Thinking about the Poem

I.

Q1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.

(i) humid shadows

(ii) starry spheres

(iii) what a bliss

(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start

(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof

Answer:

(i) humid shadows: This phrase refers to the dark, moisture-laden clouds that gather in the sky before it rains. They cover the starry night sky like a shadow.

(ii) starry spheres: This refers to the night sky, which is full of stars.

(iii) what a bliss: This means that the experience of lying in bed and listening to the sound of rain is a great joy and a moment of perfect happiness.

(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start: This means that a lot of imaginative and fanciful thoughts fill the poet’s mind, making him daydream. The quiet moment of listening to the rain gives his imagination a chance to come to life.

(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof: The poet compares his memories to threads of a fabric. The sound of the rain brings back a thousand memories from his past, and they all come together, weaving into a single, beautiful picture in his mind.

Q2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?

Answer: When it rains, the poet loves to lie in a comfortable bed in his cottage room and listen to the gentle patter of the rain falling on the roof.

Q3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to?

Answer: The single major memory that comes to the poet is of his mother. He remembers how she would look at him and his siblings affectionately before they went to sleep and left them until the morning. The “darling dreamers” he refers to are himself and his siblings when they were children.

Q4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?

Answer: No, the poet is no longer a child. The fact that he is recalling a memory of his mother suggests that she is likely no longer alive. He remembers her “used to” do something in the past, implying that her presence is now only a cherished memory.

II.

Q1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?

Answer: This is a personal question and the answer will vary depending on the student’s experience.

Q2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?

Answer: This is a personal question and the answer will vary depending on the student’s experience.

Q3. Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter etc. during rain.

Answer: This is a personal question and the answer will vary depending on the student’s observations. A possible answer could be:

No, not everybody has a cozy bed to lie in when it rains. Many homeless people and stray animals are exposed to the rain. They seek shelter under bridges, awnings of shops, bus stands, and other temporary covers. Some might huddle together to keep warm, while others may be left to face the harsh weather.