WRITTEN
IN MARCH
Summery
At
the end of the winter the cook is crowing to announce the beginning of the
spring. The stream which has been frozen in the winter is now melted and
flowing down. The small birds which have been remained silent are now making
sweet notes to express delight. The lake glimmers in the bright sunshine. The
breezy wind having blown over the green grassy field is calm and quiet owing
the touch of the new season and the soft warmth of the sunshine. In this encouraging
weather everybody, even the youngest as well as the oldest people go out at
work with the strongest people. The surroundings are so favourable that the
cattle are merrily grazing upon the newly sprouted grass. They are gobbling so
contentedly that they have no scope to raise their heads. The cattle are many
in number but so disciplined in their hard that they seem to be only one. Over
the entire winter the water has been remained condensed to snow and now like
the retreat of a defeated army the snow retreats. It disappears melting into
water but still some snow is there on the top of the bare hill.
The
boy who works at the plough gives a joyful shout once and often. There is joy
and excitement all over the mountains. There are the fountains full of life in
the mountains. Lines of cloudlets are still sailing across the blue firmament
although the rain is ceased to fall and has gone away.
Q. 1
Which season is described by the poet in this poem? What changes take place in
nature at the beginning of this season?
Ans
1. The poet has described the spring season in the poem In spring, there is an
all pervasive changes in the nature. In winter the nature has been sunk into
dull and slumbering state. Suddenly with the cock’s crowing and with the
twittering of the birds the nature wakens. The snow which has covered the
stream and it is now melted. The stream fed with the melting water is now
flowing and the water of the lake is glittering. The field is turned into green
colour with the newly sprouted shoots and the green field seems to be slept in
the sun. People irrespective of ages are at work with the strongest one’s head.
Although the snow melts almost all, some more is still there on the hill top.
The ploughboy utters cry of joy again and again. Joy and life are everywhere
over the mountains and fountains. It is unusual blue sky in which pieces of
clouds are sitting across.
Q. 2
What is meant by saying that “the green field sleeps”?
Ans.
In winter the chilly north wind and sometimes the hailstorm has rattled down
over the field, but now in spring, the north wind ceases to blow. The newly
sprouted grass stands raising the head against the breezy wind. In addition to
that the green field is fresh now having a bath in the sun. The green field is
now calm and quiet. So it seems that the green field sleeps.
Q.3 Quote
the lines in the poem containing a striking simile and explain it.
Ans.
Like
an army defeated
The
snow hath retreated
And
now doth fair ill
On
the top of the bare hill.
The
above lines are expressing a striking simile because the molten snow has been
here compared with a defeated army. In winter the snow has covered the entire
scenario like an aggressive army but in the spring the snow melts to water.
This disappearance of the snow is compared with the retrieval of a defeated
army.
Q. 4
Why do the cattle not raise their heads while they were grazing?
Ans.
During the entire winter season the cattle have been fed dry food like hay,
straw etc. but as soon as the winter sets on new and tender grass have been
sprouted. The cattle are relishing out of green grass. They are devouring so
busily and contentedly that they have no time to raise their heads while they
are grazing.
Q. 5
Which words suggest the sound of the ploughboy’s shouts?
Ans.
The words suggesting the sound of the ploughboy’s shouts are ‘whooping
annon-annon’.
Q. 6 Explain:
(a)
There are forty feeding like one!
Ans.
The cattle who are eating green grass are forty in number, but they are grazing
lowering down their heads and they are so busy eating that none of them has any
time to raise its head. The heads lowering down near the ground are so uniform
that they appear to be one.
(b)
There’s life in the fountains
Ans
During winter everything has turned white because the river, lake and even the
hill tops have been dead. At the arrival of the spring the snow melts to water
and the fountain water begins falling. They are now revitalized and springing
down as vivaciously as before. So the line has been used to state the present
state.
(c)
Blue sky prevailing.
Ans.
During winter it always has been raining cats and dogs; and the sky has been
remained overcast with cloud. At the appearance of the spring almost all the
clouds are disappeared and the torrents cease to fail. Consequently, the sky
turns blue and cloudless. This is an unusual happening in the present context.
Extra
Q/A
1. Specify the
following lines marking the figure of speech.
(a) “ The green field sleeps in thee sun.”
Ans. Personification- The
inanimate thing has been attributed personality.
(b)
“The ploughboy is whooping anon-anon”
Ans. Onomatopoeia- This is an artifice of language, by which the
sound of the words is made to suggest or echo the sense.
(c) “ There is life in the
fountains’
Ans. Hyperbole or
exaggeration- Thing is represented better than it really is.
( d) “ small clouds are
sailing”
Ans. Metaphor – The moving
clouds are compared to sailing ships.
