11th English HM

Poem 3: The Voice of the Rain (Best online Ncert Solutions)

11TH CLASS ENGLISH ALL CHAPTERS SOLUTIONS

Poem 3: The Voice of the Rain
Poem 3: The Voice of the Rain

The Voice of the Rain Summary in English

In this poem, the Poet Walt Whitman writes of a conversation he once had with rain. It happened when the raindrops gently from the heavens. The poet asks the rain “Who are you?” and strangely the rain replies “I am the poem of the earth.” Moreover, the rain said that it was born in the form of invisible and intangible vapors. This vapor rises eternally from the deepwater bodies and the earth’s land. After that, it reaches heaven (the sky) and changes its look to form clouds that can change shapes. Still, it remains the same at its core.

Then again it returns to earth as little droplets that wash away with dust and restore the drought-ridden, dry land. Due to its action, new plants find a life that otherwise remained hidden and unborn inside the land as mere seeds. Hence this perpetual cyclic lifestyle ensures that the rain returns to its origin. It gives life to Earth making it pure and beautiful.

After hearing the rain’s story the poet realizes that its life resembles that of any song. And the song’s birthplace is the poet’s heart. When the song is complete it wanders (pass on) from one place to another. As it travels it may change or remain the same, But one day, it returns to the poet with all due love of the listeners.

However, the poem is written from the point of view of someone who asks the rain who it is. And the rains answer him “I am the song of the Earth.” And then it continues to till how it comes from the earth, only to return once again to wash it and nourish it… if it were not for the rain, the seeds would remain seeds and we won’t get any flowers from them.

Also, if the rain hasn’t returned, the seeds would remain and not flower to their full potential, giving back life to its origin. Afterward, the poem turns into a story that tells a song. The song tells the story of rain its birthplace, wandering, Reck’d or unchecked duly with love returns. It means that songs come from the soul after they’ve been heard, and thought good or bad, and return with love.

When the rain rises and falls the poem also does the same. Like songs and other forms of beauty from the soul. Besides, the rain is like a song that originates from its birthplace i.e. the heart of the poet. Moreover, it travels everywhere around the globe and returns to the poet in the form of praise. However, whether it is ruined or not, it returns with a lot of love for its birthplace.

Conclusion of the Voice of the Rain Summary

Through the voice of the rain summary, the writer wants to portray the life of rain and how it is like a song.

The Voice of the Rain Think it out

Question 1.
There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?
Answer:
The two voices in the poem are those of the poet and the rain. The poet asks the question: ‘Who art thou ?’. ‘I am the Poem of Earth’, said the voice of the rain.

Question 2.
What does the phrase ‘strange to tell’ mean?
Answer:
The poet uses this phrase to express his surprise. It is a mystery how the rain speaks in a human voice.

Question 3.
There is a parallel drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this? Explain the similarity between the two.
Answer:
The rain and music are identical in a way. The rain calls herself the Poem of Earth. Neither can be touched. Both are eternal. Both bring joy to the earth and beautify it. Rain, the song of the earth, disappears after fulfilling its purpose.

Question 4.
How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem?
Answer:
What is the origin of the clouds? ‘It is born out of the union of earth and the sky, the sun and water. Water turns into vapor, rises upward, and turns into a dark cloud. The r same cloud descends to the earth again in watery form. This cyclic movement goes on externally.

Question 5.
Why are the last two lines put within brackets?
Answer:
The last two lines are put within brackets because it is neither the voice of the ‘ poet nor of the rain. It is a general comment on the life cycle of water turned into clouds.

Question 6.
List the pairs of opposites found in the poem.
Answer:
rise — descend
day — night
altogether changed — yet the same

II. Notice the following sentence patterns.

1. And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower.
2. I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of rain.
3. Eternal I rise.
4. For song…. duly with love returns.
Rewrite the above sentences in prose
1. The soft-falling shower said to me, “And who are you ?”

2. The voice of rain said, “I am the Poem of the Earth”
3. I rise eternal.
4. For a song used from its birthplace, after fulfillment and wandering, duly returns with love, no matter if it is wrecked or unchecked.

The Voice of the Rain Extra Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Why does the poet call the poem a translation?
Answer:
The poet asks the rain a question. The rain in its heavenly voice, answers the question. The poet has to translate that answer in simple English.

Question 2.
How are the clouds formed?
Answer:
Clouds are born out of the union of the sky and the ocean. The hot sun takes the water vapors upward. The clouds dissolve into water again in the rainy season.

Question 3.
How does the rain describe herself?
Answer:
The soft falling shower calls itself the Poem of Earth. It is immortal. It may change! in shape but it remains the same water.

Question 4.
‘Altogether change, and yet the same’. Say, what it means.
Answer:
The sea. water in summer turns into water vapors which rise to the sky in the form of clouds. The clouds come down again in the form of rainwater. So the change is apparent, but not real.

Question 5.
How does ‘it’ descend? What does it do?
Answer:
The clouds descend or come down to the earth again here and there. It takes on a funny and terrifying shape. When it comes down, it waters the dry fields and forests. It washes away dust particles and gives new life to seeds.

Question 6.
I give back life to my origin. How does the rain do it?
Answer:
The rain originates from the land and sea. It rises to the sky only to come down again. It enables the seeds to sprout and grow water is the soul of nature. Without rain, the earth would become a deadly desert.

Question 7.
What is the ‘fulfillment’ of the rain?
Answer:
The fulfillment of the rain is in its service to nature. It gives new life to seeds, to grass, and earth.

Question 8.
Sum up the life story of the rain or the cloud in about 80 words.
Answer:
The poet asks the gentle shower about its origin and function. The clouds carry water in the form of vapors. They draw this water from the land and the sea. They change in form only. They come to Earth’s rescue when it becomes dry and thirsty. They wash away the dust particles in the air and earthly objects. The seeds wake up and come alive. The cloud returns to the earth what it takes out of it. This cycle goes on and on eternally.

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