Gitanjali · Chapter
XV explained
The poet declares his purpose is solely to sing songs for the divine, occupying a humble corner in the divine hall.
What happens
The poet declares his purpose is solely to sing songs for the divine, occupying a humble corner in the divine hall. He describes his life as useless and purposeless except for breaking into tunes, and asks to be called to sing during silent worship at midnight and when the morning harp is tuned.
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 Exposition.
- 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 poet's entire purpose is to sing songs for the divine, expressing devotion through music.
- Surrender and Egolessness
The poet accepts a corner seat and a useless life, surrendering his will to the master's command.
Characters to notice
- The Poet
The speaker who offers his songs to the divine, acknowledging his own uselessness and corner seat.
- The Divine
The master who owns the hall and commands the poet's singing.
Key passages
“I am here to sing thee songs. In this hall of thine I have a corner seat.”
My sole purpose is to sing for you, and I occupy a humble place in your presence.
The poet emphasizes his humble role and dedication to singing for the divine.
“my useless life can only break out in tunes without a purpose.”
My life, which seems purposeless, finds expression only through spontaneous music.
The poet sees his life as having no worldly function, only musical outpouring.
