Poem - I had a dove, and the sweet Dove Died by John keats

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Poem: I had a dove, and the sweet Dove Died
English | Class 8 | SEBA Board

Poem: I had a dove, and the sweet Dove Died

Edunes Online Education

Poem: I had a dove, and the sweet Dove Died
Poet: John Keats

1️⃣ Line-by-Line Meaning of the poem :
"I had a dove, and the sweet Dove Died"

“I had a dove, and the sweet dove died,”
The speaker had a pet dove, but it has died.

“And I have thought it died of grieving;”
He thinks the bird died because it was sad.

“O what could it grieve for? Its feet were tied”
He wonders why it was sad — then reveals its feet were tied.

“With a silken thread of my own hand's weaving:”
He himself tied the dove gently with silk thread.

“Sweet little red feet! Why would you die?”
He speaks lovingly to the bird and questions its death.

“Why would you leave me, sweet bird, why?”
He feels abandoned and heartbroken.

“You liv'd alone on the forest tree,”
Earlier, the dove lived freely in the forest.

“Why, pretty thing, could you not live with me?”
He wishes it had stayed with him instead of dying.

“I kiss'd you oft, and gave you white peas;”
He treated it kindly and fed it.

“Why not live sweetly as in the green trees?”
He doesn’t understand why it could not be happy with him like it was in nature.

2️⃣ Difficult Words & Phrases

Dove ⇒	A gentle white bird symbolizing love and peace
Grieving ⇒	Feeling deep sadness
Silken thread ⇒	Soft silk string
My own hand’s weaving ⇒	Made by the speaker himself
Oft ⇒	Often
Liv’d ⇒	Lived
Pretty thing ⇒	A loving way of addressing the bird
Green trees ⇒	Symbol of freedom and natural life

3️⃣ Feynman Technique: How to Think & Visualize This Poem

Let’s break it in simple brain-friendly steps:

Step 1: Imagine a small white dove 🕊

Picture it flying freely in a forest.

Step 2: Now imagine someone loving it too much

He ties its feet with soft silk — not to hurt it, but to keep it close.

Step 3: Ask a child-level question

“If you tie a bird, can it be happy?”
No. Even if you feed it and kiss it, it wants freedom.

Step 4: Core Idea (Say it simply)

Love without freedom becomes selfish.
The dove did not die from lack of food.
It died because its freedom was taken.

Step 5: Exam Sentence

The poem shows that excessive possessive love destroys the very thing it tries to protect.

🟢 Section A: Short Answer Questions (1-2 Marks Each)

1. Why does the poet think that the dove died of grieving?
2. What does the “silken thread” symbolize in the poem?
3. How does the poet show his love for the dove?
4. Why does the poet repeatedly ask questions after the dove’s death?
5. What contrast does the poet create between the “forest tree” and living with him?
6. Identify the central theme of the poem and explain it briefly.
7. How does the poem highlight the idea of selfish love?
8. What do the “green trees” symbolize in the poem?

🟢 Section B: Long Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

1. “Excessive possessiveness can destroy true love.”
Discuss this statement with reference to the poem.

2. The poet loved the dove deeply, yet he was responsible for its death.
Explain how the poem presents this irony.

3. Discuss the theme of freedom and captivity in the poem.
How does the poet convey that love without freedom leads to suffering?

4. Analyze the emotional journey of the poet from affection to regret.

5. If the dove could speak, what might it say about its life with the poet?
Write your answer in about 120–150 words.

(Creative & experiential competency – NEP style)

The poem teaches a moral lesson relevant even today.
Explain the message of the poem with suitable references.

🟢 Section C: Case-Based / Competency-Based Question (NEP Pattern)

Read the extract and answer the questions:

“I had a dove, and the sweet dove died,
And I have thought it died of grieving;
Its feet were tied
With a silken thread of my own hand's weaving.”

1. Why does the poet say the dove died of grieving? (2 marks)

2. What does the phrase “my own hand’s weaving” suggest about the poet’s role? (2 marks)

3. What human weakness is highlighted in these lines? (2 marks)

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