What is the native theme in the poem 'Indian Student or the Force of Nature'?

Answer 1

Freneau projects heavily the native themes in his poem, Indian Student or the Force of Nature.

The poet heavily emphasizes on the importance of nature as projected by the title of the poem in first place. The Indian student is compared with the "force of nature" as though he is a representation of nature and indeed what the poet argues throughout the poem is that he is.

The boy is also referred to as the shepherd of the jungle drawing, once again, an analogy of the boy with that of a care-taker of the nature. The Indian boy is so much drawn towards nature that he is a representation of nature.

Growing interest in intellectual enhancement seemed to have negated the importance of nature, or so the poet feels, and also destroyed the realization of our unity with the nature and ultimately with the proprietor of the nature - the God.

The goal of educational institution should be to enhance our relationship with the nature - for we are inherently one with it. The Indian boy dislikes the formal education and the pompous nature of intellectual things, "heathen Greek" or the analysis of scientific discoveries, as he does not want to know whether earth revolves round the sun or if the earth is sphere. Neither does he want to know God in the philosophical underpinnings of human intellect. He only knows the God of Nature. Nature is 'unity' and its companion is a cause of joy. A star can be a guide and a stone can be a pillow for the Indian boy.

The plainness and simplicity of the Indian boy is emphasized in representing him as the 'nature' itself while emphasizing its importance. Freneau clearly explores native themes (about the importance of nature, simplicity and plainness) in the poem.

Answer 2

To India my native land is a truly patriotic poem written by Henry Louis Vivian. It talks about India before the British came to India and captured it. India was like an eagle soaring high in the sky with no one to shoot it down but after the British came the wings of the very same eagle were pinned down and India was in their clutches. The poet is a person who loves his country immensly and says that he wants to dive into the depths of time and from the previous years when India was free bring those small fragments into the time when India is in the clutches of the British. the poet wants the freedom of his country to be the reward for his labour