Ans:- The poem “Asleep in the Valley” originally titled “Le Dormeur Du Val” is written by the famous poet Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud. The poem is a Petrachan sonnet with an octave and a sestet. In the poem we see that in the high mountain a slow stream flows through a green valley. The rays of the sun brighten the beauty of the green valley. Here a veryyoung soldier sleeps open- mouthed. Among the silvery strands he uses a fern made pillow beneath his head. He takes a nap in the bushes and plants which have absorbed the energy of the sun. In his sleep in the flowers he looks pale but his smiling is like an innocent child. The poet appeals to the nature to keep him warm to save him from cold. The humming insects do not disturb his sleep. Keeping his one hand on the chest, he sleeps in the sunlight in peace. Close inspection reveals that two bullets have wounded him to death. Above all we may say that throughout the poem the poet reveals the futility of war.
2. “A soldier very young lies open mouthed”- Who is the soldier? How is he sleeping? Describe the valley where does the soldier sleep?
Ans:- “A soldier very young lies open mouthed”- the line has been taken from the poem “Asleep in the valley”. The poet Arthur Rimbaud is the soldier himself here.
The soldier is sleeping peacefully in a sunlight valley. His bed is warm because it is soaking sunlight. He is sleeping with a fern-made pillow. He lies open-mouthed with an innocent smile. The green grass of the valley serves as his bed. His feet are among the flowers. His hand is lying on his breast.
The valley where the soldier lies is very small but charming. It is surrounded by high mountains. A slow stream flows through the green grass. As the sun shines from the top of the mountain, its rays fill the valley with brightness. The flowers and the insects increase the beauty of the valley. They hums melodious tune. Everything in the valley except the soldier is full of life and energy.