Samacheer Kalvi Class 9 English Solutions Poem 5 The River

B. Read the Following Lines and Answer the Questions Given Below:

Question 1. O'er the yellow pebbles dancing through the flowers and foliage glancing.
(a) How does the river flow?
Answer: The river moves above the bright yellow stones, looking like it's dancing. It moves through flowers and leaves in a fun, playful way. This makes the river seem full of life and joy, just like a happy child.
In simple words: The river moves over the yellow pebbles and through plants like it is dancing and playing.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing movement in poetry, use words that convey the same feeling as the original text, like "playful" or "dancing" here.

(b) What is meant by 'foliage'?
Answer: 'Foliage' refers to all the leaves and branches grouped together on a tree or plant. It describes the green cover of plants.
In simple words: Foliage is a word for all the leaves and branches of a tree or plant.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for the meaning of a word from a poem, provide a clear, simple definition that fits the context of the poem.

Question 2. River; river! Swelling river! On you rush through rough and smooth.
(a) Why does the poet mention the river to be swelling?
Answer: The poet says the river is 'swelling' to show it is like a young person who is full of energy and sometimes a bit wild. This comparison highlights its strong, unchecked flow.
In simple words: The poet calls the river 'swelling' because it is like a young person who moves fast and without much thought.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for personification or similes when explaining why a poet uses certain descriptive words for natural elements.

Question 3. Over rocks, by rose-banks, sweeping like impetuous youth.
(a) Where does the rose grow?
Answer: The rose grows next to the river banks, which are covered with rose plants. This creates a beautiful, natural border for the river.
In simple words: The roses grow right by the river banks.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to specific details like locations mentioned in the poetic lines to answer direct questions accurately.

(b) Which stage of men is compared here?
Answer: The poem compares the river's movement to the stage of 'youth' in a man's life. This means the river is seen as lively and full of uncontrolled energy, similar to a young person.
In simple words: The river is compared to the youth stage of people's lives.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify key comparison words like 'like' or 'as' to understand the parallels drawn in poetic descriptions.

Question 4. Broad and deep, and still as time Seeming still, yet still in motion.
(a) What is broad and deep?
Answer: The river is described as being broad and deep. These words show its size and strong presence.
In simple words: The river is described as wide and deep.

🎯 Exam Tip: Answer direct questions about physical attributes by clearly stating what is being described.

(b) Is time still?
Answer: According to the poem, time appears to be still. This suggests a timeless quality or a moment of calm observation.
In simple words: Yes, the poem says that time is still.

🎯 Exam Tip: Interpret poetic comparisons carefully; "still as time" refers to a perceived stillness, not necessarily an actual halt of time.

Question 5. Tending onward to the ocean, Just like a mortal prime.
(a) Where is the river flowing to?
Answer: The river is flowing towards the ocean. This journey signifies its ultimate destination and purpose.
In simple words: The river is flowing all the way to the ocean.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the journey of natural elements in poems as they often symbolize life's path or destiny.

(b) What does the poet mean by 'mortal prime'?
Answer: The phrase 'mortal prime' means the best and strongest part of a person's life. It is like the peak time when a person is most active and capable.
In simple words: 'Mortal prime' means when a person is at their very best age and strength.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain complex poetic phrases by breaking them down into simpler terms and providing context from human experience.

C. Read the Following Lines and Answer the Questions.

Question 1. Bright you sparkle on your way; O'er the yellow pebbles dancing. Through the flowers and foliage glancing Like a child at play. Pick out the rhyming words,
Answer: The rhyming words in these lines are 'dancing' and 'glancing'. Also, 'way' and 'play' rhyme with each other. Recognizing rhyming words helps understand the poem's rhythm.
In simple words: The rhyming words are 'dancing' and 'glancing', and also 'way' and 'play'.

🎯 Exam Tip: To find rhyming words, focus on the end sounds of words in each line of the poem.

Question 2. Mention the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Answer: The rhyme scheme used in this poem is 'abba'. This pattern means the first and fourth lines rhyme, and the second and third lines rhyme.
In simple words: The poem uses an 'abba' rhyme scheme.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify a rhyme scheme, label the end sound of each line with a letter (A, B, C, etc.), assigning the same letter to matching sounds.

Question 3. Through the flowers and foliage glancing like a child at play. Mention the figure of speech used in the above line Give various other examples from the poem.
Answer: The figure of speech used in the line is a **simile**. A simile compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. Other examples of similes in this poem include:
1. “Like impetuous youth"
2. "Just like mortal prime"
3. "Still as time"
4. "Like eternity"
In simple words: The poem uses **simile**, which means it compares things using 'like' or 'as'. Other similes are: "Like impetuous youth", "Just like mortal prime", "Still as time", and "Like eternity".

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that a simile always uses "like" or "as" for comparison, while a metaphor states one thing *is* another.

Question 4. Seeming still, yet still in motion.
(a) Pick out the words in alliteration from the above lines.
Answer: From the given lines, the words that show alliteration are 'seeming' and 'still'. Alliteration is when words close together start with the same sound.
In simple words: The words 'seeming' and 'still' use alliteration.

🎯 Exam Tip: Alliteration focuses on the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close to each other.

(b) Identify other examples from the poem for alliteration.
Answer: Here are more examples of alliteration found in the poem:
1. "River, river, little river"
2. "Through the flowers and foliage glancing"
3. "River, river Swelling river!"
4. "On you rush through rough and smooth"
5. "Over rocks, by rose-banks, sweeping"
6. "River, river! Brimming river!"
7. "River, river! Headlong river!"
8. "Down you dash into the sea."
9. "The sea that line hath never sounded"
10. "The sea that sail hath never rounded."
Alliteration makes poetry sound more musical and rhythmic.
In simple words: Other examples of alliteration in the poem are: "River, river, little river", "Through the flowers and foliage glancing", "River, river Swelling river!", "On you rush through rough and smooth", "Over rocks, by rose-banks, sweeping", "River, river! Brimming river!", "River, river! Headlong river!", "Down you dash into the sea.", "The sea that line hath never sounded", "The sea that sail hath never rounded."

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice identifying alliteration by listening for repeating consonant sounds, especially at the beginning of words.

Question 5. Pick out the examples for epithet from the poem.
Answer: Here are some examples of epithets from the poem. An epithet is a descriptive word or phrase used to characterize a person or thing.
1. "Swelling river"
2. "Brimming river"
3. "Mortal prime"
4. "impetuous youth"
In simple words: Epithets in the poem include: "Swelling river", "Brimming river", "Mortal prime", and "impetuous youth".

🎯 Exam Tip: An epithet is a characteristic adjective or phrase used to describe a person or thing, like "rosy-fingered dawn."

Question 6. Pick out the examples for imagery from the poem.
Answer: Here are examples of imagery from the poem, which help readers visualize and feel what is being described:
1. "Through the flowers and foliage glancing."
2. "On you rush through rough and smooth"
3. "Louder, faster, brawling leaping"
4. "Broad and deep and still"
5. "Seeming still, yet still in motion"
6. "By rose-banks."
Imagery uses descriptive language to create pictures in the reader's mind.
In simple words: Examples of imagery in the poem are: "Through the flowers and foliage glancing.", "On you rush through rough and smooth", "Louder, faster, brawling leaping", "Broad and deep and still", "Seeming still, yet still in motion", "By rose-banks."

🎯 Exam Tip: Imagery appeals to the five senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste – to create vivid mental pictures for the reader.

Additional Questions And Answers

Question 1. River, river, little river! Bright you sparkle on your way.
(a) What sort of river is it?
Answer: The poem describes it as a little river. This suggests it's perhaps in its early stages or not yet a large, powerful river.
In simple words: It is a small river.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always refer back to the exact words used in the poem for characteristics like size or appearance.

(b) How does the river look?
Answer: The river appears bright and shines as it flows. Its sparkling suggests clear water and perhaps sunshine reflecting off it.
In simple words: The river looks bright and shiny as it moves.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use descriptive adjectives found in the poem to accurately convey how something looks or feels.

Question 2. O'er the yellow pebbles dancing Like a child at play
(a) What are the pebbles?
Answer: The pebbles are described as small, smooth, and round stones. They are likely found at the bottom of the river.
In simple words: The pebbles are small, smooth, and round stones.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide a complete description of objects mentioned in the poem, including their size, shape, or texture if given.

(b) What is dancing over the yellow pebbles?
Answer: The river itself is described as dancing over the yellow pebbles. This gives a lively and playful image of the water moving.
In simple words: The river is dancing over the yellow pebbles.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recognize personification when inanimate objects are given human-like actions, such as dancing.

Question 3. River, river! Headlong river! Down you dash into the sea,
(a) What is meant by 'Headlong'?
Answer: 'Headlong' means moving very fast with the head going first, and the rest of the body following quickly. It suggests a rapid and perhaps reckless movement.
In simple words: 'Headlong' means moving very fast, leading with your head.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the meaning of descriptive words in the context of the poem, focusing on the speed or direction they imply.

(b) Where does the river dash into?
Answer: The river rushes quickly into the sea. This marks the end of its journey as a separate body of water.
In simple words: The river quickly moves into the sea.

🎯 Exam Tip: Connect the actions of the river, like 'dashing', to its destination to provide a complete answer.

(c) Who does 'you' refer to?
Answer: In this line, the word 'you' refers to the little river. The poet is speaking directly to the river, giving it human qualities.
In simple words: 'You' refers to the small river.

🎯 Exam Tip: When pronouns like 'you' are used in poetry, identify who or what is being addressed by the poet.

Question 4. Sea that line hath never-sounded Sea that sail hath never rounded, Like eternity.
(a) What is meant by 'line' here?
Answer: In this context, 'line' refers to a long rope that is used for a specific job, often on a ship for measuring or navigation. It suggests a tool for exploration.
In simple words: Here, 'line' means a long rope used for some work.

🎯 Exam Tip: Consider different meanings of a word based on its usage in the poetic lines, especially in nautical contexts.

(b) What is meant by 'sail' here?
Answer: Here, 'sail' means a journey or a trip taken on a boat or ship across the water. It represents travel and exploration.
In simple words: 'Sail' means a trip taken on a boat.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand that 'sail' can refer to the act of traveling by boat, not just the cloth on a mast.

(c) What is 'eternity'?
Answer: 'Eternity' means life that goes on forever, without any end, even after physical death. It signifies endless existence.
In simple words: Eternity means life that never ends, even after death.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define abstract concepts like 'eternity' clearly, linking them to their philosophical or spiritual meaning in the poem.

(d) Pick out the rhyming words in these lines.
Answer: The rhyming words in these lines are 'sounded' and 'rounded'. They create a pleasant sound effect when read.
In simple words: The words 'sounded' and 'rounded' are rhyming words.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always check the phonetic sound of words, not just their spelling, when identifying rhymes.

D. Answer the Following in a Paragraph of About 120-150 Words.

Question 1. How does the poet bring about the comparison of life with the river? Explain it with reference to the poem.
Answer: In "The River," the poet Caroline Ann Bowles beautifully compares the journey of a river to the different stages of human life. She uses vivid images to show this connection.
First, the river is described as dancing over yellow pebbles, moving through flowers and leaves like a child at play. This gentle, sparkling movement represents the carefree and innocent stage of childhood.
Next, the river rushes through rough and smooth paths, brawling and leaping. This powerful, uncontrolled flow is compared to a 'reckless youth', showing the energetic and sometimes wild period of adolescence.
As the river becomes broad and deep, flowing steadily towards the ocean, it mirrors a person in their 'mortal prime'. This is the stage of adulthood when life is full and purposeful.
Finally, the river moves onward to the ocean, appearing still yet always in motion, like 'eternity'. This symbolizes old age and the eventual merging of life with the endlessness of time. Through these comparisons, the poet shows that just as a river progresses from its source to the sea, human life also moves through different phases from childhood to eternity. This metaphor of life as a journey is a common theme in poetry, helping us understand our own existence.
In simple words: The poet compares the river to human life. The river's gentle start is like childhood. Its fast, wild flow is like youth. When it becomes wide and deep, it's like a person's best years. As it goes to the ocean, it shows old age and the idea of life continuing forever.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to explain a comparison, break down the subject (river) and the object (life) into corresponding stages or features mentioned in the poem.

Question 2. Describe how the poem clearly describes the features, functions, and destructive power of the river.
Answer: The poem, "The River," written by Caroline Ann Bowles, explores the river's characteristics, uses, and its potential for destruction. The theme of the poem suggests that rivers can be helpful but also fearsome.
A river is a natural water stream that flows, usually freshwater, towards an ocean or sea. Smaller rivers are called streams or rills. Rivers are a crucial part of the Earth's water cycle, collecting water from rain, surface runoff, groundwater, springs, and melting glaciers. They can flow down from mountains, through valleys, or across flat areas.
Rivers serve many important functions. They provide water for people to drink, for farming, and for factories. They are also used for transportation, generating energy, and carrying away waste. However, the amount of water in a river is not always the same.
When a lot of water flows in a river, it can lead to floods. Flooding is a common type of natural disaster that can cause a lot of damage. Floods happen when a river overflows its banks and covers the land around it. Although floods are natural events and have immense destructive power, it is possible to try and reduce their damage. Rivers are not just water; they are vital to life. They shape landscapes and support countless ecosystems.
In simple words: The poem talks about rivers, their uses, and how they can cause harm. Rivers bring us water for drinking, farms, and factories. They help us travel and make power. But when too much water flows, rivers can flood, causing great damage. Rivers are very important for life and nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: Structure your answer by clearly separating the description of features, beneficial functions, and destructive power to cover all parts of the question.

E. Based on Your Understanding of the Poem, Complete the Summary of the Poem by Choosing the Words/Phrases Given Below:

Question. In the poem 'The River', the poet compares the flow of the river with different (1).................... The first stanza explains how the sparkling river goes dancing over (2)............. and glancing through the flowers and leaves. These acts of the river is compared to a curious and innocent (3). at play. The second stanza compares the river to a (4).............. who goes through rough and smooth patches of life. Like a youth, here the river becomes louder, faster, and (5).................... everything all along the way. In the third stanza, the river becomes like a hard-working man who is at the (6)..................... of life. Here the deep and broad river seems (7).................... but it keeps moving towards the sea like a matured man who silently marches towards the goal. In the last stanza, the long (8). of the river reaches the endless sea like a human life attains eternity
Answer: The completed summary of the poem is as follows:
In the poem 'The River', the poet compares the flow of the river with different **(1) Stages of human life**. The first stanza explains how the sparkling river goes dancing over **(2) the yellow pebbles** and glancing through the flowers and leaves. These acts of the river are compared to a curious and innocent **(3) child** at play. The second stanza compares the river to a **(4) reckless youth** who goes through rough and smooth patches of life. Like a youth, here the river becomes louder, faster, and **(5) sweeping** everything all along the way. In the third stanza, the river becomes like a hard-working man who is at the **(6) prime phase** of life. Here the deep and broad river seems **(7) motionless** but it keeps moving towards the sea like a matured man who silently marches towards the goal. In the last stanza, the long **(8) journey** of the river reaches the endless sea like a human life attains eternity.
This summary effectively captures the poem's central metaphor and its progression through various life stages.
In simple words: The poem compares the river's flow to the different stages of human life. It starts like a child over yellow pebbles, then becomes a wild youth, then a grown-up in their best years, and finally ends its long journey in the sea, like eternity.

🎯 Exam Tip: To complete a summary, choose words that best fit the context and maintain the overall meaning of the poem's narrative.