(a) Reference: This line is from Edwin Muir’s poem “The Castle”.
Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while flaunting the invincibility of their strong castle. They could watch the movement of enemies from the turret wall and shoot down the enemy at a distance of half-a-kilometer. They had a stock pile of arms. Their granary was full to sustain the people in the event of a siege. Only a bird could have got into the castle. So, the enemies did not seem to be a threat at all to the soldiers.
(b) Reference: This line is from Edwin Muir’s poem “The Castle”.
Context and Explanation: The narrator feels disgraced that their strong castle was overtaken without a groan. There was no fight. They were helpless because under the cover of darkness, they were sold for gold by the aged warder. It was a shameful and treacherous act of betrayal. The castle had fallen due to the greed of an aged warder. The narrator is hesitant to disclose the shameful betrayal to outsiders.
(c) Reference: This line is from Edwin Muir’s poem “The Castle”.
Context and Explanation: The poet says this while recounting the shameful act of betrayal by the aged warder of the wicket gate. The narrator was overconfident of the invincibility of their castle, their stock piled arms and well-stocked granary. They had a brave captain and loyal soldiers. In an open war, they need not fear defeat as their friendly neighbours were also willing to join them during a war against any invader. But their enemy was within their fortified castle. They were sold for a bag of gold. Without a groan the citadel was captured. It was a shameful way to lose one’s side. So, the narrator prefers not to recount this shameful secret to anyone so long as he is alive.
(d) Reference: This line is from Edwin Muir’s poem “The Castle”.
Context and Explanation: The helpless soldier says this while being surprised by the enemies who bribed the wicked wicket gate keeper. The soldier was initially proud of their fortified castle, brave and loyal soldiers and pile of arms and the well-stocked granary to last siege. There was vigil behind the turret wall. But he was not aware of the enemy within the human soul: the greed. Gold was their enemy for which they had no weapon. The wizened warder had let the enemy in through the wicket gate by taking “gold”. The weakness of the gatekeeper for gold made the strong castle weak.
