SUCCESS  – Emily Dickinson

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Success – Emily Dickinson 

Exercise Answers 

COMPREHENSION

Q I. Read the following lines and answer the questions given below.

Success is counted sweetest

By those who ne’er succeed.

To comprehend a Nectar

Requires the sorest need.

a. What do you think the poet means in the first two lines? 

Answer – In the first two lines, the poet says that success means more to those who never succeed and know the value of success more. Success is taken for granted by those who get success constantly; they might not fully understand the value of success than those who did not succeed.

b. What, in your opinion, is the meaning of ‘sorest need’? 

Answer –The phrase ‘sorest need’ in the poem refers to an extremely urgent want of something or desperation for something. It means that only those who truly are in extreme need can truly understand the nectar and appreciate success, just like an extremely thirsty person values water.

c. What is success being compared to here? 

Answer –Here, success is being compared to nectar.

Q II. Answer the following questions in a sentence each.

a. Does the poem seem to suggest that success is unimportant? 

Answer – No, the poem doesn’t seem to suggest that success is unimportant. It just says that success is valued by those people who have experienced failures in their life.

b. The soldier is ‘dying’ yet hears the triumph! What do you think this means?

Answer – This means that success is deeply felt by those who have lost the battle. The soldier is dying and not in a position to experience the joy of victory, yet he completely understands the significance of victory.

c. Do you think success might be more enjoyable if it seems out of reach?

Answer – Yes, success might be more enjoyable if it seems out of reach. The real satisfaction comes by achieving something through a lot of struggles and hard work. If success is achieved easily, one might not understand its worth and might never feel the joy and happiness it gives.

Q III. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each.

a. Why are the strains of triumph ‘distant’? Describe in your own words what the defeated is likely to undergo.

Answer – The strains or the sound of triumph are distant because the defeated soldier is not a part of the celebration of victory. The soldier is defeated and dying on the battlefield. The defeated is likely to undergo pain physically and mentally. He is experiencing helplessness, regret, and sadness all at once. The strains of triumph from a distance are making his condition even worse. Every beat of the music heard by him makes him realize the value of success.

b. What does the poet mean by ‘the purple host’ / Who took the flag today? 

Answer – The phrase “the purple host” refers to the victorious army in this poem. The word purple is associated with royalty, authority, and victory, and the word “host” means an army or group. “Who took the flag today” implies the group who won the battle took the flag, which is the symbol of success, a sign of conquest and victory.

c. Explain the meaning of the lines ‘To comprehend a nectar / Requires sorest need.’ 

Answer –  The word “nectar” represents anything that is valuable and precious, and the phrase “sorest need” means urgent or dire need for something. The lines “To comprehend a nectar / Requires sorest need” from the poem “Success” by Emily Dickinson imply that one who is desperate for or in dire need of something can understand and appreciate its worth and significance. Others might take it for granted and might not appreciate it as they never lacked it. The one who has never experienced the nectar or a valuable thing can truly recognize its worth.

Q IV. Answer the following in about 150 words each. 

a. What is the central theme of the poem? Whose pain or need does it describe?

Answer – The central theme of the poem is that success is valued and appreciated by those who have never achieved it. The poem suggests that those who have struggled to achieve something desirable, those who have never experienced success, those who are in severe need or desperate for something, can understand the true worth of it and appreciate it. Others who have never lacked anything might take anything precious for granted and might not value it or understand its significance. The poem describes the need and pain of those who were deprived, defeated, and struggled to achieve something.

In the last stanza, the pain and sadness of a defeated soldier lying on the battlefield dying has been described. The poem describes how the sound of music from a distance, heard by the soldier, worsens his pain. Every moment, the soldier realizes the worth of victory. He is the one who truly understands the significance of victory, more than those who are celebrating the joy of victory. Dickinson says that nobody from the victorious group can truly explain the value of victory and what it means to the dying soldier. Through this poem, the poet tries to suggest that success can be valued by those who have never achieved it. The irony lies in the fact that worth of success/victory is understood by the losers & not winners. The poetess Emily Dickinson suggests through the poem that failure brings the clear understanding & value of what success truly means.

b. The poem examines the wide issue of what victory & defeat mean & its consequences on people. Discuss, using examples from the poem.

Answer – Victory or defeat play a very significant role in lives of people. Both influence people’s emotions, their mindsets & overall personality. Victory & failure have completely different consequences on people. This is what the poetess Emily Dickinson is trying to suggest through this poem. She says that success/a victory is valued by those who are failed/defeated in life. This statement is ironical because the irony lies in the fact that the ones who have achieved success should be the ones who should be appreciating & valuing the success. They should be the ones understanding the importance of success. However this is not the case in reality. Success is valued & appreciated by those who have been failed/defeated.

In the poem Emily Dickinson gives an example of a soldier who is defeated & lying on hill field dying. He is both physically & mentally weak. Not only his, his wounded body is in pain but his soul & mind is also experiencing the pain of defeat. There is a sharp contrast between the condition of the soldier & the joy & celebration of the victorious army. The sound of music is very painful for him. He is deeply feeling his defeat. At this moment success is everything for him.

Hence, the poetess says that none of the person of the victorious army can tell the true definition of victory. None of them can feel & understand the significance of victory then the dying soldier. The poem emphasizes on the fact that failure brings deeper understanding than success itself.

c. Who according to the poet, appreciates success the most & why?

Answer – According to the poetess Emily Dickinson, those who never succeed appreciate success the most. The reason is that failure deepens their appreciation for success. Failure brings pain, disappointment, weakness, & humility. Moreover, failed persons are treated with doubt & judgement by the society. Failed persons are judged & criticized by the society. They question their strength, their hardwork & their ability. Often the society don’t try to understand the efforts & struggle of the failed person. Failed persons are isolated & underestimated by the society & compared with successful people. Beyond this the failed persons themselves feel the shame, pain & pressure to prove themselves once again. Defeated person not only loses his battle but also his honor, his confidence, reputation credibility,, hope, strength & relationships.

Perhaps this is the price of failure the failed person has to pay. These are the reasons why a failed person understands the value of success. Failure creates a deep desire to prove themselves to overcome pain & regret, to gain respect & to achieve everything that they were longed for. Unlike others who succeed easily take success for granted, they regard success more than an achievement. For a failed person the meaning of success lies in their pain, sadness, shame, embarrassment, regret, fear, weakness, acceptance & patience. These are the emotions through which a failed person expresses his appreciation & understanding of success.

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