Questions and Answers Chapter “The Voice of the Rain” NCERT Class 11 English
Question 1:
Q: There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?
A: The two voices in the poem belong to the poet and the rain. The lines indicating this are:
– Poet: “And who art thou?” said I to the soft-falling shower.
– Rain: “I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain.”
Question 2:
Q: What does the phrase “strange to tell” mean?
A: The phrase “strange to tell” means it is surprising or unusual to state or mention. The poet finds it unusual that the rain can respond to his question in a manner similar to human conversation.
Question 3:
Q: There is a parallel drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this? Explain the similarity between the two.
A: The words “eternal I rise” and “I give back life” draw a parallel between rain and music. Both rain and music rise from their sources and eventually return, nourishing and rejuvenating life in their paths. Rain nurtures the earth, helping plants grow, while music touches the human soul, providing comfort and inspiration.
Question 4:
Q: How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem? Compare it with what you have learnt in science.
A: The cyclic movement of rain is brought out in the poem by describing how it rises as vapor, forms clouds, and falls back to earth as rain, which in turn helps the seeds to sprout and sustain life. This mirrors the water cycle learned in science: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Question 5:
Q: Why are the last two lines put within brackets?
A: The last two lines are put within brackets to indicate that they are an afterthought or an explanation, possibly from the poet. These lines elaborate on the similarity between the rain and music, emphasizing the cyclic nature and purpose of both.
Question 6:
Q: List the pairs of opposites found in the poem.
A: The pairs of opposites found in the poem are:
– Rise / descend
– Day / night
– Reck’d / unreck’d
Additional Questions:
Question: How does the rain justify its claim: “I am the Poem of Earth”?
Answer: The rain justifies its claim by describing its continuous cycle of giving life, beauty, and purity to the Earth, much like a poem which gives life to thoughts and emotions. Rain rejuvenates the earth and maintains the cycle of life, similar to how a poem can touch and renew the human spirit.
Question: Explain the line “I give back life to my own origin”.
Answer: This line means that the rain returns to the earth, which is its source, and revitalizes it. By falling as rain, it nourishes the soil, helps plants grow, and sustains the ecosystem, thereby giving back life to its origin, the Earth.
Question: What is the significance of the comparison between rain and a song?
Answer: The comparison signifies that both rain and a song originate from a source, travel far and wide, and eventually return to their origin, bringing life and joy in their journey. This highlights the perpetual and rejuvenating nature of both, as well as their ability to enrich and sustain life.
These answers should help you understand and respond to the questions from the chapter “The Voice of the Rain” in your NCERT Class 11 English textbook.