Class 9 English Literature Reader – Song Of the Rain
ABOUT THE POEM
‘Song of the Rain’ describes the origin and end of rain—a natural phenomenon— in the voice of rain itself. The rain tells us of the various functions it performs. It falls down from the sky on the earth. It decorates fields, valley and gardens. When it falls down on flowers in the form of gentle showers, flowers become happy. It quenches the thirst of fields.
The voice of thunder announces the arrival of the rain. The appearance of a rainbow in the sky announces the departaure of the rain.
The rain tells it origin. The water from the sea mixes with the air and forms a cloud in the sky. When the cloud bursts, it becomes rain. The water from the cloud falls on the field. The rain is merciful. The rain declares that it is the sigh of the deep sea, laughter of the colourful fields and tears of the sky.
REFERENCE TO CONTEXT QUESTIONS (SOLVED)
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow :
Question 1:
I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven
By the gods. Nature then takes me to adorn
Her fields and valleys. (CBSE 2014)(a) Name the poem and the poet of the above extract.
(b) Who is T ? Why is T being compared to silver threads ?
(b) Explain the line ‘Nature…. valleys’.
Answer:
(а) The poem is ‘Song of the Rain’. The poet is Kahlil Gibran.
(b) ‘I’ is the rain. T, that is the rain, falls in strings of sparkling drops, like silver threads.
(c) The line means that Nature uses rain to decorate fields and valleys. Fields and valleys look fresh and beautiful with rain drops.
I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven
By the gods. Nature then takes me to adorn
Her fields and valleys. (CBSE 2014)(a) Name the poem and the poet of the above extract.
(b) Who is T ? Why is T being compared to silver threads ?
(b) Explain the line ‘Nature…. valleys’.
Answer:
(а) The poem is ‘Song of the Rain’. The poet is Kahlil Gibran.
(b) ‘I’ is the rain. T, that is the rain, falls in strings of sparkling drops, like silver threads.
(c) The line means that Nature uses rain to decorate fields and valleys. Fields and valleys look fresh and beautiful with rain drops.
Question 2:
I touch gently at the windows with my Soft fingers, and my announcement is a Welcome song. All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand. (CBSE 2014)(a) How is the arrival of rain announced ?
(b) Why is it welcomed ?
(c) What is the difference between hearing and understanding ?
Answer:
(а) The arrival of the rain is announced by a welcome song.
(b) It is welcomed because it is needed by all – men, animals, plants.
(c) Hearing means hearing casually, whereas understanding implies hearing something with understanding its meaning as well.
I touch gently at the windows with my Soft fingers, and my announcement is a Welcome song. All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand. (CBSE 2014)(a) How is the arrival of rain announced ?
(b) Why is it welcomed ?
(c) What is the difference between hearing and understanding ?
Answer:
(а) The arrival of the rain is announced by a welcome song.
(b) It is welcomed because it is needed by all – men, animals, plants.
(c) Hearing means hearing casually, whereas understanding implies hearing something with understanding its meaning as well.
Question 3:
‘The voice of thunder declares my arrival,
The rainbow announces my departure.
I am like earthly life which begins at The feet of the mad elements and ends Under the wings of death’.
(а) Whose arrival is declared by ‘the voice of thunder’ ?
(b) ‘I am like earthly life’. Explain.
(c) What do you mean by ‘wings of death’ ?
Answer:
(a) The rain’s arrival is declared by ‘the voice of thunder’.
(b) The rain’s life is similar to the worldly life. It takes birth and then dies.
(c) “Wings of death’ means various causes or forces of death.
‘The voice of thunder declares my arrival,
The rainbow announces my departure.
I am like earthly life which begins at The feet of the mad elements and ends Under the wings of death’.
(а) Whose arrival is declared by ‘the voice of thunder’ ?
(b) ‘I am like earthly life’. Explain.
(c) What do you mean by ‘wings of death’ ?
Answer:
(a) The rain’s arrival is declared by ‘the voice of thunder’.
(b) The rain’s life is similar to the worldly life. It takes birth and then dies.
(c) “Wings of death’ means various causes or forces of death.
Question 4:I am beautiful pearls, plucked from the Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of dawn To embellish the gardens.
(а) Who is compared to “beautiful pearls’ ?
(b) What is the function of rain ?
(c) What do you understand by ‘Ishtar’ ?
Answer:
(a) Rain drops are compared to beautiful pearls.
(b) Rain decorates gardens. Rain drops make them look more beautiful.
(c) ‘Ishtar’ is the Goddess of fertility, love, war and sex.
(а) Who is compared to “beautiful pearls’ ?
(b) What is the function of rain ?
(c) What do you understand by ‘Ishtar’ ?
Answer:
(a) Rain drops are compared to beautiful pearls.
(b) Rain decorates gardens. Rain drops make them look more beautiful.
(c) ‘Ishtar’ is the Goddess of fertility, love, war and sex.
Question 5:
‘I am the sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field The tears of heaven’.
(a) Who is the speaker in these lines ?
(b) How is the speaker the ‘laughter of the field’ ?
(c) ‘I am the sigh of the sea’. Explain.
Answer:
(a) Rain is the speaker in these lines.
(b) When rain falls and quenches the thirst of the field, the field becomes happy and seems to laugh.
(c) It refers to the birth of the rain when water evaporates and rises high in the sky.
‘I am the sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field The tears of heaven’.
(a) Who is the speaker in these lines ?
(b) How is the speaker the ‘laughter of the field’ ?
(c) ‘I am the sigh of the sea’. Explain.
Answer:
(a) Rain is the speaker in these lines.
(b) When rain falls and quenches the thirst of the field, the field becomes happy and seems to laugh.
(c) It refers to the birth of the rain when water evaporates and rises high in the sky.
Question 6:
The field and the cloud are lovers
And between them I am a messenger of mercy.
I quench the thirst of the one I cure the ailment of the other.
(a) How is the rain ‘a messenger of mercy’ ?
(b) What does the rain do ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘ailment’ ?
Answer:
(а) Rain takes mercy on the field and the cloud (the separated lovers) and unite them by mediating between them.
(b) Rain satisfy both the field and the cloud.
(c) ‘disease’.
The field and the cloud are lovers
And between them I am a messenger of mercy.
I quench the thirst of the one I cure the ailment of the other.
(a) How is the rain ‘a messenger of mercy’ ?
(b) What does the rain do ?
(c) What do you mean by ‘ailment’ ?
Answer:
(а) Rain takes mercy on the field and the cloud (the separated lovers) and unite them by mediating between them.
(b) Rain satisfy both the field and the cloud.
(c) ‘disease’.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (SOLVED)
Answer each of the following questions in 30-40 words.
Question 1:
Who plucks the pearls from the Crown of Ishtar ? Why does she do so ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
It is the daughter of dawn that plucks the pearls (rain drops) from the Crown of Ishtar, the goddess of fertility. These pearls are picked up to give new life to seeds sown in the earth.
Who plucks the pearls from the Crown of Ishtar ? Why does she do so ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
It is the daughter of dawn that plucks the pearls (rain drops) from the Crown of Ishtar, the goddess of fertility. These pearls are picked up to give new life to seeds sown in the earth.
Question 2:
Who drops the silver threads in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’ and who takes them ? (CBSE 2014)
Or
List any two things that happen when the ‘dropped silver threads from heaven’ fall on the earth. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
God drops the silver threads (series of sparkling rain drops looking like silver threads) down on the earth. When the silver threads, that is, rain drops, fall, fields, gardens and valleys become happy and look beautifully adorned.
Who drops the silver threads in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’ and who takes them ? (CBSE 2014)
Or
List any two things that happen when the ‘dropped silver threads from heaven’ fall on the earth. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
God drops the silver threads (series of sparkling rain drops looking like silver threads) down on the earth. When the silver threads, that is, rain drops, fall, fields, gardens and valleys become happy and look beautifully adorned.
Question 3:
How do the hills, flowers and fields respond to the arrival of the rain ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
When the rain comes, hills, flowers and fields become happy. They get decorated and look fresh and beautiful. The rain seems to give them new life.
How do the hills, flowers and fields respond to the arrival of the rain ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
When the rain comes, hills, flowers and fields become happy. They get decorated and look fresh and beautiful. The rain seems to give them new life.
Question 4:
How does the rain embrace the flowers and trees in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’ ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
The rain embraces flowers and trees with tenderness and affection. Flowers begin to bloom. Everything in nature is rejuvenated and looks fresh and colourful.
How does the rain embrace the flowers and trees in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’ ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
The rain embraces flowers and trees with tenderness and affection. Flowers begin to bloom. Everything in nature is rejuvenated and looks fresh and colourful.
Question 5:
Why are all the things elated when the rain falls ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
All the things are elated when the rain falls. It is so because the rain brings life and rejuvenate everything. The thirst of fields is quenched. Everything in nature looks fresh, green and beautiful.
Why are all the things elated when the rain falls ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
All the things are elated when the rain falls. It is so because the rain brings life and rejuvenate everything. The thirst of fields is quenched. Everything in nature looks fresh, green and beautiful.
Question 6:
How do you think the rain quenches the thirst of the fields and cures the ailment of the clouds ?
Answer:
Fields and clouds are like lovers. They want to get united. When the rain falls, the thirst of the fields is quenched and the clouds get cured of its love sickness.
How do you think the rain quenches the thirst of the fields and cures the ailment of the clouds ?
Answer:
Fields and clouds are like lovers. They want to get united. When the rain falls, the thirst of the fields is quenched and the clouds get cured of its love sickness.
Question 7:
How is the rain a “messenger of mercy” ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
The rain takes pity on the fields and the cloud. When it falls, it rejuvenates
fields, plants and trees. It also cures the ‘love-sickness’ of the cloud.
How is the rain a “messenger of mercy” ? (CBSE 2014)Answer:
The rain takes pity on the fields and the cloud. When it falls, it rejuvenates
fields, plants and trees. It also cures the ‘love-sickness’ of the cloud.
Question 8:
Explain the line ‘All can hear hut only the sensitive can understand’ from the poem ‘Song of the Rain’. (CBSE 2014)Answer:
The welcome song of the rain is heard by all. But only those who are sensitive and can feel can understand its meaning and enjoy it.
Explain the line ‘All can hear hut only the sensitive can understand’ from the poem ‘Song of the Rain’. (CBSE 2014)Answer:
The welcome song of the rain is heard by all. But only those who are sensitive and can feel can understand its meaning and enjoy it.
Question 9:
How has rain been personified in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’ ?
Answer:
The rain has been personified in many ways. It is seen as a manifestation of new life, a messenger of mercy, etc. It is also viewed as the sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field and the tears of heaven.
How has rain been personified in the poem ‘Song of the Rain’ ?
Answer:
The rain has been personified in many ways. It is seen as a manifestation of new life, a messenger of mercy, etc. It is also viewed as the sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field and the tears of heaven.
Question 10:
‘I am sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field and tears of heaven’. Explain.
Answer:
The poet sees the whole phenomenon of the origin, birth and death of rain poetically. When water evaporates and rises up in the sky, it seems to sigh. In this sense, the rain is the sigh of the sea. When rain drops fall from the sky, they look like tears of heaven. The fields seem to laugh when the rain falls. In this sense, the rain is the laughter of the field.
‘I am sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field and tears of heaven’. Explain.
Answer:
The poet sees the whole phenomenon of the origin, birth and death of rain poetically. When water evaporates and rises up in the sky, it seems to sigh. In this sense, the rain is the sigh of the sea. When rain drops fall from the sky, they look like tears of heaven. The fields seem to laugh when the rain falls. In this sense, the rain is the laughter of the field.
Question 11:
What are the different intensities with which the rain falls ?
Answer:
When the rain falls heavily the hills cry out in joy. A loud sound is produced. When the rain falls lightly it makes flowers rejoice. When it drizzles, everyone enjoys it and feels happy.
What are the different intensities with which the rain falls ?
Answer:
When the rain falls heavily the hills cry out in joy. A loud sound is produced. When the rain falls lightly it makes flowers rejoice. When it drizzles, everyone enjoys it and feels happy.
Question 12:
Notice the imagery built around ‘sigh of the sea’, ‘laughter of the field’ and ‘tears of heaven’. Explain the three expressions in the context of rain.
Answer:
‘Sigh of the sea’ is a brilliant image. It creates an image of the soft, gentle and tender movement of the sea when the rain falls in it.
‘Laughter of the fields’ is a beautiful image. It creates an image of the happiness of the field when the rain falls on it and quenches its thirst.
‘Tears of heaven’ is a subtle image. It creates an image of the drops of the rain falling from the sky on the earth when the cloud bursts. When the cloud bursts, it dies. So the drops of rain are referred to as the tears of heaven.
Notice the imagery built around ‘sigh of the sea’, ‘laughter of the field’ and ‘tears of heaven’. Explain the three expressions in the context of rain.
Answer:
‘Sigh of the sea’ is a brilliant image. It creates an image of the soft, gentle and tender movement of the sea when the rain falls in it.
‘Laughter of the fields’ is a beautiful image. It creates an image of the happiness of the field when the rain falls on it and quenches its thirst.
‘Tears of heaven’ is a subtle image. It creates an image of the drops of the rain falling from the sky on the earth when the cloud bursts. When the cloud bursts, it dies. So the drops of rain are referred to as the tears of heaven.
Question 13:
“I am like earthly life……………. ”
Why does the poet call rain as earthly life ?
Answer:
The poet calls rain as earthly life because the fate of rain is like that of man on the earth. When the child is bom, it grows up into the young man and then an old man, and finally dies in the end. Similarly, rain is bom in the form of a cloud in the sky. When the cloud bursts, it dies.
“I am like earthly life……………. ”
Why does the poet call rain as earthly life ?
Answer:
The poet calls rain as earthly life because the fate of rain is like that of man on the earth. When the child is bom, it grows up into the young man and then an old man, and finally dies in the end. Similarly, rain is bom in the form of a cloud in the sky. When the cloud bursts, it dies.
Question 14:
Explain the ending of the poem.
Answer:
At the end of the poem, the rain declares affectionately that it is the sigh of the deep sea, the laughter of the colourful fields and the tears (drops of water)of the sky. When the rain falls in the sea, it (the sea) sighs. When the rain falls on the fields and quenches their thirst, the fields rejoice, become colourful and feel happy. When the cloud bursts, it becomes rain. The cloud dies and the drops of rain (tears of heaven) fall on the earth.
Explain the ending of the poem.
Answer:
At the end of the poem, the rain declares affectionately that it is the sigh of the deep sea, the laughter of the colourful fields and the tears (drops of water)of the sky. When the rain falls in the sea, it (the sea) sighs. When the rain falls on the fields and quenches their thirst, the fields rejoice, become colourful and feel happy. When the cloud bursts, it becomes rain. The cloud dies and the drops of rain (tears of heaven) fall on the earth.
Question 15:
“When I cry the hills laugh,
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice,
When I bow, all things are elated.”
Cry, humble and bow indicate different intensity with which the rain falls.
Explain the three in context.
Answer:
Cry : When the rain falls heavily on the hills, they produce the sound of laughter.
Humble : When the rain falls gently and softly, the flowers bloom and rejoice. Bow : When the rain changes itself into a soft drizzle, all things are elated.
“When I cry the hills laugh,
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice,
When I bow, all things are elated.”
Cry, humble and bow indicate different intensity with which the rain falls.
Explain the three in context.
Answer:
Cry : When the rain falls heavily on the hills, they produce the sound of laughter.
Humble : When the rain falls gently and softly, the flowers bloom and rejoice. Bow : When the rain changes itself into a soft drizzle, all things are elated.
