Class 11.Eng. Hornbill P-3 The Voice Of The Rain, Question and answer, Explanation

The VOICE Of The Rain by

Walt Whitman

**What is the central idea of the poem voice of the rain Class ?

The central idea of the poem The Voice of the Rain is that both rain and poetry hold a significant position on the earth. The poet describes the rain as a powerful force that has the ability to cleanse the earth, soothe our souls, and inspire creativity.

**What are the moral values of the poem The Voice of the Rain?

Through this poem , the poet gives us important message. The rain is a life giving force because it helps the sea by giving life back to its own origin, making it pure and beautifying it at the same time. Rain is issued from the sea and after fulfillment, it duly returns to the sea to replenish it.

**Justify the title ‘The Voice of the Rain’.

Answer:

The whole poem is about the eternal process of rain and its benefits. Through the words of the rain, the poet has tried to bring out the importance of rain for Earth, for plants and for man. As the poet is translating what the rain is speaking through its own language (the sounds it makes when it falls), the whole poem is about the rain talking to the poet. Thus, the title is justified.

Question 1:

There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?

Answer:

One of them belongs to the poet and the other to the rain. These are indicated in

lines 1-2 and 3-9 respectively.

Question 2:

What does the phrase ‘strange to tell’ mean?

Answer:

The phrase refers to a strange phenomenon—the rain gives an answer to the poet’s query. It is surprising to report the answer.

Question 3:

How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem?

Answer:

Rain water rises untouched out of the land and deep sea and gathers in the sky, where it changes form, and then comes down to earth to bathe the dry tiny particles of dust layers and all that lies buried under it. Then it returns to the place of its origin. Science textbooks indicate that water vapours from the rivers and ocean rise up to the sky due to the intense heat. They assume the form of clouds and after condensation drop down as rain. The water flows back through rivers to the seas and oceans.

Question 4:

Why are the last two lines put within brackets?

Answer:

The last two lines contain a comment about music and its cycle. These differ from the first nine lines. The first two lines are the voice of the poet whereas lines three to nine are spoken by rain. The cycle of song is put within brackets to mark the difference in speakers but similarity in content

Question 5.

Why does the poet get surprised when he gets an answer from the rain?

Answer:

The poet gets surprised when he gets an answer from the rain, as it is inanimate and cannot speak. In this poem, to the poet’s and reader’s amazement, the rain gives a reply which has been translated by the poet for the readers.

Question 6.

What answer does the rain give back to the poet?

Answer:

The rain answers to the poet’s question by telling him that it is the Poem of Earth and is involved in a continuing process of going up and coming down.

Question 7.

What happens when it rains after a long hot spell?

Answer:

After a long hot spell, everything is dried up on Earth. When it rains, all the dust that has accumulated on Earth gets washed away, giving a new fresh look to nature. Moreover the seeds which were lying latent till now, get germinated with the help of rain and new trees and plants start growing.

Question 8.

Latent seeds get a life by rain. Explain.

Answer:

The seeds lying on Earth require water to germinate and take shape. When it rains, the seeds start germinating and change into the form of saplings. In this way, the seeds which would have dried up or get wasted get a new lease of life by rain.

Question 9.

Why is rain essential for Earth?

Answer:

If it doesn’t rain then Earth will remain parched, droughts will follow and the dust-layers will not be washed away. There will be nothing to quench the thirst of the plants and trees and their seeds will die.

Question 10.

Why do you think the poet says the phrase ‘reck’d or unreck’d’?

Answer:

The words have been poetically drafted. Reck’d and unreck’d stand for reckoned and unreckoned. The words literally mean cared and uncared for respectively. The poet says these words to emphasise the fact that when it falls on the earth, we sometimes take notice of it or sometimes completely ignore it. But even if it is left uncared for, it completes its destiny and returns to absorbed where it started from.

VOICE OF RAIN

Poetic Devices

1- personification (human attributes lent to inanimate objects)- voice lent to rain

2) Metaphor (implied comparison)- "I am the Poem of Earth"

3) Hyperbole (exaggeration for effect)- 'bottomless sea'

4) Paradox (a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true)- "I give back life to my own origin"

5) Parallelism (connection and similarity)- between rain and song of a poet (last two lines)

6) Imagery (mental pictures)- 'soft falling shower', 'I rise impalpable out of the land...', 'descend to lave the droughts...'

Students, Open the links to get all study Materials

[2/24, 4:59 AM] CL GAUTAM: https://youtu.be/64PAhlRo0Q0?si=mhhu6h32zYY3D0Fw

[2/24, 5:00 AM] CL GAUTAM: https://youtu.be/CwQQfcvzlp0?si=W2bQH2uWaL_rkmOj

[2/24, 5:01 AM] CL GAUTAM: https://youtu.be/cm8KpAGOxMU?si=O8_MlndZ3_NWK5ns