D.A.V.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, AHMEDABAD
CLASS - IX
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
BEEHIVE : POEM – 3 RAIN ON THE ROOF
Back Exercise Question - Answers
1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.
i. humid shadows
Ans. ‘humid shadows’ refers to the dark clouds which are full of water.
ii. starry spheres
Ans. ‘starry spheres’ refers to the sky at night time which is full of stars.
iii. what a bliss
Ans. ‘bliss’ means a blessing.
iv. a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start
Ans. ‘a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start’ means that people
start having varied sweet dreams.
v. a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof
Ans. ‘a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof’ means
that when people are asleep, the memories of the past come back
into their mind in the form of dreams.
2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?
Ans. When it rains, the poet likes to lay in bed and hear the rain falling on the
roof of his room.
3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the
“darling dreamers” he refers to?
Ans. The poet has memories of his beloved mother. When he was a child, she
would put him and his siblings to bed and allowed them to sleep till late.
They had sweet dreams in their sleep. “Darling Dreamers” refers to the
poet and his siblings when they were children and had sweet dreams.
They were loved by their mother and so, were her ‘darlings’.
4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?
Ans. No, now the poet is not a child. He is an adult. His mother is not alive
anymore.
Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words.
1. How does the poet describe the sky before the rain falls ?
Ans. There were dark clouds hovering around in the sky. They hid the stars
with darkness all around. The poet compares the darkness with sadness,
as these humid shadows gently weep which pours down rainy tears.
2. Do you think that the poem, Rain on the Roof, is lauding the healing power
of nature’s rain ?
Ans. The poet is appreciating rain, especially when he hears it from a cozy bed
in a lovely “cottage. This rain and its sound have resurrected the fondest
memory of the poet’s mother in his mind. As the rain continues, the poet
tries to recollect all that caused him pain, yet at the same time lifted his
spirits.
3. What does the each sound of shingle create ?
Ans. Every raindrop on the tiles of the roof creates a rhythm with the poet’s
heartbeat. This evokes thousands of dreams making his thoughts busy.
While he focuses on the listening to the pitter - patter on the roof, his
mind starts weaving recollections of fond memories of yesteryears.
4. Who all does the poet remember while listening to the rain ?
Ans. The poet remembers his mother who use to put him to bed every night
and then used to look at him lovingly while he slept. He also remembers his
angelic sister who died early. He also remembers the young girl whom the
poet had admired at some point of time in-his life.
5. Is the poet, Coates Kinney, able to enjoy the rain or he reminisce sat the
lost time?
Ans. The general atmosphere of the poem is very somber. There is darkness
around but rain compensates it with the spirit of peace for the lonely
night at hand. The poet realizes how much joy and pleasure of sleep he can
attain when his head presses against his pillow to conclude the long day
into a goodnights rest.
