For Anne Gregory

About the Poet: William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer, and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was educated in London and Dublin and was interested in folklore and mythology. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923.

Summary of the poem: The poem is written as a conversation between the poet, Yeats, and a young girl named Anne Gregory. The poet tells her that if she finds a young boy who becomes sad because of her rejection, it doesn’t mean that he is a true lover. He could have been in love with her because of her beautiful yellow hair. It implies that the boy might be in love with her because of her attractive looks. The poet says that a true lover will be the one who will love her for her inner qualities and not her looks. Then, Anne says that she will change her looks by dying her hair into some other colour. She will become less attractive and then, maybe, she will find true love for herself. At last, the poet explains her that the previous night, he had heard some religious man saying that only God loves us for what we are. The conclusion is that God loves us for our inner beauty but never for our outward appearance.

“Never shall a young man,

Thrown into despair                            

By those great honey-coloured

Ramparts at your ear,

Love you for yourself alone

And not your yellow hair.”

 

Literary Devices:

Rhyme Scheme: abcbdb

Metaphor: honey-coloured Ramparts at your ear (Anne’s hair is compared to the ramparts of a fort)

 

“But I can get a hair-dye

And set such colour there,     

Brown, or black, or carrot,

That young men in despair

May love me for myself alone

And not my yellow hair.”

 

Literary Devices:

Rhyme Scheme: abcbdb

Alliteration: repetition of consonant  ‘s’ sound at the start of two consecutive words. (Set Such)

 

 “I heard an old religious man

But yesternight declare

That he had found a text to prove

That only God, my dear,                               

Could love you for yourself alone

And not your yellow hair.”

 

Literary Devices:

Rhyme Scheme: abcbdb

Anaphora: Repeated use of a word at the beginning of two lines (That he….That only god)

Alliteration: he had, your yellow

 Question and Answers

 1- What does the young man mean by “great honey-coloured /Ramparts at your ear?” Why does he say that young men are “thrown into despair” by them?

Ans. The “great honey coloured/ Rampart at your ear” means the yellow coloured hair of the girl. Her ears are covered by her hair like a protective wall around a fort. Young men may fall in love with Anne because of such beautiful hair. They may be thrown into despair if she rejects them.

 

2. What colour is the young woman’s hair? What does she say she can change it to? Why would she want to do so?

Ans. The hair of young woman is yellow in colour. She says that she can change them to brown, black or carrot color by using a hair dye. She wants to do so to get rid of the lover who loves her for the yellow – coloured hair. She seeks a true lover  - one who loves her for her inner beauty.

Kathmandu

Summary:  Vikram Seth describes his visit to the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu through this excerpt from his book ‘Heaven Lake’. During his trip, he visits two temples where notice stark differences between them. One temple was a pilgrimage for Hindus, the Pashupatinath temple.

After that, there was the Baudhnath temple which is for the Buddhists. He notices that they restricted the entry at the Pashupatinath temple to only Hindus. Thus, there was quite a chaos amongst the tourists, priests and the pilgrims. To top it all, people were polluting the River Bagmati by washing clothes in it, bathing in it and throwing away dry flowers in it.

After that, he went to Baudhnath temple. He saw that the scenario here was completely different from what he saw at the Pashupatinath temple. This Buddhist temple had a huge dome which is white in colour. The place was very calm and serene. Outside the temple, there was a Tibetan market and people were selling bags, clothes, ornaments and more.

He notices the numerous things Kathmandu offers from religious places to many tourist destinations. Moreover, it also has various shops of antiques, cameras, cosmetics, chocolates and more. Nonetheless, it is also a very noisy city from the car horns to the music and vendors. He enjoyed having a marzipan bar, corn, coca-cola in the city. After that, he also read love stories, comics and Reader’s Digest books.

On returning to Delhi, he thought of taking an adventurous route which comprises of a bus or train journey and then a boat ride, but he dropped the idea for that would have been too tiring. Thus, he booked a flight back. He saw an interesting flute seller outside his hotel. He had a pole with a lot of flutes on it and seemed like a porcupine body.

The flute seller kept playing his flutes and also did so in different tunes. But, what set him apart from the other flute sellers was that he played the flute thoughtfully. He did not scream to attract customers, he played it. This attracted the author and he wondered that flute is so common all over. Then, he compares it to the human voice and says how he is noticing even the little things now.

Question and Answers:

Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases.

1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.

A. The author visited the pashupatinath and the Baudhnath temples in Kathmandu.

2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?

A. ‘All this’ refers to all the food items – the marzipan bar and the corn on the cob that the author ate.

3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?

A. Vikram Seth compares the flutes protruding out of the flute-seller’s pole to the quills of a porcupine.

4. Name five kinds of flutes.

A. Five kinds of flutes are the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music and the clear or breathy flutes of South America.

Answer each question in a short paragraph.

1. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?

A. The author noticed that the flute seller was calm and quiet. He did not scream to sell his wares like other hawkers did.

2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?

A. The belief at the Pashupatinath temple about the end of Kaliyug is that when the small shrine will protrude completely, then the goddess will emerge out of it. The goddess will bring an end to the evil period of Kaliyug.

3. The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of

(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside…)

(ii) the things he sees

(iii) the sounds he hears

A. (i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside…)

a) There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside by others

b) By the main gate, a party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter.

c) A fight breaks out between two monkeys.

(ii) the things he sees

a) fruit sellers

b) flute sellers

c) hawkers of postcards

(iii) the sounds he hears

a) Film songs blare out from the radios

b) car horns sound

c) vendors shout out their wares.

 

3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?

A. The author says this because the sound produced by the flute is the closest to human voice. It is an extension of human voice as it is produced by exhaling into it.

The Book that Saved the Earth

 

Summary

The story begins with a stage show of twenty-fifth century in which a historian is sitting in the museum and she explains the truth about the Martian invasion that happened in the twentieth century.

 

In the next scene, two characters are shown one of them who has a balloon brain is shown as the master. His name is Think Tank and another one is his assistant Noodle. Both of them are discussing their plan to invade earth. They think that earth is a ridiculous plan and they should invade earth so as to establish their kind rule over the planet. So, the master think tank sends one of his crew to inspect earth.

 

The crew lands into a library and looks confused as they know nothing about the items (books) of the library. So, they consult it with their master Think Tank whom they think is very intelligent. He asks them to show the item and tells them that they are sandwiches, is a staple diet of the earthlings. He commands his crew to eat it, which they then consider as tasteless eatable.

 

His assistant Noodle corrects him and tells him that they are communication devices. He on hearing this, asks his crew to listen to the information from the devices. They try to hear it but they get nothing to hear from them. Once again Noodle corrects his master Think Tank that they are to be read and not heard. So with the help of the vitamins provided by the chemical department of Mars, the crew tries to read the book. It was a book of rhymes, Mother Goose. But they are unable to understand the book.

 As Oop started reading the book of nursery rhymes they take the literal meaning of rhymes. Think Tank called his Martians team and says that they have gathered some information about earthlings, and they should be postponing the idea of invasion. Then Oop read the rhyme Humpty Dumpty, and they all saw the picture of Humpty who looked like Think Tank. Think Tank drew an inference that the earthlings have identified him and will kill him soon. So, he asked his team to run immediately from there and thus a dusted book of rhymes saved us from the Martian invasion.

 Answers to Textual Questions

Q1-Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?

A1-Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes in a very clever way. He used to present his ideas as a thing of less importance but this would help think tank in correcting his mistakes.

 

Q2- If you were in Noodle’s place, how would you handle Think-Tank’s mistakes?

A2- If I would have been at Noodle’s place I would have handled the situation just like Noodle did. I would have suggested my master the right things but in a way that he may not feel being pointed out by a subordinate.

 

Q3-Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?

A3- Yes it is true to some extent that books are being replaced by the electronic media but we cannot do away with the books completely. It is so because books still serve the purpose of deriving information from them. It is so because still there are many things which are sometimes not available on the electronic media.

 

Q4- Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion?

A4- Books are man’s best companion because they not only provide us with information but also sometimes become a good source of entertainment.

Read and Find out: Page 63

 1. Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the book’?

There were books for everything, from anteaters to Zulus in the twentieth century. Books taught people what to do, how to do, when to do and why to do. Books explained, educated, directed and decorated. So, twentieth century was called the eta of books.

2. Who tried to invade the Earth in the twenty first century?
Martians tried to invade the Earth in the twenty first century.

 

Page 65

3. What guesses are made by Think-Tank about the books found on Earth?
Think-Tank first guesses books to be sandwiches. Then he calls them communication devices. After that he thinks them to be some kind of eye communication devices that have to be devices watched.

 Think About It:  (Page 74)

1. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?
Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank while correcting his mistakes by presenting his own thoughts, but referring to them as being of no particular importance. Whenever he had to say something contrary to what Think-Tank said, he would do this. In this way he would correct Think-Tank’s errors without making Think-Tank feel that he was being corrected.

2. If you were in Noodle’s place, how would you handle Think-Tank’s mistakes?
If I were in his place, I would do the same. I would politely and gently suggest the corrections.

3. Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?     
Yes, these days online reading has replaced traditional books to a large extent. The internet, social media like Facebook, Twitter etc. have decreased interest in reading. But, the truth is that books cannot be totally replaced. Books can never go out of life although they may exist in a different form.

4. Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion?

A book is a man’s best companion because it is always there. It never leaves us alone. It is there with us even when everyone else is gone. Books guide us, instruct us, make us laugh, inform us, inspire us and are always true to us.

Talk About It (Page 74)

 

1. In what ways does Think-Tank misinterpret innocent nursery rhymes as threats to the Martians? Can you think of any incidents where you misinterpreted a word or an action? How did you resolve the misunderstanding?
The words like ‘shell’ and ‘silver’ make Think-Tank think that humans grew them in farms. Then, there js a line about ‘cow’ and ‘ ‘moon’. Also, the picture of Humpty-Dumpu and the rhyme of‘great fall’ make Think- ink think that humans were about to invade Mats. Yes, I had a similar misunderstanding wirh a friend. But, I was fortunate as I got to know the actual truth just in time. I did not believe what 1 had heard earlier.
2. The aliens in the play speak English. Do you think this is their language? What could be the language of i.e aliens?
No, English was not their language. If it had been so, they would not have misinterpreted the- nursery rhymes. They could be speaking some Martian language.

Mijbil the Otter

 Oral Comprehension Check Page 106

1. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?

After the death of his pet dog, Maxwell wanted to have some other animal as a pet. He visited Southern Iraq in the year 1956. He got the idea of keeping an otter as a pet. This was the experiment. Otter’s natural habitats are swamps.  Camusfearna was surrounded by water, so it would be an ideal spot for this experiment.

2. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?

The writer, Maxwell went to Basra to collect and answer his mail from Europe. He had to wait there for five days as his mail did not arrive.

3. How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.

His friend bought the otter for him and sent it to the place where he was staying. The author liked it. This is seen in his narration when he says that he made a body belt for him and took him to the bathroom to let the otter play with water.

4. Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?

The otter belonged to a race unknown to the scientists then. The otter was named by zoologists as Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. In short, it was called Maxwell’s otter.

5. Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was

* aloof and indifferent (This is to be ticked) [In the beginning, the otter was aloof and indifferent.]

* friendly

* hostile

6. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?

When the author first took Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter first went wild with joy in the water. He plunged and rolled in it. He jumped up and down the length of the bathtub. After two days, the otter suddenly disappeared and went to the bathroom to play in the water. Interestingly, he opened the tap on his own.

Page 108

1. How was Mijbil transported to England?

As British airlines did not allow pets on board the author had to book a ticket on a different airline from Iraq to Paris and then Paris to London. Mijbil was packed in a box as the airlines had directed the author.

2. What did Mij do to the box?

In order to take Mij to England he had to be packed in a box as per the directions of the airlines. A box was made and it was lined with a metal sheet. Mij didn’t feel comfortable in the box and tried to escape. In his attempt to escape, Mij tore into the metal lining of the box and hurt himself.

3. Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?

There was no other way to carry Mij to London, other than packing him in a box. So, Maxwell put him in the box again. He must have felt pity on the way because the otter hurt himself. He must be worried as well.

4. Why does Maxwell say the air hostess was “the very queen of her kind”?

The air hostess was very sympathetic after listening to Maxwell’s story. She understood how he might be feeling and then gave him permission to take the otter out of the box. Due to all this, Maxwell referred her as “the very queen of her kind”.

5. What happened when the box was opened?

Short Answer: As soon as the box was opened, Mij ran out. Then it ran all over the place scaring all the passengers. It created chaos and most of the people on the plane got scared.

Long Answer: As soon as he opened the box, Mij flashed out of it and disappeared. Everyone on the flight panicked and a lady even climbed her chair. Finally, when he saw Mij’s tail disappearing beneath a turbaned man, he tried to catch hold of him and in the process, ended up covering his face with curry. After having created such chaos, the air hostess advised him to go to his seat while she brought Mij back to him.

Page 110

1. What game had Mij invented?

Mij invented a game of playing with the ball in a unique way. One of the author’s suitcases was damaged and had a slope on the top part. Mij would put the ball on the high end and run to catch it as it slid to the other end.

2. What are ‘compulsive habits"? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of i. school children ii. Mij?

Compulsive habits are usually strange acts or behavior which a person does without clear reason. For example, a player may put on his right shoes first as he believes it would bring him good luck, or a kid jumping over a fence, instead of going through the normal way. Usually, the compulsive behavior of children consists of mischief.

i. As per the narration, children must place their feet squarely on the center of each paving block; must touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or pass to the outside of every second lamp post.

ii. Mijbil while on its way home would jump over the boundary wall railing and run at full speed throughout its length.

3. What group of animals do otters belong to?

Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustellines. The other animals of this group are badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, mink, and others.

4. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?

As otters are not found in England Londoners are not aware of them. Londoners made wild guesses about Mij. Their guesses ranged from a baby seal, a squirrel, and a hippo to a brontosaurus.

Thinking about the Text

(Pages 110, 111)

1. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly, and fun-loving animal who needs love?

Mij invented his own game out of ping-pong ball and a worn-down suitcase. He loved water, and once he understood that on opening the tap water came out of it, he would get into the tub and play with water. These things show that he is an intelligent and fun-loving animal.

He had gradually formed a special attachment with Maxwell. He was desperate when Maxwell left him in a box and wanted to come out as soon as possible. This shows that he is friendly and needs love.

2. What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?

Otters belong to a small group of animals called Mustellines, shared by badgers, mongooses, weasels, stoats, mink, and others. They are found in large numbers in marshes. Arabs keep them as pets and tame them. Otters love to spread water and splash in it. Maxwell’s otter was of a race previously unknown to science and was named Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli.

3. Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?

The otter belonged to a race unknown to the scientists then. The otter was named by zoologists as Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. In short, it was called Maxwell’s otter.

Fog

 Poet:

Carl August Sandburg (1878-1967) was an American poet. He was awarded three Pulitzer Prizes (two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lioncoln).

Poem: Fog is a small poem consisting 2 sentences in 6 lines. The poet writes about the arrival and departure of the Fog into a harbour city. He compares the fog to a cat. 

Summary: 

The poet says the fog is coming towards the city and the harbour just like a cat. It comes very silently and unnoticed. Later the fog covers the whole city and the harbour as if a cat is siting on its hunches. At the end, the fog departs as silently, as unpredictably as a cat.

Literary Devices:

Metaphor: Fog is comapred to a cat.

Personification: Fog is personified. 

Enjambment: The two sentences used in the poem continue to the following line without any punctuation marks at the end of the lines.

Rhyme Scheme: There is no rhymne scheme followed in the poem. It is in free verse.

Answers to the textual questions:

1. What does Sandburg think the fog is like?

Sandburg, the poem thinks that the fog is like a cat that comes silently and unnoticed.

2. How does the fog come?

The fog comes very silenctly like a cat.

3. What does 'it' in the third line refer to?

'It' in the third lilne refers to the fog.

4. Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat? Find three things that tell us that the fog is like a cat.

The poet compares fog to a cat.

The three things that tell us that the fog is like a cat are:

1. The fog comes on its little cat feet meaning that the fog arrivves silently just like a cat.

2. It sits looking over harbour and city on silent hunches meaning that the fog has encompassed the city as it a cat sitting on its hunches is looking all over.

3. ... and then moves on meaning that the fog departs as silently and as unexpectedly as a cat.

The Snake and the Mirror

 Thinking about the Text

(Page 60)

 

1. “ The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop?

Ans. The doctor heard the sound of rats. The sound was a familiar one. He heard this sound four times. The phrases are ‘Again I heard that sound from above’, ‘Again came that noise from above, and ‘Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube has fallen’. The sounds stopped after the appearance of the snake.

 

2. What two “important” and “earth¬shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?

Ans: The doctor took the following two ‘important’ and ‘earth shaking’ decisions. They are:

(a) He would shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome.

(b) He would always keep that attractive smile on his face.

 

3. I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.” What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when

(i) he first smiles, and

(ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?

Ans: The doctor thought that he had a good smile when he first smiled. But when he smiled a little later, he laughed at his destiny. His life was in danger. His thoughts got changed because of the snake. He was quite near to death.

 

II. This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous?

(Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below).

 

Write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer.

 

1. The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)

2. The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)

Ans: The doctor is a poor man. He does not have much money. His house has no electricity. It is a small rented room which has many rats. He has about sixty rupees in his suitcase. Along with some shirts and dhotis, he also possesses a single black coat.

He wants to be a handsome person. So he decides to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. He also wishes to accumulate wealth.

 

3. The person he wants to marry

The person he actually marries

Ans: He intends to marry a woman doctor who has plenty of money and good medical practice. He wishes to have a fat wife so that she cannot run after him and catch him when he would make a mistake.

The person he actually marries is a thin reedy person with the gift of a sprinter.

 

4. His thoughts when he looks into the mirror

His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm

Ans: He thinks that he should look smart. So he decides to shave daily and maintain a mustache. He also wants to keep up his smile. He is happy and content when he looks into the mirror.

When the snake coiled around his left arm above the elbow, he kept sitting there holding his breath. He became motionless. He was afraid of the snake.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

 Literary Devices in the poem

 1. Rhyme Scheme: abab

 2. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound in two or more closely placed words.  

  a.‘hive’, ‘honey bee’ – ‘h’ sound is repeated;

  b.‘lake’, ‘lapping’, ‘low’ – ‘l’ sound is repeated

  3. Repetition: ‘I will arise and go now’ is repeated in stanzas 1 and 3

  4. Personification: morning is personified

  5. Metaphor: clouds are compared to veils

 

 Summary

 

The poet remembers his past, his boyhood when he visited the peaceful Lake Isle of Innisfree. He wants to go there and says he will live there alone. He wants to build a small cabin with clay and wattles. He would grow beans and set up a honeybee hive.

 

The poet describes the peaceful natural surroundings of the lake. He tells us that the scene of the cloudy mornings, the shining stars, the glowing Sun, and birds flying in the sky give him peace. He feels relaxed to hear the pleasant sound of the cricket’s song.

 

The poet feels the urgency to go to the lake Isle of Innisfree. Deep in his heart, he can hear the sound of the lake waters hitting the shore. It is as if the lake is calling him. He hears the sound everywhere; either on the busy roads or the grey-colored pavements of the city where he lives. This indicates that he wants to escape from the artificial life of the city into the peaceful surroundings of nature.

 

 Answers to the Textual Questions

1. What kind of place is Innisfree? Think about:

 

(i) the three things the poet wants to do when he goes back there (stanza I);

 

Ans:

 

(i) The three things that the poet wants to do when he goes to Innisfree are as follows –

 

a) he wants to build a small cabin with clay and wattles.

 

b) he wants to plant nine rows of beans.

 

c) he wants to keep a honeybee hive.

 

(ii) what he hears and sees there and its effect on him (stanza II);

 

Ans:

(ii) The poet sees the cloudy morning which looks like the sky is wearing a veil. He hears the song of the cricket. He sees the linnet bird flying in the evening sky. The glimmering stars in the night sky and the purplish glow of the afternoon Sun. All these give him a feeling of being at peace.

  (iii) what he hears in his “heart’s core” even when he is far away from Innisfree (stanza III).

 Ans:

 (iii) Even when the poet is far away from Innisfree, he hears the sound of the lake water hitting the shore in the depth of his heart.

 

2. By now you may have concluded that Innisfree is a simple, natural place, full of beauty and peace. How does the poet contrast it with where he now stands? (Read stanza III.)

 A. The poet describes lake Innisfree as a place full of the bounties of nature. He sees the cloudy sky, the glowing stars in the night sky, the purple glow of the afternoon Sun, and the linnet bird flying in the evening sky. The sound of the cricket’s song is also pleasing to him. On the other hand, the place where he stands now is an urban place that is devoid of all these beauties of nature. He says that there are roadways and grey-colored pavements around him.

 

3. Do you think Innisfree is only a place or a state of mind? Does the poet actually miss the place of his boyhood days?

 A. Innisfree is a place that the poet used to visit in his boyhood. As he lives in the city now, he expresses a desire to go to Innisfree which had peaceful surroundings. This shows his state of mind.

 Yes, he misses lake Innisfree when he says that the sound of the lake water hitting the shore echoes in the core of his heart.

 

 II. 1. Look at the words the poet uses to describe what he sees and hears at Innisfree

 (i) bee-loud glade

 (ii) evenings full of the linnet’s wings

 (iii) lake water lapping with low sounds

 What pictures do these words create in your mind?

 Ans:

 (i) bee-loud glade

 We can imagine bees buzzing around.

 (ii) evenings full of the linnet’s wings

The image of linnets flying across the evening sky appears in the reader’s mind.

 (iii) lake water lapping with low sounds

 These words draw an image and also, create the sound of the lake water striking against the shore of the lake.

 

2. Look at these words;

 … peace comes dropping slow

 Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings

 What do these words mean to you? What do you think “comes dropping slow…from the veils of the morning”? What does “to where the cricket sings” mean?

 Ans: These lines indicate that the feeling of being ‘at peace’ seeps in slowly and gradually. As one sees the cloudy morning which is followed by the pleasant song of the cricket, the poet gains peace of mind. These vibrant sounds and scenes of nature bring a feeling of peacefulness experienced by the poet.