NCERT English Class 9 Chapter 12 Song of the Rain Literature Reader

Song of the Rain – Class 9 English | Literature Reader Chapter 12 Explanation

Page No 88:

Question 1(a):

Get into groups of four. Read the lines and put them in the right order. Read the version that you develop to the whole class.
The voice of thunder declares my arrival
I emerge from the heart of the Sea
I descend and embrace the flowers.
I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven
The rainbow announces my departure

Answer:

I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven
The voice of thunder declares my arrival
The rainbow announces my departure
I emerge from the heart of the Sea
I descend and embrace the flowers.

Question 1(b):

What is ‘I’ in these lines?

Answer:

In the given lines, “I” refers to the rain drops that appear as beautiful silver threads that fall from the sky.

Question 1(c):

Imagining yourself as the subject of this poem, write five lines about yourself in less than five minutes.
You may like to

• define yourself
• state what you do
• explain why people like/dislike you
• mention any other characteristic about yourself

Answer:

• define yourself:

I am the rain. The beautiful silver threaded drops that fall, beautifying the Earth, from the heavenly sky up above.

• state what you do:

I rise from rivers, seas and oceans and then return to the Earth by falling from the sky above as enormous droplets of water. The roaring of the clouds and the thunderstorms declare my arrival and when I depart I leave a rainbow as a reminiscent remembrance.

• explain why people like/dislike you:

I share a love and hate relation with the mankind. Some like me; others dislike me, depending on their situation probably. As the ones going for an important work would not like me pouring over them; while others would love to relax and watch me or even get all drenched by me.

• mention any other characteristic about yourself:

Though I visit throughout the year, but I visit maximum during the rainy season. I cover the whole sky by my ride (clouds) and keep the Earth cool and pleasant.

Page No 91:

Question 4(a):

The rain calls itself the ‘dotted silver threads’ as_________.
(i) the shimmering drops fall one after the other
(ii) it ties heaven and earth
(iii) it dots the earth with shimmering water
(iv) it decorates the fields

Answer:

(i) the shimmering drops fall one after the other

Question 4(b):

The tone and mood of the rain in the poem reflect its_________.
(i) love for the earth
(ii) desire to take revenge
(iii) merriment as it destroys
(iv) desire to look beautiful

Answer:

(i) love for the earth

Question 5(a):

Why is the rain divine?

Answer:

The poet has personified the rain and making it appear divine. The poet describes it to have descended from the heaven as if been delivered to the nature by the hands of God. The rain has been compared to the pearls embedded in the crown of Ishtar (the goddess of fertility, love, war and sex), plucked by the daughter of Dawn. The poet calls the Rain a messenger of mercy between the field and the clouds (two lovers). There is a fine use of sensual expression here, how the rain quenches the thirst of one of the lovers and cures the ailment of the other. Thus, the Rain is divine because it quenches the thirst of the dry earth and makes it blossom. It infuses a new life in plants and trees.

Question 5(b):

In this universe, rain performs many functions. What are those?

Answer:

Pointers have been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.
1. It helps in irrigation of fields.
2. It quenches the thirst and parches flowers and trees in need.
3. It relieves us from the scorching heat.
4. It helps in facilitating the growth of various herbs and bushes.
5. It helps in the cleaning of atmosphere by washing down all the dust and pollution from the air.

Question 5(c):

“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:

There are three degrees of intensity by which the Rain pours down on the Earth. The poet explains how the different moods of the Rain suits different things.
1. When it pours in the most ferocious manner with thunderstorms and lightning, it cries. It makes the hills happy; they roll down in joy and reach the bottom with the water running down.
2. When it is pours like light showers, a little humble, it makes the flowers, the flora and fauna happy. They dance to the rhythmic beats of the Rain and their joyousness is explored.
3. When it drizzles, bows down, it makes the whole humanity happy. Its lovely little drops drizzling all over are enjoyed by all.

Page No 92:

Question 5(d):

How do you think the rain quenches the thirst of the fields and cures clouds ailment?

Answer:

The Rain is divine and mystic and it relieves everyone of their misery. The poet calls it a messenger of mercy who not just quenched the thirst of the fields; however, also cured the clouds of their ailment. Here, both are served and they solve each other’s purpose. So, they appear to be lovers that fulfil each other’s needs.
The fields were dry and thirsty, waiting to be nourished and irrigated; they are parched by the drops that rested in the sky’s womb. Thus, the Earth is brought relief from the dry heat as it drinks down the Rain.
The clouds in turn, heavy with the load of the water they contained, wanted to be relieved of their suffering. So, they cried and cried, poured down and made the sky bright and light. The nimbi get and the atmosphere is cleared after being washed by the rain.

Question 5(e):

Think about million little ways in which the rain embraces the trees. Mention a few of them.

Answer:

Pointers have been provided for students’ reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.
There are a million little ways in which the Rain embraces the trees.
1. In the beginning the Rain irrigates the fields and prepares them to be seeded.
2. Rain is important for the germination of the seed, and for the plant to absorb nourishment from the soil.
3. Even a full grown healthy tree needs water, so the Rain helps it there as well.
4. A plant or tree requires water at each and every stage and the rain when embraces it, it is nourished.

Question 5(f):

“…All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand”
What does the poet want to convey?

Answer:

When the poet says that all can hear the Rain but only sensitive can feel it, he probably is trying to tell that not everyone can feel the mood of the Rain. The poet, however, is the sensitive one who not just hears the sound of the falling rain, but feels it and is inspired by its each and every mood. The poet praises the rain with different expressions; he calls it the sigh of the sea, the laughter of the field and the tear of the heaven. Thus, one has to be sensitive enough to feel its embellishment, its beauty and its nature. The Rain when touches window panes with its soft fingers, it sings a welcome song and announces its happy mood. Not a person who is less of emotions will be able to comprehend these subtle expressions of the Rain. The poet imagines the Rain to be a sigh from the deep sea of affection; a laughter from the colourful field of the spirit and tears from the endless heaven of memories. And he was able to do so because of his compassion and vivid imagination that he presents through this poem.

Question 5-g(i:

Notice the imagery built around ‘sigh of the sea’, ‘laughter of the field’ and ‘tears of heaven’. Explain the three expressions in context of rain.

Answer:

The poet has used vivid imagery throughout the poem to express the moods and nature of the Rain.
− When the poet calls the Rain “sigh of the sea”, there is a relief expressed in the lines. The sea is relieved and sighs that now that it has rained there will be fresh water brought to it by the rivers that run down the hills and mountains.
− The poet calls the Rain “a laughter of the field” because when it rains the fields are nourished and it is a sign that there will be fertility. So, it brings greenery and prosperity and raises the productivity. So, the fields are happy and they laugh and make merry.
− The Rain is also called “tears of heaven” as when those silver threads pour down from the sky’s tomb, it feels as if the heaven is crying, and those drops are delivered to the nature on the Earth by the hands of God.

Question 5-g(i:

How would you express rain as
− an agent of floods?
− a source of water for dams?

Answer:

Everything that exists on our mother earth can be either constructive or destructive. So, the rain also is constructive as well as destructive. Let us discuss when the rain can be an agent of floods or a source of water for dams.
− an agent of floods: When there are heavy rains, especially during rainy season, the rivers overflow and break leaves, there is water logging and the areas below the sea level are submerged causing floods.
− a source of water for dams: Rains cause the gullies in the mountains to fill with the water, these act as tributaries to a river. Thus, the more tributaries a river has, the more water it will carry. Thus, the dam on the river will have a healthy amount of water in its reservoir. So, there will be a healthy output of electricity.

Question 5(h):

“I am like earthly life … “
Why does the poet call rain as earthly life?

Answer:

The poet draws a parallel between the Rain and an earthly life. The Rain nourishes the plants and trees and flowers and fields, it gives life to the flora and fauna and also it dies by showering itself over the fields. It rises from the various water bodies through evaporation which is its birth; its dies a death, the poet describes like a mortal one, by showering down its weight over the fields like shedding tears of heaven. Yet, the death of the Rain is an honourable one, as it serves the humanity and the flora and fauna while it dies. And so is the life of the Rain.

Question 5(i):

Explain the ending of the song.

Answer:

In the climax of the poem the poet praises the Rain with love.
When the poet calls the Rain “sigh of the sea”, there is a relief expressed in the lines. The sea is relieved and sighs that now that it has rained there will be fresh water brought to it by the rivers that run down the hills and mountains.
The poet calls the Rain “a laughter of the field” because when it rains the fields are nourished and it is a sign that there will be fertility. So, it brings greenery and prosperity and raises the productivity. So, the fields are happy and they laugh and make merry.
The Rain is also called “tears of heaven” as when those silver threads pour down from the sky’s womb, it feels as if the heaven is crying, and those drops are delivered to the nature on the Earth by the hands of God.

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