Short Questions with Answers
1. Who wrote the poem “Where the Mind is Without Fear” ?
Answer : Rabindranath Tagore wrote the poem.
2. What does the poet pray for in the poem?
Answer : The poet prays for a free and enlightened India.
3. What does ‘head is held high’ signify in the poem?
Answer : It signifies self-respect and dignity.
4. What does ‘knowledge is free’ mean?
Answer : It means education and wisdom should be accessible to all.
5. What are ‘narrow domestic walls’ in the poem?
Answer : They refer to divisions caused by caste, creed, and religion.
6. What does ‘tireless striving’ imply?
Answer : It means continuous effort to achieve goals.
7. What is the ‘clear stream of reason’?
Answer : It symbolizes rational thinking and logic.
8. What does ‘dreary desert sand of dead habit’ signify?
Answer : It represents outdated and unproductive traditions.
9. What does the poet compare reason to?
Answer : A clear stream.
10. To whom does the poet address the prayer?
Answer : The poet addresses the prayer to God.
11. What is the theme of the poem?
Answer : The theme is freedom and enlightenment.
12. What is the ‘heaven of freedom’?
Answer : It is an ideal state of freedom and progress.
13. How does the poet describe true words?
Answer : Words coming from the depth of truth.
14. What does the poet want to abolish in the nation?
Answer : Divisions and prejudices.
15. What does ‘ever-widening thought’ suggest?
Answer : It suggests progress and openness in thinking.
16. What is the poet’s vision for the future?
Answer : A united and free country.
17. What kind of effort does the poet admire?
Answer : Tireless and dedicated effort.
18. What does ‘led forward by thee’ mean?
Answer : Guided by God.
19. Why is the poem famous?
Answer : It reflects a patriotic vision of freedom.
20. Where is the poem taken from?
Answer : It is taken from Tagore’s Gitanjali.
Medium Questions with Answers
1. What does the poet mean by ‘narrow domestic walls’?
Answer : The poet refers to divisions caused by religion, caste, and nationality. These barriers prevent unity and peace among people. He urges the nation to overcome these walls.
2. How does the poet describe ‘tireless striving’?
Answer : Tireless striving refers to continuous efforts towards achieving perfection. The poet wants people to work with dedication and enthusiasm. This striving leads to a better future.
3. What is the importance of the ‘clear stream of reason’?
Answer : The clear stream of reason represents logical and critical thinking. It opposes blind faith and outdated traditions. The poet believes it leads to intellectual growth.
4. What does ‘dreary desert sand of dead habit’ symbolize?
Answer : It symbolizes lifeless and rigid traditions that hinder progress. The poet compares these habits to a barren desert. He desires freedom from such constraints.
5. What is the poet’s vision of a free country?
Answer : The poet envisions a nation where people are fearless and united. Education is accessible, and thoughts are progressive. It is a place of harmony and enlightenment.
6. How does the poet link truth and words?
Answer : The poet believes words should come from the depth of truth. Honesty and sincerity in expression are essential. He opposes falsehood and hypocrisy.
7. Why does the poet emphasize ‘knowledge is free’?
Answer : Free knowledge ensures equal opportunities for everyone. It removes ignorance and enlightens society. Education is the foundation of freedom and progress.
8. What does ‘ever-widening thought’ signify?
Answer : It signifies growth in understanding and creativity. The poet wants the nation to embrace new ideas. This leads to a broader and progressive mindset.
9. What is the structure of the poem?
Answer : The poem is a single complex sentence. Each line builds upon the previous one to form a continuous prayer. The last line concludes the poet’s vision.
10. How is the poem a prayer?
Answer : The poet prays for a better and freer India. He asks God to awaken the nation to an ideal state. The poem reflects his hope and devotion.
Long Questions with Answers
1. What is the central idea of “Where the Mind is Without Fear” ?
Answer : The central idea is the poet’s vision of a free and progressive India. He prays for a nation where fear, ignorance, and divisions are absent. Education, unity, and truth are highly valued. The poet wishes for rational thinking and intellectual freedom. He seeks a better future guided by God.
2. How does the poem reflect Tagore’s patriotism?
Answer : The poem is a prayer for India’s freedom and progress. It highlights the need for unity, knowledge, and rationality. The poet dreams of an India free from fear and oppression. His deep concern for the nation’s well-being is evident. It is a timeless expression of love for the country.
3. Explain the significance of the line ‘Where the world has not been broken up into fragments.’
Answer : This line emphasizes the need for unity among people. The poet opposes divisions caused by narrow-minded beliefs. He envisions a world without barriers of religion, caste, and borders. Such unity fosters peace and harmony. It reflects the poet’s hope for global brotherhood.
4. What does the poet mean by ‘heaven of freedom’?
Answer : Heaven of freedom is an ideal state of complete liberty. It includes intellectual freedom, unity, and rational thinking. People live with dignity and work towards perfection. Education and truth are the guiding principles. The poet dreams of such a nation for India.
5. How is the poem relevant today?
Answer : The poem addresses universal values of freedom and unity. Even today, divisions and ignorance threaten progress. Tagore’s emphasis on education and rationality remains crucial. His vision inspires efforts for equality and social harmony. The poem is a timeless call for a better world.
6. Why does the poet repeat ‘where’ in the poem?
Answer : The repetition of ‘where’ highlights the ideal conditions the poet desires. Each clause describes a specific aspect of freedom and progress. The repetition creates a rhythm and emphasizes key ideas. It unites the lines into a cohesive prayer. This structure enhances the poem’s lyrical quality.
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