Short Questions (with Answers)
1. How much load does the porter carry on his back?
Answer : He carries a 25-kilogram load.
2. What distance does the porter climb in winter?
Answer : He climbs six miles.
3. What type of cap does the porter wear?
Answer : He wears a dirty, sweat-stained black cap.
4. What is the porter’s frame compared to?
Answer : His frame is compared to a skeleton.
5. What does the porter’s body harbor?
Answer : It harbors fleas and lice.
6. What kind of smell does the porter emit?
Answer : He emits a sour, sulfur-like smell.
7. Where is the porter’s hut located?
Answer : It is located on a cliff.
8. What is the porter’s son doing in the hut?
Answer : The son is shivering with cold.
9. What is the mother searching for in the poem?
Answer : She is searching for nettles and vines.
10. What does the poet call the porter?
Answer : The poet calls him the hero of the mountain.
11. What is meant by ‘lid of night’ ?
Answer : It refers to the starry night sky.
12. What is the porter doing under the starry sky?
Answer : He is in deep slumber.
13. What is the porter’s mind compared to?
Answer : It is compared to emitting a sour smell.
14. What task is the porter facing?
Answer : He is facing an uphill task of climbing.
15. What does the porter symbolize in the poem?
Answer : He symbolizes hard work and determination.
Medium Questions (with Answers)
1. Why is the porter called ‘the hero of the mountain’?
Answer : The porter is called ‘the hero of the mountain’ because he conquers the challenges of nature. Despite his frail body, he climbs with a heavy load. This shows his courage and determination.
2. How does the poet describe the porter’s appearance?
Answer : The porter’s spine is double-bent, and his frame is skeleton-like. He wears a dirty black cap and sweats heavily. His body shows the toll of hard work and poverty.
3. What does the porter’s heart do during the climb?
Answer : His heart twitters like a bird and pants heavily. This shows his physical exhaustion and the immense effort he puts into the climb. Yet, he continues his task with determination.
4. What is the significance of the porter’s family in the poem?
Answer : The porter’s son is shivering from cold, and his wife is searching for food. This portrays the harsh realities of poverty. It highlights the sacrifices he makes for his family.
5. Why is the porter called the ‘conqueror of nature’?
Answer : Despite the snowy winter and his frailty, the porter climbs the mountain. He overcomes natural challenges with his sheer willpower. This makes him a true conqueror of nature.
6. What does the porter do at night?
Answer : At night, the porter rests in deep slumber. He sleeps under the starry sky, finding peace after his hard work. His sleep is described as the ‘rich kingdom of sleep.’
7. What message does the poet convey through the porter’s life?
Answer : The poet highlights the struggles of the underprivileged. The porter’s determination and resilience inspire respect. The poem celebrates the dignity of hard work.
8. What does the poet mean by ‘his body is an abode of fleas and lice’ ?
Answer : This line signifies the porter’s poor living conditions. His struggles leave him exposed to discomfort and disease. It symbolizes the hardships of his life.
9. How does the porter challenge the mountain?
Answer : He climbs the snowy mountain with a heavy load despite his frailty. His determination and courage reflect his strength. This makes his effort heroic.
10. What does the starry night symbolize in the poem?
Answer : The starry night symbolizes peace and hope. It contrasts the porter’s struggles, offering him a brief respite. It reflects the serenity after a hard day’s work.
Long Questions (with Answers)
1. How does the poet portray the porter’s physical and mental condition?
Answer : The porter’s body is frail and skeleton-like, and his cap is sweat-stained. His mind is dull, emitting a sour smell, reflecting his exhaustion. Despite this, he works tirelessly with unwavering determination. This portrayal highlights his resilience and strength.
2. What role does nature play in the porter’s journey?
Answer : Nature challenges the porter with snowy mountains and bitter cold. However, it also provides a starry night for peace. Nature mirrors his struggles yet offers moments of beauty. This duality enriches the poem’s depth.
3. What does the porter’s family’s condition reveal about his life?
Answer : His son shivers from cold, and his wife searches for wild plants to eat. This reflects their poverty and dependence on his hard labor. The family’s plight highlights the sacrifices he makes. It adds emotional weight to his struggles.
4. How does the poet emphasize the dignity of hard work through the porter?
Answer : The porter faces grueling conditions but continues his uphill task. His determination and endurance are celebrated in the poem. Despite poverty, his work is portrayed with respect. The poet honors his efforts as heroic and noble.
5. Why does the poet describe the porter as ‘reigning over the rich kingdom of sleep’ ?
Answer : After a day of relentless hard work, the porter’s sleep is deep and peaceful. It symbolizes his temporary escape from life’s struggles. Sleep is his reward and solace, making him the ‘king’ of this restful state. This imagery celebrates his perseverance.
6. What is the central theme of ‘The Sleeping Porter’ ?
Answer : The poem revolves around hard work, determination, and resilience. It portrays the porter as a symbol of human strength against adversity. His struggles and dignity inspire admiration. The poet emphasizes the value of perseverance amidst life’s hardships.
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