TARTARY

Walter De La Mare (1873-1956)

About the Poet:

Walter De La Mare was born in 1873 and died in 1956. He worked in a London office
until 1906, when a book of his poems won a governmental award of a hundred pounds a
year and this enabled him to devote his time to writing. He wrote a good deal of prose in
addition to poetry. He is one of the 20th century poet.

The first collection of his poems appeared in 902 under the title Song of Childhood.

According to Collins, the poetry of De La Mare is unique, for it even more than that De
La Mare spoke of the intimate self-communing of the poet with himself. He also spoke of
the intimate self-revelation of poets. Fairies, phantoms and mysterious presences haunt
his poems. All the time we are conscious that the psychological insight of the poet is of
the subtle

By its strangeness of vision it might be thought that De La Mare’s poetry would have
found only a small audience, but it had a supreme power to accommodate its strangeness
to many more than could share his inner vision with any intimacy the power of perfect
music. In that sphere, it is hardly extravagant to claim that no poet of his half century
could rival his continuous and varied lyric mastery.

Another drawing power in the earlier decades was undoubtedly in his imagery,
which had its source in Bible, fair tales and pilgrims progress. In his imagery he
also resembles the famous English poet S.T. Coleridge.

Theme or Substance of the Poem

The poem ’Tartary’by Walter De La Mare is an earnest desire of the poet to be

transported in the world of Tartary. It is an epitome of an escape from harsh
realities of life. Sick with day to day problems, the poet desires to go to an
imaginative world to be relaxed. Normally, the person daydreams, when his
desires are unfulfilled for a long time and he finds for himself too difficult to face
the stark realities of life. So dejected by this world, he makes an ideal world in
Tartary to leadan ideal life. That’s why the poem opens with possibility such as
”If I were....”
Main Points The poet imagines himself the Lord of a rich and fertile territory, where his
palace is furnished with luxurious items of furniture and his court is decorated with
golden throne. The pomp and show of his court is increased with the presence of
peacocks spreading their wings.

The forests of his territory abound with wild animals and tigers are also found there. In
the clear water of pools the fishes swim freely.

In his dominion the trumpeters blow trumpets to announce royal meal times. In the
evening multi-coloured lamps are lighted which shine with full splendour.

7. Sweet and soul nourishing music is played with the help of various musical
instruments.

8. The poet imagines to wear the royal robes fitted with diamonds and precious
stones.

9. In the morning he equips himself with the arms and travels in a carriage drawn
by seven zebras.

10. . This is a land of high mountains, dense forests, flowing rivers and fertile
valleys, where all agricultural varieties grow in abundance and also many varieties
of fruit are available to ensure the prosperity of general public.

Summary

In this poem the poet imagines himself the sole owner of a rich and fertile territory
where every desirable item is available. He will live in a palace furnished with
luxurious items of furniture like ivory bed and golden throne. Beautiful peacocks
will spread their wings and will decorate his court. There will be tigers in the
forests of his imaginary land. Fishes would swim in the ponds and their shining
bodies will enhance the beauty. He will live like a great king. The announcement
of royal meal-times will be made by the trumpeters. In the evening multi-coloured
lamps will be lighted to increase the splendour of royal palace. They will shine in
yellow and red colours. The music of different instruments like harp, flute and
mandolin will be enchanting. He will wear robes of unknown value as they will be
decorated with diamonds and precious stones. Before the appearance of dawn he
will wear his martial dress and equip himself with ”the arms to go out of palace in
the carriage drawn by seven zebras. This territory will be full of natural gifts, i.e.,
God’s blessings in the form of high mountains, thick forests and fertile valleys
flowing with rivers of fresh water. He will be the owner of all these things. The
valleys and mountains will produce agricultural and fruit varieties in abundance.
The fragrant breeze will make the atmosphere extremely pleasant. The lakes, seas
and chirping birds will fly from tree to tree and will increase the charm of the land.
So he will be the sovereign of such land. Thus in this manner the poet associates
himself with great kings and monarchs of the past I through great pomp and show.
Resultantly his servants and general public will be overawed with his
extraordinary riches.

Explanation with Reference to Context Lines 1-8

If l were Lord of Tartary. Myself and me alone, My bed should be of ivory Of

beaten gold my throne; And in my court should peacocks flaunt And in my pools
great fishes slant Their fins ath wart the sun.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from the poem ”Tartaiy” composed by Walter De La
Mare.

Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem ”Tartary” by Walter De La Mare. This
poem is a clear instance of man’s reluctance and escapism into the world of
imagination from the harsh and stark realities of life. It reflects how the poet
wishes to become the lord of Tartary an imaginary place and enjoy all the royal
facilities like male and maid servants, unparallel furniture, dress, scenes, music,
etc. In short poet longs lor the beauties and charms which are absent in his real
life.

Explanation:

These lines show the poet’s cravings for the luxuries life as a lord of Tartary.
Without any partnership he wants to relish all things as he will sleep on ivory bed
in place of wood. His royal chair will be made of gold. The atmosphere and scenes
of the court will be unmatched as the peacocks will dance and display their beauty.
The forests will abound with all kinds of animals including tigers. Fishes will
enhance the charm of his pools as they will shine brightly in the sun. So these lines
are the reflection of poet’s intense ambition and his disturbance and vexation in
real life. For the sake of comfort and soothing effect he wants to fly in the territory
of unheard and unseen delights. The word picture of poet’s ideal world is very
convincing.

Lines 9-16

If I were Lord of Tartary, Trumpeters everyday To every meal would summon me, And in
my courtyard bray • And in the evening lamps would shine, Yellow as honey, red as
wine, Wlnle harp, and flute, and mandoline, Made music sweet and gay.

Reference and the Context are the same as given above:

Explanation:

The poet’s ambition of becoming the emperor of I he romantic land has been
explained through these lines. His every life style will be tremendous there as the
trumpeters will call him for royal meal in a grand way. They will blow the
trumpets for the announcement of his departure and arrival. The most
enchanting sight could be seen in the evening as the lamps will shine in yellow as
honey and red as wine colour. He has used similes to add the beauty of these
colours. Their effect is pleasing. The last two lines of the stanza tell us about one
more aspect of luxurious life as his ear will be soothed by the soul nourishing
music of different instrument like harp, flute and mandolin. Thus the poet will find
and relish delight of every sort as a lord of ”Tartary.” From this thing we can
conclude how miserable, sorrowful life is which forces man to take refuge in
dreamland.

Lines 17-24 if I were Lord of Tatary. I’d wear a robe of beads, White and gold, and green
they’d beand clustered thick as seeds; and ere should wane the morning-star, I’d don my
robe and scimitar, and zebras seven should draw my car through Tartary’s dark glades.
Reference and the Context are the same as given above:

Explanation:

These lines tell us about poet’s magnificent and romantically impressive dress
which he will put on as a king of “Tartary.” It will be made of different, colourful
beads as white, gold and green and they will be in the form of bunches as seeds in
fields. Before the disappearing of morning star, he will wear that dress and sword
which will show his authority for the expedition of fabuolous land.

He will be so powerful that even wild animals like zebras obey him and serve him
by drawing his royal carriage. This shows he would use nothing but extraordinary
things which will be parallel to his royal pomp and show. He commands and
controls every thing. Once again poet’s romantic bent of mind has been described
as he would be away from the worries and cares of real life in the rich and
beautiful land. Lines 25-32

Lord of the fruits of Tartary,

Her rivers silver-pale!

Lord of the hills of Tartary,

Glen, thicket, wood, and dale!

Her Hashing stars, her scented breeze,

Her trembling lakes, like foamless seas,

Her bird-delighting citron trees

In every purple vale!

Reference and the Context are the same as given above:

Explanation:

These lines are the expression of poet’s sense of possession of all the objects of
”Tartary”. He will be commander and master of all resources such as fruits,
gardens, rivers, hills, valleys, lakes and trees, etc. He would derive pleasure as a
lord of all the natural gifts of God. He will be owner of that land where stars will
shine and the wind will be fragrant. The birds of that land will feel pleasure to sit
on the citron trees in valleys full of violet and red leaves and flowers. There won’t
fall short of anything. In these lines the description of resources of ”Tartary” seem
natural as well as appealing. These pleasures also help us to derive pleasure from
the land of magical beauty. In this way we come to know about the journey into
any unknown, unseen land which is fertile, fantastic and far away from miseries of
real life.

Questions and Answers

Q.I. Explain ”Tartary” by Walter De La Mare as a romantic poem. (P.U. 2004)

Or

The poem ”Tartary” is of romantic temper. Discuss.

Or

The poem ”Tartary” throws light on the romantic world. Discuss this
statement. Ans. The poem ”Tartary” is a fine example of romantic tempter.
Romanticism is the individual expression. There is height of sensibility, adventure
and imagination in it. It reveals strange, mysterious unheard, unseen and
uncommon beauty and world. .There is escape from harsh realities of life. From
this point of view the poem ”Tartary” is romantic one as it indicates the
imaginative charms as of power, comfort and pleasure. The poet visualizes to be
the lord of romantic land where he will relish everything he longs. It will provide
what he has not in reality. His life will be ideal -there as there won’t be shortfall of
anything. His life style will be parallel to ancient kings.

The poet, as the ruler of ”Tartary” will be having ivory bed, golden throne. The
atmosphere of his court will be unmatched as peacocks will dance and display
their beauty. Tigers will move in his forests, and the charm of the court will be
enhanced by the shining fishes in the ponds. Trumpeters will announce the time of
his meal. In the evening multicoloured lamps will be lighted. Sweet and
enchanting music will have soothing effect. His royal dress will be in different
colours. Zebras will pull his carriage through open places in the forests. He will
rule over everything. He wishes to possess everything that is found ”Tartary” its
fruits, rivers, lakes, hills and trees etc. So natural products will be under his
control. In this way the poet is taking .flight in the world of imagination. No one
can have such place in real life. It is the result of imagination. It reminds us of
Coleridge’s romantic poem Xanadua. So poem is a perfect example of romantic
temper. Q.2. Why is the poet taking refuge in the world of imagination?

Or

What is the significance of unheard and unseen delights? Discuss with reference of
the poem.

Ans. The poet’s shelter in the world of imagination shows the intensity and effect
of real life’s sufferings, sorrows and uneasiness. How life is full of perplexity and
disturbances. When there is lack of peace, calm and pleasure in real life,
imagination plays a vital role to soothe man. Although it is for the time being but it
is necessary to continlie life. Imagination instil new life into man. Harsh and stark
realities take man towards pessimism whereas fancy prepares him for the new
challenges of life, i.e., expectations are important than the fulfilment of desires. If
there is no creativity of ornamental thoughts then there is nothing but cage of
miseries.

This poem is a journey into the realm of imagination. The poet is reluctant to face
hard realities of life and wants to transport in the world of romantic land that is
beautiful, rich, fertile and replete with delights. He wishes to become the lord of
Tartary where he will relish royal life style. The ivory bed, the peacocks, lilting
music, robe, throne: everything will be tremendous. Rational mind knows such
place does not exist but the poet and we allow, ourselves to be allured by charmed
delights. Hidden motive is dark life. So fancy proves perfect, unique, zestful,
attractive interesting and everything seems in abundance. Moreover there is no
problem of day to day life.
It is man’s nature he always prefers unapproachable things. After achieving
particular thing a new sort of vacuum is created in us so journey into imagination
never ends. Attraction of everything lies in the non-availability of thing. So
expectations make life more attractive than realization.

John Keats says: ”A thing of beauty is a joy forever”

Here the significance of unheard and unseen delights is crystal clear.

Q.3. Critically evaluate the poem ’Tartary’ by Walter De La Mare.

Or

Give the critical appreciation of the poem Tartary1 by Walter De La Mare, Ans.
Tartary’ is a remarkable romantic poem. It describes poet’s journey into the
dreamland of joy where there is perfection in each and everything. It also shows
poet’s disgust for real life which stores for man a long series of deep sorrows and
vexations. The poem is romantically impressive as the imaginary land lies been
created. The poet wants to become the ruler of that land. As a lord he will command,
control and relish everything in a grand way. Not only the poet but we find ourselves to
be allured by fantastic pleasures. He is painting the picture of luxurious life. He tells he
will have bed of ivory, throne of gold and beauty of his court will be enhanced by the
dancing peacocks and shining -fishes. Tigers will move in the forests. Trumpeters will
announce his meal timing. Soul nourishing music will be produced through the
combination of different instruments. Nothing will be of common sort. He will wear
magnificent robe and sword for the expedition of romantic land on the carriage driven by
zebras. He will rule over all the resources of Tartary.

For the presentation of an ideal world fine and impressive images have been used to paint
the natural picture of every object. Coloured words have been used as bed of ivory,
golden throne, colourful peacocks, tigers, great fishes robe in beautiful colour, zebras,
glades and morning star. The whole poem is rhythmic. Similes have been used as ’yellow
as honey’, ’red as wine.’ Everything occurs in a natural way. There is no ambiguity in the
poem. Diction is quite simple. Theme is approachable for every sort of reader. The poem
reminds us of Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan. Q.4. Describe all the charms and delights
which the .poet wishes to relish as a sovereign of ”Tartary.”

Or

What sort of life style the poet wishes to have in the romantic land - Tartary. Ans.
The poem Tartary’ is giving the lineament of a romantic land which is unique, rich,
charming, fertile and fantastic. The poet as a lord of this land longs to enjoy everything
that is tremendous and occurs in a grand way. As his bed will be of ivory and his royal
throne will be of gold.
Scenes and sights of his court will be unsurpassable. The atmosphere of his court will be
alluring as peacocks and great fishes will display their beauty. Tigers will move in his
(court) forests as well as show the power of their king. Trumpeters will announce his
royal meal hour. Lamps will shine in brilliance and colours like yellow and red as honey
and wine. He will get pleasure from the lively and soul-nourishing music of different
instruments like flute, mandoline and harp.

Every morning this imaginary lord will wear sword and new dress studded with colourful
pearls. He will be so powerful even wild animals like zebras will obey him and serve him
by driving his royal carriage. He will be owner of all rivers, hills, glens, valleys, woods,
thickets and dales of Tartary.

In Tartary there will be shining stars and fragrant cool breeze will blow all around. Birds
will be delighted in citron trees and there will be flowers in plenty of various colours.

So there are all pleasures and royal facilities which the poet wishes to have. It is a feast
for sense not only for the poet but also for us.

Q.5. The hero’s dreams are pure, innocent and un-harmful. Elaborate (P.U.
2006). Ans. The poet as a lord of romantic land longs to dream and enjoy everything
that is tremendous and occurs in a grand way. His dreams are very pure, innocent and un-
harmful. The hidden motive is just to satisfy his disturbed real life. He is fulfilling his
every desire that is incomplete in the world of reality. His dreams are not based on
any ill will for others but on his intense aspiration of a tremendous life style. As
his bed will be of ivory and his royal throne will be of gold. Scenes and sights of
his court will be unsurpassable. The atmosphere of his court will be alluring as
peacocks and great fishes will display their beauty. Tigers will move in his forest
as well as show the power of their king. Trumpeters will announce his royal meal
hours. Lamps will shine in brilliance and colours like yellow and red as honey and
wine. He will get pleasure from the lively and soul nourishing music of different
instruments like flute, mandoline and harp. Every morning this imaginary lord will
wear, sword and new dress studded with colourful pears. He will be so powerful
even wild animals like zebras will obey and serve him by driving his royal
carriage. He will owner of all rivers, hills, glens, valleys, woods thickest and dales
of tartary.

In Tartary there will be shinning stars and fragrant cool breeze will blow all
around. Birds will be delighted in citron trees and there will be flowers in plenty of
various colours. So these are all pleasures and royal facilities which the poet
wishes to have. Intensity of his ambition focuses how his every dream is pure.
Innocence is obvious when we realise that everything is possible only in dreams
everything cannot be achieved in real life. Sweet dreams are the production of
bitterness in life. Which he can not even see with open eyes gets with close eyes.
His dreams are very naive as they do not become the cause of harm for others.