RAIN ON THE ROOF

 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

Ans: 1. (i) “Humid shadows” refer to the dark clouds that produce rain.

(ii) “Starry spheres” refer to the night sky abounding in stars.

(iii) “What a bliss” refers to the happiness of the poet. When it rains poet gets into his cottage and enjoy the patter of rain upon the roof.

(iv)  This refers to the various imaginary thoughts and fantasies that are aroused in the poet’s mind.

(v) This phrase means that numerous memories intermingle to form a beautiful picture that the poet  recollects.

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

Ans: When it rains, the poet feels delighted to lie with his head pressed against the pillow of his cottage chamber bed and listen to the patter of the soft rain.

3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” here refer to?

Ans: The single major memory that comes to the poet is that of his mother and her fond look.
The “darling dreamers” are the poet and his siblings in their childhood  when  they were lovingly put to sleep by their mother

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

Ans: No, the poet is not a child now  .He is a grown up man. He remembers her when he is inside his cosy cottage and enjoy the pattern of rain on the roof. She might be alive but staying away from him.

II. 1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?

Ans: Yes, my mother used to tuck me in when I was a young child, just like the poet’s mother did. (Self-experience question)

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

Ans: Yes, I like the rain. When it rains steadily I get into my house and enjoy the weather with family. We enjoy tea. It is wonderful experience (self-experience question)

3. 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.

Ans: No, everybody is not fortunate enough to have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains. Not everybody gets to enjoy the comfort of cosy homes during rain. I have seen animals seeking shelter under trees and under the tin roofs of the small roadside tea stalls. The people passing by shoo away these animals and try to shrink themselves under the limited space of these shops. The poor animals are left shivering and drenching on the roads. The shopkeepers of such stalls are delighted as the people waiting for the rain to subside often end up buying tea and snacks.