UNIT – II POETRY:

2. PALANQUIN BEARERS – SAROJINI NAIDU

I. Summary of Palanquin Bearers

There is a custom of carrying a bride in a palanquin by the

palanquin bearers and the poem ‘The Palanquin Bearers’ is so

finely woven around this custom, which expresses the joy and

pride of the palanquin bearers in carrying the newlywed

princess to her in-law’s house and while walking they are

singing along happily.

According to the palanquin bearers, the bride is so light that it

feels like the princess is swaying, like a flower sways in the

wind. She is sitting in the palanquin and is hearing their song.

They consider the royal princess as a privilege instead of a

burden to them since she is sitting and thinking about her

future after marriage. Like a flower in the wind, the bride is

moving from side to side.

They say that ‘she is like the bird that skims on the foam of a

stream’ which means that a bird passes a stream skipping

through the foam of the stream and the bride resembles of that

bird because she is so delicate to carry. She carries a mixed

feeling as she is leaving her parents behind and moving onto a

new phase of her life. She is happy and contented to live and

start a new inning with her beloved.

They are carrying her like a pearl on a string since she is

precious and delicate like a jewel. In the dew of their song, the

princess is hanging like a star. Like a ray of light is seen on the

top of a tide, she appears to be jumping just like that. A tear

roll down the eyes of a bride, in the same way, she falls. The

bearers are carrying the princess as if she is dew or a teardrop.

They are delighted to carry the bride and could not feel her

weight because she is very tender.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS PALANQUIN BEARERS:

II. CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER:

1. The Palanquin Bearers is written by _______.

a. Shelley b . Sarojini Naidu c. Goldsmith d. Sudhamurthi.

2. Sarojini Naidu was called as ______.

a. The Cuckoo of India b. The Voice of India

c. The Nightingale of India d. The Gift of India

3. A Palanquin is ______.

a. a coach b. a caravan c. a covered litter d. a bier

4. The word ‘gaily’ means ______.

a. Joyfully b. sadly c. immorally d. truly

5. The poem ‘Palanquin Bearers’ is taken from_____.

a. The Broken Wing b. The Golden Threshold

c. The Golden Treasure d. The Broken Reed

6. The bearers of the Palanquin feel ______.

 a. sad b. angry c. jealous d. happy

7. The Palanquin Bearers bear the princess like ____.

a. a dead body b. a king c. an idol d. a pearl

8. Sarojini Naidu imagines a bird _____ on the foam of a

stream.

a. gliding b. skimming c. swaying d. floating

9. The princess in the Palanquin floats like _____.

a. a boat b. a cloud c. a fish d. a laugh

10. The princess in the palanquin falls like ______

a. a flower b. a star c. a pearl d. a tear

.11.The word that does not describe the movement of the bride

is _____.

a) glide b) slide c) float d) skim

12.The palanquin bearers carry the bride_____.

a) like a flower b) like a bird c) lightly d) like a star

13.The bride is compared to a bird because______.

a) she can float like a bird b) she can skim like a bird
c) she can fly like a bird d) she is as light as a bird

14.The bride is referred to as ‘a pearl on a string’ because

a) she is precious as a pearl on a string
b) she is wearing a string of pearls
c) she is carrying pearls with her
d) none of the above

15.The palanquin bearers sing while carrying the bride

a) as the palanquin is heavy
 b) the bride loves their singing
c) because it is an auspicious and a joyous occasion
d) because the bride is swaying like a flower and skimming
like a bird

III. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:

1.) How does Sarojini Naidu describe the feelings of the

Bearers?

In the poem "The Palanquin Bearers" the poet Sarojini Naidu

talks about the feelings of the bearers who have to bear the
'noble burden' until the destination is reached. The palanquin
bearers when feel exhausted and tired, they start to sing and
shout in unison and change the position of the palanquin. Along
with their songs and the movement of the palanquin, the lady
sitting inside the palanquin too moves lightly and delicately.

2.) Where do palanquin bearers carry the bride?

The palanquin bearers carry the newl-wed bride in

a palanquin. They sing as they carry the bride to her in laws'
house. They tell us that the bride is very light to carry.

3.) How does the poet describe the bride?

Answer: The poet draws a very vivid description of the bride.

She states that the bride is “like a flower”, “a bird” and “a
laugh”.

4.) What is a Palanquin?

Palanquin is (formerly in India and other Eastern countries) a

passenger conveyance, usually for one person, consisting of a
covered or boxlike litter carried by means of poles resting on
the shoulders of several men. Palanquin, a humble means of
transportation, was used in olden days but here the one that is
being talked about is the one carrying a bride.
5.) How do the palanquin bearers carry the bride? What
is so special about them?

Answer: The Palanquin bearers carry the bride very gently and

they move very softly. They sing a song as they go along the
theme of the song is about the marriage of the bride. They sing
that they are bearing the bride lightly and softly. The bride is
moving from side to side like a flower in the wind. She glides
like a bird on the froth of a stream. She is floating like a laugh
from the lips of a dream. They carry her like a pearl on a string
like she is precious and delicate. The bride is hanging like a
star in the dew of their song. She appears to be jumping like a
ray of light seen on the top of a tide. She falls like a tear from
the eye of a bride.

6.) Why do the Palanquin Bearers carry the bride

"lightly"?

The Palanquin Bearers carry the bride "lightly" because she is

very precious and also it is the most auspicious occasion for
her. So they handle here like a very precious jewel.

7.) How does the poet describe the bride?

The poet draws a very vivid description of the bride. She

states that the bride is "like a flower" "a bird" and "a laugh". By
using such similes the poet's intention is to get across that the
bride is very fragile but precious and needs to be handled with
care.

8) Explain the comparison "She sways like a flower".

The bride is like a very delicate and fragile and beautiful like a
flower, which moves or sways in the air. Thus the comparison

9.) Why do the Palanquin Bearers carry the bride

singing? What is this song about?

The Palanquin Bearers carry the bride singing because it is

auspicious and joyous occasion. The bride is going to her
husband's house with many expectations. The song is all about
her in which she is described very gloriously.

10.) What is the bride compared to in the stanzas?

b) The bride is compared to a star, a beam, a tear and finally,

a pearl on a sting. In doing so the poet is heightening the
effect of the glory being given to the bride on the momentous
occasion in her life.

11.)What do you think are the palanquin bearers feeling

in the poem?

The palanquin bearers feel so happy when they carry the

bride. They sing a song while carrying light weighted
bride. They carry bride on their shoulder very softly. They
consider tender bride as a very precious stone.

12.)What is the central theme of the poem palanquin

bearers?

The theme of the poem "palanquin bearers" by "sarojini

naidu" is to reflect about the Indian marriages and their
cultures. The poet has deliberatory used the contradictory
feeling of laughing and weeping. The bride is sad and is crying
as she is separated from her family.

13.)Why do brides cry?

Sociologists opine that the ceremonial crying of
a bride portrays her reluctance to leave her parent's house
and to give up her carefree childhood to begin a life of a
burden-bearing wife. Therefore, ceremonial weeping is a
natural grief signifying that she is resisting departure to her
groom's house

14.) Who is the speaker in the poem?

Definition: In poetry, the speaker is the voice behind
the poem—the person we imagine to be saying the thing out
loud. It's important to note that the speaker is not the poet.
Even if the poem is biographical, you should treat
the speaker as a fictional creation because the writer is
choosing what to say about himself.

15.)What is meant by Bridal laughter and bridal tear?

Bridal laughter refers to the happiness and blissfulness

a bride experience while getting married. Bridal tear refers to
the sadness that accompanies a bride while leaving her
parental abode

16.)What is a palanquin used for?

A palanquin (also called a litter) is a portable bed or couch,

open or enclosed, that is mounted on two poles and carried at
each end on the shoulders of porters or by
animals. Palanquins appear in ancient Egyptian paintings and
were used by the Persians and the Romans.

17.)What are the palanquin bearers doing?

The palanquin bearers carry the newl-wed bride in

a palanquin. They sing as they carry the bride to her in laws'
house. They tell us that the bride is very light to carry. They
don't feel it as a burden.

18.)How does the poet describe the emotions of the

palanquin bearers?
Answer: The poet describes emotions of the palanquin bearers
as being full of joy and pride.

19.)Where are the palanquin bearers taking the

palanquin?
Answer: The palanquin bearers are taking the palanquin to the
bride’s husband’s home.

20.)Why is the bride referred to as ‘pearl on a string’?

Answer: The bride is compared to a pearl on a string since she
is precious and like delicate like a jewel.
21.)The poem has shown two contradictory feelings of
laugh and tear. Why do you think the poetess has done
this?
Answer: The bride has mixed feelings. She is happy as she is
going to start her new inning with her beloved. At the same
time, she has tears in her eyes as she is leaving her parents
behind and going to her in-laws’ place.

22.)How do the palanquin bearers describe the manner

in which they are carrying the bride? Are they proud to
be carrying her?
Answer: The palanquin bearers carry the newly-wed bride in a
palanquin very gently and are moving very softly. As they are
carrying the bride to her in-laws’ house, they are singing along
and don’t feel it as a burden. They are proud to be carrying
her.

23.)How does the poet describe the bride?

Answer: The poet draws a very vivid description of the bride.
She states that the bride is ‘like a flower’, ‘a bird’, ‘a laugh’, ‘a
star’, ‘a beam’, and ‘a tear’. The poet’s intention of using such
similes is to get across that the bride is very fragile but
precious and needs to be handled with care.

24.)Explain the comparison ‘She sways like a flower’.

Answer: The bride is compared to a flower as she is very
delicate, fragile and beautiful like a flower, which moves or
sways in the air.

25.)What are the feelings of the palanquin bearers as

they carry the princess inside the palanquin?
Answer: The palanquin bearers are delighted as they are
carrying a royal bride to her in-laws. As they walk, they feel
that she is as delicate like a flower who sways at their song.
The palanquin bearers are so careful when they carry her as if
she were a pearl on a string. This showcases that they have
gained some respect towards her and actually treat her and her
emotion delicately.
26.)Why is the bride compared to a flower and a bird?

The bride is as beautiful as a flower and as light as a. bird. She

is very delicate,

27.)Why do the palanquin bearers sing while carrying

the bride? What do you think this song is about?

They are very happy to carry the bride from her parental house
to her husband’s house. They sing happily as they move along.
The song may be an encouragement to the bearers.

28.)What do the palanquin bearers do while carrying the

bride?

The palanquin bearers sing as they carry the bride.

Essay on Palanquin Bearers

Write an appreciation of the poem “ The Palanquin

Bearers”.

Introduction:

The Palanquin Bearers is a short but beautiful poem by

Sarojini Naidu. She was called the Nightingale of India. She
also played an active role in India’s freedom struggle. In this
poem, she describes how a young beautiful woman, probably a
princess is being carried along in a palanquin.

A lady carried in a palanquin:

A palanquin is a covered chair or bed on two poles

carried on shoulders. It was used by royal women of India in
ancient days. In this poem a beautiful young bride travels in a
palanquin. She is so graceful, slim and light that the palanquin
bearers carry her along gently and softly. They feel proud to
carry her smoothly, singing happily all the time.
The rhythmic movement of the palanquin:

The palanquin and the girl sway according to the

rhythm of their song. Their rhythm suggests the quick and light
beat of their feet and swaying bodies. The girl in the palanquin
sways like a flower that moves gently in the breeze. She sits
lightly and gracefully in her seat. She is like bird skimming over
the foamy surface of the river. She has an airly grace appears
to float in the air like a smile from the lips of a lover in dream.

The light and quick movement of the bearers:

The lady in the palanquin is so slim and light that
bearers do not feel the burden. They feel so happy that they
move along very gently and quickly and sing a happy song. The
palanquin is placed on two long poles carried by the bearers
and it looks like a pearl dangling on a string.

The bright and charming lady:

The charming lady couched inside the palanquin is a
bride, decorated in beautiful ornaments and fine clothes. She is
so bright and pure that she looks like a bright star in the sky.
She is lifted up like a ray of light lifted up by the waves. As she
is dressed beautifully, she may be compared to a ray of light.
The up and down motion of the palanquin is compared to the
beam of light on the waves and the fall of a bright star from
the lashes of the bride.

Conclusion:
Thus the bearers carry along the palanquin very
lightly singing a happy song.

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