Question 12
Comment on the errand of the soul in “The Soul’s Errand”.
Observation
A good number of candidates attempted this question. Some of them were able to make references to lines in the poem.
The required answer should include the following points:
The poet in acknowledging human frailty vis-à-vis the sacredness and immortality of the soul, sends it on an errand to defend the truth against human lies and machinations in all places, high and low.
The errand involves speaking against the perversion of intellectual, moral, emotional and other forms of human behaviour.
The poet’s worry that institutions uphold the reverse of the fundamental values of their existence.
The poet’s comfort in knowing that “No stab the soul can kill”.
Candidates’ performance in this question was fair.
