The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt: Complete Guide

Looking for a detailed analysis of The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt? This Complete Guide covers everything you need for your Class 11 Elective English (Woven Words, NCERT Solution). Get a summary of The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt, important themes, line-by-line explanation, and word meanings for better understanding. Prepare for exams with The Peacock questions and answers, including extra questions. Also, find The Peacock summary in Hindi and Urdu for easy comprehension. Perfect for CBSE and other board students!

Summary of The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt

The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt captures the fleeting and mysterious beauty of a peacock in its natural setting. The poem describes how the bird’s loud call seems to come from nowhere, followed by a sudden flash of blue-green feathers in a pipal tree. The peacock moves swiftly, its slender neck curving away, revealing only a glimpse of its long tail before it vanishes.

The poet then shares a belief—if one sits on a veranda and reads a favourite book with deep concentration, the peacock might appear. The world around changes subtly. The wind shifts, the bees stop humming, and even a resting cat stirs. A sense of something unusual breaks the reader’s focus. If they look up in time, they might catch the peacock gathering its tail, closing the “eyes” on its feathers. These dark, glowing patterns—fringed with violet and gold—must blink, as the real eyes of the bird never close.

This poem is part of Woven Words, the NCERT Solution for Class 11 Elective English. It portrays the peacock as an elusive and magical creature, blending nature with quiet observation. The poet’s vivid imagery makes the scene come alive, allowing readers to experience the mystery and beauty of the bird.

Important Themes in The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt

The Elusiveness of the Peacock

The poem highlights the peacock as a rare and fleeting presence in nature. It appears suddenly with a sharp call, a flash of colour, and graceful movement, only to disappear just as quickly. The poet creates a sense of mystery around the bird, making it almost magical. The moment of its arrival is unpredictable, and only those deeply immersed in their surroundings may catch a glimpse. This theme reflects how beauty in nature is often momentary and must be observed with patience and awareness.

The Power of Observation

The poem suggests that to witness the peacock, one must be still, engaged, and attentive. The act of reading a book with deep concentration becomes a metaphor for immersion in the present. Only when the reader is fully absorbed does the world shift in subtle ways, signalling the peacock’s arrival. This theme underscores the importance of mindfulness and how truly seeing something requires more than just looking—it demands focus and a connection to the environment.

Nature’s Mysterious Signals

The poet describes how nature reacts to the peacock’s presence. The wind changes direction, the bees stop humming, and even a resting cat awakens. These small shifts suggest that all elements of nature are connected, responding in harmony to each other. The theme explores the hidden rhythms of the natural world, where even the quietest moments carry meaning. It reminds readers that nature communicates through signs, and only those attuned to it can recognise them.

The Symbolism of the Peacock’s Tail

The closing lines of the poem focus on the peacock’s tail, which gathers and folds as if shutting the “eyes” on its feathers. This imagery presents the tail as something living, almost sentient, with its many eye-like patterns watching the world. The theme suggests a deeper symbolism—the idea that true vision comes not from physical sight but from perception and awareness. The poet plays with the idea of illusion, making readers question whether they truly see what is in front of them or if they only catch glimpses before it disappears.

This poem, part of Woven Words in the NCERT Solution for Class 11 Elective English, uses vivid descriptions and layered meanings to explore how nature, perception, and mystery intertwine. It encourages readers to pay attention to the unnoticed beauty around them.

Line by Line Explanation of The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt

“His loud sharp call / seems to come from nowhere.”

The poem begins with the sound of the peacock’s cry. The call is sudden and unexpected, making it seem as if it comes from an unknown place. The poet highlights the mystery of the bird’s presence.

“Then, a flash of turquoise / in the pipal tree.”

After the sound, there is a quick glimpse of the peacock’s bright blue-green feathers as it appears in a pipal tree. The bird is seen only for a moment before it moves again.

“The slender neck arched away from you / as he descends,”

The peacock has a long and graceful neck. As it moves down from the tree, its neck bends away, showing its elegant posture.

“and as he darts away, a glimpse / of the very end of his tail.”

The peacock moves quickly, and before it disappears, the observer catches a brief sight of its long tail. The movement is swift, making it hard to see the full beauty of the bird.

“I was told / that you have to sit in the veranda / And read a book, / preferably one of your favourites / with great concentration.”

The poet shares advice from someone. They say that to see the peacock properly, one must sit quietly on a veranda and read a book with deep focus. The book should be one that truly engages the reader.

“The moment you begin to live / inside the book / A blue shadow will fall over you.”

Once the reader is completely absorbed in the book, a change will happen. The “blue shadow” suggests the arrival of the peacock, though it appears in a quiet and unnoticed way.

“The wind will change direction, / The steady hum of bees / In the bushes nearby / will stop.”

Nature itself reacts to the peacock’s presence. The wind shifts, and even the buzzing bees become silent. This shows that the bird’s arrival causes a subtle but noticeable change in the surroundings.

“The cat will awaken and stretch.”

Even a resting cat senses something unusual and stirs from its sleep. The peacock’s presence disturbs the calmness of the moment.

“Something has broken your attention;”

The reader, who was deeply focused on the book, feels a sudden distraction. There is a shift in the atmosphere that pulls them out of their reading.

“And if you look up in time / You might see the peacock turning away as he gathers / his tail”

If the reader reacts quickly and looks up, they may catch a glimpse of the peacock just as it moves away. The bird is already leaving, pulling its magnificent tail close to its body.

“To shut those dark glowing eyes, / Violet fringed with golden amber.”

The poet describes the “eyes” on the peacock’s feathers. These are not real eyes but the beautiful patterns on its tail, surrounded by shades of violet and gold. The bird seems to be closing them as it folds its tail.

“It is the tail that has to blink / For eyes that are always open.”

The peacock’s actual eyes remain open, but the spots on its feathers appear to “blink” when it folds its tail. This creates a sense of illusion, making it seem as if the tail has its own vision.

This poem, included in Woven Words for Class 11 Elective English in the NCERT Solution, beautifully captures the peacock’s grace, mystery, and connection with nature.

Words Meaning of The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt

Here is a list of difficult words and expressions from the poem, along with their simple meanings:

This poem, a part of Woven Words in the NCERT Solution for Class 11 Elective English, uses rich imagery that might seem difficult at first, but these meanings will help in understanding it better.

The Peacock Questions and Answers

UNDERSTANDING THE POEM

1. Comment on the lines that make you visualise the colourful image of the peacock.

The poet describes the peacock with rich visual details, making it easy to imagine its beauty. Phrases like “a flash of turquoise” and “dark glowing eyes, violet fringed with golden amber” highlight its vibrant colours. The mention of its slender neck and long tail adds to the vivid picture.

2. What are the cues that signal the presence of the peacock in the vicinity?

The peacock’s arrival is marked by sudden changes in the surroundings. Its loud sharp call is heard first. Then, the wind shifts, the bees stop humming, and even a resting cat awakens. A faint blue shadow appears, and if one looks up in time, they may glimpse the peacock before it vanishes.

3. How does the connection drawn between the tail and the eyes add to the descriptive detail of the poem?

The poet describes the peacock’s tail as if it has real eyes. The dark glowing eyes, violet fringed with golden amber on its feathers appear to blink when the bird folds its tail. This creates a magical and mysterious image. The idea that the tail has to blink for eyes that are always open adds depth, making the peacock seem almost otherworldly.

4. How does the poem capture the elusive nature of the peacock?

The peacock appears and disappears swiftly, making it hard to observe fully. The poet describes only glimpses—a flash of turquoise, a glimpse of the tail—before it moves away. Even when one is deeply absorbed in reading, its presence is felt only through subtle changes in nature. By the time the observer looks up, the peacock is already turning away, reinforcing its mystery and quick movements.

5. The peacock is a colourful bird. How does the poem capture the various colours that its plumage displays?

The poet uses specific colour imagery to bring out the beauty of the peacock’s feathers. The word turquoise describes its body, while its tail is portrayed with dark glowing eyes, violet fringed with golden amber. These colours shimmer and change as the bird moves. The poem focuses on fleeting glimpses, making the colours appear even more magical. By emphasising how the tail folds and hides these colours, the poet adds a sense of wonder to the peacock’s appearance.

This poem, part of Woven Words in the NCERT Solution for Class 11 Elective English, beautifully captures the grace and mystery of the peacock through its movement, colours, and presence in nature.

The Peacock Extra Questions and Answers

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What does the phrase “a blue shadow will fall over you” suggest?

This phrase suggests the silent arrival of the peacock. It implies that when someone is deeply focused on reading, the peacock appears unnoticed, casting a faint blue presence nearby. It adds to the bird’s mystery and elusiveness.

2. Why does the poet mention the change in the wind and the silence of bees?

These natural changes signal the peacock’s presence. The poet shows how even small environmental details shift when the bird arrives. The sudden silence and the shifting wind create an almost magical atmosphere.

3. What does the poet mean by “Something has broken your attention”?

The phrase means that an unseen presence—most likely the peacock—has caused a distraction. The reader, who was deeply engaged in the book, is suddenly pulled back to reality by a subtle shift in the surroundings.

4. Why does the poet emphasise only glimpses of the peacock instead of a full view?

The poet wants to highlight the peacock’s elusive nature. Instead of a clear, steady image, we only see flashes—turquoise, the arch of the neck, the tip of the tail. This creates a sense of mystery and fleeting beauty.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

5. How does the poet create a sense of anticipation before the peacock appears?

The poet builds anticipation through small details. First, the loud sharp call is heard but the peacock remains unseen. Then, nature changes—the wind shifts, the bees stop humming, and even the cat wakes up. These clues suggest something special is about to happen, making the moment more exciting.

6. What does the poem suggest about the relationship between nature and human attention?

The poem suggests that nature moves unnoticed until it disrupts human attention. The peacock’s presence is not directly seen at first; instead, small natural signs—wind, silence, movement—indicate its arrival. It reminds us that if we are too absorbed in our own world, we might miss nature’s quiet wonders.

7. Why does the poet describe the ‘eyes’ on the peacock’s feathers as “always open”?

The poet compares the circular spots on the peacock’s tail to eyes that never close. When the peacock folds its tail, it looks as if these ‘eyes’ are blinking. This description adds to the bird’s mystery, making it seem almost magical and aware of everything around it.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

8. The poem suggests that to truly see the peacock, one must be patient and observant. Discuss.

The poet describes how the peacock does not reveal itself easily. Instead of appearing suddenly, it is noticed through small changes—its call, a shift in the wind, a brief shadow. Even then, it is only seen in glimpses—a flash of blue, a glimpse of its tail. The poem suggests that to witness such beauty, one must be patient and attentive. Instead of chasing after the peacock, the observer must sit quietly, lost in a book, and allow the bird to appear on its own. This idea reflects how nature’s wonders cannot be forced; they reveal themselves in their own time. The peacock remains a symbol of fleeting beauty—always close yet just out of reach.

9. How does Sujata Bhatt use imagery to bring the peacock to life in the poem?

The poet paints a vivid picture of the peacock using strong visual details. She describes its colours—turquoise, violet, golden amber—to highlight its striking beauty. The movement of the bird is also detailed: its slender neck arches away, it darts, it gathers its tail. The imagery is not limited to sight; the poet also engages sound (loud sharp call), touch (the wind will change direction), and silence (the bees stop humming). These sensory details make the scene feel real and dynamic. The fleeting glimpses of the peacock enhance its mystery, making it a rare and magical presence rather than just another bird in nature.

The Peacock Summary in Hindi

सुविख्यात कवयित्री सुजाता भट्ट की कविता The Peacock एक रहस्यमयी और सुंदर मोर के दर्शन को दर्शाती है। यह कविता NCERT Solution की Class 11 Elective English की Woven Words पुस्तक में शामिल है। इसमें मोर के अप्रत्याशित और क्षणिक दिखने के अनुभव को विस्तार से वर्णित किया गया है।

कविता की शुरुआत मोर की तेज़ और तीखी पुकार से होती है, जो अचानक सुनाई देती है, मानो कहीं से भी आ गई हो। फिर, नीले-हरे (turquoise) रंग की एक झलक पेड़ के पास दिखाई देती है, और मोर अपनी पतली गर्दन मोड़कर नीचे उतरता है। जब वह तेज़ी से भागता है, तो केवल उसकी लंबी पूंछ का अंतिम सिरा दिखाई देता है।

कवि बताती हैं कि मोर को देखने के लिए व्यक्ति को शांत बैठकर, ध्यानपूर्वक एक किताब पढ़नी चाहिए। जैसे ही कोई किताब में खो जाता है, वातावरण में परिवर्तन आने लगते हैं—हवा की दिशा बदल जाती है, झाड़ियों में गूंजती मधुमक्खियों की आवाज़ थम जाती है, और पास में सोई हुई बिल्ली अचानक जागकर अंगड़ाई लेने लगती है। ये सभी संकेत बताते हैं कि मोर पास ही कहीं मौजूद है।

अगर सही समय पर सिर उठाया जाए, तो मोर को अपनी लंबी पूंछ समेटते हुए देखा जा सकता है। कवयित्री मोर की पूंछ पर मौजूद सुंदर आँखों की तुलना असली आँखों से करती हैं। जब मोर अपनी पूंछ समेटता है, तो ऐसा लगता है जैसे ये चमकती हुई बैंगनी किनारों वाली सुनहरी-भूरी आँखें (violet fringed with golden amber) झपक रही हों। यह विचार मोर को एक रहस्यमय और जादुई जीव के रूप में प्रस्तुत करता है।

इस कविता में प्रकृति की अप्रत्याशित सुंदरता और मोर के दुर्लभ दिखने को प्रभावशाली रूप से व्यक्त किया गया है। कवि बताती हैं कि प्रकृति की अद्भुत चीज़ें तभी देखी जा सकती हैं जब व्यक्ति धैर्य और शांत मन से उन्हें महसूस करे।

The Peacock Summary in Urdu

Malik Mohd. Arshad

Malik Mohd. Arshad is a Senior English Teacher at STS High School, Aligarh Muslim University, with 21+ years of experience in English Language Teaching (ELT). An M.A. in English and Linguistics, he combines traditional academic values with modern digital learning methods. He is also a certified alumnus of the Texas Intensive English Program (USA).