Rain On The Roof Class 9

Question 1. 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: humid shadows refer to the dark clouds that cover the sky and
bring rain
(ii) starry spheres: it refers to the sky that is usually full of stars
(iii) what a bliss: bliss means happiness. Here the poet says that it is such a happy
moment when one listens to the patter of the rain overhead.
(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start: It refers to the several thoughts
and fantasies that surround the poet when he listens to the patter of the rain.
(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof- it means that poet feels
as if his old memories are being woven in front of him.
Question 2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?
Answer: The poet likes to press his head into the pillow of his cottage chamber bed
and listen to the patter of the soft rain overhead.
Question 3. 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 and her
fond look on the poet.
Darling dreamers that the poet refers to are the poet and his siblings who were sent
to sleep by the poet’s mother every day.
Question 4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?
Answer: No, the poet is now a grown up man. His mother is not alive anymore.
II.
Question 1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poets
did?
Answer: Yes, when I was a young child, my mother tucked me in. She would sing me
lullabies and send me to sleep.
Question 2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as
described in the poem?
Answer: Yes, I like when it rains. When it rains heavily, I like to listen to the patter of
the rain on the roof overhead and to look at the drops falling on the leaves of the plants.
Question 3. Does everybody have a cozy 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: No, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a cozy bed to lie in when it
rains. Poor people who do not have a shelter to protect themselves from the rain. They
wander here and there to find a place where they can stand under the tin roofs or
trees.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. How does the poet react to the sound of the rain falling on the roof?
Or
What is the effect of the sound of the rain on the heart and mind of the
poet?
Answer: The poet’s heart and mind react strongly to the sound of the rain falling
on the roof. He is in a blissful mood as he enjoys the comfort of his bedroom,
leisurely listening to the music of the rain. The music stirs a corresponding echo in
the heart of the poet. His heartbeat responds to the sound of the rain by its
rhythmic throbbing. He gets engrossed in fanciful, dreamy thoughts. Moreover,
the rain awakens many memories of the past. Particularly, it revives the memory
of his mother as she looked at her children very affectionately before she went to
sleep in her room. He recollects the fond, affectionate look of his mother which
she cast on him. Thus, the poet’s mind and heart respond sensitively to the soft
pattering sound of the rain falling on the roof.
2. The poet says:

“What bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed”
Is rain ‘bliss’ for everybody? What do different people feel about the rain?
Or
Does everybody have a cozy bed? Look around and describe how different
kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter, etc. during rain?
Answer: In the poem “Rain on the Roof”, the poet Coates Kinney relates the
various blissful emotions he has while he lies comfortably in his bed. For him, it is
pure bliss to listen to the patter of raindrops falling on the roof. But enjoying this
bliss is not a privilege for everyone. There are many poverty-stricken people for
whom rain brings a number of difficulties. Some of these people are without
shelter, while some live in poor, thatched cottages with leaking roofs. When we
look around, we find people reacting differently to the rain. Rich people sit
comfortably in the verandas of their luxurious houses and enjoy delicious snacks
while watching the rain. Those who are burdened with a busy schedule, feel
uncomfortable when they have to run around in the rain. Exposed to the rain, the
poor homeless are forced to take cover lest they are drenched in rain.
Animals too are uncomfortable when the rain falls. The domestic animals may be
protected but the stray ones have to seek shelter. Thus, rain is not bliss for
everybody.

Rain On The Roof Class 9

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rain On The Roof Class 9

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rain On The Roof Class 9

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Question 1. 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

Question 2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?

Question 4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?

Long Answer Type Questions

2. The poet says:

You might also like