Short Questions with Answers
1. What is the speaker carrying?
Answer : The speaker is carrying full pitchers of water from the river.
2. Where is the speaker coming from?
Answer : The speaker is returning from the river after fetching water.
3. Why does the speaker feel afraid?
Answer : The speaker feels afraid of darkness, snakes, evil spirits, and storms as she walks alone at night.
4. Who is waiting for her at home?
Answer : Her mother and brother are waiting for her at home.
5. What does her brother murmur?
Answer : Her brother murmurs, wondering why she is so late coming back.
6. What does the mother pray for?
Answer : The mother prays to the gods to bring her daughter home safely.
7. Why does the speaker regret staying late?
Answer : The speaker regrets staying late because she is now in danger and afraid of the night.
8. What sounds does the speaker hear at night?
Answer : The speaker hears the call of a white crane and the cry of a wild owl.
9. What does “Ram Re Ram” mean in the poem?
Answer : “Ram Re Ram” is a prayer where the speaker asks God for help and protection.
10. What does the Jamuna river symbolize?
Answer : The Jamuna river symbolizes the unpredictable and dangerous forces of nature.
11. What tempts the speaker to stay longer?
Answer : The boatmen’s song tempts the speaker to stay longer at the river.
12. What danger does the speaker imagine from a serpent?
Answer : The speaker fears that a serpent might bite her in the darkness.
13. What does the speaker ask God for?
Answer : The speaker asks God to guide her footsteps and keep her safe.
14. What does the mother think about the Jamuna river?
Answer : The mother thinks the Jamuna river is deep and dangerous.
15. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Answer : The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCC.
Medium Questions with Answers
1. What does the speaker think about her decision to stay longer?
Answer : The speaker regrets staying late as it has put her in a dangerous situation. She was tempted by the boatmen’s song and now feels afraid of the dark and the dangers around her. This shows how small decisions can lead to big consequences.
2. How does the poet show the speaker’s fear of nature?
Answer : The poet describes shadows falling thickly, the rushing river, and the sounds of wild creatures. These elements make nature appear threatening and dangerous. This creates a strong sense of fear and vulnerability in the speaker’s journey.
3. What is the significance of the speaker’s prayer in the poem?
Answer : The speaker’s prayer to God reflects her faith and hope in divine help. She asks for guidance and safety from the dangers of the night, such as snakes and storms. This prayer highlights her belief that faith can give strength during tough times.
4. How does the speaker feel about her family while walking home?
Answer : The speaker thinks about her mother and brother waiting anxiously for her. She imagines her mother praying and crying for her safety. These thoughts show the strong emotional bond she shares with her family and their concern for her well-being.
5. What thoughts trouble the speaker on her way home?
Answer : The speaker is scared of the dangers of the night, like snakes, spirits, and storms. She also fears drowning in the fast-flowing Jamuna river. These thoughts make her anxious and regretful for staying late.
6. How does the mother show her concern?
Answer : The mother cries and prays to the gods for her daughter’s safety. She knows the Jamuna river is deep and dangerous, and she worries about her child. Her prayer shows her deep love and worry for the speaker.
7. What role does the boatmen’s song play in the poem?
Answer : The boatmen’s song tempts the speaker to stay longer at the river. This delay puts her in a dangerous situation at night. It shows how distractions can lead to trouble.
8. How does the poet create a sense of fear in the poem?
Answer : The poet uses dark imagery like shadows, storms, and dangerous animals. The sounds of the crane and owl make the night feel more mysterious. The speaker’s fears add to the sense of danger.
9. What lesson does the poem teach us?
Answer : The poem teaches us to stay cautious and not give in to temptation. It also shows the importance of faith and strength during difficult times. We learn to balance joy with responsibility.
10. What is the role of the Jamuna river in the poem?
Answer : The Jamuna river represents the dangers of nature. Its deep, rushing waters scare the speaker and add to her fear. It reminds us how nature can be both beautiful and dangerous.
Long Questions with Answers
1. How does the poet describe the fall of night in the poem?
Answer : The poet describes the night as dark and scary. Shadows grow thick like blackbirds, and the speaker hears strange sounds like a crane’s call and an owl’s cry. The lack of moonlight makes her journey even more dangerous. The rushing Jamuna river adds to her fear. This shows how nature becomes threatening at night.
2. What fears does the speaker have, and how do they affect her?
Answer : The speaker fears snakes, evil spirits, storms, and drowning in the river. These fears make her anxious and regretful for delaying her return home. The dark surroundings and eerie sounds make her feel more vulnerable. She prays to God for guidance and safety. Her fear shows her reliance on faith during difficult times.
3. How does the speaker’s family react to her being late?
Answer : The speaker’s mother is very worried and prays for her safety. She cries and hopes the gods will protect her child from the dangers of the night. Her brother, though less emotional, murmurs about why she is late. Their reactions show deep care and love. This reflects the strong family bonds in rural life.
4. What role does faith play in the poem?
Answer : Faith is central to the poem, as the speaker repeatedly prays to God with the words “Ram Re Ram.” She believes God will guide her through the dangers of the night. Her fears about spirits, snakes, and storms are calmed by her prayer. This shows how faith provides hope and courage in times of trouble. It reflects the spiritual values of Indian culture.
5. How does the poet use imagery to create emotions in the poem?
Answer : The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the speaker’s journey. Shadows, storms, and dangerous animals like snakes make the scene scary. The sounds of the river and wild animals add to the tension. At the same time, the boatmen’s song shows the beauty of life’s temptations. This contrast between fear and beauty makes the poem emotional and relatable.
6. What lesson can we learn from the speaker’s experience?
Answer : The poem teaches us to think carefully about our actions. The speaker’s delay caused by the boatmen’s song puts her in danger, showing the risks of giving in to distractions. It also highlights the importance of staying strong and having faith during tough times. The poem reflects how life is full of challenges but also offers hope. It encourages us to balance joy and responsibility.
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