iterature Chesa

Allinone English Language and

226

Stanza 5
Stanza 3 weak fires,.
Thewind blows out
You're very clever at poking fun at weaklings. and flourish.
He makes strong fires roar
Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, His friendship is good.
crumbling rafters, We praise him every day.
crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling
lives, Word Meanings
Flourish grow healthy.
crumbling hearts - Blow out - to stop a fire,
the wind god winnows and crushes them all. Explanation In these lines, the poet describes wind as both a
destroyer and a creator.
weak fires, As a
Word Meanings As a destroyer, the wind blows out the
other
Poking fun at - making fun of, Weaklings - weak bodies/persons creator, it encourages and nurture strong fires. In
/things Frail - weak, Crumbling - destroying, breaking, Rafters words, wind can destroy all weak things and can also
a separating process,
sloping beams supporting aroof, Winnows
herein used to separate weak from strong.
flourish athing which is already strong. The poet states that
if we are strong, then the wind is a good friend to us and
Explanation in these lines, the poet seems to be a little sad as nothing can harm us. We will praise the wind God everyday
well as accUsatory (critical tone). for building our strength. Thus, we should make ourselves
The poet calls the wind clever as it makes fun of all
weak physically and mentally ready to accept all challenges. Once
things. The strong wind represents all the difficulties and we are strong, we will easily overcome the challenges and
struggles that an individual faces life.The poet says that live our lives comfortably.
the wind destroys all weak things sUch as houses, doors,
rafters and wood. It even destroys people, their live and their Poetic Devices Used in the Poem
hearts with its mighty power. The wind God continue " Personification A figure of speech which is used for an inanimate
destroyingor separating weak until, only the strong people object or animals/birds look or feel human.
(who can go through hardships and face challenges) The wind is personified throughout the poem. Some instances dre:
remain.
Lines 5 - 8 There, look what yoUdid- you threw them all down.!
You tore the pages of the books, / You brought rain again. / YoUTe
Stanza 4
very clever at pokingfunat weaklings. (Here the poet is talking 1o e
He won't do what you tell him. wind, gently admonishing it, just like to a human being.
So, come, let's build strong homes, Lines 12 - 13 The wind God winnows (separates) and crushes them
all. / He won'tdo what you tell him. (Here the wind is personiieu
Let's join the doors firmly. aGod).
Practise to firm the body. s
Line 18 Do this and the wind will be friends with us. (Here the wind
Make the heart steadfast. personified as a frien).
with us. the windis
Do this and the wind will be friends Line 21 He makes strong fires roar and flourish. (Here
personified as a human).
as o
Line 22 We praise him every day. (Here the wind is personified

Word Meanings God).

determined which are
Steadfast - firm and " Metaphor A device which compares two things or
Firm - make strong, qualities

addresses the readers and unlike.

Explanation n these lines, the poet wind will not Line 12 The wind God winnows is a metapn
themselves strong as the
winnows'
(Here
asks them to make build strona for separating the weak from the strongl.
asks the readers to
listen to them. The poet wind cannot " Anaphora This means
S U C C e s s i v e

doors tightly so that repetition of the Same word in

houses and to close/fix the become bold and lines. The instances are:
encourages his readers to
harm them. He The poet asks the Lines 2, 3and 4
troubles in life. Repetition of 'Dont
strong SO as to face all the mnind as well as a Lines 6.7 and8
readers to practice hard
to getafirm Repetition of You'
any
they can face the wind and Lines 9, 10 and 11 Repetition of 'crumbling'
strong bodyso that to do so, the wind will Lines 14 and 15
challenge of life. If they are able harm them.
Repetition of Let's'
and will not
become their friend
NCERT FOLDER
uatp We have covered questions given in
the NCERT textbook along with their
answers./
hinking about the Poem (Page 31)
5 What do the last four lines of the
What are the things the wind does poem mean
stanza ?
in the first to you?
Ans. The last four lines of the poem emphasise
s In the first stanza, the wind the
blows so strongly that it
hreaks the shutters of the windows. essential theme that the poem wants toconvey. It
It
papers and even throw down the booksalso scatters the emphasises the need to be physically as well as
shelf. from the mentally strong. It tells us that the wind will
destroy the weak things but it flourishes the strong
ones.
2Have youseen anybody winnow
grain at home
or in a paddy field? What is the word Just like the wind, difficulties and struggles
in your
language for winnowing? What do people use for destroy everyone who is weak. It strengthensalso
those
winnowing? (Give the words in your language, if people who are courageous and bold.
you know them) 6How does the poet speak tothe
wind- in
anger or with humour? You must also have
Yes, Ihave seen agricultural labour (usually
women) seen or heard of the wind 'crumbling
winnowing grain, i.e. separating the heavier grains lives'.
from the lighter chaff by letting it fall gently while a What is your response to this? Is it like the
strong wind is blown. poet's?

The word for winnowing used in our language Ans. Initially, the poet speaks to the
Is Phatakana (responses will vary in different Hindi saying that it has thrown down wind with anger,
his books from the
languages). shelves and torn their pages. However, later the
poer'stone changes and he speaks
For winnowing, usually a cane container with grain
and a fan to blow air are used. humour, inviting it to attack him, toas the wind with
he intends to
prepare himself as if waiting fora 'friend'.
In Hindi, the winnowing fan called 'chhaaj is used by Yes, I have heard of the wind 'crumbling
the village pcople. My response is similar to the poet's. I lives'.
What does the poet say the windgod winnows? myself by becoming stronger and readywillforprepare
any
attack.
Ihe poet says that the wind God continue destroying
or separating the weak unit the strong remains. He II. Thinking about the Poem (Page 31)
eparates the weak from the srong such that only the
strong and courageous exist in he world. 1The poem you have just read
the Tamil. Do you know any is originally in
What should we do to make friends with the such poems in
Wind? your language?
Ans. Yes, there are many similar
lo make friends with the wind, we should make (Do it yourself) poems in my language.
ursclves physically as well as mentally strong. We Hint: PB Shelley's -Ode to the West wind
should make our bodies firm and hcart strong. We
should also build home thar arc stronger so that the Natesh Aggarwal - Toofan
Wind favours us.
 Exam Practice
Extract Based Questions

Nead the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1Wind, come softly. Ans. (i) (d) Wind
Don't break the shutters of the windows. (ii) (b) angry at the wind.
Don't scatter the papers. (i) (b) Anaphora
Don't throw doWn the books on the shelf.
(iv) The wind is being addressed as 'you'.
(1) The poet of the poem given in the extract is (v) It terrifies them with its fierce power.
(a) Robert Frost (b) Coates Kinney
(c) WB Yeats (d) Subramania Bharati 3He won't do what you tell him.
(iü) From the given lines, the tone of the So, come, let's build strong homes.
be said to be
poet can
Let's joint the doors firmly.
(a) friendly (b) order Practise to firm the body.
(c) angry (d) requesting Make the heart steadfast
(iü) The given lines tell us that the wind is
blowing (i) Who is 'He' in the extract?
(a) gently (b) forcefully (a) The fire
(c) continuously (d) slowly (b) The moOn
(iv) The literary device used in the given line is
(c) The wind
(v) In the poem, which is the wind symbolic of?
(d) The sun
Ans. (i) (d) Subramania Bharati (ii) The word which DOES NOT indicate the
(ii) (d) requesting poet's purpose is
(ii) (b) forcefully (a) build (b) practice
(iv) Anaphora (c) homes (d) steadfast
(v) In the poem, the wind is symbolic of trials and (iii) You' in the first line refers to
tribulations. (a) the poet
(b) the strong people
2 There, look what you did-you threw them all (c) the poet's friend
down. (d) the listener
Youtore the pages of the books. (iv) Through the given lines the poet is trying
to
You brought rain again.
You're very clever at poking fun at weaklings. (v) Why will 'he' not listen?
(i) Name the poem from which this extract has Ans. () (c) The wind
been taken.
(ii) (c) homes
(a) Rain on the Roof
(b) On Killing a Tree (i) (d) the listener
(c) A Legend of the Northland (iv) tell us the importance of being
(v)
strong
(d) Wind He will not listen as it is his nature to exploit
(ü) The given lines indicate that the poet is weak.
(a) trying to give readers a moral lesson. Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors,
(b) angry at the wind. crumbling rafters,
(c) trying to stop the damage. Crumbling wood, crumbling bodies,
(d) trying people to be strong. crumbling lives
given lines is
(iüi) The literarydevice used in the Crumbling hearts
(b) Andphora
(a) Repetition
(d) Metaphor
The wind god winnows and crushes them
(c) Oxymoron ()) How does the poet describe the wind?
address as 'you'?
(iv) Whom does the poet 'weaklings'?
(a) Good (b) Forgiving
(v) Howdoes it deal with the (c) Hasty (d) Cruel
S e c t i

wind god winnowS and crushes them

"Theindicates
(i) What does 'He' do to weak fires?
i) all" that
(a) It makes them burn brightly.
lose.
althe weak always (b) It extinguishes them.
only the strong remain in the world. (c) It helps them.
i the wind qod is alwayspowerful. (d) It teases them.
(d) the wind|tests the courage of the people. (ii) "The wind blows out weak fires/he makes
The word inthe extract that does not indicate strongfires roar and flourish" indicates which
destruction is qualities of wind.
(al crumbling (a) Constructive (b) Destructive
(b) crushes (c) Natural (d) Both (a) and (b)
(c) trail (ii) Why does the poet say his friendship is good?
(d) winnows (a) Because it teaches us not to commit the
same mistake twice.
Why does the wind first winnow and then
crush?
(b) Because it teaches us how to live life.
NWhy is the word 'crumbling' repeated in the (c) Because it fills us with confidence and
extract? courage.
(d) Because it ensures that we are successful in
o (d) Cruel allour endeavors.
D 6)only the strong remain in the world. (iv) Which wood in the passage means same as
) () frail 'brandish'?
iv) Toseparate the weak from the strong, the wind (v) How can we make friends with thewind?
first winnow and then crushes. Ans. () (b) It extinguishes them.
i To emphasise the destruction caused by the (ii) (d) Both (a) and (b)
wind, the word 'crumbling has been repeated. (ii) (c) Because it fills us with confidence and
5The wind blows out weak fires courage.
(iv) Flourish
He makes strong fires roar and flourish
His friendship is good (v) By being strong and courageous, we can make
friends with the wind.
We praise him everyday
Short Answer (SA)Type Questions

I Why does the poet ask the wind to Come mercy. It crushes all the weak and fragile things
softly in the beginning of the poem? including houses, doors and even human hearts
and lives.
he poet asks the wind to come softly in the
order 4 What does crumbling suggest in the poem Wind'?
beginning of the poem so that peace and
ay be maintained. When the wind blows fiercely, Ans. The word 'crumbling' as used in the poem
means breaking of things. In che poem Wind', it

XPRACMTI E
cates a mess all around. It disturbs everything
nd cveryone in he society. Therefore, the poet refers to he destruction caused by the strong
asks che wind to be sofr so thar it is harmless as winds. Its reperition signifies chat wind will
well as enjoyabie. destroy, everything,weak around it. The weak
people wil be 'crumbled' by the ditticulcies chat
How does the wind cause rain?
as if a
they face.
When che wind blows violendy, it
appearS
5 Whydoes the poet want people to have firm
Sorm is Coming. This storm bring dark rainythem to bodies andstrong hearts?
douds causes
places and then
Inake from distant
rain. Hence, the poct says that
wind causes Ans. The poct wants the people to have tirm bodies and
srong hearts ofigh the windand allthe ditticulties
sruggles and obstacles of life. According to him, if
How does the Wind nake fun
of the people are unhealthy and wcak, they will be
deteated by these dificulies.
Weaklings?
The makes
Lo the poct, wcak
fun But if they are physially strong and mentally contident,
uf strong wind, according they can resist all the hrdships boldly and successtully.
 Allinone English Language and Literature Coss
230 9th

have to face the strong winds, we as

humans
6Who allare disturbed by
the blowinq of the face many hardships in life. We must face thesealso
wind and who are not? hardships with confidence and boldness, otherwise
allpcople who are physically it will destroy us.
Ans Acording to the poct, detenmined, are disturbed by
weak and mentallk not 8 Give the central idea of the p0em 'Wind'
the blowing of the wind.
disturbed Ans. Thc Central idea of the poem 'Wind' is that we
Selfontident and strong people do not get should be strong in mind and body. The poem
stronger and
bv the wind. lntaI, thev come out as
confident than betore. motivates us to face any difficulty and challenge
with determination and inspires us to he
7What does the wind synmbolise? courageous. The strong winds representaing the
difficulties,
Ans. The wind, in the pocn, is a symbol of all houses diffculties of life, teaches us the value of
struggles and obstacles of life. Just like our
unshakeable determination.

LongAnswer (lA)ype Questions

1 Howis Wind' asymbolicpoem? Compare it 2 What destructive events are caused by the
with The Road Not Taken'. wind? How can we prevent these
Ams. The wind is a symbolicpoem as the wind in the poem destructive events from happening?
is symbolic of allthe difficulties, obstacles, struggles Ans. In the poem, the violent winds cause many
and obstructions that we have to face in life.Through destructive events. It breaks the shucters of the
the symbol of wind, the poet then teaches its readers an windows, scatters the papers, throw down
importantlesson that one must be strong and bold. books from its shelves and even tear their
Only courageous and confident people can face these pages. The wind, through it fierce force holds
difficulties and emerge victorious. thecapacity to cause a lot of destruction. Its
On the hand, in the poem "The Road Not Taken' by power can destrovs rafters, houses, door as wel
Robert Frost, the roads represents the dilemma of as peoples hearts and lives. We can prevent
choices that cach one of us have to face in life.Just these destructive events by being firm and
like it, the poem Wind' also contain a deeper, steadfast. We need to be positive and strong
metaphorical meaning both physically as well as mentally, besides
From chis comparison, it is justified that pocms can making our houses stronger.
with tls
have a deeper meaning than the obvious one they by beng strong, we will become triends
show. Under an able tcacher a student finds more wind. As a result, we will be easily able to te
picasure in tracking down the synbols and figurative thewind as well as the difheulries we face it le
meanings. In simple words, every word and cvery line then helps us in achieving succes and in
in a poem can refer to different ideas and thoughts. flourishing our lives.

PRAECTXI M
 Self Assessment
Extract Based Questions
Read the following extracts
carefully and answer the questions that
1 Wind, come softly. follow.
Don't break the shutters of the
Don't scatter the papers. windows.
Don't throw down the books on the
shelf.
(i) In what tone poet is
addressing wind in the given passage?
(a) Commanding tonc
(c) Scolding tone (b) Requesting tone
(ii) Which quality of wind is highlighted (d) None of these
in the poem?
(a) Creative (b) Destructive
(ii) Which word in the extract means (c) Constructive (d) Aggressive
'gently'?
(a) Break (b) Scatter (c) Come (d) Softly
(iv) Which figure of speech is used in the given lines?
(a) Personification (b) Simile (c) Metaphor
(v) What does the wind do? (d) Oxymoron
2 The wind blows out weak fires.
He makes strongfires roar and flourish.
His friendship is good.
(i) What does the wind do to the strong?
(a) It befriends them. (b) It helps them.
(c) It makes them strong. (d) It destroys them.
(ii) What does the poet advice us to do?
(a) To be strong and courageous (b) To close the windows
(c) To ignore the wind (d) All of these
(ii) Which figure of speech is used in the above lines?
(a) Simile (b)Metaphor (c) Alliteration (d) Oxymoron
(iv) Which word in the extract means the same as 'growth?
(v) How does the wind affect the weaklings?

Short Answer (SA) Type Questions

3 What does the wind God winnow?
4 He won't do what you tell him'. Who is he andwhy will he not do
as told>
5 'Make the heart steadfast'. Why does the poet say this?
end of the poem?
6 What is the significance of 'strong fires' near the
signify?
fires.' What do 'weak fires'
"The wind blows out weak every day?
us to praise the wind
Why does the poet want
Questions
Long Answer LA)Type Justify this by nentioning what has been
all weak things.
9 The wind deals very cruelly withpoem.
places in the
at various
Written
symbolic message of this poem?
or
What is the hidden
CHAPTER

12
Wind
by SubramaniaBharati

Central ldea of
he Poem
he poem depicts the power
Explanationof the Poem
ndand how it is of Stanza 1
destructive.
he wind, as described in
the Wind, come softly.
em, blows violently and breaks
Beything around. Don't break the shutters of the windows.
he poet has linked this Don't scatter the papers.
Wnd wvith the difficulties, powertul Don't throw down the books on the shelf.
d struggles of life. Just obstacles
iO that destroys everything like the
Weak, these difficulties can that Word Meanings
Sly break down also
weak people. Shutters - hinged panels used to close / open windows, Scatter - throw in different directions.
YSirong people can withstand
em Explanation In these lines, the poet requests the wind to blow gently and not destroy anything with
its force. He asks the wind not to break the shutters of the windows and scatter the papers
then,
Gve courgge andencourages
firm
us to here and there. He also asks the wind not to throw down the books from the shelf. The
emination. It givesa repetition of the word don't in these lines highlight the requests of poet for mercy.
o we
mUs0 message
well as ywillhave strong hearts
power to face any Stanza 2
hardships of life. There, look what you did- you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
Word Meaning
Tore - shred or break into pieces
Explanation In these lines, as the wind had not paid any attention to the poet's
blowing strongly. The poet says that the wind has threw down the books from reguest of not
torn the pages of the books. the shelf and it
The poet also accUses that the wind has also bring rain with it.