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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 3 The Bangle Sellers

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 3 The Bangle Sellers- ICSE Class 10, 9 English

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

EnglishMathsPhysicsChemistryBiology

Comprehension Passages

Stanza 1

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 3 The Bangle Sellers 1

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context.
Answer:
The lines given above are from the poem The Bangle sellers by Sarojini Naidu. This poem stands out as a social message that not only discusses the lives of Indian women but also the lives of bangle sellers. Although the poem focuses extensively on the stages in the life of women, it portrays the lives of the bangle sellers as well.

A bangle-seller talks about the various kinds of bangles he carries with him, and about the women that buy them. The poem describes the everyday life of bangle-sellers as well. The speaker of the poem is one such bangle seller and in the first two lines he describes what it is like to carry precious, ‘shiny loads’ of bangles to the temples, fairs and other such places where women can buy them. The third line is akin to a bangle seller’s cry for the sale of his bangles. He calls out to women who might buy these bangles. He thinks these bangles are the tokens of happy lives and happy marriages.

Question 2.
Who is the speaker in the poem?
Answer:
The Bangle Seller is the speaker in the poem. In the opening lines of the poem we see that it is Bangle Seller who says, “Bangle sellers are we who bear….. Our shining loads to the temple fair”. He describes himself and his bangles throughout the whole poem.

Question 3.
How are the bangles described in the first stanza of the poem?
Answer:
In the first stanza the bangles are described as lustrous, shining loads, rainbow-coloured, delicate and bright for happy daughters and happy wives.

Question 4.
What is referred to Rainbow-tinted circles of light ?
Answer:
The bangles are referred to as ‘Rainbow-tinted circles of light.

Question 5.
Explain the line’ lustrous tokens of radiant lives’.
Answer:
The bangle sellers invite people to buy their bangles by praising the qualities of the bangles. They say they are the shining gifts that promise happy lives in the future to the wearer of the bangles. He thinks these bangles are the tokens of happy lives and happy marriages.

Question 6.
What is the tone in this stanza? Quote.
Answer:
The tone is happy and joyful as evident by the line, ‘For happy daughters and happy wives

Stanza 2

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 3 The Bangle Sellers 2

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context.
Answer:
The lines given above are from the poem The Bangle sellers by Sarojini Naidu. This poem stands out as a social message that not only discusses the lives of Indian women but also the lives of bangle sellers. Although the poem focuses extensively on the stages in the life of women, it portrays the lives of the bangle sellers as well.

In stanza 2, the bangle-seller says that they carry different kinds of bangles, each catering to different types of women with different needs and preferences.
He says that some are blue and silver like the mist in the mountains, which are fit for a maiden’s wrist. Some bangles are of reddish hue like the flushed buds found along a stream. Some of the bangles glow like newborn leaves, owing to the dew and water from the stream. These are all representative of a young girl in her prime.

Question 2.
Explain ‘silver and blue as the mountain mist’
Answer:
This is an instance of a simile. Here, the color of the bangle is compared to the mist of the mountains. The bangle seller says that the blue and silver bangles are fit for the unmarried girls as they too are as pure and lovely as the mountain mist.

Question 3.
Mention the colours that are given or hinted at to describe the bangles.
Answer:
The colours are blue, silver, red and fresh green.

Question 4.
Pick out two simile from this stanza.
Answer:
The simile used here are

  1. Silver and blue as the mountain mist,
  2. Some are flushed like the buds that dream.

Question 5.
To what are the bangles compared?
Answer:
The bangles are compared to morning mist, flowering buds and new born leaves.

Question 6.
What stage of women’s life is referred to in this stanza?
Answer:
The stanza refers to the life of a young , unmarried girl.

Question 7.
Explain :

Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves.

Answer:
Sarojini Naidu here compares the colours of the bangles to to the transparent glory of the new born leaves and flowers. The colours of the bangles are suitable for a unmarried girl, as they are as pure and fresh as new leaves.

Stanza 3

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 3 The Bangle Sellers 3

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context.
Answer:
The lines given above are from the poem The Bangle sellers by Sarojini Naidu. This poem stands out as a social message that not only discusses the lives of Indian women but also the lives of bangle sellers. Although the poem focuses extensively on the stages in the life of women, it portrays the lives of the bangle sellers as well.

Some bangles are of the colour yellow like sunlit com fields. They represent the happiness of a bride-to-be on the morn of her wedding. Then there are bangles which are flame coloured- red, orange; symbolic of a bride’s passion and desire, especially on her wedding night. These bangles are luminous and transparent, but also tender. The tinkling sound they make reminds one of the sound of a new bride’s laughter and the clear, tender finish of the bangles bespeak her tears as she leaves her childhood home for her husband’s.

Question 2.
The word ‘some’ has been repeated in the poem for a purpose. What is it?
Answer:
The word ‘some’ represents the different types of bangles in the poem.

Question 3.
Explain:

Some, like the flame of her marriage fire,
Or, rich with the hue of her heart’s desire,

Answer:
The red and orange bangles symbolise the brides passion and desire. They are luminous and transparent but also tender.

Question 4.
Pick a simile from the stanza.
Answer:
Some are like fields of sunlit corn,
Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,— This is a simile. Here the comparison is made between the yellow corn fields bathed in sunlight and the yellow coloured bangles.

Question 5.
Besides visual imagery the poet also uses auditory imagery.Pick out the lines.
Answer:
The lines are:
Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.

The tinkling of the bangles is compared to a young bride’s laughter and the luminosity of the bangles is likened to her tears.

Question 6.
Mention the colours of the bangles in this stanza. What do they represent?
Answer:
The colours are yellow, red and orange representing the brides happiness and desire on her wedding day.

Question 7.
The poet has used several expressions which form pictures in the readers mind “fields of sunlit corn” and “circles of light”. Pick out more such expressions from the poem.
Answer:
Limpid glory and flame of her marriage fire are some expressions used in the poem

Stanza 4

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 3 The Bangle Sellers 4

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context.
Answer:
The lines given above are from the poem The Bangle sellers by Sarojini Naidu. This poem stands out as a social message that not only discusses the lives of Indian women but also the lives of bangle sellers. Although the poem focuses extensively on the stages in the life of women, it portrays the lives of the bangle sellers as well.

The last stanza focuses on the life of a woman after she’s married. The bangles for these women are purple with gold and grey flecks. They are representative of a woman who is of middle age or who has reached the mid-point of her life, where she has reaped the rewards of her strife. This is the age when she has already bore sons and is proud of her life as she supports her husband, be it in life or when worshiping the household gods.

Question 2.
What is the ryme scheme of the poem?
Answer:
The poem is made up of 4 stanzas, consisting of 6 lines each. Each stanza is divided into a quatrain and a couplet. The rhyme scheme the poem follows is aabbcc.

Question 3.
What do the purple and grey colours of bangles signify in this stanza?
Answer:
In the final stanza the poet talks about the pride of a woman who has lived girlhood and bridehood and motherhood, and earned a position as a matriarch. It is the phase in her life when her struggles have borne fruit. Therefore, this stanza has the air of royalty and pride etched in it. That is why the colours chosen to describe the bangles for a matriarch are purple and gold. The specks of grey add the touch of maturity that comes with age.

Question 4.
Explain:

And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
And serves her household in fruitful pride,
And worships the gods at her husband’s side.

Answer:
These lines are referring to the woman who has now seen life as a girl and bride and now is middle-aged. The imagery here shows that she has borne sons and nourished and cradled them close to her breast. It denotes that she has diligently performed her duties as a mother.

Question 5.
The patriarchal system is referred in this stanza. Quote.
Answer:
The mention of the patriarchy is done in the following lines:

  1. And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
  2. And worships the gods at her husband’s side.

Question 6.
What’kinds of bangles have earlier been mentioned?
Answer:
Bangles of different colours have been mentioned earlier: silver, blue, pink and green for virgin maidens, yellow and fiery red for the bride.

Question 7.
What hues of bangles are cherished by a bride ? What are they symbolic of?
Answer:
A bride cherishes yellow and fiery-red coloured bangles. These colours represent her happiness on the wedding day (yellow) and her passion on the wedding night (fiery red).

Question 8.
Purple and golden coloured bangles represent motherhood. How?
Answer:
Purple and golden coloured bangles represent motherhood. These colours are associated with the feelings of pride and fulfillment in the heart of the mother.

Question 9.
What fulfills the life of an Indian wife and mother?
Answer:
Rearing her sons, serving her family and sharing the proud place of being by the side of her husband at religious rituals fulfill the life of an Indian wife and mother.

Question 10.
What in the passage will repel a modern woman?
Answer:
A modem woman will be repelled by the patriarchal notions inherent in the passage: gender discrimination and insubordination of women In the social and religious set-up.

Project

Question 1.
Analyse the use of imagery in the poem ‘The Bangle sellers’.
Answer:
Naidu incorporates nature and the various hues of nature to represent her subject matter. She covers all kinds of colours to present emotions like hope, happiness, desire, love and pride. The after effect is a rainbow encompassing the different emotions felt by a woman in each passing phase of her life. Examples are as follows:

Some are flushed like the buds that dream
On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream,
Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves                                       –

This represents some of the bangles by comparing them to the transparent glory of the new bom leaves and flowers..
Then again she writes: ‘cradled fair sons on her breast’- the imagery here shows that she has borne sons and nourished and cradled them close to her breast. It denotes that she has diligently performed her duties as a mother.

Question 2.
How does Sarojini Naidu allude to the patriarchal system of her times? Discuss.
Answer:
Although it is only alluded to in innuendos, the patriarchal ideology lurks beneath the surface of the poem. The women are described as either happy ‘daughters’ or ‘wives’. Every phase she passes is referred to by a man in her life, father, husband, sons. The woman in this poem is fit into boxes that limit their existence to being a possessed object of patriarchy. Even if this poem is ironic, it still discusses the ideas propagated by the patriarchal society.

Question 3.
Pick out words and phrases which are examples of visual and auditory imagery in the poem.
Answer:
The poem consists of two types of imagery, they are a. Visual Imagery and b. Auditory Imagery.The Phrases; “shining loads”, “circles of light”, “silver and blue as the mountain mist”, “flushed like the buds that dream”, “Like fields of sunlit corn”, “like the flame of her marriage fire”, “Purple and gold-flecked” – all come under the Visual Imagery’. The Auditory Image which is used to indicate the sound of worn bangles is ‘tinkling’

Question 4.
Does the poem have feministic overtones?
Answer:
Yes, the poem give ample scope for feministic explanation. As in the final stanza the vital role assigned to women is explained with a tinge of irony.

Whose hands have cherished, whose love has blest,
And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
And serves her household in fruitful pride,
And worships the gods at her husband’s side

Question 5.
Pick out aparadox from the poem.
Answer:
The paradox ‘bridal laugh and bridal tear’ intensifies the attachment with the different colors of bangles to indicate the different moods and different phases in woman’s life.

Question 6.
Explain the use of figurative language in the poem.
Answer:
Many splendid metaphors are used to describe the colors of bangles. Rainbow-tinted circles of light, Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear, Similes are also used; Some are flushed like the buds that dream, Some are like fields of sunlit com, Silver and blue as the mountain mist.maiden, bride and the woman who has journeyed the mid way of life; these words explain the important stages in a woman’s life and the importance the role of the bangles would play.

Question 7.
What are the five words used in the poem to describe the role of a middle-aged woman?
Answer:
The words are- blest, cherished, cradled, worships and serves

Question 8.
Comment on the feminine elements in Naidu’s poetry.
Answer:
The poetry of Naidu reflects feminine sensibility with regard to her choice of words, passion and imagery. Armando Menezes remarked rightly: She had a woman’s love of words. They are not, to her, just convenient instruments of expression, they were things: Precious, lovely things, like jewels. Sarojini Naidu was careful regarding the selection of words that lent grace to her poetry and helped her to convey her inner most feelings. We find in her poetry various aspects, relating to the use of words, which she employed to express her thoughts in charismatic tone.

Extra Questions

Question 1.
What-is meant by,’ rainbow tinted circles of light? What kind of literary figure is  it?
Answer:
The phrase, ‘rainbow tinted circles of light’ refers to multi-coloured bangles which are in bright colours like the rainbow. The poet uses this metaphor for bangles and their diverse hues.

Question 2.
What are these bangles for? Why has the poet repeated the word happy in the last line here?
Answer:
The bangles are for maidens and wives. The poet has repeated the word happy as an oblique reference to the lives of these people who live a poverty stricken life and cannot be as happy as they appear to be. The bangles are happy tokens for happy lives

Question 3.
What colour bangles are preferred by virgin maidens?
Answer:
The virgin maidens prefer silver and blue bangles.

Question 4.
What rhyme scheme is followed in the poem?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme followed in the poem is aabbcc, which is a couplet for. It is mainly responsible for the melodious effect and fast rhythm.

Question 5.
Who is the narrator? What has been described earlier?
Answer:
The narrator is a bangle seller . Earlier the life of the bangle sellers is described obliquely. The poor bangles sellers work hard , going from fair to fair to sell their shining load of bangles but inspite of this they are happy . They barely earn enough to make ends meet.

Question 6.
In which context is the expression, ‘mountain mist’ used here?
Answer:
The expression, ‘mountain mist’ is used to describe the silver and blue coloured bangles for the virgin maiden who appears as innocent and delicately beautiful as the mist in the mountains.

Question 7.
Explain:
‘Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves.’
Answer:
In these lines the poet describes the bangles which are shining green like the fresh and vivid green of the tender, new born leaves.

Question 8.
Why does the bride have preference for yellow coloured bangles for her wedding morning?
Answer:
The bride prefers yellow bangles which are like sunlit com fields because this colour represents her happiness on her wedding morning and her secret longings.

Question 9.
Why has the red colour of bangles been compared to the flame of the bride’s marriage fire?
Answer:
The red and orange bangles symbolise the brides passion and desire. They are luminous and transparent but also tender.

Question 10.
Which literary device is used in the last two lines:
Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.
Answer:
The poet has used simile by comparing using the word like. He also uses paradox when he refers to the brides happiness on getting married( laughter) and sadness(tear) at being separated from her parents.

Question 11.
Why does the poet refer simultaneously to bridal laughter and bridal tear?
Answer:
The poet refers simultaneously to bridal laughter and bridal tear to bring to the forefront the dilemma faced by all brides when on one hand is the joy of marriage and on the other side the sorrow of leaving their parents. The poet highlights this paradox.

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 2 The Cold Within 

by

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 2 The Cold Within – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

EnglishMathsPhysicsChemistryBiology

Comprehension Passages

Stanza 1 and 2
Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 2 The Cold Within  1

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
Explain with reference to context
Answer:
These lines are from the poem, ‘The Cold Within’ written by James Kinney. The poem touches on how each of the people around the fire died because of the “Cold Within,” and because of their inability to accept each other. It so happened that due to an accidental or arranged event they were together on that bitterly cold night. However, they were not together willingly. Each had a stick and even if one would give his stick to keep the dying fire going they would have survived. But the first man did not give his stick due to racial prejudice as he notice that one amongst them was black. It was not the cold weather that killed them but the frigidity of their hearts led to their deaths.

Question 2.
What does happenstance mean?
Answer:
Happenstance means an event that might have been arranged although it is accidental.

Question 3.
Why does the poet use this diction?
Answer:
This use of diction is important because by saying that it is accidental, yet almost seems ,arranged, it gives the reader a sense that they are supposed to be there.

Question 4.
What is suggested by the use of the word trapped?
Answer:
The word trapped suggests that they do not want to be in the situation, but they cannot escape.

Question 5.
Explain the symbolism used by the poet.
Answer:
The poet uses symbolism to show that it was the coldness of their hearts which extinguished the fire of life. Fire, which symbolized hope and acceptance, might have saved the ,  characters but they refused to shun their prejudices and let it die thus sealing their wn doom.

Question 6.
What do the logs denote?
Answer:
The logs symbolize each character and how they “couldn’t bring [themselves] to give the fire” their wood in order to save all of them.

Question 7.
Which sin is hinted at in these lines?
Answer:
The sin of racial discrimination is hinted at. The first man does not give his stick because he does not want to save a black mart.

Question 8.
What does the phrase ‘six humans’ signify?
Answer:
By saying “six humans”, it is almost as if he is talking about all humans. If he would have said “people” then we might have different associations with the words.

Stanza 3,4 and 5
Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 2 The Cold Within  2

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context
Answer:
These lines are from the poem, ‘The Cold Within’ written by James Kinney. The poem touches on how each of the people around the fire died because of the “Cold Within,” and because of their inability to accept each other. The second man mentioned in these lines is a bigot and does not want to help the man who was not from his religion. The poor man did not want to help the idle rich while the rich man wanted to keep his wealth from the poor. They are consumed by the negativity of intolerance, envy and bitterness.

Question 2.
In stanza 3, why did the man refuse to use his stick of wood?
Answer:
The man refuses to give up his stick because of religious intolerance as he sees a man not belonging to his church.

Question 3.
Why did “the third one” refuse to use his stick of wood?
Answer:
The third one was a poor man in torn clothes and he did not want to give his stick as he envied the rich man his wealth and did not want to save the idle rich.

Question 4.
Why did the rich man refuse to use his stick of wood?
Answer:
The rich man thought of hoarding his wealth and wanted to keep his great amount of money away from the undeserving, lazy poor people.

Question 5.
Which is the symbol word used in these lines?
Answer:
The word used is stick.

Question 6.
To what purpose are the symbol words used repeatedly?
Answer:
The symbol words are used for emphasis.

Stanza 6,7 and 8

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 2 The Cold Within  3

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context
Answer:
These lines are from the poem, The cold within’ written by James Kinney. The poet talks about the feeling of revenge in the heart of the black man which prevented him from giving his stick to keep the fire going because he wanted to take revenge from the white I man. The last man avoided giving his stick because none of the others had given theirs.  The fire died and they too died of the cold, each a prisoner of the hate within, the coldness of their hearts which killed all of them. They all had sticks in their hands which they could f have given to keep the fire going but the hate in their hearts prevented them from helping others and so they too died on the alter of their frigidity and discrimination.

Question 2.
Why did the black man refuse to use his stick of wood?
Answer:
The black man saw his stick as a means to take revenge from the white man and so did not gove his stick.

Question 3.
What happened to the six humans? Why?
Answer:
The six humans died due to the cold. Their hatred for each other prevented them from giving up their sticks to keep the fire going and so they all died due to the cold. But actually it was the cold in their hearts which killed them.

Question 4.
What does this say about what prejudice can do to people and the importance of working together?
Answer:
Prejudice destroys not only our enemies but also us. The frigidness of people is what ends up killing them. This is important because this indirectly shows how fast arrogance, greed, and sin can “kill” us.

Question 5.
Analyse the title and whether it is appropriate.
Answer:
The Cold Within- is a good and appropriate expression. Cold-heartedness really is what killed the characters. This symbolizes their “coldness” and prejudices against each other. Eventually, this is what killed them.

Question 6.
Discuss personification as used by the poet.
Answer:
The use of personification is very artfully done. One line mentions “Death’s still hands,”suggesting that Death is a person who now essentially owns these six people.

Question 7.
Who are ‘they’ referred to here ? Where were they ?
Answer:
‘They’-refer to six men in a group.They were all caught in an extreme cold weather, sitting near a dying fire.

Question 8.
What were the logs in their hands ? What was their significance ?
Answer:
The logs in their hands were sticks of woods. These logs of woods needed to fuel the dying i fire, or these was no hope for their survival.

Question 9.
What was the obvious cause of their deaths ?
Answer:
The six men held their logs of wood back out of some prejudice. The fire died out, and they died of cold.

Question 10.
What do you mean by the ‘cold within’? How’it is responsible for their deaths?
Answer:
‘The cold within’ means the lack of warmth within,bom out of selfishness, greed, arrogance, etc. It is because of these negative feelings, ‘the cold within’, that they do not give up their sticks of wood which could have kept the fire burning and kept them alive.

Question 11.
What message does the poet want to convey ?
Answer:
According to the poet, the prejudice of race, religion or colour is sinful. We must rise above all prejudices to be kind, generous and helpful. We should not allow ourselves to be dictated by the ‘cold within’ which is self-destructive

Project

Question 1.
How does figurative language assist in conveying the theme and purpose of the poem?
Answer:
Figurative language plays a vital role in developing the poems theme. “Their dying fire in need of logs” literally means the fire that is keeping them warm, but also stands as a metaphor for their sinful souls. They are committing sins such as racism, envy, arrogance, revenge, and greed. By saying they need to add logs to the fire suggest that they need to help out someone other than themselves, or they will “freeze” to death. Opening up and not being greedy will warm there souls and will save them, unfortunately it has overcome them and is an impossibility.

Question 2.
Explain how diction is important in the poem with the help of an example.
Answer:
The line that Kinney starts his poem with is “six humans trapped by happenstance”. His diction in this line is very important to the overall theme of the poem. By saying “six humans”, it is almost as if he is talking about all humans. If he would have said “people” then we might have different associations with the words. Another curious use of diction is by saying “trapped in happenstance”. Happenstance means an event that might have been arranged although it is accidental. This use of diction is important because by saying that it is accidental, yet almost seems arranged, gives the reader a sense that they are supposed to be there. The fact that he says they are trapped suggests that they do not want to be in the situation, but they cannot escape.

Question 3.
Explain the importance of rythm in the poem.
Answer:
The rhyme of the poems sets up an easy read. This allows for your eyes to simply guide and take in Kinney’s message: the frigidness of people are what end up killing them. The rhythm is important to the theme of the story because it makes reading the poem faster. This is important because this indirectly shows how fast arrogance, greed, and sin can “kill” you.

Question 4.
Can we say that the poet has succeeded in conveying his point? How?
Answer:
James Patrick Kinney effectively portrays his point about hatred killing you by using diction, figurative language, and rhyme. His persuasion in this poem is really helpful in understanding the entirety behind his point. This poem really makes you think about yourself and the lengths to which you would go to either hurt someone else, or save yourself. Helping out someone you hate can be one of the hardest things that you have to face, and when you are put in that situation what would you do? Could you be brave enough to save someone you despise in order to save yourself? James Patrick Kinney has successfully used literary devises and narrative to project his point that prejudices control people’s lives and actions.

Question 5.
What is the tone of the poem?
Answer:
His tone seems condemning, scornful. Also, it seems to be warning you somewhat about the results of a cold heart.In the beginning, the poem unwraps as a story or a tale. The author uses negative language – ‘idle,’ ‘lazy’, ‘shiftless’.The people in this poem illustrate the coldness within and how destructive it is and how it works.

Question 6.
What is universal about the theme – that is, what can we all learn from the poem?
Answer:
One of the great challenges to our humanity is acknowledging and overcoming our natural tendency to think less of and discriminate against people who are different than us racially, ethnically, religiously or ideologically.Despite persistent rhetoric about prizing diversity, political debates often reflect disdain and contempt for those we disagree with and prejudices of all sorts are more readily stated. James Patrick Kinney in his poem“The Cold Within” reminds us what is at stake.

Question 7.
What point is the author trying to make?
Answer:
This poem had a very clear message conveys the message of the dangers, and even the futility, of discrimination and racism.The poet touches on how each of the people around the fire died because of the “Cold Within,” and because of their inability to accept each other. He wants to suggest to all humans to avoid prejudice as it would only bring one down and potentially cause our downfall. Discrimination cannot bring good, only the doom that awaited each of the unnamed characters in “The Cold Within.”

Question 8.
How does the poem relate to our study of the Diary of Anne Frank and the events of the Holocaust?
Answer:
The poem conveys how fast arrogance, greed, hatred and sin can “kill”. It consumes everyone irrespective of their caste, creed and colour. The Diary of Anne Frank also talks about discrimination and hatred and how it almost annihilated the human race. In the poem ‘The Cold Within’ it is the cold-heartedness really which killed the characters. This symbolizes their “coldness” and prejudices against each other. Eventually, this is what killed them.

Question 9.
What are the poetic devices (figurative language) in the poem? How do they contribute to the meaning/how do they effect the poem?
Answer:
James Patrick Kinney uses diction, figurative language, and rhyme to project his point that prejudices control people’s lives and actions.

The line that Kinney starts his poem with is “six humans trapped by happenstance”. His diction in this line is very important to the overall theme of the poem. By saying “six humans”, it is almost as if he is talking about all humans. If he would have said “people” then we might have different associations with the words. Another curious use of diction is by saying “trapped in happenstance”. Happenstance means an event that might have been arranged although it is accidental. This use of diction is important because by saying that it is accidental, yet almost seems arranged, gives the reader a sense that they are supposed to be there. The fact that he says they are trapped suggests that they do not want to be in the situation, but they cannot escape.

Figurative language plays a vital role in developing the poems theme. “Their dying fire in need of logs” literally means the fire that is keeping them warm, but also stands as a metaphor for their sinful souls. They are committing sins such as racism, envy, arrogance, revenge, and greed. By saying they need to add logs to the fire suggest that they need to help out someone other than themselves, or they will “freeze” to death. Opening up and not being greedy will warm there souls and will save them, unfortunately it has overcome them and is an impossibility.

The rhyme of the poems sets up an easy read. This allows for your eyes to simply guide and take in Kinney’s message: the frigidness of people are what end up killing them. The rhythm is important to the theme of the story because it makes reading the poem faster. This is important because this indirectly shows how fast arrogance, greed, and sin can “kill” you.

James Patrick Kinney effectively portrays his point about hatred killing you by using diction, figurative language, and rhyme. His persuasion in this poem is really helpful in understanding the entirety behind his point. This poem really makes you think about yourself and the lengths to which you would go to either hurt someone else, or save yourself.

Extra Questions

Question 1.
What brought the six humans together? Where were they?
Answer:
The six humans were brought together by chance. However it all seemed pre-arranged although it was accidental. They were trapped together and it was bitterly cold. It could be anywhere.

Question 2.
Is there any significance of the logs of wood in the hands of the six people?
Answer:
Yes each log is a symbol of a particular sin. Each log of wood is suggestive of a sin. If the logs of wood are put into the fire it would mean helping out someone , other than one’s own self. But if they are held on as they are, it means holding onto sins even beyond death. Each man’s prejudice- greed, envy, arrogance, revenge, spite, intolerance – are represented symbolically by the stick held by each man.

Question 3.
What could these persons have done?
Answer:
Each person could have relinquished his log to keep the fire going and could have saved each other from dying in the cold. Symbolically if they had rid themselves of their sins they could have kept alive the fire of faith and saved themselves from damnation.

Question 4.
The poet refers to a dying fire. Who were sitting beside it and why?
Answer:
The six men were sitting beside the fire to keep warm as they were trapped in a bitterly cold place .The poet refers to a fire which was slowly extinguishing’ as none of the six men were willing to keep it going by relinquishing their logs. Hence, the fire which was keeping them alive was dying and they too would dip from the cold.

Question 5.
Why did the men keep back their sticks?
Answer:
The men kept back their sticks and did not put them in the fire to keep it going because of the cold in their hearts. They were preys to the sins of racism, greed, intolerance, meanness, arrogance and discrimination.

Question 6.
Why was each man in the group unaware of self- destruction by his action?
Answer:
Each man was so consumed by hatred, racism, self-centredness, and arrogance that they remained unaware of the self -destructiveness of their action.

Question 7.
What killed the six men?
Answer:
The six men did not die because of the cold without. Rather it was the cold within their hearts that killed them. Their feelings of revenge, greed, hatred, selfishness, racism, intolerance and arrogance killed them. The poet emphasises the idea that it is the coldness within men’s hearts which leads to their death and doom.

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 1 The Heart of a Tree

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Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 1 The Heart of a Tree  – ICSE Class 10, 9 English

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

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Comprehension Passages

Stanza 1

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 1 The Heart of a Tree 1

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context.
Answer:
These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘The Heart of a tree’ by Henry Cuyler Bunnar. The poet comments on the advantages of planting a tree. The poem opens with a rhetorical question asking the reader what does the planting of a tree signify. The poet emphasises that when a tree is planted the sun and sky share their bounty like a friend with the earth . The tree which rises high helps in originating cool breezes , a home which is close to heaven for the birds to nest in and nurture their young ones. The music created by the humming of birds and breeze is like a heavenly song and the poet reiterates that these are all the things that are created when a tree is planted.

Question 2.
Why does the poet call the tree a friend of sun and sky?
Answer:
The poet says that the tree is a friend of the sun and sky because it shares their benefits like a friend and helps to create cool breeze to lessen the heat of the sun and the glare of the sky.

Question 3.
What is the shaft of beauty, towering high?
Answer:
The small sapling grows into a tall and high arrow like tree which stands stately in beauty.

Question 4.
For whom is the home to heaven anigh ?
Answer:
In the tree that rises towards the sky the birds build their nests on the high branches which seem close to heaven.

Question 5.
What is meant by ‘the treble of heaven’s harmony’?
Answer:
The sound of the breeze rustling the leaves, the crooning of the bird to their young ones and the sound of the creatures in the twilight all mingle together and create music that seems like a combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes which produce a divine effect.

Question 6.
What three things are created when a tree is planted according to the poet?
Answer:
When one plants a tree the things created are a friend ,beauty, and music.

Question 7.
Pick out some figures of speech.
Answer:
The poet personifies a tree by calling it a friend, he uses euphemisms like home to heaven anigh, towering high and treble of heaven’s harmony. He uses metaphors like hushed and happy twilight.

Question 8.
Who is described as a ‘friend of sun and sky’ ?
Answer:
A tree is described as a ‘friend of sun and sky’.

Question 9.
Whom does a tree give shelter ? How ?
Answer:
A tree gives shelter to birds by allowing them to build their nests.

Question 10.
Which literary device has been used in the line: ‘In hushed and happy twilight heard’ ?
Answer:
The literary device used here as alliteration.

Question 11.
Explain: The treble of heaven’s harmony.’
Answer:
The high tone ‘treble’ of the song of the bird is symbolic of heaven’s harmony. It provides an atmosphere of calm and peace.

Question 12.
Towards the end of the poem the poet refers to the longing in the heart of the one who plants a tree. What is this longing ?
Answer:
This longing is for the growth of his country

Stanza 2

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 1 The Heart of a Tree 2

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context.
Answer:
These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘The Heart of a tree’ by Henry Cuyler Bunnar. In this second stanza the poet continues eulogising on the benefits of planting a tree. The poet says that by planting a tree one ensures that there is cool shade and no dry spell as trees make sure it rains. The planting of a tree leads to new life to replace the one which has withered. The tree leads to a legacy that is the forest of the future and it adds beauty to the plains . The tree when planted as a sapling will one day grow into a tall towering tree and become a joy for everyone. The poet talks about the cycle of life that is very evident in the growth of a tree, which germinates in soil, grows and flourishes, then dies, decays and returns to the soil to support new saplings.

Question 2.
What is meant by the phrase ‘days to be’?
Answer:
This phrase is a reference to the future, the days which will follow.

Question 3.
Explain the line, “And years that fade and flush again.”
Answer:
Here the poet refers to the cycle of life which is never ending. Things bloom and then fade only to be born again to again bloom and fade or wither and die.

Question 4.
What is meant by the ‘forest’s heritage’?
Answer:
The new sapling planted will grow into a big tree which will be part of a forest and thus the legacy of the forest will continue.

Question 5.
How is it the harvest of a coming age?
Answer:
The future will see the tree in all its glory as a towering tree with a thick trunk which can be put to various uses by the future generations. The poet is here talking about transition from a tender youth to adulthood which is also a reference to the tree growing from a sapling into a tree.

Question 6.
Who is being referred to as the unborn eyes?
Answer:
The poet is referring to the future generations who are still unborn but will be bom in the future and will find pleasure in the sight of the tree which would have grown big in height by that time.

Question 7.
List two phrases which refer to the future.
Answer:
The phrases which denote future are- “days to be,’ and ‘a coming age.’

Stanza 3

Treasure Trove A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers Chapter 1 The Heart of a Tree 3

Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
Explain with reference to context.
Answer:
These lines have been taken from the poem, ‘The Heart of a tree’ by Henry Ciiyler Bunnar. In the final stanza the poet refers to It is the sapling as a thing that infuses life into the earth just like a heart. Whenever a heart is planted it will sprout into beaming life, and will create new life. Thus the person who plants a tree sees in it a symbol of growth, of regeneration and this shows his love for his family, for his society and nations. He who plants a tree believes in the growth of mankind, his neighbors, his nation. The man who plants a tree is likened to a man who plants a heart that pumps life. He thinks that planting a tree is like planting a new nation and it will bring peace and harmony to the Earth.

Question 2.
What motivates the man to plant a tree according to the poet?
Answer:
The poet believes that when a man plants a sapling he does so because he sees it as symbolic of growth and future life.

Question 3.
Does the man plant a tree because of his love of society and his nation?
Answer:
Yes, the man believes that if he plants a tree he will be planting a new nation.

Question 4.
How is the man holding the blessing on his neighborhood in his hand?
Answer:
The poet believes that the man who holds the sapling in his hand is actually in fact holding the growth of humanity in his hand because the tree is like a heart and will create new life on earth. The trunk is like a bridge; and the branches are a link to the cosmos. He will bring transformation and aid in the growth and prosperity of life on earth.

Question 5.
What is meant by a nation’s growth from sea to sea?
Answer:
The poet believes that the tree is symbolic and will lead to prosperity and peace in the nation. It will be a transition to peace and growth.

Question 6.
What is the reference to in the phrase ‘stirs in his heart’?
Answer:
The poet says that the feelings that are awakened in the heart of the man who plants a tree are feelings that hope for growth and transformation.

Project

Question 1.
What message is relevant to the present age in the poem?
Answer:
Though the poem was written many years ago when there was little importance given to ecology and environment yet it is relevant today also because it tells us that trees are an integral and important part of our ecological and economic growth and environmental well -being. In our times forests are being decimated for building houses, roads and bridges. Trees seem to attract none of our concern. But in the poem the poet draws our attention to the advantages of planting trees. He rightly says that one who plants trees, plants many things: beauty, peace, shade, harmony and good values.
He says that one who plants a tree:

Who in the hollow of His hand
Holds all the growth of all our land—
A nation’s growth from sea to sea Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.

Question 2.
Give two examples of alliteration from the poem.
Answer:
Examples are:
He plants a friend of sun and sky. (sound of ‘s’)
In hushed and happy twilight heard (sound of ‘h’)

Question 3.
What does the tree symbolise in the poem?
Answer:
The tree is used as a symbol of all the good in our lives. It symbolises peace and prosperity in our country and in the world. It teaches the vales of love and loyalty. It symbolises rich rewards for our future generations and represents a link of our present with the future. It stands a s a symbol of growth, prosperity and harmony.

Question 4.
Do you consider the title apt?
Answer:
The title of the poem is very apt and suggestive. The tree is the main focus in the poem and the poet refers to the heart of the tree. What kind of heart is it- it is generous, loving and magnanimous. It shows no discrimination based on colour or creed. It blesses all alike- all who take care of it and even those who neglect it. Whenever a tree is planted it turns the earth into a heaven and the poet rightly says:
The shaft of beauty, towering high:
He plants a home to heaven anigh.

Question 5.
Does the poet use the literary devices in the poem?
Answer:
Yes the poet uses metaphors, alliteration and imagery in the poem.The poet describes the tree metaphorically:‘a friend of sun and sky, ’ ‘the flag of breezes free. ’

He uses alliteration when he says: He plants a friend of sun and sky.
In hushed and happy twilight heard’
Visual Imagery is used in the poem: The shaft of beauty, towering high:, ‘the flag of breezes free. ’And auditory imagery is also used: ‘For song and mother-croon of bird.’

Question 6.
Why does the poet use repletion in the poem?
Answer:
Repetition is used to show how a person should feel after he/she plants a tree. The first line of the poem, “What does he plant who plants a tree?” is repeated three times, and is followed by, “These things he plants who plants a tree,” which is repeated twice, and on the last line it says, “A nation’s growth from sea to sea (new line) Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.” All put together it tells you that this man thinks that planting a tree is like planting a new nation and it will bring peace and harmony to the Earth!

Extra Questions

Question 1.
How has the poet described a tree earlier in the poem?
Answer:
The poet earlier describes it as a friend of sun and sky.

Question 2.
What social and ecological benefits of planting a tree does the poet refer to?
Answer:
The person who plants a tree not only ensures cool shade and tender rain but he also sows the seeds and buds for lush forests for the future generations to benefit from. He sows the seeds of development of the nation and the world.

Question 3.
In what sense is the tree ‘the harvest of a coming age’?
Answer:
The future will see the tree in all its glory as a towering tree with a thick trunk which can be put to various uses by the future generations. The poet is here talking about transition from a tender youth to adulthood which is also a reference to the tree growing from a sapling into a tree.

Question 4.
How does a tree planter do civic good?
Answer:
The planting of a tree makes the atmosphere fresh and pollution free giving peace and comfort not only to the one who plants a tree but to all and sundry. It makes the atmosphere pollution free and more congenial for all our neighbours and other people too.

Question 5.
Who holds ‘all the growth of our land’? Which land has the poet in mind?
Answer:
The poet might be referring to America but he is also talking with reference to the entire earth as our land or the land of all mankind.

Question 6.
Do you agree with the poet that a nation’s growth depends upon the wealth of trees? Why/why not?
Answer:
The tree is like a heart and will create new life on earth. The trunk is like a bridge; and the branches are a link to the cosmos. He will bring transformation and aid in the growth and prosperity of life on earth. The tree is used as a symbol of all the good in our lives. It symbolises peace and prosperity in our country and in the world. It teaches the vales of love and loyalty. It symbolises rich rewards for our future generations and represents a link of our present with the future. It stands as a symbol of growth, prosperity and harmony. A tree gives us seeds which sprout, and buds which bloom in times to come. It is a forest heritage as one tree leads to a whole forest in the future and a’ harvest of a coming age or in other words a reward and legacy for the future in the form of wood and a congenial environment. It is a link of the present to the future.

Question 7.
In what way is the poet relevant to our times?
Answer:
The poem is relevant today also because it tells us that trees are an integral and important part of our ecological and economic growth and environmental well -being. In our times forests are being decimated for building houses, roads, and bridges. Trees seem to attract none of our concern. But in the poem the poet draws our attention to the advantages of planting trees. He rightly says that one who plants trees, plants many things: beauty, peace, shade, harmony and good values. He says that one who plants a tree: Who in the hollow of His hand

Holds all the growth of all our land—
A nation’s growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.

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