first year english notes

NOTES BY: PROF. MOHSIN IFTIKHAR - 1 - poems

NOTES ON POEMS

EXERCISE & ADDITIONAL SHORT QUESTIONS

1-The Rain

Q.1: What impression (idea or feeling) does the sound of the rain falling on the leaves give to the poet? OR What is sweet to hear when it rains? OR What does the poet hear in this poem?

ANS: The poet hears the rains drops falling on the trees with their musical sound. The rain drops fall from the higher leaves and branches onto the lower ones drop after drop and then on the ground musically.

Q.2: What is meant by rich leaves? OR How does the rainwater fall on the poor leaves? OR How does the rain falling on the leaves impress the poet? OR How does the poet enjoy the rainy scene? OR What kind of feeling does the rain create?

ANS: The rich leaves are those on the tree tops and the poor ones are under them. The rich leaves pass on the rainwater falling on them to the poor leaves below. This impresses the poet very much.

Q.3: How will the poet welcome the sunshine after the rain? OR How does the poet paint the scene after the rain? OR What does the poet hope when it rains? OR What will happen after the rain stops?

ANS: As the poet watches the rain, he hopes for the sunshine afterwards. He will welcome it with joy like all of us. He will enjoy the bright atmosphere. He will like to see the raindrops on the leaves and ground shining brightly under the sun.

Q.4: Give the symbolic importance of the rain? OR Write a critical appreciation of the poem?

ANS: Symbolically, this poem expresses an optimism. Rich leaves on the top stand for the rich and the leaves beneath stand for the poor in the society. The rich in the world giving some things to the poor for their livelihood. The poet is


optimistic that a day will come when every poor person in this world will become a happy person. The word sunshine in the poem stands for happiness.

Q.5: How can a rainy day be enjoyed?

ANS: A rainy day can be enjoyed by hearing the musical sound created by the raindrops falling on the leaves. We can take bath in the showers of rain and enjoy the cool breeze. We can also be enjoyed a rainy day by eating special foods and fruits.

Q.6: What happens when the sun shines brightly?

ANS: The sunrays fall on the round raindrops. The raindrops begin shining beautifully. They make the scene lovely on the tree leaves and on the grass and plants on the ground.

Q.7: What does the poet mean by the “Poor Leaves”?

ANS: The leaves which are at the level beneath are called poor leaves because they receive only those drops of rain which are trickled down by the rich leaves.

Q.8: What is the effect of the rain on the poor?

ANS: The poor people cannot enjoy the rainy day. In rainy season they find it hard to earn their bread. They suffer as they have no proper clothing and shelter for them.

Q.9: What does the phrase ‘sweet noise’ mean?

ANS: The leaves of the trees are sipping the water. This produces a typical sound. The phrase ‘sweet noise’ refers to this musical sound.

2-Night Mail

Q.1: what kind of train has been described by the poet? OR write a note on Night Mail? OR What does the night mail bring?

ANS: It is a train carrying people’s letters, cheques, postal orders and parcels for all king of people living in the various parts of the land. It is a postal train without


passengers and luggage. It is very dutiful and punctual. It serves humanity. It is steadfast and courageous. It moves at night mostly as fast as regular trains move by day.

Q.2: Does the Night Mail (disturb) create any problem for the people on the farm? OR What do the people do and what happens to the jug in the bedroom as the night mail passes by?

ANS: The Night Mail does not create any problem for anyone. It brings the people their letters; cheques and postal orders, so they wait for it. No one wakes from slumber. Only a jug gently shakes as the night mail passes by the farm.

Q.3: What is the reaction of the sheep dogs towards night mail? OR Why do the sheep-dogs continue to sleep when the night mail passes/arrival?

ANS: The sheep dogs remain unmindful of the noise of the Night Mail and they continue to sleep because they cannot change its course. They continue to sleep putting their paws across their heads.

Q.4: What is the attitude of birds towards night mail?

ANS: The birds stare at the approaching coach of Night Mail from their nests. They are also frightened on the arrival of Night Mail. The birds look at the Night Mail without any reaction or feeling.

Q.5: What is meant by blank-faced coaches?

ANS: Blank-faced means without any sign or meaning and dull. The coaches of Night Mail do not possess any kind of feelings. It means that coaches of Night Mail are passionless. It also means that coaches of Night Mail are also blanked or vacant.

Q.6: What sort/kind of letters does night mail bring?

ANS: Night mail brings all kind of letters. These includes letters for the rich, letters for the poor, business letters for the business man, love letters for the girl. It also brings letters for private parties.


Q.7: From which area does it pass through?

ANS: It has to travel on the upward track and downward track. The Night Mail also passes through grass land, cotton field, moorland and open valleys. As it moves along, it gives out white steam and makes a continuous snorting sound.

3-Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now

Q.1: What time of the year is mentioned in the first stanza?

ANS: Easter is mentioned in the first stanza. It is the anniversary of the resurrection of Christ (rising of Christ after his death) that is observed on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after 21 March.

Q.2: What is the loveliest of the tree and why? OR What is the cherry tree loaded with and how? OR What does the poet depict in the poem? OR How does the cherry look?

ANS: The cherry is the loveliest of the tree because it is laden (loaded) with white beautiful flowers. All its branches are covered with flowers. Though the flowers are light, the softer part for the branches appear to be bending under their weight. The cherry is the symbol of the beauty of nature.

Q.3: When does the cherry bloom and how does it look? OR What does the poet depict in the poem?

ANS: The cherry flowers bloom in spring. It is covered with white flowers. It looks like the bride of the garden. Its whiteness matches the white clothes of the bride and white clothes worn at Easter.

Q.4 The cherry is covered/hung with snow. What does it mean?

ANS: The snow in winter covers the cherry tree, and its branches bend under its weight. The poet will like to visit the cherry in the woodland in fifty winters to watch its snowy condition.

Q.5: Write down the significance of the ‘’Easter” among Christians.


ANS: Easter comes once a year in March or April. It is a Christian feast in celebration after Jesus Christ’s coming to life after death again. The dawn of Easter Sunday with its message of new life is important.

Q.6: Why does the poet wish for a longer life?

ANS: The poet laments that a man’s life is not long enough to appreciate the beauty of nature. The poet wishes for an eternal life so that he enjoys the eternal bliss of cherries.

Q.7: What is meant by ‘’wearing white for Easter tide’’ mean?

ANS: Easter is the day when Christ was resurrected. When the poet sees the cherry tree covered with white flowers and snow he feels as if it has worn this white dress to celebrate the Christian festival of Easter.

Q.8: Why did the poet say ’’Even fifty years are not enough time to enjoy it’’? OR Are fifty years a fairly long period to look at things in bloom? OR Why the fifty springs are little to see the cherry tree?

ANS: The poet thinks that only fifty years of his life are left. Fifty years are a very short period for him to enjoy the beauty of the cherry tree. Therefore, he says, ‘’Even fifty years are not enough time to enjoy it.

Q.9: Why does the poet say ‘’twenty will not come again’’? OR How many years will not come again?

ANS: The poet finds his age too short to enjoy beauty of the cherry tree. Therefore, he misses his past days which he could not spend enjoying beauty of the cherry tree and says ‘’Twenty will not come again’’.

4- O Where are You Going?

Q.1: What kind of man the Rider is? OR What does the Rider stand for or represent?

ANS: The Rider is a bold and fearless person. He is determined and ambitious. He is not afraid of the problems of life.


Q.2: What kind of feelings does the poet create in the minds of the Readers?

ANS: The poet gives us the lesson of courage and valour. He urges us not to be afraid of the troubles of the world. The fears are for the cowards only. He urges us to take bold steps.

Q.3: What do you feel after reading the poem?

ANS: We feel excited. We get ready to take bold steps. We become courageous and brave. We learn that we should not be cowards.

Q.4: What does the title of the poem signify?

ANS: The title of the poem signifies a sense of alarm. We suddenly feel that we are going in the wrong direction and someone is trying to stop us.

Q.5: What does the Reader stand for or represent?

ANS: The Reader stands for or represents people who have experience of life through reading. He is one of the people who are good readers and can be men of learning.

Q.6: How does the Rider shake off superstitions and dangers?

ANS: The Rider listens to the baseless beliefs and dangers of life that the Reader tells him. But he rejects them as useless talk. He goes on advancing actively in life and succeeds.

Q.7: What dangers of the valley does the Reader point out? OR What does the Reader tell the Rider about the valley? OR Describe the dangers of the valley in the poem? OR What does Horror say to Hearer and or how does he frighten him?

ANS: The Reader tells the Rider that the valley become fatal when the furnaces burn. He means to say that the valley becomes hot like a furnace when the sun shines. There is rubbish whose smell will make him mad. He will become very weak and will die soon.


Q.8: What does the poet tell about the gap?

ANS: The gap is the grave into which every person falls on his death. The Reader tells the Rider that, whatever he may try or do, his end in death is certain. It means that the Reader discourages the Rider from going on an adventure expedition.

Q.9: How does the Reader frighten the Rider?

ANS: The Reader tries to frighten the Rider by telling him about a fatal valley, a dunghill, a big gap, darkness, rough tracks, ghosts, disease and lack of eatables.

Q.10: How does the Fearer tries to frighten the Farer?

ANS: The Fearer says that the Farer would face darkness, lack of food and water on the way. He would have to walk on the rough grass or on stones. In this way the Fearer tries to frighten the Farer.

5-In The Street of the Fruit Stalls

Q.1: What are the feelings of the poet standing in the dark?

ANS: The poet is sad and gloomy. He is standing in the dark street. He is pondering over the hard realities of life.

Q.2: Why has the poet used’ cannonballs’ to describe the fruits?

ANS: The poet is sad. He is aware of the paints of life. He takes no interest in the charms of life. Even the glowing fruits look like ‘cannonballs’ to him.

Q.3: How does the poet describe the fruits piled in the fruitstalls at night?

ANS: The fruits like the melon, guava and mandarin are placed one upon another. They make a pile like one of cannonballs. They glow red and gold in the red lamp light.

Q.4: Which parts of the children’s bodies were involved while eating the fruit?


ANS: The poet tells us that the mouths, fingers, cheeks, noses and chins of the children were engaged in eating the fruit. I would say that their teeth, throats and stomachs were also enjoying the experience.

Q.5: What happens when the children eat the fruit?

ANS: The children eat fruit. A gold or silver fountain of the juice wets their mouths, fingers, cheeks, noses and chins. The light of the lantern brightens their jolly faces.

Q.6: Describe in a few lines the street of the fruitstalls.

ANS: The street is lined with fruitstalls. Melon, guavas and oranges lie in pyramid-like piles on the carts or stalls. Lantern are brightening up the fruits as poor dark children buy them anxiously.

Q.7: what things in the poem refers to the joys of the world?

ANS: The glow of the lamp, the glowing faces of the children, gold and silvery pulp of fruit all refer to the joys of the world.

Q.8: How do children enjoy the fruit?

ANS: The children eat fruit. The juice of the fruit wets their fingers, mouths, cheeks, noses and chins. They begin to glow like the lantern. In this way they enjoy eating fruit.

6-Sindhi WomanQ.1: How is the Sindhi woman carrying on her head and how does she succeed in keeping her balance?

ANS: The Sindhi woman carrying a stone jar on her head. She keeps her balance because she is walking at a constant speed, keeping herself erect.


Q.2: Where does the Sindhi woman pass through?

ANS: She passes through the bazaar. She walks gracefully. She crosses stones, garbage, and crumbs of glass in Karachi slums.

Q.3: What is the most appealing quality of Sindhi woman? OR Which quality of the Sindhi woman appeals to the poet? OR How charming is the gait of a Sindhi woman? OR How does the Sindhi woman walk through the bazaar?

ANS: The most appealing quality of Sindhi woman is that she walks gracefully with steady steps. The gait of a Sindhi woman is very charming. There is no ripple in her walk. This quality of the Sindhi woman appeals to the poet. She is walking vividly like her blowing head cloth. There is beauty, grace, courage and determination in her walk.

Q.4: What does the Sindhi woman cross? OR What sort of the path Sindhi woman has to cross?

ANS: She passes through stones, garbage, excrement and crumbs of glass in Karachi slums.

Q.5: What are the qualities of the Sindhi woman?

ANS: Sindhi woman is a hard working woman. She walks gracefully with her head erect. Though she walks through slums and is carrying a jar on her head, there is no ripple in her walk.

Q.6: What did the poet reflect when he saw the woman?

ANS: The poet reflects that only those who carry the load of life can walk gracefully. He thinks that hardships polish man. Man should learn to do his duties honestly. He compared his body with that of the Sindhi


woman. The Sindhi woman’s body was erect while his body was bent forward.

Q.7: What kind of picture of the Karachi slums do we get after reading the poem? OR What does the poet find in Karachi slums.

ANS: The slums of Karachi are the areas where poor people live in very small houses. The streets are narrow and dirty. The heaps of garbage are lying here and there. Pieces of glass, waste matter and rubbish are found scattered around. The people who are lazy or spend a luxurious life are week and bent like him.

Q.8: What qualities does Sindhi woman possess?

ANS: The Sindhi woman is hardworking. She is steadfast. She is active and smart. She is fully devoted to her work.

Q.9: Why does the poet feel impressed by the Sindhi woman?

ANS: The poet feels impressed by the barefoot movement, devotion, hard work and appearance of the Sindhi woman. She walks at a balanced and constant speed. She is absorbed in her work.

Q.10: What is the main idea/message/theme of the poem?

ANS: The poet reflected that the people who carry weight remain active and strong. They are not afraid of the difficulties if life. They do not bend physically or morally.

7-TimesQ.1: What is Ecclesiastes?


ANS: It is a book of the Bible. It is attributed to Solomon. It consists largely of reflections on the vanity of human life.

Q.2: What is the theme/message of the poem?

ANS: The poet says that there is a suitable time to do a thing. The poem teaches that we should do every thing at its proper time. But we must also remember that God decides everything.

Q.3: Why is ‘Time’ important for every work? OR What does the title signify?

ANS: The poet says that time is very important. We should do everything at its proper moment; otherwise our efforts will go waste. We should not try to disturb the order or arrangement of incidents and events planned by God.

8-OzymandiasQ.1: What kind of feelings does the poem create in the reader’s mind?

ANS: The poem teaches that nothing is immortal. Everything ends with the passage of time. It teaches that we should not be proud of our great deeds.

Q.2: What did the traveler see in the desert? OR In what condition was the statue of Ozymandias standing in the desert?

ANS: The poet saw a statue. Its vast legs were standing in the desert. Its head was lying on the sand. It was completely broken.

Q.3: What is the theme/central idea of the poem?


ANS: The theme of the poem is the morality of humans. Worldly power and glory are short-lived. Everything ends with the passage of time. Even, the memorials do not live long.

Q.4: Who was Ozymandias? Would you like to have a ruler like him?

ANS: Ozymandias was an ancient dictatorial Egyptian king. In my democratic time, I would not like to have a ruler, president, prime minister or chief minister like Ozymandias.

9-The FeedQ.1: What is the number and size of the sparrow’s young ones?

ANS: She has ten very small young ones.

Q.2: What does the poet describe in the poem?

ANS: The poet has described in the poem the love of a mother for her young ones.

Q.3: What does the sparrow hold in her beak? OR What is the condition of the young ones?

ANS: The sparrow holds a grain of millet in her beak. The young ones without feathers. They are very weak and look like beaks.

Q.4: What is the dilemma (problem) of the mother sparrow? OR Why is mother sparrow worried?

ANS: The great problem of the mother sparrow is how to feed her ten young ones all at once. She has one grain of millet in her beak, which


she has to break. All the ten young ones are crying in hunger, and each wants to eat first.

Q.5: How does “fissuring the atom” cause suffering?

ANS: Here this phrase means breaking up the atom to prepare atom or nuclear bombs. Scientists prepare the atom bomb to kill millions and destroy all property.

Q.6: How many young ones are to be fed?

ANS: Ten young ones are to be fed.

Q.7: What has the poet described in the poem?

ANS: The poem is symbolic. Through the hunger of sparrows, the poet highlights the hunger of the world. He teaches that instead of producing weapons, we should produce food for humans.

Q.8: What kind of feelings does the poem create in the reader’s mind?

ANS: We feel that human resources should be used for the benefits of humanity. They should not be used for producing deadly weapons. The hunger should be alleviated.

Q.9: “One grain is to be fed to ten young ones; what does the phrase mean?

ANS: It means that the world food production is less than the population of the world. Therefore it cannot suffice them.

10-The Hollow Men


Q.1: Why does the poet call us modern men as hollow men? OR Who have been called hollow men by T.S. Eliot? OR How is the poem, “The Hollow Men” a criticism on modern society?

ANS: The poet calls us modern men, hollow men so because we do not possess solid knowledge about life and after- life. We lack real force. We are not brave and violent. We do not have proper ideas, purposes and plans. Our movements and actions are meaningless.

Q.2: What does the phrase “stuffed men” mean in the poem?

ANS: The poet calls us so because we have filled our minds with useless and even harmful ideas. Our bodies, our hearts especially, do not contain high emotions and feelings. We are like dead stuffed birds which only look lovely outwardly.

Q.3: Who have been called hollow men? OR What does “hollow men” mean? OR Why does the poet call modern men as hollow men?

ANS: The people of modern times have been called hollow men. Most people do not have useful ideas in their minds. They are without high aims and their minds are without any high and noble ideas and plans. They are only outer bodily structure, without any inner reality or truth.

Q.4: What do the voices of the hollow men resemble? OR How do the whispers of the hollow men sound?

ANS: Their voices are dry like whispers (murmurs). They are like wind moving through dry grass. They are like the low sound of rats moving over broken glass in a dry underground store.

Q.5: Why does the poet call the people of his age (time) “headpieces filled with straw”?


ANS: The poet says this because the heads of the people hide the rottenness and uselessness of their minds. Their head coverings can be fine hats, wigs, helmets or other kinds of headgear. When these people speak or write, the ideas coming out of their minds are childish, useless and to no one’s good.

Q.6: Why are the people of the poet’s time shapes without form?

ANS: The bodies of the modern people do not have the charm and beauty of the people of olden times. The people do not have healthy and properly shaped bodies. They look sick, dull and lifeless.

Q.7: What does the poet mean when he says “gesture without motion”?

ANS: It means that the men of the poet’s time try to move their bodies to make signs. But they cannot move them as they are without inner or outer energy. Perhaps they make signs with their looks (eyes) or nods (lowering or raising of the head) or slight movement of their fingers.

Q.8: What does “leaning together” mean?

ANS: “Leaning together” means supporting each other in helplessness. The image or picture is of weak and helpless men and women standing or sitting back to back and supporting each other.

Q.9: Why are our voices hollow?

ANS: Our voices are hollow because we do not have any useful and effective ideas to express. We speak without confidence. So our voices are without force and charm.

first year english notes

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