Abou Ben Adhem by Leigh Hunt

Abou Ben Adhem by Leigh Hunt: Summary, analysis, Notes.

Introduction

Through the poem Abou Ben Adhem, Leigh Hunt conveys the message that more than loving god, we all must love mankind more; such an act pleases the lord even more. Loving our fellowmen is an act that is appreciated by God. This is a narrative poem, where the poet uses the storytelling technique to convey a profound thought – Loving one’s fellowmen is perhaps more honourable, if not at par, with loving the Almighty Himself.

What makes this poem memorable is the author’s interpretation about religion, which suggests that religion is not just about praying to god but also about showing compassion.

Full Poem

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw, within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, An angel writing in a book of gold:— Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the presence in the room he said, “What writest thou?”—The vision raised its head, And with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.” “And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,” Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blest, And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.

Topics on this poem

TOPIC: Those who love their fellow men, love God’. How does Leigh Hunt elucidate the given statement through his poem Abou Ben Adhem‟?

In the poem, when Abou Ben Adhem first encounters the Angel of God, who appears in the dead of night, he asks what is he writing. The angel replies “The names of those who love the Lord.”

Abou, a bit disappointed on knowing that his name was not there, still cheerfully told the angel to write his name as one of one who loves his fellow men. The angel obliged and vanished.

The next night, the Angel comes again and shows Abou the names of those whom love of God had blessed, and guess what, Abou Ben Adhem’s name was at the top of the list.

“And showed the names whom love of God had bless’d,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.”

This is where the poet reveals what pleases the God more. When the angel reveals the names who God has blessed, even Abou Ben Adhem is astonished to see his name lead everyone else’s. His love for mankind was worth more to god compared to others’ love of God.

Through this poem Leigh Hunt conveys the “Importance of Love for Mankind”. He tells us the importance of loving one’s fellow human beings, all of whom have been created by god himself. The poet also says that the number of good people like Abou Ben Adhem should increase in this world; he seems to suggest that the word is right now full of self-centred people who don’t care much about others.

Question and Answers

The poem Abou Ben Adhem by Leigh Hunt conveys a message that love for fellow beings is more important than love for God. In the opening lines of the poem, the poet wishes that may people like Abou, increase in the world. Such people are instrumental in spreading love and brotherhood in the world. One-night Abou woke up from a deep peaceful sleep.

“‘Deep dream of peace’ gives a supernatural impact to the poem. The phrase is an example of alliteration, which is a figure of speech, where the consonant ‘d’ is repeated in ‘deep dream’.

It also symbolises that people like Abou sleep in peace because of their divine behaviour and character.

As he woke up by the light of the moon and the angel present in his room, he saw the angel, writing in a book of gold. The room seemed to be rich by the divine lights.

*The poet uses personification in ‘making it rich’ and also a simile in the phrase ‘like a lily in bloom’.

The poet describes the beauty of the room by these two figures of speech. He compares the beauty of the room to the beauty of a lily, which is in the process of blooming. ‘book of gold’ symbolises two things. First, that the owner is a divine messenger and second that the contents of the book are also divine.

The presence of the angel along with its light further enhances the already richly lit room of Abou. The peace and serenity made Abou bold as he was already a virtuously brave man and led a noble and pious life. He then boldly asks the angel what it was writing. To answer this question, the angel raised its head. It looked sweet and kind. It answered that the names of those who love God were beng listed. To this, Abou again asked if his name was there in the list. The angel’s negative reply made Abou feel sad and low.

Because of his optimism, he quickly overcame that lowliness and humbly requested his name to be written in a list of people who loved their fellow men.

Stanza 2:

The angel wrote … led all the rest.

The next four lines of the poem are describing the next night when the angel reappeared. The light which the angel came with on the second night was brighter, than the night before. The angel that night showed Abou the names of those who are loved by God and thus blessed by Him. In this list, Abou found his name on the top.

The short second stanza of the poem is a message to the readers. The reappearance of the angel, with a list where Abou’s name was at the top, proves that even God loves those who love His creation more than Him.

Answer the questions that follow the extract given below…

“Exceeding peace …what writest thou?

• Explain the setting of the poem.
• How did Abou wake up from his peaceful sleep? Whom did he find there?
• What was it doing there? What made Abou feel low?
• Which phrase points out the supernatural effect of the poem? What does the poet mean when he says ‘may his tribe increase’?
• What message does Hunt convey through his short poem Abou Ben Adhem? Discuss its relevance in today’s world?