Type Here to Get Search Results !

BANGLE SELLERS By Sarojini Naidu

BANGLE SELLERS By Sarojini Naidu

Summary of the Poem

“Bangle Sellers” celebrates Indian womanhood through the symbolic use of bangles.
The poem describes bangle sellers at a temple fair offering colorful bangles suited for women at different stages of life — from maidenhood to motherhood.

  • Stanza 1: The sellers invite people to buy bangles, calling them “shining loads.” The bangles represent joy and prosperity for daughters and wives.
  • Stanza 2: Blue and silver bangles are suited for young unmarried girls — symbols of freshness, purity, and dreams.
  • Stanza 3: Bright red and golden bangles suit brides, symbolizing love, passion, and happiness.
  • Stanza 4: Grey and purple bangles suit mature women, symbolizing experience, responsibility, and devotion.

💎 Detailed Stanza-wise Explanation

Stanza 1

The bangle sellers carry their bangles to a temple fair and call out to potential buyers. The bangles are “rainbow-tinted circles of light,” symbolizing beauty, happiness, and tradition. They are tokens of joy for women at different stages — daughters and wives.

Stanza 2

The poet compares the bangles for maidens to mountain mist (silver and blue) and buds near a stream (pinkish hues). These colors represent youth, purity, and new beginnings.

Stanza 3

This stanza focuses on brides. The bangles are compared to sunlit corn (golden) and the flame of marriage fire (red). They symbolize love, passion, and sacred commitment. The bride’s emotions are captured through words like “laughter” and “tear.”

Stanza 4

These bangles are for mature women — mothers and wives. The colors purple and grey with gold flecks symbolize wisdom, experience, and fulfillment. These women are devoted to their family and religion, proud of their life’s accomplishments.

📘 Themes

  1. Stages of Womanhood:
    Maidenhood → Marriage → Motherhood.
    Each stage has its own beauty and fulfillment.
  2. Indian Culture and Tradition:
    Bangles symbolize femininity, prosperity, and marital happiness.
  3. Joy and Devotion:
    The poem celebrates women’s roles with pride and reverence.
  4. Symbolism of Colors:
    Each color reflects a woman’s phase in life — from innocence to experience.

🎨 Imagery and Poetic Devices

Device

Example

Explanation

Alliteration

“happy daughters and happy wives”

Repetition of ‘h’ sound

Simile

“Silver and blue as the mountain mist”

Comparison using “as”

Metaphor

“Flame of her marriage fire”

Bangles compared to fire

Imagery

“Rainbow-tinted circles of light”

Creates a visual image

Symbolism

Bangles

Symbolize stages of womanhood

Rhyme Scheme

aabbcc

Regular and musical pattern

💬 Word Meanings

Word

Meaning

Lustrous

Shining, radiant

Radiant lives

Joyful lives

Maiden

Unmarried young woman

Flushed

Brightly colored

Limpid

Clear and pure

Hue

Color or shade

Tinkling

Making a light ringing sound

Flecked

Spotted or streaked

Cherished

Loved and cared for

Fruitful pride

Pride from family and achievements

📝 Text of the Poem

Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair...
Who will buy these delicate, bright
Rainbow-tinted circles of light?
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,
For happy daughters and happy wives.

Some are meet for a maiden’s wrist,
Silver and blue as the mountain mist,
Some are flushed like the buds that dream
On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream;
Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new-born leaves.

Some are like fields of sunlit corn,
Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,
Some, like the flame of her marriage fire,
Or, rich with the hue of her heart’s desire,
Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.

Some are purple and gold-flecked grey
For she who has journeyed through life midway,
Whose hands have cherished, whose love has blest,
And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
And serves her household in fruitful pride,
And worships the gods at her husband’s side.

 

Questions

 

I. Short Answer Questions

1. Who are the bangle sellers and where are they going?
The bangle sellers are people who sell colorful bangles. They are on their way to the temple fair to sell their “shining loads” to women of different ages.

2. What do bangles symbolize in Indian culture?
Bangles symbolize happiness, prosperity, love, and womanhood. They are worn by women to mark important stages of their lives such as maidenhood, marriage, and motherhood.

3. What colors are the bangles suitable for maidens?
The bangles for maidens are silver and blue like the mountain mist, and flushed like buds near a woodland stream — symbolizing purity, freshness, and youthful dreams.

4. Which bangles are suitable for a bride?
The bangles for brides are like fields of sunlit corn (golden) and like the flame of her marriage fire (red). They represent love, passion, and marital joy.

5. What type of bangles are meant for a woman who has reached middle age?
For middle-aged women, the bangles are purple and gold-flecked grey, representing maturity, experience, devotion, and pride in family life.

6. What does the expression “rainbow-tinted circles of light” refer to?
It refers to the bright, colorful bangles that sparkle beautifully in the sunlight, resembling a rainbow.

7. What do the words “bridal laughter and bridal tear” suggest?
They symbolize the mixed emotions of a bride — joy and excitement for her new life, and sadness for leaving her parental home.

8. Why does the poet call bangles “lustrous tokens of radiant lives”?
Because they are symbols of happiness and brightness in the lives of women — as daughters, wives, and mothers.

9. What kind of life does the mature woman lead according to the poem?
She leads a fulfilled and devoted life, serving her family, raising children, and worshipping gods beside her husband.

10. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme of aabbcc throughout, creating a musical and lyrical rhythm.

II. Medium Answer Questions

11. What are the three stages of a woman’s life represented in the poem?
The poem shows three stages:

  1. Maidenhood — symbolized by blue and silver bangles (innocence and freshness).
  2. Marriage — represented by red and gold bangles (love and passion).
  3. Motherhood/Maturity — symbolized by purple and grey bangles (wisdom and fulfillment).
    Each stage is celebrated with its own beauty and joy.

12. How does Sarojini Naidu use color imagery in “Bangle Sellers”?
Naidu uses colors vividly to reflect emotions and stages of womanhood:

  • Silver and blue – purity and innocence (young girls)
  • Red and gold – passion and prosperity (brides)
  • Purple and grey – experience and devotion (mothers)
    This color imagery adds beauty and symbolic depth to the poem.

13. What is the role of bangles in an Indian woman’s life according to the poem?
Bangles are symbols of identity and tradition. They are worn by women in every phase of life — from youth to motherhood — marking their joy, love, and responsibilities. The poet honors these roles as sacred and beautiful.

14. How does the poem reflect Indian culture and tradition?
The poem reflects Indian tradition where bangles are not mere ornaments, but symbols of marital happiness, devotion, and femininity. It also portrays the temple fair, a common feature of Indian life, connecting spirituality and daily joy.

15. What is the tone and mood of the poem?
The tone is joyful, reverent, and musical. The poet celebrates womanhood, devotion, and beauty. The mood shifts from freshness (in maidens) to passion (in brides) and to calm contentment (in mothers).

16. Why do you think the poet chose “bangle sellers” as the focus of the poem?
The bangle sellers symbolize the cycle of womanhood. Through their voices, Naidu presents the journey of every woman — her youth, love, and motherhood — using bangles as a poetic and cultural symbol.

III. Long Answer / Essay-Type Questions

17. Explain how “Bangle Sellers” is a celebration of Indian womanhood.
The poem celebrates Indian women in their different roles — as daughters, brides, and mothers.

  • The maidens’ bangles represent purity and dreams.
  • The bride’s bangles represent love, excitement, and sacred union.
  • The mother’s bangles represent maturity, sacrifice, and fulfillment.
    Sarojini Naidu presents each stage as equally beautiful and divine, giving dignity and honor to every phase of a woman’s life.

18. Discuss the theme of “Bangle Sellers.”
The poem’s central theme is the beauty and dignity of womanhood. It celebrates women’s journey from innocence to experience and highlights their joy, devotion, and strength. It also explores color symbolism and the importance of tradition in Indian culture.

19. How does Sarojini Naidu combine beauty and social meaning in the poem?
Naidu combines lyrical beauty with deep social meaning. Through rich imagery and color, she portrays women’s lives as vibrant and sacred. Beneath the beauty of words lies the idea that each stage of a woman’s life deserves respect and joy, making the poem both aesthetic and meaningful.

20. Explain the symbolism of bangles in the poem.
Bangles symbolize feminine beauty, emotions, and social customs. Each color represents a life stage — blue for youth, red for marriage, and purple for maturity. They also symbolize the eternal circle of life, unbroken and full of light, just like the role of women in society.

21. How does Sarojini Naidu present the connection between women and nature?
Naidu often compares women to elements of nature:

  • Maidens’ bangles are “silver and blue as the mountain mist.”
  • Brides’ bangles are “like fields of sunlit corn.”
  • The imagery of buds, leaves, and fire connects women’s emotions to the natural world, suggesting harmony between feminine life and nature’s rhythm.

22. What picture of Indian society does the poem present?
The poem presents a positive, traditional picture of Indian society, where women are cherished as daughters, brides, and mothers. It reflects a culture that values family, devotion, and spiritual harmony. The bangle sellers, fairs, and temple settings show the blend of art, faith, and daily life in India.

IV. Additional Analysis / HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

23. “Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear” – Explain the significance.
This line captures the dual emotions of a bride — joy for her marriage and sorrow for leaving her home. It shows the emotional depth of womanhood and the beauty of human feelings.

24. What message does Sarojini Naidu convey through “Bangle Sellers”?
The poet conveys that every stage of a woman’s life is sacred, complete, and joyful. She urges respect for womanhood and admiration for its strength, purity, and devotion.

25. Write a critical appreciation of “Bangle Sellers.”
“Bangle Sellers” is a melodious and symbolic poem. It uses rhythm, color, and imagery to celebrate Indian womanhood. The language is simple but musical, and the poem blends aesthetic beauty with cultural meaning, making it one of Naidu’s finest lyrical works.

 Join with SALIM SIR on Below Online Links:



Tags

You may like these posts

Show more