Autumn
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Find three lines each, that contain images of nature in the autumn season.
During daytime:
- (1) “With nodding rice-stems in her hair”
- (2) “And lilies in her face”
- (3) “In flowers of grasses she is clad”
At night:
- (1) “A diadem adorns the night! Of multitudinous stars”
- (2) “Her silken robe is white moonlight”
- (3) “And on her face (the radiant moon)”
2. Pick out words from the poem that describe the following. List them in Column ‘A’. Substitute each of those describing words with another word/phrase of the same meaning.
A (Poetic words) | B (Your own words)
- the ‘Autumn’ – a maiden fair | a lovely girl
- stars – multitudinous | many
- moonlight – silken | smooth
- cooing of birds – tinkling | jingling
3. Find one example of each of the following from the poem:
Simile:
- “Like a bracelet’s tinkling song”
- Explanation: The cooing of birds is compared to the sound of a bracelet using “like.”
Metaphor:
- “A diadem adorns the night! Of multitudinous stars”
- Explanation: The stars are described as a “diadem” (crown), implying they decorate the night without using “like” or “as.”
4. Write the rhyme scheme of the poem. (Refer to the Language Study pages.)
The poem has two stanzas with the following rhyme scheme:
- Stanza 1: a b a b c d c d
- Lines: “fair” (a), “grace” (b), “hair” (a), “face” (b), “clad” (c), “along” (d), “glad” (c), “song” (d)
- Stanza 2: e f e f g h g h
- Lines: “night” (e), “stars” (f), “light” (e), “bars” (f), “moon” (g), “shown” (h), “soon” (g), “grown” (h)
Note: Since the “Language Study pages” are not provided, this is based on standard rhyme scheme analysis where matching end sounds are assigned the same letter.
5. Think and write in your own words.
(a) Why is the maiden Autumn said to wear rice stems in her hair?
- Autumn is compared to a maiden with rice stems in her hair because, in this season, rice fields ripen and bend with grains.
- It shows how nature decorates her with the harvest, like a girl wearing flowers.
(b) How can the tender maiden Autumn become a full grown woman? What change in nature does this imply?
- The tender maiden Autumn can become a full-grown woman as the season progresses and matures.
- This implies nature’s change from early autumn’s freshness to late autumn’s richness, when crops are fully grown and ready for harvest.
(c) Why do you think, birds greet the autumn season gladly?
- Birds greet Autumn gladly because the weather becomes cooler and pleasant after summer’s heat.
- Also, there’s plenty of food from ripened fruits and grains, making them happy.
6. Compare the Indian Monsoon season to a powerful king of a prosperous kingdom. Write down a few similarities. Use them to compose a poem of your own.
Similarities:
- Both bring abundance (rain for crops, a king’s wealth for people).
- Both have power over life (rain nourishes, a king rules).
- Both are welcomed with joy (monsoon after heat, a king by subjects).
- Both transform the land (rain makes it green, a king builds prosperity).
Poem:
- The Monsoon rides like a mighty king,
- With clouds as his crown, a thundering ring,
- He pours his wealth on fields so dry,
- A kingdom of green beneath the sky.
- His power awakens the sleepy earth,
- Giving life, joy, and a season’s birth,
- People cheer as his rains descend,
- A ruler grand, a farmer’s friend.
7. Which is your favourite ‘Nature’ poem from your mother tongue? Write the poem and try to translate it into English. Your translation can be in the form of a poem or a paraphrase.
(Note: Since the student’s mother tongue isn’t specified, I’ll use an example from Hindi, a common Indian language, and adapt it for Class 9th level.)
Poem in Hindi: “Basant” by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan (a simple nature poem):
- “बहारों का समय आया, फूलों ने रंग बिखेरा,
- हवा में मस्ती छाई, पंछी गाते हर डेरा।”
Translation as a Poem in English:
- The time of spring has come around,
- Flowers spread their colors on the ground,
- The breeze is full of playful cheer,
- Birds sing sweetly far and near.
OR Paraphrase:
- The season of spring arrives, bringing colorful flowers everywhere. The wind feels lively, and birds sing happily in every place.
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