“here in katmandu” - wag &...

“Here in Katmandu”by Donald Justice

(August 2007 English 10 Provincial Examination)

We have climbed the mountain. There's nothing more to do. It is terrible to come down To the valley Where, amidst many flowers, One thinks of snow,

As formerly, amidst snow, Climbing the mountain, One thought of flowers, Tremulous, ruddy with dew, In the valley. One caught their scent coming down.

It is difficult to adjust, once down, To the absence of snow. Clear days, from the valley, One looks up at the mountain. What else is there to do? Prayerwheels, flowers!

Let the flowers Fade, the prayerwheels run down. What have they to do With us who have stood atop the snow Atop the mountain, Flags seen from the valley?

“Here in Katmandu” by Donald Justice

It might be possible to live in the valley, To bury oneself among flowers, If one could forget the mountain, How, setting out before dawn,Blinded with snow, One knew what to do.

Meanwhile it is not easy here in Katmandu, Especially when to the valley That wind which means snow Elsewhere, but here means flowers, Comes down, As soon it must, from the mountain.

“Here in Katmandu” by Donald Justice

1. What does the first stanza suggest aboutthe speaker?

A. He views life as a series of insurmountable obstacles.B. He has come to appreciate the solitude of his quiet

existence.C. He is relieved to have made it successfully back to

the valley.D. He believes he has faced the biggest challenge he

will ever face.

2. What was the first sign to the climbersthat they were nearing the end of theirdescent?

A. the absence of snowB. the flapping of the flagsC. the fragrance of the flowersD. the turning of the prayerwheels

3. What does the speaker imply abouthimself in lines 19 to 24?

A. He is worried about dying.B. He feels above the ordinary.C. He is just beginning his journey.D. He is proud of his accomplishment.

4. How did the climbers react to the blindingsnow?

A. They were confused by it.B. They were eager for spring.C. They were undeterred by it.D. They were forced to descend.

5. How would the speaker describe theexperience of climbing the mountain?

A. fascinatingB. impossibleC. life-alteringD. self-serving

6. What is the speaker’s greatest problemafter descending the mountain?

A. admitting defeatB. overcoming fearC. surviving hardshipD. finding contentment

7. Which aspect of nature best reflects theactions of the speaker?

A. the dewB. the windC. the snowD. the flowers

8. What is the central irony in the poem?A. The prayerwheels, which symbolize hope, have run

down.B. The valley, which is peaceful, is unsettling for the

speaker.C. The speaker, who has survived, sees himself buried

in the flowers.D. The flags, which are high atop the mountain, can be

seen from the valley.

9. Which word best describes the tone of thepoem?

A. angryB. apologeticC. complacentD. melancholic

Written Response:

In a well-developed, literary paragraph, and with at least four specific references to the poem, discuss the speaker’s contrasting view of the mountain and the valley.

Answer Key





will ever face.





will ever face. (Lines 1 and 2)


A. the absence of snowB. the flapping of the flagsC. the fragrance of the flowersD. the turning of the prayerwheels


A. the absence of snowB. the flapping of the flagsC. the fragrance of the flowers (line 12)D. the turning of the prayerwheels

3. What does the speaker imply abouthimself in lines 19 to 24?

A. He is worried about dying.B. He feels above the ordinary.C. He is just beginning his journey.D. He is proud of his accomplishment.


A. They were confused by it.B. They were eager for spring.C. They were undeterred by it.D. They were forced to descend.


A. They were confused by it.B. They were eager for spring.C. They were undeterred by it. D. They were forced to descend.

undeterred: persevering with something despitesetbacks

5. How would the speaker describe theexperience of climbing the mountain?

A. fascinatingB. impossibleC. life-alteringD. self-serving


A. admitting defeatB. overcoming fearC. surviving hardshipD. finding contentment


A. admitting defeatB. overcoming fearC. surviving hardshipD. finding contentment (lines 15-17; 19-22)


A. the dewB. the windC. the snowD. the flowers


A. the dewB. the wind (last stanza) C. the snowD. the flowers

The wind has been both at the top of the mountain and comes down to the valley, just like the speaker.



speaker.C. The speaker, who has survived, sees himself buried





speaker. (lines 7-12; 13-14; 25-27)C. The speaker, who has survived, sees himself buried





complacent: smug, self-satisfied; unbothered, untroubled.melancholic: characterized by or causing sadness.

Written Response:

In a well-developed, literary paragraph, and with at least four specific references to the poem, discuss the speaker’s contrasting view of the mountain and the valley.

● (Optional) hook statement● Include the title, author, main point at the very beginning.

Things to remember (from Literary ¶ Guidelines)

● (Optional) hook statement● Include the title, author, main point at the very beginning.● Main Point: The answer to the question being asked (the thesis)


● (Optional) hook statement● Include the title, author, main point at the very beginning.● Main Point: The answer to the question being asked (the thesis)● Poem and short stories take “quotation marks.” Novel titles take

underlining or italics: The Chrysalids or The Chrysalids.



underlining or italics: The Chrysalids or The Chrysalids.● Analyze/discuss literature in the present tense.



underlining or italics: The Chrysalids or The Chrysalids.● Analyze/discuss literature in the present tense.● Formal language only, please (i.e., no contractions.)



underlining or italics: The Chrysalids or The Chrysalids.● Analyze/discuss literature in the present tense.● Formal language only, please (i.e., no contractions.)● Remember to P.E.E. in your paragraphs!



underlining or italics: The Chrysalids or The Chrysalids.● Analyze/discuss literature in the present tense.● Formal language only, please (i.e., no contractions.)● Remember to P.E.E. in your paragraphs!● At the end, answer the “So what?” question. (Why should a

reader care about what they just read?)




underlining or italics: The Chrysalids or The Chrysalids.● Analyze/discuss literature in the present tense.● Formal language only, please (i.e., no contractions.)● Remember to P.E.E. in your paragraphs!● At the end, answer the “So what?” question. (Why should a

reader care about what they just read?)● After you finish, title your response (somewhat creatively).

More things to remember:Answer the question being asked.

Question:In a well-developed, literary paragraph, and with at least four specific references to the poem, discuss the speaker’s contrasting view of the mountain and the valley.

Title, author, main point:In Donald Justice’s poem, “Here in Katmandu,” the speakercontrasts an energetic view of the mountain with a monotonousview of the valley throughout the poem.

More things to remember:Narrator in fiction = Speaker in poetry.

BUTThe speaker ≠ the author.

How do you refer to the speaker then?

“The speaker.”

If there is no good evidence to suggest the speaker’s sex, refer to the speaker as “he” or “she.” It may be a good idea to first explain the ambiguity: “The speaker, who is remains genderless, ...” or “The speaker, who may be male or female, …”

More things to remember:Specific Evidence:

When asked for specific evidence, write more than simply referring back to line numbers (or stanzas or paragraphs).

Rather, use a short quotation to back up your point (P.E.E.).

It does not have to be a long quotation. In fact, shorter quotations are better and more convincing because they really focus your point with specific evidence.

Sample Student Responses:

In the poem, “Here in Katmandu,” by Donald Justice, the speaker displays contrasting views of Mount Everest and the valley below. The speaker explains that “[i]t is terrible to come down [t]o the valley [w]here [...] one thinks of snow” (lines 3-6). This section describes how the climber is never truly content when he is away from the mountain. Even when he is surrounded by the serenity of the valley, he dreams of the dangerous mountain. The speaker feels confined by the valley, as opposed to the feelings of freedom that he experiences on Mount Everest. This is evidenced when the speaker states that on “[c]lear days, from the valley [o]ne looks up to the mountain. What else is there to do?” (lines 15-17). This excerpt illustrates that, when trapped in the valley, the climber looks at the mountain, wishing to be there. Mountain Everest has changed this man in a way he can never forget, but that fundamental shift

may end up holding him back. This is explained when the speaker suggests, “[i]t might be possible to live in the valley [t]o bury oneself among flowers, if one could forget the valley” (lines 25-27). The speaker is unable to appreciate the beauty of the flower in the valley because of the effect of the experiences on the mountain. He years to be among the snow-covered heights of Mount Everest as he explains that “it is not easy here,” in the valley when “[t]hat wind which means snow [e]lsewhere, but here means flowers” (lines 31-34). Every aspect of the valley reminds the speaker of climbing, as even whenever he looks up, he sees the mountain touring over the valley (line 16). He is saddened that the wind brings with it the scent of flower, not the flurries of snow. In the end, “Here in Katmandu” illustrates a climber trapped in the valley beneath the mountain he wants to climb for eternity.

In Donald Justice’s poem, “Here in Katmandu,” the speaker contrasts the mountain and the valley numerous times. The valley is portrayed as quiet, peaceful, and serene: “Where amidst many flowers (line 5) and “To bury oneself among flowers” (line 26). When the speaker thinks of the valley, flowers often come to mind. Flowers are known as a peaceful sign. They are plants that stay in one place, sway in the wind and give off fragrance. They do nothing more. The mountain, however, is depicted as harsh and loud in the lines “Blinded with snow” (29) and “That wind which means snow” (33). The mountain is not only covered in snow, but the current falling snow is thick and being blown so hard and fast that it has the capability to blind. The wind that blows relentlessly must be loud. The speaker contrasts the havoc and noise of the mountain to the quiet and still of the valley. The mountain climber also compares the valley’s boring,

dreamless state to the excitement and purpose while on the mountain. This is shown when the aimless speaker, in the valley, laments, “Clear days, from the valley, / One looks up at the mountain. / What else is there to do?” (lines 15-17). This is contrasted to when the speaker has purpose up on the mountain and “set[s] out before dawn / Blinded with snow, / One knew what to do” (lines 28-30). The line, “To bury oneself among flowers” (26) also contributes to this comparison. The valley is said to be boring with nothing to do but look up at the mountain. The speaker describes the valley as a place where one cannot find aspirations or dreams. By contrast, the mountain is a place of purpose. Even when blinded with snow, the speaker knows what to do. Overall, “Here in Katmandu” contrasts the havoc, noise and, purpose of the mountain to the peace, boredom, and silence of the valley.

Yup! Another writing topic: :-)1. Determine a theme statement for the poem. 2. Write it at the top of your paper.3. In a well-developed, literary paragraph, and with specific

references to the poem, explain how the author conveys that theme.

Theme Statement:A generalized statement that is true for the poem as well as everyday life, and which reveals an insight into human nature.

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