Bihar Board Rainbow English Book Class 12 Solutions
Poem 6 'The Soldier by Rupert Brooke'
B. 1.1. Read the following sentences and write “T” for true and “F” for false statements -
(a) The speaker of the poem is a soldier. - T
(b) He is a French soldier. - F
(c) The soldier is very sad. - F
(d) He praises in England. - T
(e) He talks about his friends. - T
(f) It is a love poem. - F
(g) The poet is depicting the miseries of war. - F
(h) The poet expresses his indebtedness to England. - T
(i) The poem is a sonnet. - T
B. 1.2. Answer the following questions briefly -
1. Is the speaker afraid of death?
Ans: No, the speaker is not afraid of death.
2. If at all he dies in the battle, how would he like to be remembered?
Ans: If the poet dies in the battle, he would like to be remembered as an unforgettable soldier who never feared death. He should be given flowers of love and buried in some comer of land which will become a part of England.
3. How can ‘some corner of a foreign field’ be “forever England?”
Ans: After his death, the poet's grave will be in some corner of a foreign land. In that way, that land will be “forever England”.
4. “In that rich earth, a richer dust concealed”. What does ‘dust’ stand for?
Ans: In this sentence of the poem, dust stands for the mortal remains of the poet, after his death in the war-field. He will become a part of the rich land as dust.
5. What is meant by the phrase 'A pulse in the eternal mind'?
Ans: The phrase ‘A pulse in the eternal mind’ indicates a long-cherished desire. The poet wants to say that there must be a pulse in the eternal mind that works to avoid war.
C. 1. Long Answer Questions -
1. Do you think that the title of the poem is appropriate? Give reasons.
Ans: The title of the poem is quite appropriate and meaningful. It revolves around the central theme of the poem which moves about a patriotic soldier who is expressing his keen desire for martyrdom.
2. Discuss the main ideas contained in the first eight lines, i.e., octave.
Ans: The poet is watching the death of a soldier which happens so often in a Warfield. He wants himself to be laid to rest in that foreign land where he attains martyrdom. This place is as much part of England as he is. The poet expresses his indebtedness to his motherland.
3. What do you understand by patriotism? Is this a patriotic poem? Discuss.
Ans: Patriotism means love and emotions for the country. It is the spirit to do anything for the welfare and security of the country. It is, of course, an important factor indicating deep feelings for the motherland. It is also a great human character and the topmost point of all virtues. This is a patriotic poem. Poet expresses his immense love and firm devotion towards England.
4. Summarise the poem in your own words.
Ans: “The Soldier” is a beautiful sonnet composed by Rupert Brooke, a war poet, In this sonnet the poet describes the bubbling sense of patriotism of a soldier who goes abroad to fight for his country. An English Soldier is fighting in a foreign country. Life is uncertain on the battlefield. The Soldier says that if he dies in a foreign country, he will be buried there. He feels that the piece of land where he will be buried will always be England i.e. his country. It will always be England because he was born and brought up in this country. The soldier expresses his gratefulness to his country for everything he got there – the road’, the flowers, the English air, the English river, and sun rays. He also expresses his obligation to his country for giving him noble thoughts, happy dreams, and laughter learned from his friends.
The soldier, therefore, wishes to be remembered after his death as a patriotic over of his motherland, which is England where he was born and brought up. Even in his death, he would feel peace in his heart and proud of his noble act, because he died for his country. Since the poet himself was a soldier he successfully expresses in vivid language the feeling of a soldier. Patriotism is a common feeling but it certainly intensified in times of war and foreign aggression, when a person strongly feels his link with the soil of his nation which has marvelously been
expressed by Rupert Brooke.
5. How many times does the poet use ‘England’ in the poem? What does it show?
Ans: In the poem, the poet has used England four times and English twice. It shows his great patriotic feeling, zeal, and ultimate desire to sacrifice his life for his beloved country.
6. How can you show that you love your country?
Ans: I will be ready to sacrifice my life for the sake of my country, wherever required. I will maintain the honour of my motherland. I will also contribute to the prosperity of the country with the utmost enthusiasm.
7. What is a sonnet? Comment on the language of the prescribed poem, Also mentions its rhyme scheme.
Ans: A poem consisting of 14 lines is a “sonnet”. The first eight lines are called an octave and the last six lines are known as sestet. The octave establishes some issues and sestet resolves them. It is a concentrated expression of a single thought, feeling or situation, subjectivity, sincerity, melody, music, reflection, and spontaneity. These are some prominent characteristics and features of a sonnet. This poem, “The Soldier” is rhythmic. Its rhyme scheme is suitably and simultaneously arranged in a way pleasant to hear.
C. 3. Composition -
Write a paragraph in about 100 words on each of the following -
(a) Life of a soldier.
Ans: A soldier’s life is full of hardship. He lives away from his home and family so that we may live in our home with our family. They give all sacrifice so that we and our country remain in peace and harmony. They lead a very tough life. They eat and drink almost anything they get in their way but it doesn’t want them because of the strong patriotic feeling they have for their nation. They maintain a highly disciplined life. They prove to be a source of inspiration. That is why they get great respect all over the world.
(b) War widows.
Ans: No war has given a permanent solution. It causes loss and destruction of life and property for both the country involved in the war. It is truly said that war is quaint and curious. An unavoidable scene and the fact of wars are the war widows. Both sides lose many of their soldiers whose wives become widows. Well, even their life is of great respect in society. However, practically they suffer a lot. The government promises a lot but does not do as much as it should. But we should see that they are respected and all their needs are fulfilled.
D. Word Study -
D.1. Dictionary Use -
Ex. 1. Look up a dictionary and write two meanings of each of the following words - the one which is used in the lesson and the other which is more common -
|
Earth |
Third planet
of the solar system |
|
Land |
|
|
Dust |
Mortal remaining
of a man |
|
Soil |
|
|
Bore |
To make
a hole |
|
To not
find something interesting |
|
|
Aware |
Having knowledge
of something |
|
Concerned |
|
|
English |
The people
of England |
|
A language |
|
|
Pulse |
The speed
of blood flow in body |
|
A type
of edible seed |
|
|
Body |
The physical
structure of humans containing the organs |
|
A corpse |
|
|
Eternal |
Forever |
|
Spiritual
existence of without any end |
D. 2. Word-formation -
Read the following line carefully -
A body of England’s, breathing English air....
Mark the use of ‘England’ and ‘English’, in the line given above. Write adjectives showing nationality, against the names of the countries given below -
Ans:
- Pakistan — Pakistani
- America — American
- Japan — Japanese
- Nepal — Nepali
- Australia — Australian
- New Zealand — New Zealandian
- West Indies — West Indian
- Korea — Korean
- China — Chinese
- Iran — Irani
D. 3. Word-meaning -
Ex. 1. Write the antonyms of the words given below -
- die — live
- foreign — domestic
- roam — hasten
- evil — good
- eternal — transient
- gentleness — brutality
- peace — conflict
- heaven — hell
- aware — ignore
- concealed—revealed
E. Grammar -
Ex. 1. Read the following lines from the poem carefully:
(i) If I should die, think only of this me.
(ii) There shall be……………
Can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would – these are modals. They have different meanings in different situations. In the first sentence given above, ‘should’ suggest a condition or probability. Similarly, shall in the second sentence suggests ‘future time’.
Fill in the blanks with suitable modals to complete the sentences -
(i) Amod ………….. complete his homework in an hour, (ability)
(ii) Students………… remain in the discipline during the period, (compulsion)
(iii)…………………. you succeed in life, (wish)
(iv) It…………………… rain today, (possibility)
(v) What…………………. I do in this uncommon situation! (advice)
(vi) You……………….. to take proper care of your old parents, (moral duty)
(vii)If Chhabi had participated in the dance competition, she……………… has won the admiration
of the audience, (a possibility that did not realise)
(viii) In evening……………… they go out for a walk, (habit)
(ix)…………… you, please, bring a cup of tea for me? (polite request)
(x) Safdar……………….. be in Delhi in the first week of January, (future time)
will.
0 Comments