Gitanjali · Chapter
XCVII explained
The poet reflects on a past time of playful, innocent companionship with the divine, contrasting it with the present moment of awe and reverence as the playtime ends and the divine's true majesty is revealed.
What happens
The poet reflects on a past time of playful, innocent companionship with the divine, contrasting it with the present moment of awe and reverence as the playtime ends and the divine's true majesty is revealed.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs when the speaker surrenders to "glad humiliation" and "dim delight," abandoning the…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Divine Love and Devotion
The shift from playful companionship to reverent awe reflects a deepening of devotional love.
- Playtime over, divine sight appears
The chapter directly describes the end of play and the sudden vision of the divine's grandeur.
Characters to notice
- The Poet
Recalls past playful intimacy with the divine and now experiences a sudden, awe-filled revelation.
- The Divine
Addressed as 'thee'; once a comrade in play, now revealed in majestic silence.
Key passages
“When my play was with thee I never questioned who thou wert. I knew nor shyness nor fear, my life was boisterous.”
When I played with you, I never wondered who you were. I felt no shyness or fear; my life was full of energy.
Describes the innocent, carefree nature of the past relationship with the divine.
“Now, when the playtime is over, what is this sudden sight that is come upon me? The world with eyes bent upon thy feet stands in awe with all its silent stars.”
Now that the play is finished, what is this sudden vision I see? The whole world, with its silent stars, gazes at your feet in reverence.
Contrasts the past playfulness with the present moment of awe and worship.
