Class 9 English Poem

Chapter 1 The Road Not Taken

Thinking about the poem
(Page 16)

I.
Question 1.
Where does the traveller find himself?
What problem does he face?
Answer:
The traveller finds himself at a point where two roads diverge. His
problem is to decide on which road he should walk.

Question 2.
Discuss what these phrases mean to you.

1. a yellow wood
2. it was grassy and wanted wear
3. the passing there
4. leaves no step had trodden black
5. how way leads on to way
Answer:

1. A forest in the autumn season.

2. The road was grassy because it was a less travelled road.
It wanted people to move on it.
3. It implies walking on the road.
4. It means the leaves had not been crushed under the feet of
travellers.
5. How one road leads to another?
Question 3.
Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet
describes them?

1. in stanzas two and three?

2. in the last two lines of the poem?
Answer:

1. There is no difference between the two roads in stanzas

two and three
2. In the last two lines of the poem the poet tells that the road
he opted for is less travelled.
Question 4.
What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean? (Looking
back, does the poet regret his choice or accept it?)
Answer:
The last two lines have the quintessence of the poem. The poet
expresses his opinion that it becomes difficult for a normal human
being to change his/her decision. The poet intends to walk on the
first road but he couldn’t do so because life does not offer multiple
chances to choose. The decision taken may mar one’s future or
lead one to success. It makes all the differences. He now repents
for not getting a chance to travel on the first road.

II.
Question 1.
Have you ever had to make a difficult choice (or do you think you
will have difficult choices to make)? How will you make the choice
(for what reasons)?
Answer:
Such situations occur in everyone’s life. In today’s world people
have numerous alternatives. But the decision should be taken after
considering all the ins and outs of the situation. We must ruminate
over the disadvantages also.

Question 2.
After you have made a choice do you always think about what
might have been, or do you accept the reality?
Answer:.
One should live in the present and not in the past. The philosophy
of ‘is’ is the key to attaining success. Life is not a bed of roses. Its
hurdles are to be crossed bravely. One must not feel nervous and
get dejected in the trying circumstances. On some instances, one
needs to be confident about the choice he/she makes.

Class 9 English Poem

Chapter 2 Wind
Thinking about the poem
(Page 31)

I.
Question 1.
What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?
Answer:
The wind breaks the doors of the window, scatters the papers and
throws down the books on the shelf. It also tears the pages of the
books and brings rain.

Question 2.
Have you seen anybody winnow grain at home or in a paddy field?
What is the word in your language for winnowing? What do people
use for winnowing? (Give the words in your language, if you know
them.)

Answer:
Yes, I have seen ladies winnow grain in my village. People winnow
grains to remove straws, chaff and dust found in grains there. It is
called ‘Barsana’

Question 3.
What does the poet say the wind god winnows?
Answer:
The wind god winnows all the things available at home.
Question 4.
How does we make wind our friend?
Answer:
The poet suggests that we should build strong houses and fix the
doors firmly to make friends with the wind. Moreover, we should be
strong enough to face the difficulties in life.

Question 5.
What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?
Answer:
The last four lines convey the message that those who are not
determined and lack confidence face defeat. And those who set
their targets and make sincere efforts are not disturbed by any
obstacle.

Question 6.
How does the poet speak to the wind—in anger or with humour?
You must also have seen or heard of the wind “crumbling lives”.
What is your response to this? Is it same as the poet’s?
Answer:
The poet speaks to the wind with humour. I opine that the poet’s
behaviour is pertinent and I have also seen the wind devastating the
property mercilessly. The poet invites the wind to attack him and
intends to prepare himself for the attack.

II.
Question 1.
The poem you have just read is originally in Tamil. Do you know any
such poems in your language?
Answer:
Yes, I know many poems like the one given here
Class 9 English Poem
Chapter 3 Rain On The Roof

Thinking about the poem

(Page 42)

I.
Question 1.
What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.

1. humid shadows
 2. starry spheres
3. what a bliss
4. a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start
5. a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof
Answer:

1. Humid shadows: These are the shadows of different things

which become wet during the rainy season.
2. Starry spheres: The area where stars appear in a group in
the sky.
3. What a bliss: The poet feels happy when he listens to the
rain drops.
4. A thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start: The poet
starts recollecting the past and finds himself lost in
reveries and dreams in the rainy weather.
5. A thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof:
The poet recollects hundreds of memories in the rainy
season. They weave a weft with the help of air-threads.
Question 2.
What does the poet like to do when it rains?
Answer:
When it rains the poet wants to lie on bed in a cottage and listen to
pitter-patter sound of the rain.

Question 3.
What is the single major memory that comes to the poet’s mind?
Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to?
Answer:
The poet’s mother is the single major memory that comes to his
mind. ‘Darling dreamers’ are those ‘kids’ who remember their
mothers like the poet.
Question 4.
Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?
Answer:
No, the poet is not a child. His mother is no more. But her
memories still haunt him.

II.

Question 1.
When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the
poet’s mother did?
Answer:
Yes, my mother used to tuck me in when I was a child. Whenever I
said that I could not do some work, she embraced me and took me
in her lap to get that work done. She used to feel sad and dejected
if I was involved in any mishap.

Question 2.
Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as
described in the poem?
Answer:
Yes, I like rain and prefer to take a bath in the rain for some time.
But when it rains heavily, I stay inside and enjoy the beauty of
nature.

Question 3.
Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look
around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals
spend time, seek shelter, etc. during rain.
Answer:
No, everybody is not so fortunate to have a cosy bed to lie in when
it rains. There are some people who live at the railway platforms
and bus terminal. They don’t have even bed sheet, what to talk of
comfortable beds.

There are so many animals which don’t have any shelter and
tremble under the dark sky in the rainy season.

Class 9 English Poem

Chapter 6 No Men Are Foreign

Thinking about the poem

(Page 81)

Question 1.

1. “Beneath all uniforms…” What uniforms do you think the

poet is speaking about?
2. How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the
same?
Answer:

1. The poet speaks about the various dresses that people of

various countries wear but beneath them, the human body
is same.
 2. The poet says that nobody is different and peculiar. No
country is foreign. A single body breathes beneath all
uniforms. Moreover, the land is the same everywhere.
Question 2.
In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the
words.
Answer:
In the first stanza the poet says that there is no difference between
the body of a citizen of one country and the citizen of another
country. We have same kind of body; we wear same kind of clothes.
We walk on the same planet, and the end of each individual is the
same.

Question 3.
How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the
words.
Answer:
The following common features are given in the stanzas:

1. sun
2. air
3. water,
4. Peaceful harvests required for human survival
5. same hands
Question 4.
“… whenever we are told to hate our brothers….” When do you think
this happens? Why? Who ‘tells’ us? Should we do as we are told at
such times What does the poet say?
Answer:
Sometimes some selfish people instigate the innocent to harm
others. They do it for their own benefit. The common or ordinary
man does not understand their tricks and starts hating his fellow
human beings. They tell them to cause riots. The poet says that one
should not follow anybody’s advice without brooding over it. The
poet repeatedly says that there is no difference in them and the
foreigners. The people of the entire world are the same.

Class 9 English Poem

Chapter 8 On Killing A Tree

Thinking about the poem

(Page 111)

I.
Question 1.
Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?
Answer:
No, a simple jab of knife does not have the ability to kill the tree. It
has to go through various processes. If its root is not removed from
the earth, it will sprout again.

Question 2.
How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of
its life and activity.
Answer:
The tree consumes the earth, and rises out it feeding upon its crust.
It absorbs years of sunlight, air and water.

Question 3.
What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?
Answer:
‘Bleeding bark’ means the twigs which are cut mercilessly. They
leave a liquid substance. If any part of the human body is cut, it
starts bleeding. In the same way the liquid substance comes out
from the branch of a tree. The human beings’ axe makes it bleed.

Question 4.
The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. What does
he mean by this?
Answer:
‘No’ is used to emphasize the perspective that chopping or hacking
will not be sufficient for killing a tree.

Question 5.
What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?
Answer:
It means that the earth protects it like a mother. ‘Earth Cave’ implies
a hole inside it. The tree allows its roots to spread underneath. The
earth protects it and fosters it. It provides all the essential
ingredients to the tree.

Question 6.
What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?
Answer:
The stem/root is the strength of a tree. When the tree is pulled out,
its strength is exposed.

Question 7.
What finally kills the tree?
Answer:
Pulling out the tree from the mother earth and scorching and
choking it in the sun and air kill the tree. It becomes brown, dry and
gets hard. Eventually it dies.
Class 9 English Poem
Chapter 9 - The Snake Trying

Thinking about the poem

(Page 125)

I.
Question 1.
What is the snake trying to escape from?
Answer:
The snake is trying to escape from the pursuing stick. Human
beings try their level best to kill the snake. They take it for granted
that the snake is poisonous and harmful.

Question 2.
Is it a harmful snake? What is its colour?
Answer:
No, it is not harmful. It is a green snake.

Question 3.
The poet finds the snake beautiful. Find the words he uses to
convey its beauty.
Answer:
The poet uses the following words: beautiful and graceful, glides,
small and green.
Question 4.
What does the poet wish for the snake?
Answer:
The poet wishes that the snake should be allowed to go. It should
not be killed by the man.

Question 5.
Where was the snake before anyone saw it and chased it away?
Where does the snake disappear?
Answer:
The snake was away from its secure area. It was basking in the sun
along the sand. Finally, it disappears in the reeds