The Quarrel
by Eleanor Farjeon
About The Author
Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) was a British author, poet, and playwright. She is best known for her children's stories and poems, including "Morning Has Broken," a hymn that gained widespread popularity when it was set to music in the 1930s. Farjeon's writing style often reflected her love for nature, fantasy, and whimsy, making her works cherished by both children and adults alike. She received several literary awards during her career and left a lasting impact on English literature through her imaginative storytelling and lyrical poetry.
Poem: The Quarrel
I quarreled with my brother,
I don't know what about,
One thing led to another
And somehow we fell out.
The start of it was slight,
The end of it was strong,
He said he was right,
I knew he was wrong!
We hated one another.
The afternoon turned black.
Then suddenly my brother
Thumped me on the back,
And said, " Oh, came along!
We can't go on all night —
Iwas in the wrong. "
So he was in the right.
Introduction
Sometimes siblings fight over nothing, and it can get out of hand fast. Even though they're mad, a simple apology can clear things up and bring them back together. This poem shows that even after a fight, siblings can forgive each other and move on.
Summary
"The Quarrel" by Eleanor Farjeon captures the essence of a typical sibling disagreement that escalates into a heated argument. The poem is about a fight between siblings that starts over something small but grows into a big argument. They both think they're right and the other is wrong, which makes them angry with each other. As the fight gets worse, they start to really dislike each other. The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging that the quarrel with their brother started over something trivial and gradually intensified. Despite the initial triviality, both parties firmly believed in their own righteousness, leading to animosity and mutual disdain.
As the disagreement deepens, emotions escalate, and the atmosphere becomes tense ("The afternoon turned black"). However, the turning point of reconciliation occurs when the brother unexpectedly acknowledges his fault, breaks the deadlock, and extends an olive branch by apologizing and suggesting they move past the conflict.
The poem beautifully summarizes the nature of sibling conflicts—often starting from minor issues, escalating due to stubbornness and ego, but ultimately resolved through understanding, humility, and forgiveness. It portrays the complex dynamics of relationships, where disagreements can lead to hurt feelings but can also pave the way for reconciliation and stronger bonds.
Reference to Context
I quarreled with my brother,
I don't know what about,
One thing led to another
And somehow we fell out.
The speaker begins by stating that they had a quarrel with their brother but can't recall the exact reason for it. The argument started from something small and gradually escalated into a falling-out between them.
The start of it was slight,
The end of it was strong,
He said he was right,
I knew he was wrong!
The speaker reflects on the nature of the argument, noting that it began with a minor issue ("slight") but intensified significantly as it progressed ("strong"). They highlight the disagreement of opinions, with the brother insisting he was right while the speaker believed otherwise.
We hated one another.
The afternoon turned black.
The aftermath of the quarrel is described, with both the speaker and the brother harboring feelings of animosity ("hated one another"). The negative impact of the argument is symbolized by the metaphorical description of the afternoon turning dark and unpleasant ("afternoon turned black").
Then suddenly my brother
Thumped me on the back
And said, " Oh, came along!
We can't go on all night —
I was in the wrong. "
So he was in the right.
A sudden change in the situation occurs when the brother, unexpectedly, reconciles with the speaker. This is symbolized by the brother thumping the speaker on the back, a gesture of reconciliation and apology. The brother acknowledges his fault, apologizes, and expresses the need to resolve the conflict rather than prolonging it ("We can't go on all night"). This act marks a positive resolution to the quarrel as the speaker accepts the brother was right in this instance.
New Words of the Poem "The Quarrel":
quarrelled (verb)- to have an argument
one thing led to another (phrasal verb)- things had happened one after another
somehow (adverb)- anyway
slight (adjective)- little
turned black (phrasal verb)- became worse
thumped (verb)- patted
Central Idea:
The central idea highlights the brief nature of arguments and the brief duration of conflicts. The author skillfully handles the ups and downs of emotions throughout the poem, providing an understanding of the complicated nature of interpersonal interactions. Although its strength, the argument encourages growth in yourself and self-exploration.
Every word used in the rich and powerful language has been chosen with care to express a variety of meaning. In addition to using spoken words to convey the meaning of the argument, the poet also masterfully uses silences, pauses, and unsaid phrases to convey just as much information. It’s a symphony of feelings beautifully created with written charm.
Working with the poem
Question 1:
With your partner try to guess the meaning of the underlined phrases.
(i) And somehow we fell out.
(ii) The afternoon turned black.
Answer:
fell out – quarrelled or argued.
turned black – was spoiled or wasted due to bad or tense mood.
Question 2:
Read these lines from the poem:
(i) One thing led to another
(ii) The start of it was slight
(iii) The end of it was strong
(iv) The afternoon turned black
(v) Thumped me on the back
Discuss with your partner what these lines mean.
(i) "One thing led to another" suggests that the argument between the siblings escalated gradually. It started with a small issue but then kept getting worse as more things were said or done.
(ii) "The start of it was slight" indicates that the initial cause of the quarrel was minor or not very important. It implies that the disagreement began over something trivial.
(iii) "The end of it was strong" implies that the argument intensified and became serious or significant by the time it ended. It suggests that the emotions involved were strong and intense.
(iv) "The afternoon turned black" uses a metaphor to describe how the atmosphere or mood became dark and unpleasant as the argument progressed. It symbolizes the negativity and tension that filled the air.
(v) "Thumped me on the back" refers to the brother's physical gesture of reconciliation after admitting his fault. Patted on the back in an amiable manner.It signifies a friendly and comforting action, indicating the resolution of the quarrel.
3. Describe a recent quarrel that you have had with your brother, sister or friend. How did it start? What did you quarrel about? How did it end?
Recently, I had a quarrel with my friend Muhaib. It all began when I playfully teased him in front of our group of friends. However, instead of taking it lightly, Muhaib responded vigorously, which escalated the situation into a heated argument. Our stubbornness and anger fueled the quarrel, with each of us trying to prove our point.
The argument revolved around my teasing and Muhaib's strong reaction, leading to hurt feelings and tension between us. As the intensity grew, I realized the need to diffuse the situation and took the first step by apologizing sincerely for my actions, especially for teasing him in front of everyone.
Fortunately, my apology helped ease the tension, and Muhaib also softened his stance. To lighten the mood and signify the end of the quarrel, I shared a double meaning joke, which made us both laugh and brought a positive conclusion to the conflict.