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Class- 6: Unit-9B The Lost Dances of Cranes

 Summary in Points

  • The poem mourns the disappearance of natural cranes (birds) that once danced gracefully in the open countryside.

  • These birds have been replaced by mechanical cranes used for construction and urban development.

  • The poet contrasts the beauty and life-giving energy of nature with the destructive forces of modernisation.

  • The dance of the cranes symbolised fertility, renewal and harmony with nature.

  • Now, only blurred and grainy video recordings remain as evidence of what once existed.

  • The poem warns that unchecked development leads to irreversible environmental loss.

  • The poet expresses regret and sadness over humanity’s role in destroying natural beauty.

Background of the Poem 

  • The poem was written in the context of rapid urbanisation and industrial development.

  • Natural habitats of birds and animals were being destroyed for construction.

  • Mechanical cranes replaced natural cranes in the landscape.

  • Growing environmental concerns influenced the poet.

  • The poem serves as a warning against careless human progress.

Central Idea: The central idea of the poem is the loss of nature due to reckless urbanisation. The poet highlights how technological progress has replaced natural life, leading to environmental destruction and emotional emptiness.
Themes

  • Nature vs Development: The poem contrasts the beauty of nature with destructive human development.

  • Environmental destruction: It shows how modern construction damages and destroys the natural environment.

  • Loss and regret: The poet expresses sorrow over the irreversible loss caused by human actions.

  • Impact of urbanisation: Urban growth replaces natural life with lifeless machines and concrete.

  • Memory and disappearance of natural beauty: Only faded memories and recordings remain of the vanished natural world.

Setting

  • Past: Open countryside where cranes (birds) danced freely and followed natural cycles.

  • Present: Urbanised landscape dominated by mechanical cranes and construction sites.

  • The setting shifts from a natural world to an artificial, industrial environment.

Perspective

  • The poem is written from a reflective and mournful perspective.

  • The poet observes the present condition while remembering the past, expressing sorrow and warning future generations.

Title Justification

The title “The Lost Dances of Cranes” is justified because:

  • It refers to the disappearance of the mating dance of cranes, symbolising lost harmony with nature.

  • The word “lost” emphasises irreversible damage.

  • It highlights how natural beauty has been replaced by lifeless machines.

  • The title captures the poem’s tone of grief and regret.

Poetic Devices

  • Symbolism: Cranes (birds) symbolise life, fertility and natural cycles. Mechanical cranes symbolise destruction, artificiality and death.

  • Contrast:

    • Past vs present

    • Nature vs machinery

  • Imagery: Visual imagery of dancing birds and grainy video clips.

  • Metaphor: Mechanical cranes represent destructive human progress.

Characters

  • Cranes (birds): Represent life, beauty and nature.

  • Mechanical cranes: Represent urbanisation and environmental destruction.

  • Human beings (implied): Responsible for replacing nature with machines.

Tone and Mood 

  • The tone of the poem is sad and mournful.

  • It is reflective, looking back at a better natural past.

  • The poet’s tone is also critical of uncontrolled development.

  • The mood of the poem is melancholic.

  • It creates a feeling of nostalgia for lost nature.

  • The mood is disturbing, making the reader aware of environmental loss.





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