Question 1.
Sometimes we see something beautiful and striking, and we remember it for a long time afterwards. Can you recollect this ever happening to you? If so, what was it? What do you remember about it now? Are the details of what you saw or the feelings you experienced at that time fresh in your mind? Think for a few minutes, then share your thoughts with the class.
A Classroom Activity.
Question 2.
Imagine that you are the poet, William Wordsworth. You continue on your walk, and when you reach home you tell a friend what you saw and felt. Which of the following best describes your experience? (Work in pairs, then have a class discussion.)
(a) “I was walking past some fields when I saw a young girl, a farm worker, harvesting grain by hand, with a sickle. She was so beautiful that I stood out of sight and watched her for a long time. I have never seen anyone more gorgeous! In fact, she reminded me of other beautiful experiences I’ve had—the song of the nightingale or the cuckoo, for instance. I’d certainly like to see her again!”
(b) “As I was standing on the hill top just now, I heard a very sad and plaintive song. I looked down, and saw a young woman reaping grain, singing as she did so. She seemed very melancholy as she sang. But somehow her song brought great comfort and joy to me. In fact, I found it a very emotional experience. As I continued my walk along the hill top, I also heard a nightingale and a cuckoo. But the young farm worker’s song affected me most deeply, even though I couldn’t understand the words.”
(c) “Just now, as I was walking in the valley, I saw a young farm worker in die field. She was singing to herself as she worked. I was so affected by her singing that I stopped and listened. She had a beautiful voice, which seemed to fill the whole valley. The song was a sad one, and I couldn’t understand the words. But its plaintive tone and melancholy sound touched me greatly, and, its beauty reminded me of the song of a nightingale or a cuckoo. After some time I walked up the hill, carrying the memory of the young woman’s song with me.”
The best answer is ‘(c)’.
[A Classroom Activity]
Question 3.
The poet could not understand the words of the song, yet he raised several possibilities about its theme. In the diagram below are some of these possibilities. Read the third stanza again, and find the phrase that matches each. Copy and complete the diagram, writing each phrase in die empty boxes. Work in pairs:
Question 4.
On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice:
(a) The central idea of the poem ‘ The Solitary Reaper’ is
(i) well sung songs give us happiness
(ii) melodious sounds appeal to all
(iii) beautiful experiences give us lifelong pleasure
(iv) reapers can sing like birds
(iii) beautiful experiences give us lifelong pleasure
Question 5.
(a) Read the second stanza again, in which Wordsworth compares the solitary reaper’s song with the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo. On the basis of your reading (and your imagination), copy and complete the table below. (Work in groups of four, then have a brief class discussion.)
| Place | Heard by | Impact on listener | |
| Solitary Reaper | Scottish Highlands | the poet | holds him spellbound |
| Nightingale | |||
| Cuckoo |
(b) Why do you think Wordsworth has chosen the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo for comparison with the solitary reaper’s song?
(c) As you read the second stanza, what pictures come to your mind? Be ready to describe them in your own words, to the rest of the class. (Do not be afraid to go beyond what the poet has written.)
| Place | Heard by | Impact on listener | |
| Solitary Reaper | Scottish Highlands | the poet | holds him spellbound |
| Nightingale | Arabian Sands | weary travellers | feel refreshed |
| Cuckoo | Hebrides | islanders | thrilled |
(b) The nightingale and the cuckoo are the two birds which are famous for their sweet and melodious songs. So, it is quite natural that Wordsworth compares the sweet song of the solitary reaper to these birds.
(c)
- The first picture that comes to my mind is the desert of Arabia. The scorching sun is burning everything. Poor travellers are tired and thirsty. They are making their camels run for some shady haunts. At last, they find a shady place with water. They lie down to have some rest. Suddenly, a melodious voice captures their hearts. The nightingale’s song refreshes the tired travellers. They are up again for their onward journey.
- The Hebrides are wrapped in silence. A ship anchors there. A sweet voice breaks the silence of the seas. It is the melodious voice of the cuckoo. The song thrills all the seamen. The whole mountain region resounds with the song.
Question 6.
In the sixth line of the first stanza, we read:
“… and sings a melancholy strain…. ”
This “s” sound at the beginning of sings and strain has been repeated. Poets often do this.
Do you know why? Do you know what this “poetic repetition” is called? Can you find other instances of this, in The Solitary Reaper?
In ‘sings’ and ‘strain’, “s” sound has been repeated. The use of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words that are close together is quite common in poetry. This “poetic repetition is called “alliteration”. It is used to heighten the musical and lyrical impact of the poem.
Repetition of “s” sound in ‘silence of the seas’.
Repetition of “a” sound in ‘Among Arabian Sands’.
Repetition of “1” sound in ‘Listened, motionless and still’.
Question 7.
In the first stanza, some words or phrases have been used to show that the girl working in the fields is alone. Which are those words and phrases? What effect do they create in the mind of the reader?
The poet uses some words or phrases in the first stanza to show that the girl working in the field is alone. These words are:
“Single” in the field
“solitary” Highland lass
singing “by herself’
“Alone” she cuts
These words and phrases focus our attention solely on the reaper. We keep our eyes only on her and our ears to her melodious song. These words create a sense of‘mystery’ and the presence of a lonely girl among those natural surroundings does create a romantic setting.
Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow:
Question 8.
Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Paraphrase: The poet asks us to look at a young girl of the mountainous region of Scotland. She is reaping and binding the crop all by herself. No one is there to help her. The poet suggests of two options. Either you stand and watch her working or gently pass from there without disturbing her.
(a) Which region does the solitary reaper belong to?
(b) What was the girl doing?
(c) What does the poet suggest?
(a) The girl belongs to the mountainous highland region of Scotland.
(b) The girl was reaping and singing by herself in the field.
(c) The poet suggests the passers-by either to stand silently and listen to her song or leave the place silently.
Question 9.
Alone she cuts, and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
Paraphrase: The solitary reaper is alone in the field. She cuts and binds the grain all herself. And she is singing a sad song. The poet urges us to listen to her song. The deep valley is overflowing with the sound of the reaper’s song.
(a) What is the girl doing in the field?
(b) What is the nature of her song?
(C) What is the result of the song?
(a) The girl is reaping and binding the sheafs of grain.
(b) Her song is melodious but sad.
(c) The whole valley is overflowing with the sound of the reaper’s song.
Question 10.
No nightingale did ever chant
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of Travellers in some shady haunt.
Among Arabian Sands;
Paraphrase: No nightingale ever sang such melodious welcome songs to the groups of tired travellers resting in shady places in the desert of Arabia.
(a) What is the poetic device used in comparing the song of the reaper and the nightingale?
(b) How does the girl’s song affect the tired travellers in the desert?
(c) What is a shady haunt?
(a) The poet uses a simile to compare the two songs.
(b) The girl’s song soothes the tired travellers with its melodious welcome notes. It affects in the way as the travellers haunting in the desert finds a shade.
(c) A shady haunt is a place in a desert where water and shady trees are found.
Question 11.
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird.
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
Paraphrase: The poet says that such a sweet voice was never heard by him even from the cuckoo in the spring season. The voice of the girl was so sweet that it broke the silence of the seas and of the far off islands on north-western cost of Scotland.
(a) Whose voice fascinated the poet so much?
(b) Why does the poet compare the girl’s voice with that of cuckoo?
(c) Write the adjective form of ‘silence’.
(a) The voice of the reaper enthralled the poet very much.
(b) The voice of a cuckoo is very sweet. That is why the poet compares the sweet voice of the reaper with that of a cuckoo.
(c) Silent.
Question 12.
Will no one tell me what she sings?
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Paraphrase: The poet can’t guess the subject matter of her song. He asks if any one can tell him what the theme of her songs is. Then, he himself makes a guess. Perhaps her sad songs are related to some old, unhappy events that took place in the distant past. It is possible that her song is related to the battles that were fought long long ago.
(a) Does the poet know anything about the subject matter of the reaper’s song?
(b) What is the nature of her song?
(c) What does the poet guess about the theme of the reaper’s song?
(a) The poet doesn’t understand the subject matter of the reaper’s song. Perhaps she is singing in a different dialect.
(b) Her song is sad but melodious.
(c) Perhaps the reaper is singing about old and unhappy things of the past. Her song may be related to some battles that were fought long ago.
Question 13.
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
that has been, and may be again?
Paraphrase: It is quite possible that her song is related to some ordinary and unimportant matters of day-to-day life. It is quite possible that in her song she is describing some natural calamity, loss or pain that happened in the past and may happen again in future.
(a) Explain: ‘Or is it some more humble lay’.
(b) What can be ‘some natural sorrow?’
(c) What is the rhyme-scheme of the given lines?
(a) The reaper’s song may be about some ordinary and unimportant things.
(b) The ‘natural sorrow’ can be some natural calamity or disaster.
(c) The rhyme-scheme of the lines is aa, bb.
Question 14.
Whate’er the theme, the maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o’er the sickle bending;
Paraphrase: Whatever might be the theme of the maiden’s song, she sang in a way that it appeared to have no ending. The poet saw her singing at her work and bending over her sickle.
(a) What is the rhyme-scheme of the given lines?
(b) How did the poet feel about the song?
(c) What was the girl doing?
(a) The rhyme-scheme of the given lines is abcb.
(b) The poet felt as if the song would never end.
(c) The girl was bending over the sickle while reaping and singing.
Question 15.
I listen’d, motionless and still
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The Music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.
Paraphrase: The poet listened to the song of the reaper silently without disturbing her. Then he climbed up the hill. The song entered deep in the heart of the poet. He heard its echo in his heart long after it was heard no more.
(a) What did the poet do?
(b) What was the effect of the song?
(c) What is the rhyme-scheme in the given lines?
(a) The poet stood motionless listening to the melodious song of the reaper.
(b) The song had a profound impact on the poet. It echoed in his heart long after it was heard no more.
(c) The rhyme-scheme of the given lines is aa, bb.
Question 1:
Read the extract given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow:
‘Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary highland lass !
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here or gently pass!’
(a) Why does a speaker ask to stop or gently pass?
(b) To whom does the poet say ‘stop here or gently pass’ !
(c) What does ‘behold her’ mean?
(a) The speaker says so lest the girl should be disturbed and stop singing?
(b) To the passers-by
(c) look at her
Question 17:
“Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow.
For old, unhappy, far off things.”
(a) What do the ‘plaintive numbers’ refer to?
(b) Why does the poet use the word ‘perhaps’ here?
(c) Pick out a word similar in meaning to ‘to move continuously’.
(a) ‘The plaintive numbers’ refer to, the highland girl’s
(b) The poet uses the word ‘perhaps’ here because he does not know her language.
(c) Flow.
Question 18:
“I listened motionless and still And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.”
(a) What music is the poet talking about in these lines?
(b) What effect does the music have on the poet?
(c) How is the poet able to hear this music even after the maiden has stopped singing?
(a) The poet is talking about the music of the maiden’s song in these lines.
(b) The music mesmerizes the poet and he stops to listen to it. He carries the memories of the song in his heart long after he moves away from the scene.
(c) The poet carries the music as a cherished memory in his heart.
Question 19:
‘A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring time from the cuckoo bird;
Breaking the silence of the seas ………….
Among the farthest Hebrides”
(a) Why does the poet compare the reaper’s voice to the song of the cuckoo bird?
(b) Name the poet of the poem.
(c) Name the literary device used in the third line.
(a) The poet feels that the girl’s voice is sweeter than the sweet voice of the cuckoo, that is why; he makes this comparison.
(b) William Wordsworth.
(c) Alliteration/personification.
Question 20
“Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of today?
Some natural sorrow loss or pain,
That has been and may be again?”
(a) Who is singing and where?
(b) What is the poet trying to guess?
(c) What does ‘humble lay’ stand for?
(a) The Solitary Reaper is singing in the field.
(b) The poet is trying to guess the theme of the song.
(c) ‘Humble lay’ stands for common man of the song and the song may be about the common, simple people or situations.
Question 21:
“Alone she cuts and binds the grain;
And sings a melancholy strain;
Listen for the vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.”
(a) Who is ‘she’ in the above lines?
(b) What kind of a song is she singing?
(c) What does the expression ‘vale profound’ mean?
Question 22:
“No nightingales did ever chant,
More welcome notes to weary bands,
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian Sands.”
(a) Who are the weary bands?What welcome notes do they hear?
(b) Why are the notes of the nightingale welcome?
(c) What are “Arabian Sands”?
(a) The weary bands are the travellers.They hear the welcome notes of the nightingale.
(b) The notes of the nightingale are welcome because they are sweet and soothing.
(c) Deserts signifying weariness are the ‘Arabian Sands’.
Question 23:
How was the poet affected by the song of the Solitary Reaper?
Or
What is the effect of Solitary Reaper’s song on die poet William Wordsworth?
The poet was spellbound by the sweetness of the song of the Solitary Reaper. Though, he could not understand the language of the song, he stood there motionless and captivated enjoying the melodious song. It fascinated him so much that he carried its sweet melody in his heart for a long time.
Question 24:
Why was William Wordsworth fascinated by the Solitary Reaper’s song?
The poet was spellbound when he heard the melancholic song of a Solitary Reaper in Scotland. She was alone, reaping the harvest. The melodious song fascinated him so much that he compared it with the song of a nightingale and a cuckoo.
Question 25:
Why does the poet want the passers-by to “stop here or gently pass”?
The poet was fascinated by the melodious song of the Solitary Reaper. The musk of her song and the melodious voice made him spellbound. The girl was busy in her work. So, the poet wishes the passers-by to “stop here or gently pass” so as to not disturb her.
Question 26:
Why is the nightingale’s song a welcome song?
The poet feels that the weary travellers would forget their tiredness and they would feel refreshed when they, listened to the melodious notes of the nightingale’s song. The soothing song would give relief to the travellers from fatigue and exhaustion, that is why he compares it to a ‘welcome song’.
Question 28:
Why has William Wordsworth compared the Solitary Reaper’s song with the song of a nightingale and a cuckoo bird?
William Wordsworth has compared the Solitary Reaper’s song with the song of a nightingale and a cuckoo bird to emphasize the sweetness of the girl’s song. He himself is spellbound and the song resounds in his ears long afterwards.
Question 29:
What are the probable themes of the song sung by the Solitary Reaper?
The probable themes of the songs sung by the Solitary Reaper which the poet presumes are a tale of some far off happening, or of a natural sorrow, or of a loss or of a parting from some dear ones.
Question 30:
Why does the poet call the reaper ‘Solitary’?
The poet calls the reaper ‘Solitary’ because she is all alone in the field, reaping the crop and singing a sad song all to herself.
Question 31:
How does the poet bring out the beauty of the song of the Solitary Reaper?
He compares her song to the sweet notes of the nightingale and the cuckoo, both birds that sing in romantic surroundings. The song of the nightingale is a very welcome sound to the tired travellers as it signifies that they are approaching an oasis. The song of the cuckoo bird brings joy to the listeners as it is a harbinger of spring after the long, cold winter. The song of the reaper arouses the same feelings of pleasure and joy in the poet’s heart. It also lends a feeling of romance to the poem.
Question 32:
How was the poet affected by the song of the Solitary Reaper?
The poet was held spellbound by the sweetness of the song. He stood motionless and still so that he could listen to her song. The melodious song fascinated him so much that he carried its sweet melody in his heart for a long time.
Question 33:
The poet could not understand the theme of the song? Why? What were the guesses made by him?
The poet could not understand the theme of the song because the dialect used by the reaper was unfamiliar to him. He presumed that she might be singing about some battles fought long ago or some personal sorrow due to some tragic incidents in the past.
Question 34:
Where was the Solitary Reaper? How did the poet hear her?
The Solitary Reaper belonged to Scotland. She was alone in the fields. The poet was passing that way when he heard the girl singing while reaping the harvest. The whole valley was resounding with her melodious voice. The poet stood motionless to listen to her song.
Question 35:
The ‘Solitary Reaper’ describes a memorable experience of William Wordsworth. Describe.
The poet describes the memorable experience which he had a long time ago. A young girl was standing all alone in a Scotland valley and was singing a song. The song was so enchanting that the poet compared if to the song of a nightingale or a cuckoo. He was spellbound and stood there for a longtime. Even now he remembers her song as he carried the memory of the young girl’s song in his heart. ‘