It started as a pilgrimage
Exalting minds and making all
The burdens light, The second stage
Explored but did not test the call.
The sun beat down to match our rage.
We stood it very well, I thought,
Observed and put down copious notes
On things the peasants sold and bought
The way of serpents and of goats.
Three cities where a sage had taught
But when the differences arose
On how to cross a desert patch,
We lost a friend whose stylish prose
Was quite the best of all our batch.
A shadow falls on us and grows.
Another phase was reached when we
Were twice attacked, and lost our way.
A section claimed its liberty
To leave the group. I tried to pray.
Our leader said he smelt the sea
We noticed nothing as we went,
A straggling crowd of little hope,
Ignoring what the thunder meant ,
Deprived of common needs like soap.
Some were broken, some merely bent.
When, finally, we reached the place ,
We hardly know why we were there.
The trip had darkened every face,
Our deeds were neither great nor rare.
Home is where we have to gather grace.
Enterprise by Nissim Ezekiel: Video Explanation
Enterprise by Nissim Ezekiel Analysis
It started as a pilgrimage
Exalting minds and making all
The burdens light, The second stage
Explored but did not test the call.
The sun beat down to match our rage.
Reference to Context:
These lines are from Nissim Ezekiel’s poem “Enterprise”, which describes a symbolic journey representing human ambition, struggles, and disillusionment. The poem follows a group of travelers who begin their journey with enthusiasm but gradually face hardships that lead to conflicts and disappointment.
Explanation:
The poem begins with a hopeful and enthusiastic tone. The journey is described as a pilgrimage, suggesting a spiritual or intellectual quest. The travelers feel excited, and their minds are uplifted (“Exalting minds”), making their burdens seem light. This implies that their purpose gives them motivation and strength.
In the second stage of their journey, they explore new ideas and experiences but do not face any real challenges yet (“Explored but did not test the call”). This suggests that while they are still eager, they have not yet been truly tested by difficulties.
However, as they continue, problems begin to emerge. The harsh sun symbolizes difficulties and obstacles. It beats down on them, matching their rage, which hints at growing frustrations or conflicts among the group. This marks the beginning of their struggles, foreshadowing the hardships that will later lead to disillusionment.
Poetic Devices:
Metaphor: The entire journey is a metaphor for life, ambition, or a spiritual quest.
“The burdens light” metaphorically represents how their initial enthusiasm makes hardships feel easier.
Alliteration: “Making minds” (repetition of the ‘m’ sound) adds a rhythmic quality.
Symbolism: Pilgrimage symbolizes an important journey, either spiritual, intellectual, or philosophical.
The sun beating down symbolizes struggles, challenges, and hardships in life.
Personification: “The sun beat down to match our rage” gives the sun human-like qualities, as if it is aware of their frustration and intensifies the heat in response.
We stood it very well, I thought,
Observed and put down copious notes
On things the peasants sold and bought
The way of serpents and of goats.
Three cities where a sage had taught
Reference to Context:
These lines are from Nissim Ezekiel’s poem “Enterprise”, which describes a symbolic journey undertaken by a group of travelers. The poem explores themes of ambition, struggle, disillusionment, and self-realization. In these lines, the travelers continue their journey, facing difficulties but still maintaining their enthusiasm.
Explanation:
The speaker reflects on how well the group endured the challenges so far (“We stood it very well, I thought”). This indicates that despite the difficulties they encountered, they remained determined and resilient at this stage of the journey.
They observed and recorded details about their surroundings, focusing on the everyday lives of the local people. The reference to peasants and their trade (“On things the peasants sold and bought”) suggests an intellectual curiosity and a scholarly approach, as if they were documenting their experiences like researchers or explorers.
The mention of “the way of serpents and of goats” is symbolic.
Serpents often represent deception, danger, or wisdom.
Goats can symbolize stubbornness, endurance, or spiritual devotion.
This line suggests that the travelers carefully studied not only economic aspects but also the natural and cultural environment around them.
The reference to “three cities where a sage had taught” indicates that the travelers visited places of wisdom and learning. This could symbolize the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment, possibly hinting at real historical places or figures.
However, despite this intellectual pursuit, there is an underlying suggestion that they are merely observing rather than truly experiencing or learning from the wisdom imparted there.
Poetic Devices:
Imagery: The description of peasants trading and the mention of serpents and goats create vivid mental images, making the scene feel more real.
Symbolism: Serpents and goats symbolize different aspects of life, possibly representing challenges, wisdom, or struggles.
Three cities where a sage had taught symbolizes the pursuit of knowledge or enlightenment.
Irony: The travelers carefully observe and take notes, but this intellectual approach does not necessarily mean they are growing spiritually or emotionally. This foreshadows their later disillusionment.
But when the differences arose
On how to cross a desert patch,
We lost a friend whose stylish prose
Was quite the best of all our batch.
A shadow falls on us and grows.
Reference to Context:
These lines are from Nissim Ezekiel’s poem “Enterprise,” which metaphorically describes a journey representing human aspirations, struggles, and eventual disillusionment. At this point in the poem, the travelers, who began their journey with enthusiasm, encounter serious internal conflicts that mark the beginning of their downfall.
Explanation:
The harmony of the group is disrupted when disagreements arise about how to cross a desert patch (“But when the differences arose on how to cross a desert patch”). The desert here symbolizes hardships—physical, intellectual, or emotional—that test their unity and resolve. The group’s idealism starts to crack as conflicts emerge.
One of the most talented members, a writer with “stylish prose,” leaves the group (“We lost a friend whose stylish prose was quite the best of all our batch”). This could symbolize the loss of creativity, intellectual depth, or moral guidance. The word “lost” suggests either abandonment or perhaps even death, implying that the journey has become too difficult for some to continue.
The last line, “A shadow falls on us and grows,” suggests the growing despair and negativity that now affects the travelers. This could symbolize:
The mental and emotional weight of their struggles.
The beginning of disillusionment, as they start realizing that their journey may not be as meaningful as they once thought.
The fear of failure, as they have already lost one of their best members.
At this point in the poem, the journey, once full of purpose, starts to become a burden rather than a noble quest.
Poetic Devices:
Symbolism: The desert patch symbolizes difficulties, obstacles, and a critical challenge in life.
The lost friend represents the loss of intellectual or artistic vision and the breaking of unity.
The growing shadow symbolizes increasing despair, doubt, and disillusionment.
Imagery: The desert patch and the shadow growing create vivid images of hardship and gloom, emphasizing the emotional and physical struggles of the journey.
Metaphor: The shadow metaphorically represents the negative emotions, conflicts, and fears that start to overwhelm the group.
Irony: The journey began with high hopes, but now they are losing people and motivation, highlighting the irony of their situation.
Another phase was reached when we
Were twice attacked, and lost our way.
A section claimed its liberty
To leave the group. I tried to pray.
Our leader said he smelt the sea
Reference to Context:
These lines are from “Enterprise” by Nissim Ezekiel, a poem that metaphorically represents life’s journey, highlighting how human ambitions often lead to struggle and disillusionment. At this stage of the journey, the travelers face violence, confusion, and division, further deepening their despair.
Explanation:
The group moves into another difficult phase, where they are physically attacked twice and lose their sense of direction (“We were twice attacked, and lost our way”). The attacks symbolize external challenges or hardships, possibly societal opposition, obstacles, or inner turmoil that shake their unity and purpose.
As the journey becomes more difficult, some members decide to leave (“A section claimed its liberty to leave the group”). This suggests a breakdown in unity, as individuals start prioritizing personal survival over collective ambition. The phrase “claimed its liberty” implies that some travelers now see the journey as a burden rather than a noble mission.
The speaker, feeling overwhelmed, tries to seek spiritual comfort (“I tried to pray”), indicating a growing sense of hopelessness and helplessness. This moment shows how struggles often push people toward faith, but it also suggests uncertainty—his attempt to pray might indicate that he is not sure whether it will help.
Meanwhile, the leader remains optimistic (“Our leader said he smelt the sea”). The sea could symbolize hope, the final goal, or the end of their suffering. However, given the group’s deteriorating condition, the leader’s words might also suggest false hope or self-delusion—a desperate attempt to keep the group motivated despite their worsening state.
Poetic Devices:
Symbolism: Being attacked twice represents major challenges in life—both external struggles and internal conflicts.
Losing the way symbolizes confusion, loss of purpose, and lack of direction.
Praying represents a plea for guidance and relief.
Smelling the sea symbolizes hope, relief, or the illusion of nearing the goal.
Alliteration: “Smelt the sea” (repetition of ‘s’ sound) creates a rhythmic flow and emphasizes the leader’s hopeful vision.
Imagery: The attacks and the group losing their way create vivid images of struggle and disorder.
Smelling the sea evokes a sensory experience, contrasting with the despair surrounding the group.
Irony: The leader claims to smell the sea, suggesting hope, but the group is actually falling apart, making his optimism seem misplaced or even ironic.
Enjambment: The continuation of thoughts across multiple lines (without full stops) reflects the ongoing struggles and instability of the travelers.
We noticed nothing as we went,
A straggling crowd of little hope,
Ignoring what the thunder meant ,
Deprived of common needs like soap.
Some were broken, some merely bent.
Reference to Context:
These lines are from “Enterprise” by Nissim Ezekiel, a poem that metaphorically represents a journey, symbolizing human ambition, struggles, and eventual disillusionment. At this stage of the journey, the travelers are exhausted, hopeless, and broken, having faced numerous hardships.
Explanation:
The travelers have now reached a state of complete exhaustion and detachment. Their initial enthusiasm has vanished, and they move forward mechanically, without noticing their surroundings (“We noticed nothing as we went”). This suggests mental fatigue, loss of purpose, and an absence of awareness or curiosity, which contrasts sharply with their earlier excitement about observing and documenting the journey.
The group is now weak and scattered (“A straggling crowd of little hope”), indicating that their unity and motivation are nearly gone. The word “straggling” suggests disorder, weariness, and a lack of direction, showing that they are merely dragging themselves forward without purpose.
They also ignore the thunder, which could symbolize warnings, divine intervention, or an impending disaster. This suggests that they are either too weak to react or have become indifferent to their fate. Earlier in the poem, the leader claimed to “smell the sea” (symbolizing hope), but now even nature’s warnings are disregarded—showing their complete loss of awareness and resilience.
The mention of “deprived of common needs like soap” highlights the physical suffering and neglect they experience. Soap, a basic necessity, symbolizes cleanliness, order, and self-respect—all of which they have now lost. This underscores the harsh reality of their struggles, as they are no longer concerned with even the most basic human needs.
The final line, “Some were broken, some merely bent,” reveals that not all travelers have suffered equally. Some are completely destroyed (physically or emotionally), while others are damaged but still able to move forward. This reflects how hardships affect people differently, with some losing all hope while others manage to endure.
Poetic Devices:
Symbolism: The thunder symbolizes warnings, danger, or divine intervention, which the travelers ignore.
Soap represents basic human dignity, order, and well-being, which they have lost.
“Some were broken, some merely bent” symbolizes the different impacts of suffering—some are completely shattered, while others survive but are changed forever.
Imagery: The description of a straggling crowd, deprived of basic needs, ignoring the thunder creates a vivid image of suffering, hopelessness, and detachment.
Alliteration: “Some were broken, some merely bent” (repetition of ‘b’ sound) emphasizes the contrast between total destruction and survival.
Irony: At the beginning of the poem, the journey seemed noble and purposeful, but now, the travelers have lost their direction, energy, and even concern for their own survival.
When, finally, we reached the place ,
We hardly know why we were there.
The trip had darkened every face,
Our deeds were neither great nor rare.
Home is where we have to gather grace.
Reference to Context:
These are the final lines from Nissim Ezekiel’s poem “Enterprise”, which describes a symbolic journey representing human ambition, struggle, and eventual disillusionment. Throughout the poem, the travelers face hardships, conflicts, and losses, and now, after enduring so much, they finally reach their destination. However, instead of feeling triumphant, they experience emptiness and disappointment.
Explanation:
When the travelers finally reach their destination, they feel no sense of accomplishment (“We hardly know why we were there”). This line emphasizes disillusionment—they had embarked on this journey with great expectations, but in the end, it seems meaningless.
The hardships of the journey have left their mark, both physically and emotionally (“The trip had darkened every face”). This could mean:
Their faces are literally darkened by exhaustion, sun, and suffering.
Metaphorically, their spirits have darkened—they have lost their enthusiasm, hope, and idealism.
The realization hits them: their efforts were not extraordinary (“Our deeds were neither great nor rare”). This is a powerful statement, as it suggests that all their struggles and sacrifices led to nothing remarkable. The things they thought would make them special turned out to be common, unimportant, and uninspiring.
The poem ends with a profound realization: “Home is where we have to gather grace.” This suggests that:
True peace, fulfillment, and meaning are found at home, not in external quests.
Instead of seeking glory or greatness elsewhere, one must find purpose and dignity in everyday life.
Grace here symbolizes spiritual enlightenment, self-acceptance, and inner peace, which can only be found by embracing one’s roots, rather than chasing illusions of grandeur.
This final line serves as the moral or lesson of the poem:
Life’s greatest purpose is not in distant, difficult pursuits but in finding peace and meaning where we belong.
Poetic Devices:
Irony: The travelers had high ambitions, but in the end, they realize their journey was meaningless. They thought they would achieve something great, but their deeds were ordinary and unremarkable.
Symbolism: Darkened faces symbolize suffering, disillusionment, and emotional exhaustion.
Home represents comfort, peace, and true fulfillment.
Grace symbolizes inner wisdom, self-acceptance, and the ability to find meaning in simple things.
Imagery: The phrase “The trip had darkened every face” paints a vivid picture of tired, weary travelers, both physically and emotionally drained.
Alliteration: “Home is where we have to gather grace” (repetition of ‘h’ and ‘g’ sounds) adds a smooth, reflective tone.
