About the poem

A.  Read to understand

Answer the following questions.

     1.   What does the father bring to the child’s attention in the first stanza of the poem?

 

     2.   What three things does the storyteller mention to show that danger was close at hand on the night when he was lost?

 

     3.   What were the two things that protected him from the rough weather?

 

     4.   ‘Little one, be not frightened.’ What do you think had alarmed the child?

 

     5.   Quote the lines in which the father tells the child that it is safer to be inside the house rather than outside it on a stormy night?

 

     6.   The word ‘props’ refers to things used for holding up a structure, and ‘rafter’ refers to a sloping piece of wood that supports a roof. How do you think the poet has used these words in the poem?

 

     7.   The man and the beast became aware of a likeness between them. This was because both of them

        a)   had lost the ways to their homes.

        b)   were at the mercy of the elements of nature.

        c)   had sought out the same place to hide from the storm.

 

     8.   The man and the beast knew that it was safe for them to leave their hiding place when they could no longer hear

        a)   the wind howling.

        b)   the trees coming down.

        c)   the raindrops spattering on the ground.

 



B.  Discuss

Do you think that feelings of hostility can be overcome when people are faced with a common problem? Give reasons for your answer. Can you think of any such example of a bond of friendship formed during times of danger and difficulty?

 

 

C. Read to appreciate

Read this line from the poem.

Where the wild men watched and waited

Each highlighted word begins with the same sound. This repetition of sound at the beginning of words appearing close to each other is known as alliteration. Such repetition of sounds in a poem gives a musical quality to it.

1. Read the poem once again and find other examples of alliteration.

 

2. Here are some pairs of words beginning with the same sound. Add another word to each pair to make meaningful phrases. Your word should begin with the same sound as the other two words.

a) one wicked ______________

b) two troublesome ______________

c) three thankful ______________

d) four fantastic _____________

e) five frowning ______________

f) six smiling ____________

g) seven surprised _____________

h) eight ailing ____________

i) nine nervous ____________

j) ten talented ________________

 

 

Last modified: Saturday, 24 November 2018, 11:33 PM