Clas 10 English Unit 5: Reading II: The Voice of the Rain

 

Reading II: The Voice of the Rain

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Vocabulary

1.           Thou: /ðaʊ/ (pronoun) - you

2.           Eternal: /ɪˈtɜː(r)nəl/ (adjective) - lasting forever

3.           Impalpable: /ɪmˈpælpəbl/ (adjective) - unable to be felt by touch

4.           Vaguely: /ˈveɪɡli/ (adverb) - in a way that is not clear or definite

5.           Lave: /leɪv/ (verb) - wash

6.           Atomies: /ˈætəmiz/ (noun) - tiny particles

7.           Latent: /ˈleɪtənt/ (adjective) - hidden, concealed

8.           Reck'd: /rek(t)/ (verb) - cared

9.           Wandering: /ˈwɒndərɪŋ/ (adjective) - moving aimlessly or without a fixed direction

About the Poet

Walt Whitman (1819–1892) was a pioneering American poet, essayist, and journalist, often called the "father of free verse." He is best known for his groundbreaking poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which celebrates democracy, nature, the human spirit, and individual freedom.

The Main theme of the Poem

The main theme of the poem is the eternal cycle of nature and the inter-connectedness between natural elements and human creativity. Through the voice of the rain, the poem highlights how rain rises from the earth and sea, transforms in the sky, and returns to nourish the land — symbolizing the cycle of renewal and life. Whitman draws a parallel between this natural process and poetry itself, suggesting that like rain, a poet’s song rises, transforms, and returns to enrich life.

Summary of the Poem

"The Voice of the Rain" by Walt Whitman is a short, free-verse poem in which the poet converses with the rain. The rain personifies itself and explains its eternal cycle and its purpose in the world.

The poem begins with the poet asking the rain, "And who art thou?" The rain responds, describing itself as the "Poem of Earth" and detailing its journey. It originates from the land and the sea, ascends to the sky as vapor, forms clouds, and then returns to earth as rain, nourishing and purifying the land, making it fertile and allowing new life to grow.

The rain emphasizes its continuous, cyclic nature and its role in sustaining life, mirroring the poet's view of poetry as an everlasting and vital force. The poem concludes with the poet reflecting on this natural cycle, drawing a parallel between the rain’s cycle and the continuous impact of a poem on the world, suggesting that both leave a lasting legacy.

A.       Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B. (Answers only)

a.      Eternal – never-ending

b.     Impalpable – not easily understood

c.      Vaguely – unclearly

d.     Descend – come down

e.      Lave – to pour out as water

f.       Atomies – individual particles

g.     Reck – take care of

B.       Fill in the blanks by choosing the words given below.

Impalpable      recks           globe           drought       beautify       latent

a.      The river rained during the drought.

b.     It is still impalpable to understand how the Earth originated.

c.      The company produces a wide variety of makeup and skin care products designed to gently and effectively beautify human skin.

d.     His greatest ambition is to sail around the globe.

e.      Without training, his musical talent remained latent.

f.       What recks it whether they win or lose?

C.    Complete the summary of the poem using suitable words or phrases given below.

quenches              rhythm        mysterious            heal automies condensation         ascends       showers                originality

The poem is a conversation between the poet and the rain. When the poet asks the identity of the drizzle, she replies that she is the poem of the Earth. The rain expresses that it gives happiness to Mother Earth.

The rain is a perpetual process which has different forms at different times. It rises from the land as water vapor and ascends high up to the sky. It takes the form of clouds. Though it changes its form or shape, its originality remains unchanged. It shows that nature is not fully understood. Some parts of it always remain mysterious.

The raindrops pour down from above to wash away atomies and dust layers. It quenches the thirst of the dry Earth and heals everything that is becoming lifeless. In other words, the showers make the earth pure and beautiful.

Finally, the poet observes that the life of rain is similar to that of a song. A song also has the power to calm, heal, transform, and thrill. In the same way, repeated evaporation and condensation purify the rain. It beautifies the whole earth as a rhythm to a poem or music.

D.   Answer the following questions.

a.      What are the two voices in the poem? Who do they belong to?

The two voices mentioned in the poem are the speaker and the rain. They belong to the earth.

b.     How is the cyclic moment of the rain shown in the poem?

The cyclic moment of the rain is shown in the poem by describing how it rises from the land and sea. The vapor ascends into the sky, forms clouds, and again falls in the form of rain on the earth.

c.      Why are the showers necessary for the earth?

The showers are necessary for the earth to provide moisture to the plants and the animals, and wash away the dust and pollutants.

d.     How are the rain and music similar?

The rain and the music are similar because both of them have a rhythm and the power to calm, heal, transform, and thrill.

e.      How are the clouds formed?

The clouds are formed when the water vaporizes, cools, and condenses into tiny droplets, and these droplets form larger droplets that eventually fall into the earth in the form of rain.

f.       List the pairs of opposite words in the poem.

The opposite words found in the poem are: rise – descend, rain – draught, day-night, reck'd – unreck'd

E.    What may happen on the earth if it does not rain for a long time?

If it does not rain for a long time, the Earth may experience severe drought, leading to water shortages for drinking, agriculture, and sanitation. Crops would fail, causing food scarcity and economic hardship for farmers. Rivers, lakes, and reservoirs would dry up, impacting ecosystems and wildlife. Forests could become more vulnerable to fires, and air quality might worsen due to dust and pollutants. Overall, a prolonged absence of rain would result in significant environmental, social, and economic challenges for human life as well. 

 

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