Summary
Dionysius was a powerful king of
Sicily. There were many intellectuals as well as haters. Among them, Damocles
used to please the king flattering. Damocles used to say that to become a king
is a divine gift. He used to tell there is no greater happiness than to sit on
the throne. The king irritated with Damocles flattery and wanted to teach a
lesson.
Dionysius organized a banquet and
asked Damocles to sit on the throne. Damocles felt difficulty with a heavy
crown. When he saw a sword hanging just over him by a single hair, he
frightened. He wanted to leave the throne but the king compelled him to sit on
the throne. He didn’t enjoy the feast but he escaped from the throne. He learned
that the king lives on honored life among material prosperity, but they also
live in danger of death. To become a king and rule over the country isn’t as
essay as common people think.
Four Levels of interpretation
Literal Comprehension:
This text was taken from a Greek legend.
This is the story the king Dionysius and his flatters- Damocles. Dionysius was
powerful king Dionysius was a powerful king of Sicily. There were many
intellectuals as well as haters. Among them, Damocles used to please the king
flattering. Damocles used to say that to become a king is a divine gift. He
used to tell there is no greater happiness than to sit on the throne. The king
irritated with Damocles flattery and wanted to teach a lesson.
Interpretation:
We see kings and queens spent their
life in pleasure and comfort. We think they have property and pleasure but they
have also a burden. Their life is also in danger. Though they live an honored
life among material prosperity. At every moment of their life, they live in a threat
under the shadow of death. To become a ruler isn’t as easy as common people
think. Similarly, wealth or material property doesn’t bring happiness as
Damocles thought. When he saw or observed reality, he learned the great lesson.
Critical Thinking:
I completely agree that the ruling is
not as easy as we think. We see royal family members spending their life in
comforts but in reality, they also live in danger of death. There is always a burden
on their head. Next thing wealth doesn’t necessarily bring happiness. We should
get satisfaction whatever we have. But there is an exaggeration in the story.
There is a description of a hanging sword. The sword is hanging by a single
hair. It is not possible because the sword is heavy. A single hair can’t hold a
sword. Similarly, the king provides his throne to Damocles but in reality, no
king has provided the throne to common people.
Assimilation:
By reading this story, I learned that
wealth doesn’t necessarily bring happiness and satisfaction. To spend a happy
life, it is necessary to be an ordinary person. The kings and queens have
honored life though there is also fear of death to them.
Possible Questions
Discuss the background, plot, and
interpretation of “The Sword of Damocles”.
How does the ancient tale “The Sword
of Damocles” tell us that to secure higher posts needs a strong heart?
Words Meaning
Sword = Big knife
Harsh = Difficult
Subject = Common people
Meted = Punished
Unfortunate = Unlucky
Terror = Fear
Brilliant = Excellent
Flatterers = Adulators
Adulation = Flatteing
Marvelous = Wonderful
Admirable = Praiseworthy
Throne = Seat of the ruler
Fulsomely = Extremely
Abject = Miserable
Fawn = To please with flattering
Banquet = Feast
Vassals = Servants of the king
Resign = Give up the post
Bestow = Give
Occupy = Cover
Permitting = Allowing
Ascend = To be in the crown
Render = Make
Robes = Ornaments
Servile = Mean
Bade = Greeted
Slender = Thin
Discomfituate = Frustration
Circumstance = Situation
Coward = Panic
Wretched = Unhappy
Pongs = Agony
Temporary = Changeable
Naught = Worthless
Humbler = Modest
Securing = Protection
Boundless = Tried less
Reviewed by Bijay Munikar
on
August 12, 2020
Rating:
No comments: