About The Author
William Ralph Emerson, born in 1833, was an architect and the second cousin of Ralph Waldo Emerson. He worked to design several of the first buildings for the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. He died in Milton, Massachusetts, in 1917.
William Ralph Emerson's poem "A Nation's Strength" is a powerful and inspirational work that explores the values and qualities essential for building and sustaining a great nation. The poem rejects material wealth, military power, and pride as the foundations of national strength, instead emphasizing the moral and ethical character of its people.
Poem
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
The poem "A Nation’s Strength" by Ralph Waldo Emerson explores the essence of a nation's greatness and reveals the true pillars upon which it stands. The poet emphasizes that wealth, pride, and military power are fleeting and insufficient to make a nation strong or enduring. Instead, the foundation of a nation's strength lies in its people—men of character who uphold truth, honor, and unity.
Emerson underscores that a nation achieves greatness not through riches or battles but through the countless sacrifices of brave individuals who prioritize the greater good over personal gain. These steadfast individuals endure hardships with courage, remaining united in the face of adversity. History, the poet reminds us, has shown that nations driven by pride or the sword ultimately face downfall and decay. True greatness, he argues, is built on the unwavering virtues of its people.
The poem reflects the profound truth that the strength of a nation lies in the selfless dedication of its citizens. These brave men work tirelessly, undeterred by personal loss, and lay the deep foundations of their nation on the virtues of sacrifice and integrity. Through their relentless efforts and courage, they elevate their nation to its highest glory.
Stanza 1
What makes a nation's pillars high
And its foundations strong?
The poet begins by posing rhetorical questions, asking what gives a nation its strength and solid foundation. "Pillars high" symbolize a nation's achievements, while "foundations strong" refers to its stability and endurance.
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?
Here, the poet wonders what enables a nation to resist and overcome the enemies or challenges that surround it.
Stanza 2
It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
The poet asserts that wealth ("gold") does not make a nation strong. Even the richest kingdoms have fallen during wars.
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.
A nation built on material wealth ("sinking sand") lacks stability and permanence, unlike one founded on strong, enduring values ("abiding rock").
Stanza 3
Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The poet dismisses military power ("the sword") as a foundation of strength. He suggests that the ruins of fallen empires ("red dust") tell the story of how war ultimately led to their destruction.
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.
The bloodshed from wars has stained and corroded the foundations of these empires, leading to their decay and downfall.
Stanza 4
And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
The poet questions whether pride is the source of a nation's greatness. He notes that pride, though attractive and desirable ("bright crown"), has often been the downfall of nations.
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.
Divine justice or fate ("God") has humbled proud nations, reducing their grandeur to nothing but ashes, symbolizing destruction and humility.
Stanza 5
Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
The poet declares that the true strength of a nation comes not from wealth but from its people—those with courage, character, and values.
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.
These are individuals who uphold truth and honor, enduring hardships and making sacrifices for the greater good.
Stanza 6
Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly…
The poet highlights the qualities of brave individuals. These people labor tirelessly ("work while others sleep") and face challenges courageously ("dare while others fly"), demonstrating dedication and valor.
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.
These selfless and virtuous individuals lay the deep, strong foundations of their nation and elevate it to greatness, symbolized by "lifting it to the sky."
Here are the improved questions and answers from the provided screenshots. I’ve refined the grammar and added more context for clarity:
Thinking About the Poem
Q1. In the first stanza, the poet wonders about certain things. What are they?
Ans: In the first stanza, the poet wonders about the true sources of a nation's strength and greatness. He is curious about the foundation upon which a nation’s power rests and the pillars that make it withstand challenges boldly.
Q2. What are the foundations of a strong kingdom built on?
Ans: The foundations of a strong kingdom are built on the shoulders of its brave, patriotic, and selfless people. These individuals act as the strong pillars of the nation, upholding its values and ensuring its resilience.
Q3. What happens to a nation that depends on an army to keep it strong?
Ans: A nation that relies solely on its army for strength eventually weakens. The poet explains that such reliance leads to bloodshed, destruction, and loss of glory. True strength comes not from armies alone but from the unity, bravery, and moral integrity of its people.
Q4. When a nation becomes proud, what does God do?
Ans: When a nation becomes overly proud and arrogant, God humbles it by striking down its glory and power. Pride leads to downfall, and the nation’s brightness is reduced to ashes at the feet of God as a lesson in humility.
Q5. Do you think that wealth can make a nation great and strong? Why?
Ans: No, wealth alone cannot make a nation great and strong. It is the bravery, honesty, and dedication of its people who sacrifice for their country that make a nation truly great. Wealth may be temporary, but the spirit of courage, truthfulness, and hard work of the people is eternal and creates a strong foundation for the nation's greatness.
Q6. What can the brave do?
Ans: The brave work selflessly to ensure others can live peacefully. They fight against challenges and hardships to protect and uplift their nation. By their acts of courage, they make the nation proud and renowned. Indeed, they are the true pillars of strength for their country.
Q7. Explain the following lines:
"They build a nation’s pillars deep
And lift them to the sky."
Ans: These lines are from the poem "A Nation’s Strength" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. In these lines, the poet refers to brave individuals as the builders of a nation’s foundation. Their courage, sacrifices, and dedication create a strong base that allows the nation to rise high and achieve greatness. They are the ones who ensure the country's security and prosperity.
Literary Devices
1. Rhetorical Questions
Examples:
"What makes a nation's pillars high / And its foundations strong?"
"What makes it mighty to defy / The foes that round it throng?"
Effect: These rhetorical questions engage the reader and provoke thought, emphasizing the poet's exploration of a nation's true strength.
2. Symbolism
Gold: Represents material wealth and the transient nature of riches.
Sword: Symbolizes war and military power, often leading to destruction.
Pillars high: Represents the achievements and greatness of a nation.
Sinking sand vs. abiding rock: Contrasts weak foundations (based on materialism) with strong, enduring ones (based on moral virtues).
3. Antithesis in A Nation’s Strength
Antithesis is a figure of speech that places two opposite ideas in the same sentence to emphasize contrast. Here are examples of antithesis in stanza 2 and stanza 3:
Stanza 2
Example:
"Its shafts are laid on sinking sand, / Not on abiding rock."
Opposites: Sinking sand (instability) vs. abiding rock (stability).
Effect: Highlights the contrast between weak and strong foundations of a nation.
Stanza 3
Example:
"The blood has turned their stones to rust, / Their glory to decay."
Opposites: Glory (honor, greatness) vs. decay (decline, ruin).
Effect: Contrasts the fleeting nature of power and pride with the permanence of moral strength.
4. Imagery
Examples:
"The blood has turned their stones to rust, / Their glory to decay."
"God has struck its luster down / In ashes at his feet."
Effect: Vivid descriptions create mental pictures, helping readers visualize the fall of proud nations and the decay of empires built on weak foundations.
5. Alliteration
Examples:
"Stand fast and suffer long"
"Brave men who work while others sleep"
Effect: The repetition of consonant sounds adds rhythm and musicality to the poem, making it more memorable and impactful.
6. Contrast
Examples:
Gold vs. men: Highlights the difference between material wealth and human virtues.
Sinking sand vs. abiding rock: Contrasts weak and strong foundations.
Pride vs. humility: Shows how pride leads to downfall, while humility and moral strength sustain greatness.
Effect: These contrasts emphasize the poet’s central argument about the true source of a nation's strength.
Rhythm and rhyme
The poem “A Nation’s Strength” by Ralph Waldo Emerson is a six-stanza poem, each stanza
having four lines. The poem follows the rhyme scheme ABAB, which is also called alternate
rhyme. In the following example, the first line rhymes with the third while the second line
rhymes with the fourth.
Tone & Mood:
➢ The speaker of this poem is a strong, high positioned person, who has a lot of influence
on the people and someone whom the people trust and listen to. It is a poem that gives
hope and a sense of nationalism.
➢ The mood of the poem is in favor of Democracy, because in the fifth stanza, it states that
“only men can make a nation great and strong”; after ruling out pride, gold and the sword.
Here are the answers to the language work for the poem "A Nation's Strength":
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Glossary Work
Words and Meanings (based on the provided glossary):
1. Defy: To resist boldly.
2. Foe: Enemy.
3. Throng: To gather around in a crowd.
4. Shaft: The column of a building's foundation.
5. Rust: To become or cause something to become covered with rust (here: decay).
6. Decay: To cause something to become gradually damaged or less.
7. Pride: Feeling of importance.
8. Luster: Brightness.
9. A people: A nation.
10. Dare: To have the courage to do something difficult.
11. Fly: To run away in fear.
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Thinking About the Poem
1. In the first stanza, the poet wonders about certain things. What are they?
The poet wonders what makes a nation great, strong, and capable of defying its enemies.
2. What are the foundations of a strong kingdom built on?
The foundations of a strong kingdom are built on brave men who sacrifice for truth, honor, and greatness.
3. What happens to a nation that depends on an army to keep it strong?
A nation that depends only on an army eventually loses its strength.
4. When a nation becomes proud, what does God do?
God destroys the nation’s pride, turning its glory to ashes.
5. Do you think that wealth can make a nation great and strong?
No, wealth cannot make a nation great and strong. Only virtuous, courageous, and self-sacrificing people can do so.
6. What can the brave do?
The brave sacrifice their interests for the greater good, remain steadfast in hardships, and build their nation to greatness.
7. Explain the following lines:
"They build a nation's pillars deep / And lift them to the sky."
These lines mean that brave, steadfast men create a strong foundation for their nation and elevate it to glory and greatness.
Language Work
1. Rhyme Scheme:
The poem follows the rhyme scheme abab in each stanza.
Example:
Stanza 1:
high (a)
strong (b)
defy (a)
throng (b)
2. Rhyming Words from the Poem:
List of rhyming words:
Strong...Thong
Grand.........Sand
Shock... .Rock
Dust..........Rust
Away...........Decay
Crown... .Down
Sweet.......Feet
Make...........Sake
Strong..........Long
Sleep.............Deep
Fly...................Sky
3. WH-Questions from the Poem:
Examples:
What makes a nation’s pillars high?
What makes its foundations strong?
4. Yes/No Questions from the Poem:
Examples:
Is it the sword?
Is it pride?
5. List Words Beginning with Specific Consonants:
M: Mighty, Men
N: Nation, Not
F: Foundations, Foes
R: Rust, Rock
D: Defy, Dust
P: Pride, Pillars
H: High, Honour
B: Blood, Brave
G: Glory, Greatness
L: Luster, Lift
6. What makes a nation strong in the present times?
In the modern world, a nation’s strength comes from its unity, education, scientific advancements, and the dedication of its citizens to truth and justice. It thrives on equality, innovation, and collective effort.