NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English
Hornbill
The Voice of the Rain
(Walt
Whitman)
CONTENTS
Ø Theme
Ø Summary
Ø Poetic Device
Ø Stanza based Q-Ans
Ø Question Answers
Ø Word Meaning
Theme/Central
idea
The poem 'The Voice of
the Rain' by Walt Whitman explores the enduring significance of rain in fostering,
satiating, and cleansing Earth's diverse elements.
In its cyclical
journey, rain reciprocates to its source, rising imperceptibly from water and
land depths. The poem unfolds the rain's self-disclosure regarding its origins,
purposeful actions, and rhythmic motion. Additionally, a parallel is drawn
between rain and music, highlighting how both infuse vitality into the world
before returning to their points of origin, having fulfilled their respective
purposes.
Summary
In the poem, the poet
inquires of the gentle shower, 'Who are you?' to which the rain responds,
declaring itself as the poem of the earth. It seems peculiar for rain to engage
in such a conversation with the poet. The rain elucidates that it exists beyond
touch, emerging as water vapor from the land and boundless sea, undergoing
shape-shifting while maintaining its essence. Through condensation, the vapor
transforms into clouds.
Upon descending to the
earth's surface, the rain serves vital roles: alleviating drought-prone areas,
enhancing the beauty and purity of its birthplace, and nurturing the seeds
within the soil, fostering their growth. Indifferent to acknowledgment, the
rain dutifully carries out its tasks, returning home upon completion.
The poet draws a
parallel between rain and a song, noting their shared journey. Like a song
originating from the singer's heart, traversing to fulfill its purpose, and
returning with the singer's affection, the rain follows a similar course.
Poetic
Device
- Hyperbole - overstated declarations
Endless sea
- Imagery - pictorial depiction of
something Gentle rain shower
- Metaphor - an implicit analogy between
the attributes of distinct things I am the Verse of Earth - likening rain
to a poem
- Personification - attributing living qualities
to a non-living entity in the statement The voice of the rain declared,
"I am the Verse of Earth."
Stanza
based Q-Ans
Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Stanza
1
And
who art thou? Said I to the soft falling shower,
Which,
strange to tell, gave me an answer, as here Translated:
I
am the poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain,
Eternal
I rise impalpable out of the land and the bottomless sea,
Upwards
to heaven, whence, vaguely form’d, altogether Changed, and yet the same.
Q1.
What is the meaning of the phrase 'Strange to tell'?
Ans. The expression
'Strange to tell' signifies that receiving a response from the lifeless
raindrops is an unusual and remarkable occurrence.
Q2.
How has the response been communicated to us, and what is it?
Ans. The poet has
employed personification by attributing human qualities to a raindrop, serving
as the medium for the response. The personified raindrop declares itself as the
"Poem of the Planet" in reply to the poet's question.
Q3.
Why does the rain refer to itself as 'eternal'?
Ans. The rain labels
itself as eternal because the continuous and unending process of its formation
contributes to a timeless and everlasting existence.
Q4.
Explain 'vaguely formed.'
Ans. The term
"vaguely formed" describes the creation of clouds filled with
rainwater vapor. These clouds lack a distinct and well-defined shape, resulting
in the rain assuming an indistinct appearance.
Q5.
Explain 'altogether Changed, and yet the Same.'
Ans. This expression
conveys that rain is shaped by raindrops in the sky. Despite undergoing a
change in form, their fundamental nature remains unaltered.
Stanza
2
Read the extract given below and answer the
questions that follow.
I
descend to leave the droughts, Atomies, dust layers of the globe,
And
all that in them without me were seeds only, latent, unborn;
And
forever, by day and night, I give back life to my own origin,
And
make pure and beautify it.
(For
song, issuing from its birth-place, after fulfilment, wandering Reck’d or
unreck’d, duly with love returns)
Q1.
For what purpose does the rain descend from the sky?
Ans. Raindrops fall from
the sky with the purpose of reviving the Earth, which is experiencing dryness
and drought.
Q2.
How does the rain assist the seeds?
Ans. Rain is instrumental
in aiding seeds. When rain is absent, seeds remain dormant, unable to sprout.
The water provided by rain becomes essential for their germination and the
subsequent growth into new plants.
Q3.
Why has the poet likened the rain to a song?
Ans. The poet draws a
comparison between the life cycle of raindrops and a song, asserting that both
return to their origin upon completing their respective duties. In their
journeys, they both contribute to the healing and beautification of the Earth
and the human heart.
Q4.
Why are the final lines enclosed in brackets?
Ans.
The
last lines are bracketed as they do not represent the voices of either the rain
or the poet. Instead, they encapsulate a broad observation made by the poet
concerning the evolution of a song.
Q5.
Where does the song find its way back to?
Ans. The song returns to
its point of origin, namely, to the poet's heart.
Stanza
3
Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“And
who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower,
Which,
strange to tell, gave me an answer, as here translated:
I
am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain,”
What
distinguishes the two 'I' in the provided lines?
A.
One belongs to the poet, and the other belongs to the rain.
B.
One is filled with love, while the other is marked by surprise.
C.
One poses the question, and the other provides the answer.
D.
Both A and C
Ans.
D
The
poet explicitly mentions that the response comes from 'The Voice of the Rain.'
The emphasis on the voice of rain introduces an element of ………… to the poem.
A.
mystery
B.
thrill
C.
drama
D.
doubt
Ans.
A. mystery
What
is meant by the phrase 'strange to tell'?
A.
Unusualness of the answer for the poet
B.
Stupidness of the answer for the earth
C.
Ordinariness of the answer for the poet
D.
Commonness of the answer for the raindrops
Ans.
A. Unusualness of the answer for the poet
The
two voices in the poem belong to-
A.
rain and the poet
B.
Translator
C.
Advocate of rain
D.
Rain itself
Ans.
A. rain and the poetD.
Stanza
4
Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“Eternal
I rise impalpable out of the land and the bottomless sea,
Upward
to heaven, whence, vaguely form’d, altogether changed, and yet the same,
I
descend to lave the droughts, atomies, dust-layers of the globe,
And
all that in them without me were seeds only, latent, unborn;”
Where
does the rain have its origin?
A.
Clouds and land
B.
Land and sea
C.
Sky and sea
D.
Sky and land
Ans.
B. Land and sea
What
transpires to the raindrops in the sky?
A.
They alter their form
B.
They evaporate into air
C.
They vanish from earth
D.
Nothing
Ans.
A. They alter their form
For
what purpose does the rain descend from the sky?
A.
To destroy crops
B.
To flatter the poet
C.
To entertain the earth
D.
To give life to the planet
Ans.
D. To give life to the planet
What
do 'latent' and 'unborn' refer to?
A.
Flowers
B.
Plants
C.
Earth
D.
Seeds
Ans.
D. Seeds
Which
quality of rain is emphasized in the extract?
A.
Entertainer
B.
Healer
C.
Preserver
D.
Caregiver
Ans.
B. Healer
Question Answers
Question
1:
In
the poem, there exist two distinct voices. To whom do these voices belong, and
which lines in the poem indicate this?
Answer:
The
two voices present in the poem belong to the poet and the rain. The poet raises
the question, 'who art thou?,' and the voice of the rain responds with, 'I am
the Poem of Earth.'
Question
2:
What
does the phrase 'strange to tell' mean?
Answer:
The
poet employs the phrase 'strange to tell' to convey his astonishment. It
underscores the mystery surrounding how the rain can articulate in a human
voice.
Question
3:
A
parallel is drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this? Explain
the similarity between the two.
Answer:
The
words indicating the parallel between rain and music are that the rain
identifies itself as the Poem of Earth. In a comparable manner, both rain and
music are intangible, eternal, bring joy and beauty to the earth, and vanish
after fulfilling their respective purposes.
Question
4:
How
is the cyclic movement of rain portrayed in the poem?
Answer:
The
cyclic movement of rain is elucidated by explaining the origin of clouds. Born
out of the union of earth and sky, sun and water, water transforms into vapor,
rises, and becomes a dark cloud. This same cloud then descends to the earth in
watery form, perpetuating the cycle.
Question
5:
Why
are the last two lines enclosed within brackets?
Answer:
The
last two lines are bracketed because they neither represent the voice of the
poet nor that of the rain. Instead, they provide a general commentary on the
life-cycle of water transforming into clouds.
Question
6:
Enumerate
the pairs of contradictions identified in the poem.
Answer:
ascend
— descend
day
— night
completely
transformed — yet unaltered
Question
7:
Why
does the poet refer to the poem as a translation?
Answer:
The
poet queries the rain, receiving a response in its celestial voice. The poet
then translates this divine reply into simple English for the readers'
understanding.
Question
8:
How
are clouds generated?
Answer:
Clouds
form through the union of the sky and the ocean. The sun heats water vapors,
causing them to rise. In the rainy season, clouds revert to water through
dissolution.
Question
9:
How
does the rain characterize itself?
Answer:
The
gentle rain identifies itself as the Poem of Earth, possessing immortality.
While it may alter in shape, it remains unchanging in essence as water.
Question
10:
‘Altogether
change, and yet the same.’ Explain the meaning.
Answer:
During
summer, seawater transforms into water vapors, rising as clouds in the sky.
These clouds subsequently descend as rainwater. The apparent change is
observable, but the essential nature remains constant.
Question
11:
How
does ‘it’ descend, and what is its effect?
Answer:
Clouds
descend sporadically to the earth, assuming various forms. Upon descent, they
nourish dry fields and forests, eliminate dust particles, and instigate new
life in seeds.
Question
12:
"I
give back life to my own origin." How does the rain accomplish this?
Answer:
The
rain originates from the land and sea, ascending to the sky before returning to
the earth. This cyclical process facilitates the sprouting and growth of seeds,
emphasizing water as nature's soul. Without rain, the earth would transform into
a lifeless desert.
Question
13:
What
constitutes the ‘fulfilment’ of the rain?
Answer:
The
fulfilment of the rain lies in its devoted service to nature, breathing new
life into seeds, grass, and the earth.
Question
14:
Summarize
the life narrative of the rain or the cloud in approximately 80 words.
Answer:
The
poet inquires about the gentle shower's origin and purpose. Clouds, acting as
carriers of water vapors, draw sustenance from both land and sea. Despite
undergoing only a change in form, they prove indispensable when the earth faces
dry spells. The clouds not only cleanse the air of dust but also invigorate
seeds, initiating a continuous cycle where the cloud returns to the earth what
it extracts. This perpetual sequence signifies the interconnectedness and
eternity of the rain's existence.
Question
15:
Describe
the perpetual cycle of rain.
Answer:
On
Earth, water invisibly ascends in the form of vapor from both land and sea. It
rises, assumes the form of clouds, undergoes transformation, and eventually
descends as water droplets on Earth. This precipitation saturates tiny dust
particles, as well as land and sea. The rainfall prompts rivers to transport
water back to oceans and seas.
Question
16:
Why
does the rain refer to itself as 'impalpable'?
Answer:
The
term 'impalpable' denotes something that cannot be perceived through touch or
sight. When water exists in the form of mist, it is unseen and unfelt. The
vapor ascends to the sky, condenses into rain-producing clouds, and while the
process is understood, it remains invisible. This characteristic gives the rain
the right to describe itself as "impalpable."
Question
17:
What
occurs when it rains after a prolonged hot spell?
Answer:
Following
an extended period of heat, everything on Earth becomes desiccated. Rain, after
such a spell, clears away accumulated dust, rejuvenating nature with a
refreshed appearance. Additionally, the rain facilitates the germination of
dormant seeds, leading to the growth of new trees and plants.
Question
18:
Explain
how latent seeds gain life through rain.
Answer:
Rain
plays a vital role in providing the necessary water for seeds to germinate and
grow on Earth. When it rains, dormant seeds begin to sprout, transforming into
saplings. In essence, rain offers latent seeds a renewed chance at life,
preventing them from drying up or going to waste.
Question
19:
How
does the rain become the voice of Earth?
Answer:
In
the poem "The Voice of the Rain," the author describes the rain
falling on Earth and questions it. The raindrops are referred to as the
"Poem of Earth" because they bring fresh life to the parched,
scorched Earth in a rhythmic pattern. Essentially, the rain becomes the voice
of Earth through the soothing music created by the softly falling raindrops.
Question
20:
Justify
the title 'The Voice of the Rain.'
Answer:
The
entire poem revolves around the themes of the benefits of rain and its eternal
process. The poet seeks to convey the significance of rain for Earth, plants,
and people through the words of the rain. The title is apt as the poem depicts
the rain communicating with the poet, with the poet acting as a translator for
the rain's native language—the sounds it produces when it falls.
Question
21:
Comment
on class distinction and inequality, which is entirely a human creation,
highlighting that natural elements such as air and rain make no discrimination
and bless everyone equally.
Answer:
Despite
the limited time humans spend on this planet, they have created numerous
divisions within society. Natural elements like air and rain, crucial for
survival, do not discriminate; they provide their blessings universally.
Unfortunately, humanity has introduced societal divides based on race, caste,
and other criteria. It is time for people to learn from nature's unbiased provisions
and strive for universalism, eliminating caste and class disparities in pursuit
of a harmonious society.
Word
Meaning
Atomies
– small particles
Eternal
– never-ending
Impalpable
– which cannot be described
Latent
– hidden/buried
Lave
– wash; bathe
Reck’d
or unreck’d – it means whether cared for or not cared for. It doesn’t
affect the rain nor the poet if someone listened to the rain or not.
Vaguely
– not clearly
Whence
– where
Who
art thou – Who are you
