Try Again, By W.E. Hickson
About poem:
This motivational poem emphasizes persistence and determination in the face of failure.
Included in 10th class/grade Board syllabus
Explanation, Paraphrasing & Rhyming scheme
Try Again By W.E. Hickson
1. 'Tis a lesson you should heed, A
Try again; B
If at first you don't succeed, A
Try again. B
Then your courage should appear, C
For if you will persevere, C
You will conquer, never fear; C
Try again. B ABABCCCB
2. Once or twice, though you should fail, A
Try again; B
If you would at last prevail, A
Try again B
. If we strive, 'tis no disgrace C
Though we do not win the race– C
What should you do in that case? C
Try again. B ABABCCCB
3. If you find your task is hard, A
Try again; B
Time will bring you your reward, A
Try again. B
All that other folk can do, C
Why, with patience, may not you? C
Only keep this rule in view: C
Try again. B ABABCCCB
Rhyming Scheme of the Poem: ABABCCCB.
Paraphrase of the poem:
Listen to this advice, Keep trying; If you fail at first, Keep trying. Show your bravery then, For if you persist, You will succeed, don't worry; Keep trying.
Even if you fail once or twice, Keep trying; If you want to succeed eventually, Keep trying. It's not shameful to do hard work, Even if you don't win the race– What should you do in that situation? Keep trying.
If your task seems difficult, Keep trying; time will give you your prize, Keep trying. Anything others can achieve, Why don't you show your patience? Just remember this principle: Keep trying.
Try Again, By W.E. Hickson
Paraphrasing Stanza by Stanza
First Stanza
1. 'Tis a lesson you should heed,
Try again;
If at first you don't succeed,
Try again.
Then your courage should appear,
For if you will persevere,
You will conquer, never fear;
Try again.
Paraphrase:
Listen to this advice, Keep trying; If you fail at first, Keep trying. Show your bravery then, For if you persist, You will succeed, don't worry; Keep trying.
Second Stanza
2. Once or twice, though you should fail,
Try again;
If you would at last prevail,
Try again
. If we strive, 'tis no disgrace
Though we do not win the race–
What should you do in that case?
Try again
Paraphrase
2. Even if you fail once or twice, Keep trying; If you want to succeed eventually, Keep trying. It's not shameful to do hard work, Even if you don't win the race– What should you do in that situation? Keep trying.
Third Stanza
3. If you find your task is hard,
Try again;
Time will bring you your reward,
Try again.
All that other folk can do,
Why, with patience, may not you?
Only keep this rule in view:
Try again.
Paraphrase
3. If your task seems difficult, Keep trying; time will give you your prize, Keep trying. Anything others can achieve, Why don't you show your patience? Just remember this principle: Keep trying.
What are Summary Theme, and Main Idea?
What is Summary?(1/3 part of the original content/text)
A summary is a concise(short, brief), condensed version of a longer piece of writing or speech that captures the main points or essential elements without including all the details. It provides a quick overview or gist (essence, core) of the original content.
What is Theme?
The theme is the central, underlying, and often universal idea or message in a literary work. It is what the story, poem, or text is really about on a deeper level. Themes are not explicitly stated; they are inferred by the reader based on the content of the work. Themes address fundamental aspects of human experience and can cover a wide range of topics such as love, death, friendship, good vs. evil, and the struggles of life. For example, in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," one of the themes is the injustice of racial prejudice.
What is the Central/Main Idea?
Central/Main Idea
The main idea is the primary point or the most important concept that an author wants to convey in a specific piece of writing. It is what the text is mostly about and is often directly stated, especially in non-fiction works. In a piece of fiction, the main idea might be summarized in a sentence or two describing the plot or the key events. For example, the main idea of a news article might be the summary of an event, while the main idea of a chapter in a textbook could be the central concept being explained.
Difference in both:
Theme is a broad, overarching message or insight (perception) about life that the author expresses
through the narrative.
Main Idea is the specific, central point or the gist of what a particular piece of writing is about.
“Try Again” Summary, Theme and the Main Idea of the poem
Summary of the poem
The poem "Try Again" by W.E. Hickson is a motivational piece that encourages perseverance in the face of failure. The poet emphasizes the importance of trying repeatedly until one succeeds. He reassures readers that courage and determination will ultimately lead to victory, even if initial attempts end in failure. The poem conveys the idea that failing is not shameful and that continued effort will bring rewards over time.
Theme
The central theme of the poem is perseverance. It focuses on the importance of trying again and again, despite failures or difficulties, to achieve success. The poem also touches on related themes such as courage, resilience, and the value of patience.
Main Idea
The main idea of the poem is that success comes through persistent effort and determination. It suggests that failures should be viewed as opportunities to try again with renewed vigor and not as final defeats. The poem encourages the reader to keep striving and not to be discouraged by setbacks, as persistence will ultimately be rewarded.
Literary Devices in "Try Again" by W.E. Hickson
1. Rhyme
The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme (ABABCCCB), which creates a rhythmic and harmonious effect. This rhyme scheme helps to make the poem more engaging and easier to remember. In the below text the ABAB rhyme scheme creates a musical effect.
Example:
heed / succeed
appear / persevere
fail / prevail
disgrace / race
2. Repetition
Repetition emphasizes the key message of the poem, which is to keep trying. The phrase "Try again" is repeated multiple times, reinforcing the theme of perseverance. The repetition of the phrase "Try again" and other key phrases emphasizes the central message of the poem and creates a sense of unity.
Example:
"Try again" is repeated at the end of several stanzas.
3. Anaphora
Anaphora is used to create emphasis and rhythm by repeating the same phrase at the beginning
of successive lines.
Example:
"Try again; / If at first you don't succeed, / Try again."
4. Personification
The poem gives human qualities to abstract concepts, making them more relatable and vivid.
Example:
"Your courage should appear."
5. Apostrophe:
An apostrophe is a literary device where the poet directly addresses a person, place, or thing, often using
the second person pronoun “you”. This creates a sense of direct communication and engagement with the
reader. In the poem “Try Again” by W,E. Hickson, the poet uses apostrophe to address the reader directly,
saying “It is a lesson you should heed” and "What should you do in that case?”
6. Enjambment:
Enjambment is a literary device where a sentence or phrase extends beyond the end of a line or stanza
without a pause or punctuation, creating a sense of flow and continuity. In W.E. Hickson's poem
"Try Again," the use of enjambment can be observed in several instances. Here are a few examples:
Lines: 1-2
Here, the sentence "If at first you don't succeed" continues directly into "Try again" without any punctuation at the end of the line.
Lines: 4-5
In these lines, "For if you will persevere" flows directly into "You will conquer, never fear" without a pause.
Lines: 13-14
The line "Though we do not win the race–" continues into "What should you do in that case?" creating a seamless flow between the lines.
By employing all these literary devices, W.E. Hickson effectively communicates the poem's central message of perseverance and resilience.
Answers the following Questions:
- What is the lesson of the poem?
The lesson of the poem is the importance of perseverance and resilience. It encourages the reader to keep trying despite failures and difficulties.
2.What can we learn from failure?
Failure provides an opportunity to learn from our mistakes. It highlights areas where we can improve and helps us to refine our strategies and approaches.
3. How is failure, not a disgrace?
4. How many times should we try and why?
In the poem "Try Again" by William Edward Hickson, the idea of perseverance is emphasized,
suggesting that one should keep trying repeatedly until they succeed. The poem does not specify
a particular number of times to try, but it encourages a mindset of continuous effort and resilience
in the face of challenges.
5. What should we do if we find our task hard?
In the poem "Try Again" by William Edward Hickson, the poet advises that if we find our task hard,
we should persevere and continue to try. The poem suggests that determination and repeated effort
are key to overcoming difficulties.
6. What is a rhyming scheme?
The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme (ABABCCCB).
