The Clock Tower summary by Bhupi Sherchan | The Clock Tower question answer

"The Clock Tower," originally written by Bhupi Sherchan and translated by Padma Devkota, captures the brooding image of a pensioned veteran as the clock tower fishing in the Ranipokhari in deep thought. Symbolically, it presents life's disillusionment against the background of time.

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The Clock Tower summary [Bhupi Sherchan]

The poem, "The Clock Tower" tells that an old pensioner is passing his days boringly. The poet makes the comparison between the old pensioner and the clock tower. As we compare him with the clock tower, we find that the veteran is not happy with his present life.

In his present stage, his old military clothes are no more now. Some of them were cut by rats and others were used by his relatives. Now, he has an only old model pocket watch which is hanging from his neck and an ancient hat on his head. In the later part of the stanza, the poet compares the clock tower with an old pensioner. Like an old pensioner, the clock tower is passing his sad days near Ranipokhari doing the same things for many years. The clock tower seems to be so serious. 

In Ranipokhari, it seems that it has cast bait into it to catch fish. So, the clock tower seems as if it is concentrated to catch fish but his all efforts are in vain till now. It is alone all the time and doing meaningless tasks. It means that like the clock tower, the old man too is deserted from his family members and is in poor condition as the clock tower is left to repair. Similarly, the clock tower routinizes the same things by only giving time. It means that the old pensioner veteran is also only waiting for death and till then, he has to pass long days boringly.

The Clock Tower by Bhupi Sherchan [question answer]

In the poem The Clock Tower, what happened to the old pensioner's military attire?

Ans: All of the old military attires had been used or finished. Some of them were cut by rats and others were used by his relatives.

What are the two cherished souvenirs in The Clock Tower?

Ans: The two cherished souvenirs are: an old model pocket watch and an ancient hat.

Is the simile of the third stanza apt?

Ans: Yes, it is. The poet uses a smile to compare pensioned military (who is passing his days sadly) with Ghantaghar (which is having cast bait into Ranipkahari and standing patiently near it ). It is an appropriate simile because it seems to be a realistic comparison between Ghantaghar and the old man.

Is the poet sympathetic toward the clock tower? If so, what words in the text express the poet's sympathy?

Ans: Yes, the poem is sympathetic towards the clock tower. Like the old veteran, the clock tower is also brooding near the Ranipokhari. It has been brooding near it for a long time ago. It seems as if it has cast bait into Ranipokhari.

Description of the clock tower and characterization of the 'senior vet' seem to marge into the fabric of the poem. How successful is the poet in providing a realistic image?

Ans: The poet is successful in providing a realistic image of an old man. He compares the senior vet with the clock tower. The old military pensioner is passing his boring and sad life. He may brood and recall his happy youth. Like him, the clock tower is brooding near Ranipokhari casting its bait into it.

To show the old man's plight, the poet uses the image of the clock tower (Ghantaghar). Now in his present stage, his old military clothes are no more. Some of them were cut by rats and others were used by his relatives. Now, he has only an old watch and a hat.

In the later part of the poem, the poet compares the clock tower with the old pensioner. Like the old pensioner, the clock tower is passing his sad days near Ranipokhari. Clock tower seems to be so serious and concentrates to catch fish but his all efforts are futile till now. It is alone all time and doing the meaningless task. Like it, the old pensioner is compelled to pass his sad and boring time.

How does the single word of the last line affect the mood of the poem The Clock Tower?

Ans: The clock tower boringly routinizes the same things by only giving time. It means that the old pensioner veteran is only waiting for death and till then he has to pass long days in a monotonous way.

In The Clock Tower, comment on the use of simile (comparison between two things) and personification (giving human characteristics to something non-human).

Ans: As a simile, he compares the old pensioner with the clock tower because like him, the clock is doing the same things as giving times. Similarly, like personification, he personifies giving human quality of jealousy to watch and hat.