Harvest Hymn By John Betjeman: paraphrase/summary/central idea/themes/poetic devices/answers, questions

 

Harvest Hymn By John Betjeman We spray the fields and scatter The poison on the ground So that no wicked wild flowers Upon our farm be found. We like whatever helps us To line our purse with pence; The twenty-four-hour broiler house And neat electric fence. All concrete sheds around us And Jaguars in the yard, The telly lounge and deep freeze Are ours from working hard. We fire the fields for harvest, The hedges swell the flame, The oak trees and the cottages From which our fathers came. We give no compensation, The earth is ours today, And if we lose on the arable, The bungalows will pay. All concrete sheds around us And Jaguars in the yard, The telly lounge and deep freeze Are ours from working hard.                  Harvest Hymn                                             By John Betjeman Explanation of the title “Harvest Hymn”: Although the poem is called Harvest Hymn, the title is ironical. A “hymn” is usually a song of praise or gratitude often joyful. But instead of praising nature or thanking God for the harvest, the poem criticises how modern farmers destroy nature for money. Paraphrased Line by Line We spray the fields and scatter The poison on the ground We spray chemicals on our fields and spread poison on the soil. So that no wicked wild flowers Upon our farm be found.  We do this to kill all wild plants so none grow on our farm. We like whatever helps us To line our purse with pence;  We like anything that helps us earn more money. The twenty-four-hour broiler house And neat electric fence.  We like our chicken sheds that run all day and our tidy electric fences. All concrete sheds around us And Jaguars in the yard,  We have concrete farm buildings and expensive cars (Jaguars) at home. The telly lounge and deep freeze Are ours from working hard.  We have a TV room and a big freezer because of our hard work. We fire the fields for harvest,  We burn the fields to prepare for harvest. The hedges swell the flame,  The hedges burn and make the fire grow bigger. The oak trees and the cottages From which our fathers came.  Even the old oak trees and the cottages where our ancestors lived burn in the fire. We give no compensation,  We do not pay anyone for the damage we cause. The earth is ours today,  We believe the land belongs to us now. And if we lose on the arable, The bungalows will pay. If we lose this agricultural land, people in the modern era will face severe consequences. Paraphrase stanza by  stanza Stanza 1  We spray the fields and scatter The poison on the ground So that no wicked wild flowers Upon our farm be found. We like whatever helps us To line our purse with pence; The twenty-four-hour broiler house And neat electric fence. Paraphrase: We spray chemicals and poison the soil so that no wild plants grow on our farm. We prefer anything that helps us earn more money. We like having chicken sheds that work all day and electric fences that keep everything controlled. Stanza 2 All concrete sheds around us And Jaguars in the yard, The telly lounge and deep freeze Are ours from working hard. Paraphrase: We have many concrete buildings and expensive cars around us. We own a TV lounge and a big freezer because we have worked hard and earned enough money. Stanza 3 We fire the fields for harvest, The hedges swell the flame, The oak trees and the cottages From which our fathers came. Paraphrase: We burn the fields to prepare for the harvest. The hedges catch fire and make the flames grow bigger. Even the old trees and cottages, where our ancestors once lived, end up burning in the fire. Stanza 4 We give no compensation, The earth is ours today, And if we lose on the arable, The bungalows will pay. Paraphrase: We do not pay for any harm or damage we cause. We believe the land belongs to us now. If we lose this agricultural land, people in the modern era will face severe consequences. Stanza 5 All concrete sheds around us And Jaguars in the yard, The telly lounge and deep freeze Are ours from working hard. Paraphrase: Everything around us is made of concrete, and expensive cars fill our yard. We have modern comforts like a TV room and a freezer, all because of our hard work (or what we think is hard work).   1. Whose voices do we hear in the poem? We hear the voices of materialistic, modern farmers who think only about profit and personal comfort. Their tone shows that they no longer care about the natural beauty of the land or the heritage left by their ancestors. Instead, they are proud of their modern lifestyle, expensive possessions, and destructive farming methods. 2. The first two lines of the poem forcefully convey the meaning. How? The poem opens with a sharp and shocking statement: the farmers “spray the fields” and “scatter the poison.” These lines immediately reveal the central idea—humans are poisoning the earth in the name of progress. The strong imagery of “poison” warns the reader that what follows is not a traditional hymn of gratitude but a criticism of greed and environmental destruction. This powerful beginning sets the critical tone of the whole poem. 3. Why do you think the speaker regards wild flowers as “wicked”? The farmers call wildflowers “wicked” not because the flowers are actually harmful, but because they do not fit into their profit-driven farming system. To them, anything that grows naturally and cannot be sold for money is useless. By using the word “wicked,” the speaker shows how the farmers unfairly demonise nature to justify destroying it. The poet shows their twisted thinking and moral corruption. 4. “The hedges swell the flame.” The flame is literal but also metaphorical. What else does it represent? Literally, the hedges catch fire and make the flames grow. Metaphorically, the “flame” represents the rapid spread of environmental destruction caused by human greed. As the fire spreads through trees, hedges, and cottages, it symbolises how human carelessness burns away traditions, natural habitats, and ancestral roots. The flame stands for the uncontrollable damage done to nature in the pursuit of wealth. 5. “The earth is ours today.” Express the speaker’s attitude to the land. The speaker expresses a selfish and arrogant attitude towards the land. He believes that the land belongs only to the present generation and that they can do whatever they want with it. This attitude shows no respect for the past—where their ancestors lived—or the future, where others will need the same land. It reflects a sense of temporary ownership, greed, and a total disregard for environmental responsibility. 6. At what cost does man get the luxury items? Man gains luxury items—expensive cars, concrete sheds, deep freezers, and comfortable lounges—at the cost of destroying the environment. To achieve material comfort, humans poison the soil, burn fields, cut trees, destroy hedges, and allow ancestral cottages to perish. The price of comfort becomes the loss of natural beauty, ecological balance, and cultural heritage. 7. Which lines indicate the destruction of land and houses of our ancestors? The lines that highlight the destruction are: “The oak trees and the cottages From which our fathers came.” These lines clearly show that in their rush for modernity and profit, the farmers allow even ancient oak trees and ancestral cottages symbols of heritage, tradition, and family roots to be destroyed by the very fires they set. 8. How will the bungalows pay for the loss of cultivated land? If farming fails to bring profit, the farmers plan to sell the land to developers so that bungalows can be built on it. The money earned from selling the land or renting out the bungalows will cover their losses. In other words, even if agriculture fails, real estate will still make them rich, showing their relentless desire for money. 9. “All concrete sheds around us.” What is the poet emphasizing through “all”? The word “all” emphasizes that everything around the farmers is artificial, man-made, and lifeless. There is no natural beauty left—no trees, hedges, or flowers. Instead, the landscape is dominated by concrete buildings and modern structures. This highlights the complete transformation of the natural environment into a mechanical, soulless world created by human greed. 10. What lesson do we learn from the poem “Harvest Hymn”? The poem teaches us that greed and materialism lead to the destruction of nature. When people care only about money and comfort, they begin to harm the environment, destroy their roots, and lose their relationship with the land. The poem urges us to respect our environment, value natural beauty, and understand that the earth is not ours to exploit it is a trust we must protect for future generations. 11. Why do we like whatever helps us? We like whatever helps us because we are driven by the desire for comfort, wealth, and success. Humans naturally prefer things that make life easier or more profitable. In the poem, the farmers choose anything that increases their income poisons, machines, and modern structures even if these things harm the environment. This reveals how human priorities have shifted from responsibility to selfish gain. 12(b) Organizational Patterns in the Poem (Environmental Issue) The poem uses several organizational patterns to convey its environmental message: • List The poet lists modern luxuries—Jaguars, deep freezers, electric fences—to show the farmers’ obsession with money, comfort and status. • Sequence of Ideas / Events The poem follows a clear sequence: 1.      Poisoning the land 2.      Boasting about modern comforts 3.      Burning fields and destroying heritage 4.      Turning farmland into bungalows this sequence shows the gradual destruction of nature. • Comparison–Contrast There is a contrast between natural elements (wild flowers, hedges, oak trees) and artificial structures (concrete sheds, machines, luxury items). This highlights how human progress replaces nature. • Cause–Effect Cause: Greed, misuse of chemicals, and irresponsible farming. Effect: Environmental destruction, loss of ancestral homes, and decline of natural beauty. • Problem–Solution Problem: Farming is not profitable enough. Solution: Sell the land for housing schemes and earn money through bungalows. • Reasons Reasons for destruction include greed, desire for luxury, material success, and a careless attitude toward nature. • Assumption–Conclusion Assumption: “The earth is ours today”—the belief that humans have full ownership of nature. Conclusion: Therefore, they think they can destroy it without guilt or responsibility.   Poetic Devices in Harvest Hymn (With Definitions and Examples) 1. Enjambment Definition: When a line of poetry continues onto the next line without a pause. Example: “We spray the fields and scatter The poison on the ground” → The sentence flows from one line to the next. 2. Irony Definition: When the reality is opposite from what the words suggest. Explanation: The title Harvest Hymn sounds like a joyful, thankful song, but the poem is actually criticizing environmental destruction. 3. Imagery Definition: Words that create vivid mental pictures using the senses (sight, sound, smell, etc.). Example: “The oak trees and the cottages” → Helps the reader visualise the setting. “The hedges swell the flame” → Creates a strong image of fire spreading. 4. Repetition Definition: Repeating words or lines for emphasis. Example: The stanza: “All concrete sheds around us And Jaguars in the yard…” is repeated twice to emphasise materialism and artificial life. 5. Symbolism Definition: Using objects or actions to represent deeper meanings. Examples: ·         Oak trees → ancestry, heritage ·         Cottages → family roots ·         Concrete sheds → modern greed ·         Poison/Fire → destruction of nature 6. Metaphor Definition: A direct comparison without using "like" or "as". Example: “The hedges swell the flame” → The growing flame represents spreading destruction (not just literal fire). 7. Alliteration Definition: Repetition of the same consonant sound at the start of nearby words. Examples: ·         “fields and scatter” → f / s sounds ·         “purse with pence” → p sound ·         “fire the fields” → f sound This creates rhythm and emphasis. 8. Satire Definition: A form of criticism using humour, irony, or exaggeration to show foolishness or wrongdoing. Explanation: The poet satirises modern farmers who destroy land while proudly showing off their wealth. 9. Tone Definition: The poet’s attitude toward the subject. Tone in the poem: Critical, ironic, and disapproving of greed and environmental damage. 10. Hyperbole (Exaggeration) Definition: Overstatement to make a point. Example: “The earth is ours today” → Exaggeration of the farmers’ feeling of ownership. 11. Contrast Definition: Showing differences between two ideas or images. Example: ·         Natural world (flowers, oak trees, hedges) vs. ·         Artificial world (concrete sheds, electric fences, Jaguars) This highlights how nature is bei ng replaced by modern greed. Summary Harvest Hymn by John Betjeman is a powerful critique of modern farming practices and the greed that drives them. The poem exposes how farmers, in their pursuit of profit, poison the land, destroy wildflowers, burn fields, and demolish the natural beauty that once sustained their ancestors. Instead of celebrating the harvest with gratitude, they take pride in material luxuries concrete sheds, electric fences, television lounges, and expensive cars. The poem highlights the tragic transformation of fertile fields and ancestral cottages into lifeless, artificial structures. Through irony and vivid imagery, Betjeman laments the loss of nature and warns against the dangers of valuing wealth over the environment.  Central Idea The central idea of the poem is the destructive impact of human greed on nature. Betjeman shows how modern society prioritises economic gain and material comfort over environmental preservation. By presenting a false “hymn,” the poet cleverly contrasts traditional gratitude for the harvest with the modern attitude of exploitation. The poem argues that when humans treat the earth as a possession rather than a trust, they ultimately destroy the natural world and their own heritage. Themes: 1. Environmental Destruction The poem reflects how excessive use of chemicals, burning of fields, and removal of natural elements lead to the degradation of the environment. 2. Greed and Materialism The farmers’ obsession with money, machines, and luxury items shows the moral decline of a society that values wealth over nature. 3. Loss of Heritage The burning of oak trees and ancestral cottages symbolises the disappearance of cultural and family roots. 4. Irony of Modern Progress What is called “progress” is, in reality, a retreat from harmony with the natural world.