A Nation’s Strength

(Ralph Waldo Emerson) 

A Nation's Strength

What makes a nation's pillars high
And its foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?

It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.

Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.

And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.

Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.

Glossary:

                                           

Word	Urdu Meaning	Explaination
Defy	بہادُری سے مقابلہ کرنا	to resist boldly
foe	دشمن	enmy
throng	بڑے ہجوم میں جمع ہو جانا	to gather around in a crowd
shaft	ستوُن	the column of a building's foundation
rust	زنگ لگ جانا، یہاں اس کا مطلب کمزور ہو کر سڑ جانا ہے	to become or cause something to become covered with rust; (here) decay
pride	اپنے آپ پر فخر ہونا	feeling of importance
lusture	چمک	brightness
a people	یہاں اس کا مطلب قوم ہے	a nation
dare	کوئی بڑا کام کرنے کا جزبہ یا ہمت ہونا	to have the courage to do something difficult
fly	ڈر کی وجہ سے باگ جانا	to run away in fear

Theme: 

'A Nation’s Strength' is written by “R.W. Emerson.” In this poem, the poet reveals the secret of a nation’s strength. He says that the strength of a nation lies not in the wealth, power and pride but in its patriotic and determined men.

Summary of A Nation’s Strength:

The poem “A Nation’s Strength” is written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The poet ponders about the things that make a nation strong. How can a nation’s pillars be made high and its foundations strong? How can a nation become strong enough to defend itself against powerful enemies? The poet ponders about these questions.
Then the poet says that it is not gold and silver that can make a nation great and strong, but it is the people who sacrifice for their country and make it great and strong. According to the poet, it is the brave men of a nation who work hard while others sleep and build the nation’s pillars deep and lift them to the sky. So it is not the riches but the honest and brave people that make a nation great.
Gold and material progress cannot make a nation strong. Material progress can not provide a strong base for a nation. The foundation made on the basis of wealth is like one made on sinking sand. How much grand a kingdom might be, war will destroy its material progress. The poet also states that many empires have disappeared as a result of the battles they fought. Their glory had decayed.
The poet goes on to say that the pride of a nation doesn’t lie in wearing glittering crowns. Soon, this pride reduces to ashes. The lustre and shine of the country lies with the people who are willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the nation. They work hard while others sleep. They raise the prestige of the country and build its pillars deep to make its foundation strong. Such people are the reason for the success of the nation.

Thinking about the Poem

1. In the first stanza, the poet wonders about certain things. What are they? 

Answer:- In the first stanza, the poet wonders about what makes a nation’s pillars high and its foundations strong, and what makes it strong to defend against its enemies.

2. What are the foundations of a strong kingdom built on?
Answer:- The foundations of a strong kingdom are built on the greatness and toughness of people. It is built on their courage and truthfulness.

3. What happens to a nation that depends on an army to keep its strong?
Answer:- A nation that depends on an army does not last long after they shed blood which leads to their decay. Their glory ends soon after the bloody war.

4. When a nation becomes proud, what does God do?
Answer:- When a nation becomes proud and arrogant, God strikes it lustre down and reduces it to ashes.

5. Do you think wealth can make a nation great and strong?
Answer:- No, wealth can’t make a nation great and strong. It is only men who can stand fast and suffer hardships for the sake of their nation. Only people have tendency to make a nations pillars deep and lift them to sky. Fields are won by those who believe only in winning.

6. What can the brave do?
Answer:- The brave work hard while others sleep. While others fly, the brave dare. They, therefore, can make a nation great and strong.

7. Explain the following line

The build a nation”s pillars deep

And lift them to the sky

Answer:- In these lines, the poet says that the brave men lay the pillars of a nation deep on a strong foundation and lift them to the sky to great heights of glory.

Language Work

1. In this poem, certain consonant sounds dominate e.g., m, n, f, s, r, d, p, h, b, g, 
l. List the words beginning with these consonants.
Answer:- List of consonants:

m……………………Make
n…………………….Nation
f……………………..Foe
s……………………..Strong
r……………………..Round
d…………………….Defy
p…………………….Pillar
h…………………….High
b…………………….Build
g…………………….Great
l……………………..Lift

2. The poem has a fixed rhyme scheme in each stanza i.e. abab. Pick out the rhyming words e.g.
high…defy.
Answer:- List of rhyming words:

Strong………Thong
Grand………Sand
Shock……….Rock
Dust…………Rust
Away………..Decay
Crown……….Down
Sweet………..Feet
Make………..Sake
Sleep………..Deep
Fly………….Sky

Strong……….Long