10_SONG OF THE RAIN class 9

 

Summary

• In this poem, Kahlil Gibran celebrates rain as the life-giving force of this earth.
• The poem is written in the voice of rain.
• Gods are instrumental in sending the beautiful rich drops of rain to fields and valleys to revitalize their greenery and freshness.
• The rain says that as it falls from the sky it looks like silver threads dropped from heaven by the gods.
• Raindrops are beautiful pearls that have been plucked from the crown of the goddess Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn.
• Ishtar is the goddess of fertility, love and war in the Babylonian mythology.
• The hills and flowers exhibit their joy when it rains by coming into bloom.
• The field and the cloud are lovers and the rain is a messenger of mercy between them.
• It drenches the fields and makes the cloud lighter and brighter.
• It quenches the thirst of the parched earth and reduces the heaviness or swelling of the clouds.
• Rain is preceded by thunder and followed by the rainbow.
• Just as a life is created by the coming together of the five elements – air, earth, heat, water and wind, the rain too is created when the earth and water are heated and the water rises as vapour to the sky.
• When it rains, the sky and wind are stormy.
• When rain falls, it merges with the water only to rise again as water vapour.
• Whenever it sees a parched field, it falls to earth and embraces the flowers and the trees.
• Rain taps softly against the windows and people welcome the arrival of rain.
• The rain falls on earth, filled with love for earth, carrying with it the affection of the sea, the joy of the fields that bloom when rain falls, and a sorrow for being parted from the clouds.

 

 

LITERARY DEVICES USED IN THE POEM

1. Personification

(a)      crying – when I cry the hills laugh

(b)      bowing – when I bow, all things are elated

(c)      acting as a messenger – I am a messenger of mercy

          (d)      gently touching – I touch gently at the windows

(e)      seeing and embracing – when I see a field in Need, / I descend and                             embrace the flowers.

2. Metaphor

(a)      dotted silver threads

(b)      beautiful pearls

(c)      messenger of mercy

(d)      sigh of the sea

(e)      laughter of the field

(f)       tears of heaven

 

3. Simile

(a)      I am like earthly life

 

4. Alliteration

(a)      daughter of Dawn

(b)      messenger of mercy

(c)      sigh of the sea

5. Onomatopoeia

(a)      sigh of the sea

(b)      laughter of the field

(c)      tears of heaven

 

 

Questions & Answers

 

Q.1    Why does the rain call itself “the dotted silver threads”?

Ans.   As the rain falls from the sky to the earth its shimmering drops look like sparkling dots. Since they fall in continuity they create an illusion of strings of droplets. Hence the rain calls itself dotted silver threads.

 

Q.2    Why is the rain divine?

Ans.   The rain is the handiwork of gods. They send it form their own abode (heaven) to the surface of earth. It revitalizes and freshens the vegetation. Since it is the outcome of the gods’ grace, it is divine. Moreover, it has life-giving and healing powers, which only gods have.

 

Q.3    The rain is conscious of its beauty. Comment.

Ans.   As the shimmering drops of the rain fall, they look very beautiful. Conscious of this fact the rain dwells on its beauty.The poet equates its drops to pearls. He further elaborates the beauty of these pearls saying that they have been plucked from the crown of Ishtar – the goddess of love, war, fertility and sex.

 

Q.4    How do you think the rain quenches the thirst of the fields and cures cloud’s ailment?

Ans.   The thirsty fields crave for water. The rain generously falls on their surface and slakes their thirst. As it makes its descent, the cloud is relieved of the heaviness of vapours. That is how the ailment of the cloud is also cured.

 

Q.5    The field and the cloud are lovers. How does the rain act as a messenger of mercy for them?

Ans.   The two lovers, the cloud and the field, are far away from each other. It is the rain that establishes a link between the two of them. Apart from it, it mercifully quenches the thirst of the land and relieves the clouds of the weight of the vaporus they need to shed.

 

Q.6    “I am like earthly life ….” Why does the poet call rain as earthly life?

Ans.   The poet introduces rain to the readers as something divine. However, he finds a parallel between its arrival and departure and birth and death of earthly beings. In both the cases, life is transitory and the end is inevitable. Thus the rain compares itself to earthly life.

 

Q.7    How does the rain embrace flowers and trees in a million ways?

Ans.   The rains drench and wash all the flowers and trees dripping all over them. Moderate rain gladdens their heart and they rejoice with every single drop of rain. A gentle drizzle bathes them giving them a pleasurable sensation. Raindrops rest on the leaves, flowers branches and barks of the trees making them wet all over. Thus as the ‘rain’ falls it seems to be embracing them in a million ways.

 

Q.8    “Only the sensitive can understand.” What does the poet wish to    convey?

Ans.   The rain produces a pitter-patter on the window panes. This sound is audible to one and all. However its spirit and essence can be experienced only by those who are sensitive and have depth of understanding. This sound just doesn’t fall on their ears but it touches their hearts.

 

Q.9    Explain the ending of the song.

Ans.   The rain is not just drops of water falling in continuity from the sky. It is a life-giving force that has been responsible for our existence, evolution and civilization. It is also a fountain-head of a whole lot of our emotions and feelings – love, affection, laughter and even tears. It is a vital link between the heaven and the earth; between the divine and earthly; between God and his creation.

 

WORKSHEET

Short Answer Questions

 

1. Why does the rain say that it is ‘dropped from the heaven by the gods’?

 

2. The rain is obsessed with its beauty. Do you agree? Pick up two such expressions in support of your view.

 

3. What is personification? Quote at least two examples of personification from the poem.

 

4. Who is Ishtar? In what context has this name been used in the poem?

 

5. How is the rain a messenger of mercy, between the field and the cloud?

 

6. Why have the fields and clouds been called ‘lovers’?

 

7. How is the arrival and departure of rain announced?

 

8. ‘The feet of the mad elements’. Which are these ‘mad elements’? How does the rain begin at their feet?

 

9. How is the rain welcomed on the earth?

 

10. Who all can understand the song of the rain?

 

11. What message does the end of the song convey?

 

12. Why has this poem been called a song?

 

Long Answer Questions

 

1. When I cry the hills laugh;

            When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;

            When I bow, all things are elated.

 

On the basis of your understanding of the above extract, analyse the following:

–        the life giving qualities of the rain

–        what the words’cry’, ‘humble’and’bow’mean in this extract

What values of life can we learn from the rain?

 

2. I emerge from the heart of the sea and

            Soar with the breeze. When I see a field in

            Need, I descend and embrace the flowers and

            The trees in a million little ways.

 

On the basis of your understanding of the above extract, analyse the following:

–        how the rain is born

–        how the rain lives and dies for others

What value of the rain is depicted in the above lines? Would you like to imbibe this value in your life? Give reasons in support of your views.

 

3. Bring out the values you find in the poem “Song of the Rain”.

 

4. What do you think of human efforts to bring about artificial rain? Do you think human interference with Nature can be justified in any way? Give reasons in support of your views.

 

notes

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