Beethoven by Shane Koyczan : ISC English Rhapsody Long Answer Questions
Question 1 : “Beethoven” is a spoken word poem. Discuss.
Annswer: The poem “Beethoven” is a spoken word poem. A spoken word poem is usually close to the art forms that are meant to be performed. It has such elements as folk music, rap, hip hop, story telling, theatre and jazz. It doesn’t need rhyme, though certain words can be rhymed.
“Beethoven” as a spoken word poem, is passionate about its subject. While the audience is already familiar with Beethoven and his music. The subject has instant appeal.
As a “spoken word poem”, “Beethoven” has a dramatic beginning, it has just one word for opening and ending as the gateway line and that is “Listen”. The word prepares the listeners for the subject matter. The poet concludes : you need no history to know Beethoven, just listen to his music to know him.
This poem’s narrative style, direct address to the listener, repetitive motifs and its emotive and rhythmic delivery are all characteristics of spoken word poetry.
Like a good word poem, “Beethoven” uses vivid descriptions, metaphors and visual imagery so that the audience could see, hear, feel and taste what is being said. For instance, the powerful “attack” of Beethoven’s music on our senses is compared to the one by an Armada that marches through exploding cannon shells “smashing” every part of our body. Then there is a vivid description of the impact of his music using mythical and celestial imagery –
“……Beethoven’s musical measurements
could take you the distances
reaching past the towers of Babylon
turning solar systems into cymbals
that crashed together
causing comets to collide …”
When this spoken word poem is read aloud it grips our attention through carefully structured rhythm and repetition of key words for emphasis. The poem concludes with just one word “Listen” and that creates a lasting impression.
Question 2 : Write a note on the imagery of the poem “Beethoven”.
Answer: The poem ” Beethoven” is abundant with various types of imagery that depict the violent experiences of Beethoven’s life and powerful and overwhelming impact of his divine music.
Koyczan uses vivid descriptions, metaphors and visual imagery so that the audience could see, hear, feel and taste what is being said. For instance, the powerful “attack” of Beethoven’s music on our senses is compared to the one by an Armada that marches through exploding cannon shells “smashing” every part of our body.
Koyczan uses celestial imagery, comparing Beethoven’s music to heavenly bodies and cosmic events, suggesting its ability to touch the divine and affect nature itself.
The use of the word “Tumbling” for musical notes that go up through the roof to “Tickle the toes of Angels” forms an image of the sense of touch in the reader’s mind. The movement of the musical notes like human beings make easy for the reader to imagine and understand it.
The comparison of Beethoven’s cramped fingers with the “gnarled roots of the tree trunks” forms a visual image of one hand as well as a feel of “the rough to touch” experience.
The image of a broken record refers to the repeated frustrated expression used by his father, “NOT GOOD ENOUGH” to show his dissatisfaction. It also creates an auditory image that points out the harsh and unpleasant effect of the words used by Beethoven’s father.
This way the use of imagery and vivid description make this poem a successful word poem and enhance the impact of the poem on its audience.
Question 3: Who was Beethoven ? How was he treated by his father ? How did his father’s behaviour impact his psyche ? Discuss with reference to the text.
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven was the legendary composer who is revered as the god of music. Brought up in the tyrannical ambience of his unkind father, Beethoven successfully emerged as a great classical maestro despite being deaf.
Beethoven was brought up by an abusive and authoritarian father, who was so desperate to make his son a musical genius, that he would abuse Beethoven both physically and emotionally. His father, out of his frustration, made a habit of drinking, yelling and hitting Beethoven. The only way for the young boy to obtain mercy was by striking perfect notes on piano. Beethoven was deprived of love, kindness and appreciation and was constantly told by his father, that his efforts were “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”.
This treatment had a significant impact on Beethoven both as a child and as an adult. As a child the words ” it was not good enough” drove Beethoven to strive for perfection in his music, instilling a relentless work ethics and an insatiable desire to improve. The pressure to meet his father’s high expectations, often led the young boy to intense practice sessions. Even after his fingers got extremely tired and turned as stiff “as gnarled roots of tree trunks” the words that bombarded his ears were “It was not good enough”.
This rigourous upbringing also left emotional scars, contributing to Beethoven’s troubled personal life and complex personality. As a grown up, Beethoven internalised his father’s criticism, which continued to fuel his pursuit of excellence. As a composer, Beethoven’s insistence on pushing the boundaries of music and his tireless quest for innovation can be traced back to his father’s harsh words – “It was not good enough”.
While the emotional toll was significant and the words were quite damaging, they also played a role in forging Beethoven’s extraordinary musical legacy.
Question 4 : Why were musicians confused about Beethoven ? What did they have to admit ?
Answer: The musicians were confused and left bewildered by Beethoven’s composition and his acts.
When the orchestra played his symphonies, he acted as his father did. He was never satisfied and would repeat “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”. This irked the musicians. They could not understand how would a deaf man be never satisfied by their music and always reject it. They tried to make fun of him by imitating his movements without playing any instrument. Then the poor man – Beethoven thought that their notes were perfect as the deaf has an intimacy with silence.
The musicians were confused. They did not know whether the man was mad or a genius. They could not figure out whether what they were hearing was the product of madness or sheer genius.
Finally, Beethoven made them to admit through the undeniable and overwhelming power of his music that he “must be a genius”.
The musicians realised that Beethoven’s musical scales were such as to touch the heights of the famous mythical towers of Babylon. They could have a spiritual and transcendent experience that went beyond the barriers of language. They also found Beethoven’s music was having cosmic power, capable of turning solar system into crashing cymbals and causing comets to collide. He created crescendos so loud that they shook entire constellation until stars fell from the sky. Beethoven was having a power to transform human emotions into music.
Finally, the musicians concluded that the distinction between madness and genius must be an illusion and Beethoven was undoubtedly a genius.
Question 5: The poet says that in order to know Beethoven you need not read history but only to listen to his music. Do you agree ? Give reasons to justify your answer.
Answer: Yes, I completely agree with the statement that to know Beethoven, you need not read history, but only to listen to his music. As the poem itself begins and ends with the word “listen”, which highlights the fact that to know Beethoven we only need to listen his music.
Beethoven’s music contains the pain of his abusive childhood. Beethoven’s father expected him to create perfect notes and in his desperation to see him as a genius he was never satisfied. His refrain would be “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”.
Beethoven’s music express his tireless efforts to please his father. Whether he played softly or strongly, he was told that it was not good enough. His music depict his endless practice sessions even his fingers got extremely tired and turned as stiff “as gnarled roots of tree trunks”. But still he was told that “IT WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH”. His music shows his disappointment of not being appreciated.
Beethoven’s music also shows his frustration of his deafness. Without a musician’s precious tool, his hearing, Beethoven could not create rhythms for symphonies playing in his mind. He was not destined to hear the “audience’s clapping “.
Beethoven’s music express his indomitable spirit that allowed him to overcome all these challenges.
The poem describes the power of a deaf musician who transformed all his emotions into the musical notes. His music becomes a tangible thing, every note of his music was a waltz where love and hate dance together with precision and beauty. He was a part of music and music was a part of him.
While a biography is just a record of fact, dates and events from an external perspective. His music directly connects with the listeners and assimilate them within it. By listening his music, the listeners connect with his joy, sorrow, his pain, disappointment, his frustrations and his genius which no history can provide.
Therefore, no history or biography is needed to know him. All we need to do is to “Listen” to his music.