Poetry 5: The Lamentation of the Old Pensioner
Original notes — ready Bihar Board — BSEB • Class 11 • English • Book: Rainbow Bhag-1 (Purani pustak — 2025 se pehle wali)
The Lamentation of the Old Pensioner — EG's own notes, in simple English
Book: Rainbow Bhag-1 (Purani pustak — 2025 se pehle wali) (BSEB, Class 11) | Poetry 5 | Type: Poetry | Author: W. B. Yeats
This page carries Educational Galaxy's own original notes — a theme-level summary in simple English, not a copy of the textbook. No official textbook PDF is given here.
Diagram (labels are printed on the image): An old man alone in an autumn park — a general picture of ageing and loneliness, not a book scene.
A young person helping an old man — a general picture of sympathy for the aged.
What the chapter is about
An old man, once strong and full of life, now laments his lost youth. Time has changed him: his body is weak, his old friends are gone, and the world treats him as a burden. He remembers the days when he was handsome, bold and full of fire.
The poem is a sad song about ageing. It asks for sympathy for the old, who still feel young inside while their bodies fail. Youth passes for everyone; kindness to the aged is a duty of the young.
What you should learn
Ageing changes the body but not the inner self — the old deserve sympathy, not neglect.
Key Terms
- Lamentation — A sad song or cry of grief.
- Pensioner — An old person living on a pension.
- Transformed — Changed completely.
- Youth — The early, strong years of life.
- Sympathy — Feeling for another's suffering.
Remember
- The old man was once strong, bold and handsome.
- Time has weakened his body and changed his life.
- Old friends are gone; the world neglects him.
- Inside, he still feels the fire of youth.
- The poem asks sympathy for the aged.
Exam Tip / Common Mistake
Common mistake: calling it a poem about money or pension. It is about AGEING and lost youth.
Chart / Table
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Then | Strong, bold, admired |
| Now | Weak, neglected, lonely |
| Inside | Still young in feeling |
| Plea | Sympathy for the old |
Practice set (try on your own)
- What does the old man lament?
Hint: Think about lost youth. - How has time transformed him?
Hint: Think about body and friends. - How does the world treat him now?
Hint: Think about neglect. - Does he feel old inside?
Hint: Think about inner fire versus weak body. - What does the poem ask of the young?
Hint: Think about sympathy.
Questions with Answers
- What is the old pensioner's complaint?
That time has transformed him. Once he was strong and full of fire; now he is weak, and people treat him as a spent, useless man. - What has he lost besides strength?
His youth, his looks, his bold days and many old friends. The world around him has moved on and left him behind. - Why is the poem sad rather than angry?
Because the old man still feels young inside. The gap between his inner self and his failing body makes his grief deeper. - What does Yeats want readers to feel?
Sympathy for old people. Ageing comes to everyone, and the aged should receive kindness, not scorn or neglect. - What is the universal lesson?
Youth passes quickly. Respect and care for the old today, for tomorrow's old will be today's young.
How to use this page: First read the summary, say the key terms in your own words, then try the practice set without looking. Finally check yourself with the questions and answers. Get your answers checked by your teacher or parents.