Notes (Science Students)

Intermediate part I
Poems

Superior Group of Colleges

(Bahawalpur Campus)

By:
Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

(B.S English IUB)
 Poem No. 1 The Rain
1. What do the top and lower leaves represent?
The top leaves represent the rich people while the lower leaves represent the poor people. They
show social difference.
2. Why are top leaves are called rich leaves?
The top leaves are rich leaves because they get more rain than the lower leaves. They are the
metaphor of the rich people.
3. What is the personification/symbolism used in the poem?
Personification is a figure of speech which gives human qualities to inanimate objects. The
drinking leaves have been personified. They show the rich people.
4. What does the poet hear? What happens when the rain falls on the leaves?
When the rain falls on the leaves, its dripping creates sweet music. Thus the rain is a musical
display of nature.
5. What are the phenomena of nature expressed in the poem? OR How has nature been
expressed?
Two phenomena have been mentioned in the poem. They are rain and sunshine. They reflect the
beauty of nature.
6. What happens when the rain stops? OR What is the scenery after the rain stops?
When the rain stops, everything will look washed and bright by the sunshine. The drops of water
will shine like pearls. It will be beautiful sight.
7. What is the hope/desire of the poet?
The poet hopes that the sun will appear and shine brightly after the rain. Symbolically, it is the
sun of hope, equality and justice.
8. How can a rainy day be enjoyed?
It depends upon one’s mood and taste. However, it can be enjoyed by visiting some park, riding
a bike, taking a bath in the rain, eating some sweet dish and fascinating the rain fall while sitting
near the window.
9. What is the main idea of the poem?
The poem is the appreciation of natural beauty of the rain fall and the sunshine. Symbolically, it
expresses the plight and exploitation of the poor in a society.

Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

(B.S English IUB)
 Poem No. 2 "Night Mail"
1. What is the role of night mail? Or what the qualities of night mail?
The night mail is the source of communication. It brings letters, cheques and postal orders. It
brings letters for both the rich and the poor.
2. Write a note on its journey. Or where does it pass through?
It passes through cotton fields and moorland boulder. It crosses the gradient. It emits steam and
makes a noise. It reaches on time.
3. How does it affect its surrounding? What is its effect on the life at farm house?
It disturbs no one at the farm house. Only a jug shakes in the bedroom. The sheep dogs keep on
sleeping while birds just stare at it.
4. How do the sheepdogs react?
The sheepdogs don’t bark at the night mail. They even don’t run after it. They keep on sitting
and sleeping on its arrival.
5. What is the reaction of the birds?
The birds don’t fly to see the night mail. They stare at the coaches of the train.
6. What is the main idea of the poem?
The poet symbolically gives an account of the journey and functions of the night mail. It denotes
a diligent and determined person who always reaches his destination in spite of difficulties and
problems
7. What is the personification in the poem?
Personification is to give human attributes to inanimate objects. The night mail has been
described as a determined and diligent person. The poet has used “she, snorting, her shoulder"
for the night mail.

Poem No 3 "Loveliest of Trees the Cherry Now"

1. What is the importance of white colour in the poem?
The white colour is symbolic in the poem. It represents the beautiful, fascinating and peace
loving aspect of nature. It also represents the Christian dressed in white for the Easter.
2. What is the significance of cherry tree in the poem?
The cherry tree loaded with white flowers in the spring season represents the whole nature and
its beauty. Its appeal is everlasting

Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

(B.S English IUB)
3. What is an Easter?
The Easter is a Christian festival. The Christian wear white dress on it. They commemorate the
resurrection of Christ (A.S) from dead. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full
moon on or after 21st march.
4. How old is the poet?
The poet has passed twenty years of his age. He feels sorry that his life has passed without
enjoying the beauty of nature.
5. Why does poet think fifty years little time to enjoy?
The poet thinks that man’s life is too short to enjoy the charm of natural beauty. The appeal in
god’s art is everlasting for those who behold it.
6. Which type of tree is described in the poem?
The cherry tree has been mentioned in the poem. It is loaded with white flowers in the spring
season. It represents the beauty of whole nature.
7. What is the time of year described in the poem?
The spring time has been mentioned in the poem. The flowers blossom in it. Everywhere there is
colourful scenery.
8. Write the main idea of the poem?
The poem is the fascination for the beauty of nature found in cherry tree. Moreover, the poem is
pity on human life which is too short to enjoy the beauty of nature.
9. What is the proposed age according to poet?
The proposed age of the poet is seventy years. According to the Christian faith man can live for

Poem No 4"O Where Are You Going"

1. What kind of feelings does the poet create in the minds of the readers?
The poet creates the realization that cowards die many times before death. The brave people face
the hardships of life bravely and put aside all the apprehensions.
2. With what names does the poet address the optimist and pessimist? OR What is the
personification of the reader and rider? OR What are the names given to the reader and
rider?
The rider is optimist while the reader is pessimist. Courage is personified as the rider while
cowardice is personified as the reader. The rider is farer, hearer, risky and brave while the reader
is horror, fearer and coward and frightens the rider.

Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

(B.S English IUB)
3. What type of poem is this? OR What is the theme of the poem?
It is a moralistic poem. It teaches us that we should believe in optimistic acceptance of
difficulties. We should face hardships manly.
4. What do you feel after reading the poem?
I feel that the way of success is uncertain, ambiguous and challenging. Thus, man should pave
his way with hard work, courage and bravery, ignoring fears.
5. What does the title of the poem signify?
The title signifies that it is a dialogue between two imaginary persons. One of them is going for
some expedition while other frightens him of the hardships of the journey.
6. What are the hardships of the journey? OR Describe the journey. OR what are the
dangers indicated by the reader? OR what is gap in the poem?
The journey is full of hardships. It has long and challenging distance (gap). It has maddening
smell of dunghill, the fear of a shocking disease, a ghost and the darkness of gloom and failure.

Poem No 5 "In the Street of Fruit Stalls"

1. What is the effect of war?
The war has disturbed the life in general. It has brought poverty and misery in the world. Its
darkness is everywhere after the war.
2. What are the fruits mentioned in the poem?
Three fruits like melon, guava and mandarin have been mentioned in the poem. They represent
the blessings and pleasures of life.
3. How are the fruits arranged?
The fruits are arranged in a pyramid shape. They look like cannon balls to the poet.
4. Why does the poet consider the fruits cannon balls?
The poet is worried because the world is threatened by the war, poverty, misery and darkness of
pessimism all around.
Thus, the fruits appear to him the weapons of destruction.
5. What type of society is discussed in the poem?
The society mentioned in the poem is poor. The children are black and have only one coin to
spend. They have lack of resources.

Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

(B.S English IUB)
6. How do the children enjoy their life?
The children don’t get afraid of the war around. They are even careless of the problems of
adulthood. They buy the fruit, eat it with delight and make their faces dirty.
7. How do the children eat the fruits?
The children take the fruit and break it. They eat it and enjoy themselves. They make their
mouth, nose, fingers, cheek and chin dirty.
8. What are the feelings of the poet?
The poet is sad and worried because the world is threatened by war, poverty and misery. He feels
hopeless. He wishes to live a carefree life like theirs.
9. What is the main idea of the poem?
The poet condemns the war and its results. It brings destruction and snatches human happiness.
There is also contrast of childhood and adulthood. The former is free of cares while the latter is
surrounded by the darkness of war, poverty and misery.

Poem no 6 "Sindhi Woman"

1. What is the condition of Sindhi woman? OR How did poet describe hardships of
woman? OR what are the hardships of the Sindhi woman described in the poem? OR
Which appealing quality of Sindhi woman is praised by the poet?
She lives in abject poverty at Karachi slums. She works at home as well in fields. She has to pass
through stones, garbage, excrement and pieces of glass. But she walks gracefully and
confidently. This quality inspires the poet and he praises her.
2. How does she walk through Karachi slums?
She walks through Karachi slums gracefully and confidently. She is carrying a stone jar on her
head. She glides with it and there is no ripple in her walk.
3. What is the importance of stone jar? OR What is she carrying?
The Sindhi woman is carrying a stone jar on her head. It symbolizes the difficulties of life which
the Sindhi woman faces.
4. What is the theme/main idea of the poem?
The poem is the appreciation of hard work in life. It is also a tribute to a Sindhi woman who is
diligent and bears the hardships of life bravely. Hard work has made her physically and mentally
strong.
5. What kind of picture of slums of the Karachi we get after reading the poem?
Karachi slums are a poor dwelling. The hygienic and sanitary condition is very poor. There are
garbage, stones, excrement and pieces of glass everywhere.
Prof. Aqeel Ahmad
(B.S English IUB)
6. What did the poet reflect when he saw the woman?
The poet reflected that those who can walk beneath weight remain straight like Sindhi woman
even in their old age while those who lead a lazy and luxurious life bend like the poet. He
realized the importance of labour in life.

Poem No 7 "Times"
1. What does the title signify? What is the theme/main idea of the poem? OR What is the
message given by the poem?
It shows the importance of time and fate in man’s life. Nothing (death, life, happiness, sorrow,
gain, loss, making, breaking, etc.) can happen before or after its destined time. We should enjoy
our life to its fullest by making suitable use of time. Moreover man should be humble before
God.
2. From where has the poem Times been taken? OR What is Ecclesiastes?
The poem ‘times’ is the part of Hebrew bible named Ecclesiastes. It is called the book of wisdom
and attributed to Solomon. It is about human vanity and its role in man’s life.
3. Describe the importance of the time to sow seeds and cut?
This world is a test of man and he has been given a chance of limited life to sow seeds of good
deeds and harvest their reward in life hereafter.

Poem No 8 "Ozymandias"
1. Who tells about the statue of Ozymandias? OR What did the traveler see in the desert?
What was the condition of the statute?
A traveler found the statue of the king, Ozymandias in a desert. He had come from an ancient
land. He told the condition of the statue of the king. The statue was broken with two legs
standing in the desert. The upper part with shattered face was buried in the sand nearby.
2. What did the features of the statute reflect?
The statue had cold command and wrinkled lips. The feelings of pride, anger, mercilessness and
cold command had been imprinted on the statue.
3. Why does the traveler appreciate the statue?
The traveler appreciates the art of sculptor. He has portrayed the feelings of hatred, pride and
self-obsession of Ozymandias excellently.
4. Who was Ozymandias?
Ozymandias was an Egyptian pharaoh and his name was king Ramses II. The Greeks called him
“Ozymandias. He was proud and conceited. He claimed himself the king of kings.

Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

(B.S English IUB)
5. What was written on the pedestal?
On the pedestal of the statue, there was written,
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works,
Ye mighty, and despair!”
6. What are the feelings created in the minds of the readers?
The poem creates the feeling that pride hath a fall. Man’s life is no more than an illusion. Wealth
and power are temporary and declining
7. What is the moral lesson?
The poem teaches the moral lesson that pride hath a fall. Human wealth, power and pride end
soon. Human rise is subjected to decline. Thus, man should be humble before god.
8. What is a sonnet poem?
A sonnet is a lyrical poem with fourteen lines. It is mostly written in iambic pentameter. Petrarch
is considered to be its pioneer.

Poem No 9"The Feed"

1. What is the sparrow holding in its beak? Or what is the significance of the grain of
millet?
The mother sparrow is holding a grain of millet in her beak. She has come to feed her ten
children with only one grain. It shows the lack of food in the world for the poor.
2. How many young baby birds are there in the nest? Or what is the condition of the baby
birds?
There are ten young birds in the nest. They are hungry and crying for food. They represent the
poverty stricken hungry masses of the world.
3. What is the problem/dilemma of the mother sparrow?
The mother sparrow is confused and worried at the hunger of her ten children. She doesn’t know
how to break one grain of millet into ten parts and satisfy the hunger of her offspring. She
represents all the poor mothers of the world.
4. What is the effect of splitting atom?
The splitting of atom has brought death and woe in the world. It has increased poverty.
5. What is the suggestion of the poet? OR Who is addressed in the poem?
The poet criticizes the developed nations and nuclear states. They have wasted worldly resources
on weapons and ignored human plight like poverty.

Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

(B.S English IUB)
6. What is the theme/central idea/message of the poem?
This is a metaphorical reflection of the plight of the poor people of the world through a mother
sparrow. She is worried at the hunger of her children. It is also criticism at the nuclear states.
They have wasted money on weapons.

Poem No 10 "The Hollow Men"

1. Why is modern men called hollow men? OR Who have been called hollow men? Or what
are the characteristics of hollow men?
The modern men have been called hollow men because they are spiritually void. They are
coward. Their actions and conversation are meaningless and purposeless. They are submissive
and leaning together.
2. How do the whisper of hollow men sound? OR Why are their voices hollow?
Their whispering is quite meaningless and purposeless. It looks like the blowing wind through
dry grass and sound produced by the rat moving over the broken glass.
3. How are modern men different from past people?
The past people had knowledge and courage. They could face death with direct eyes. The
modern men are spiritually hollow and have no courage.
4. What is the moral lesson of the poem?
The poem persuades us to lead a purposeful life with fruitful actions and conversation. The
spiritual emptiness makes our potential paralyzed.
5. Why does the poet call modern men stuffed men?
The poet calls the modern men stuffed men because their minds are filled with the straw of
useless thoughts. They are inwardly coward.

Prof. Aqeel Ahmad

(B.S English IUB)