By Muhammad Azam, Shaheen Academy, G-6/1-3, Islamabad. Cell-03335418018

1. IN THE BROKEN IMAGES
Robert Graves
He is quick, thinking in clear images;
I am slow, thinking in broken images.
Reference: These verses have been taken from the poem “In Broken Images” by Robert Graves.
Context: In this poem, the poet has highlighted two kinds of persons having different and quite
opposite ways of thinking. The first type of person sees everything in clear images and trusts
them without questioning. Soon he comes up with facts that later prove to be wrong. Thus all his
efforts go waste and he is confused. Whereas the other types of person sees life is broken images
and he does not trust them. He questions everything and when the facts fail him, he is not
confused. He appreciates his senses and develops a new understanding from his failures. So life
should not be taken at its face value because our inquisitive nature helps us to grow and find new
meaning in different realities of life. As life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react
to it.
Explanation: A person perceives life in simple and clear images. He has pre-conceived notions
about everything in life. He trusts everything that he sees. He is quick in making decisions based
on his previous knowledge. He doesn’t question the facts while there is another person who sees
life like a broken and scattered glass painting or jigsaw puzzle. He contemplates a lost and keeps
thinking about problems and facts of life. He questions his senses and the facts of life. When he
is faced with failure he is not confused because he learns through his failure and trails. Life is
the art of drawing without an eraser. Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about
creating yourself.
He becomes dull, trusting to his clear images;
I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images.
Explanation:-The person, who is overconfident about his abilities and clear images, becomes
dull and dead. His faculties are not sharp because he doesn’t believe in practice and its potential.
All this makes him idle, which is the beginning of all vices. The other person does not trust
anything. He does not believe in whatever he sees. All the images are broken for him.
Disappointment and failure help him to make more alert and sharp. Success depends upon
previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
Trusting his images, he assumes their relevance;
Mistrusting my images, I question their relevance.
Explanation :-The person, who trusts his images is also quick to assume their truth and clarity.
He becomes so used to trusting everything that he becomes ignorant. He believes his facts
without questioning that he becomes ignorant. He believes in his facts without questioning and
this leads him towards confusion and failure. The other kind of person never believes in his
images. He questions the truth of every matter. He is never satisfied. He keeps questioning his
findings and as a result keeps growing. Such a person has potential to develop.
Assuming their relevance, he assumes the fact;
Questioning their relevance, I question their fact.

2. Explanation:- The ignorant man assumes everything based on his previous knowledge. He
considers all his findings as relevant, important and truthful. Soon he draws facts and
conclusions from his images which all bound to disappoint him later on.
The other man questions everything as he does not trust his broken images. He can never be
satisfied with his knowledge. Even if he finds a fact reaches a sound conclusion, it is incomplete
for him.
When the fact fails him, he questions his senses;
when the fact fails me, I approve my senses.
Explanation :-The ignorant man is not ready to accept failure. When his facts prove him wrong,
he loses control and questions his understanding and his senses. He loses hope and becomes
disappointed as the outcome wad against his expectations.
The confused person, when faced with failure is least bothered by it. As he was already
expecting it, failure is no shock for him. He approves of his senses and inquisitive nature. The
questioning of his broken images has given him a sense of confidence. As it is well remarked
that our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
He continues quick and dull in his clear images;
I continue slow and sharp in my broken images.
Explanation:The person, who sees life in clear images is at a loss. The whole process has turned
him into a dull and doubtful person. He trusted too much on his previous knowledge. This
affected his understanding of facts in an adverse manner. The person, who sees life in broken
images, becomes sharp in intellect and reasoning. Although he has already mistrusted everything
yet his failure enriches his thoughts.
He in a new confusion of his understanding;
I in a new understanding of my confusion
Explanation: The man, who has a clear view of life in the beginning of the poem, is all confused
when it ends. He thinks that he knows everything, which is great mistake on his part. He does not
question facts and happenings, thus takes them relevant. This results in his failure and he starts
doubting his understanding and his senses.
The man, who is confused about his broken images in the beginning of the poem, has gained a
new insight into the reality of life. His questioning of the facts helps him to see everything in a
different light. His inquisitive nature opens up a new avenue of thoughts for him. He has
emerged as a strong and intelligent person from his confusion.
Muhammad Azam, Lectrurer, F. G. Science Degree College, Wah Cantt. Cell-03335418018