THE BROOK
I Answer the following devices:
Q.1. How does the brook sparkle.
Ans: The brook sparkles as the sunlight touches it surface. Water reflects sunlight which makes the brook sparkly.
Q.2. 'Bicker' means 'to quarrel' . Why does the poet use this word here?
Ans: The brook passes through different places, some are smooth and some rough. As it passes through pebbles and stones, it has to force its way out and hence makes a noise that is akin to bickering sounds or sounds / noises produced during a quarrel.
Q.3. How many hills and bridges does the brook pass during its journey?
Ans: The brook passes through thirty hills and over fifty bridges before it finally meets the overflowing river.
Q.4. Where does it finally meet the river?
Ans: It finally meets the brimming river by Philip's farm.
Q.5. Why has the word ' chatter' been repeated in the poem?
Ans: When two friends are engaged in an intense conversation, time seems to be limited and hence they talk continuously and quickly, which is called chattering. A river, brook or any flowing watery resource is a symbol of continuous action, it is strong as it makes its own way through nature's blocks. Hence its flow can be compared to that of a chatter.
Q.6. 'With many a curve my banks I fret' - What does the poet mean by this statement?
Ans: A flowing watery resource is symbolic of continuous action, no matter how many hurdles are put up in its way, it always finds a way out. Nothing can stop its resolve to flow. So when it has to divert to path that isn't straight, like the banks of a river, it assumes a curvaceous path . As it carves its path it seems to be aggressive and looks as if its fretting.
Q.7. 'I wind about, and in and out' . What kind of a picture does this create in your mind?
Ans: The path of the brook is never straight and hence it flows through the gaps of pebbles and stones fills up some places and widens as it reaches a flat surface. Hence its movement is zig zag. That is what the poet refers with the above mentioned words.
Q.8. Name the different things that can be found floating in the brook.
Ans: Since the brooks supports life, all sorts of aquatic organisms like, fishes, trouts etc. alongwith blossoms, twigs, and branches could be found afloat on it. One can also see foamy flakes on its surface.
Q.9. What does the poet convey by using the word 'steal' ?
Ans: When someone intends to steal, they tiptoe or move real quiet. Though the river is guzzling and bustling with noise usually , once in a while when it reaches a surface that absorbs it sounds like grasses or lawns, it seems to move stealthily . Hence the use of the word 'steal' .
Q.10. The poem has many examples of alliteration. List any five examples.
Ans: 'Twenty thorpes, a little town' - highlights the usage of 't'.
'For men many come and men may go' highlights 'm'.
'Above the golden gravel' highlights 'g'
'farm and fallow field and fallow' highlights 'f'.
'with willows weed' highlights 'w'.
Q.11. 'I make the netted sunbeam dance' . What does t'the netted sunbeam' mean?
Ans: Water has always been a good reflector. As the sun rays fall on it some of it is reflected and some passes through it which gives an illusory effect of a netted sunbeam. They seem to be dancing and this justifies the line, 'I make the netted sunbeam dance' .
Q.12. What is the 'refrain' in What effect does it create?
Ans: A refrain is that part of a song or poem that is repeated to create an effect in the reader's mind. In this poem, the refrain is" :
For men may come and men may go. This highlights our mortal existence as compared to that of the brook.
Read the given lines and answer the questions:
I chatter, chatter, as I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.
(a) Who does 'I' refer to in the given lines?
Ans: Here, 'I' refers to the brook.
(b) How does it chatter?
Ans: The brook chatters as it is making its way.
(c) Why has the poet used the word 'brimming' ? What kind of a picture does it create?
Ans: Filled up to the brim usually means something that is full. Here the poet uses the word 'brimming' to denote the river, that the brook is finally meant to join.
THAT'S IT! :-)
Seetha Lakshmi! :-)