PM SHRI KV NO. 2 VASCO DA GAMA.
Handout - 1 Subject- English
A Concrete Example - Reginald Arkell
Summary
The poem tells the story of Mrs. Jones, who has a very unusual garden filled with stones instead of typical
plants and flowers. Her garden has a crazy path, lily pond, rockery, and sundial. She plants tiny, delicate
plants between the stones that are so small they seem meaningless to the speaker. When Mrs. Jones invites
the speaker to see her garden and they talk about a flower for fifteen minutes, the speaker asks where this
"lovely thing" is - only to discover they've been standing on it the whole time!
Main Theme/Point of the Poem
The deeper meaning: This poem is about how beauty exists in small, overlooked things. Mrs. Jones
appreciates tiny details that others might miss or step on. The poem teaches us that:
โ Beauty is subjective (what one person finds beautiful, another might not)
โ We should pay attention to small, delicate things in life
โ Sometimes we destroy or ignore beautiful things without realizing it
โ Different people have different ways of seeing and appreciating the world
Literary Devices
1. Irony
โ Situational Irony: The speaker spends 15 minutes talking about a flower but is standing on it the
whole time
โ Dramatic Irony: Mrs. Jones knows where the flower is, but the speaker doesn't
2. Humor/Comedy
โ The poem is funny because of the absurd situation
โ The speaker's confusion and Mrs. Jones's calm response create humor
3. Imagery
โ Visual imagery: "garden full of stones," "crazy path," "lily pond," "rockery"
โ Size imagery: "so delicate & small," "plants them with a pin"
4. Metaphor
โ The tiny plants represent how small, precious things in life are often overlooked
5. Repetition
โ "My next-door neighbour Mrs Jones" is repeated at the start of each stanza
โ This creates rhythm and emphasizes the character
6. Rhyme Scheme
The poem follows an AABB rhyme pattern (stones/Jones, beyond/pond, etc.)
Character Analysis of Mrs. Jones
Mrs. Jones is portrayed as a unique and patient woman who has an unconventional approach to
gardening. She creates a garden filled with stones and plants tiny, delicate flowers between them that
others might consider meaningless. Her character shows great appreciation for small, beautiful things that
most people would overlook. She is gentle and understanding, never getting upset when the speaker
accidentally steps on her precious flower. Mrs. Jones represents someone who finds joy and beauty in the
smallest details of life and is willing to share her passion with others, even when they don't initially
understand her perspective.
Character Analysis of The Speaker
The speaker comes across as someone who judges things by conventional standards and initially fails to
appreciate Mrs. Jones's unique gardening style. They are confused by the tiny plants and dismissive of
their value, thinking they "don't mean anything at all." However, the speaker also shows curiosity and
willingness to learn by accepting Mrs. Jones's invitation to see her garden. Their carelessness is revealed
when they unknowingly stand on the very flower they spent fifteen minutes discussing. The speaker
represents most of us who often miss the small, beautiful things in life because we're not trained to notice
or value them
Why is this poem important?
This poem is important because it teaches us about perspective and how different people see the world in
unique ways. It emphasizes the value of appreciation for small, delicate things that we might otherwise ignore
or dismiss as meaningless. The poem promotes awareness and mindfulness, reminding us to be careful and
observant of our surroundings so we don't accidentally destroy beautiful things. Most importantly, it encourages
tolerance and respect for others' interests and passions, even when we don't initially understand or share them.
Through Mrs. Jones's character, we learn that beauty exists in many forms and that what seems insignificant to
one person can be precious and meaningful to another.
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