy hand on kings.
Ans.
(a) True
(b) False (Death treats everyone equally; it does not spare anyone)
(c): False (Only the actions of the just survive death)
(d): True
8. This poem highlights the uselessness of human power and might. What is that which cannot be snatched by death?
Ans: The virtuous actions and good deeds of just people cannot be snatched by death. While death destroys all physical things, wealth, power, status, achievements, and the body itself, it cannot destroy moral goodness.
Good deeds create a lasting legacy that continues to “smell sweet and blossom” even after physical death. The positive influence of just actions, the memories of kindness and righteousness, and the moral example set by virtuous people survive and even flourish after death. This is the only form of immortality available to humans, spiritual and moral immortality through righteous living.
9. Read John Donne’s poem ‘Death, Be not Proud’ and compare the two poems.
Ans: Both poems address death but with different approaches:
Similarities:
Both challenge death’s ultimate power
Both use personification of death
Both suggest something survives death
Both belong to metaphysical poetry tradition
Differences:
Shirley’s “Death the Leveller”:
Accepts death’s physical power over everyone
Emphasizes death as the great equalizer
Focuses on moral immortality, virtue survives death
Solemn, warning tone
Message: Live humbly and virtuously; only good deeds survive
Donne’s “Death, Be not Proud”:
Denies death’s power entirely
Calls death weak, a slave to fate
Focuses on spiritual immortality, Christian resurrection
Defiant, mocking tone
Message: Don’t fear death; it will die when believers wake to eternal life
Government Kenya Senior Secondary School Khanauri Mandi Sangrur Punjab
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