📘 Maharashtra State Board – Standard IX
English Kumarbharati
Chapter 3.1 – Silver
Paraphrase of the Poem
The moon spreads her silver light slowly and silently at night. She looks carefully in every direction and sees silver fruits hanging on the trees. The windows beneath the grassy roofs are touched by her shining beams. The dog lies curled up in his kennel like a log of wood, and his paws glow in the silver light. The doves are fast asleep in their dark cote, and their white breasts shine in the moonlight. A harvest mouse moves softly, and the moonlight reflects on its claws and bright eye. In the quiet stream, near the silver reeds, the still fish sparkle in the shining light.
Appreciation of the Poem
The title of the poem is Silver. It is written by Walter de la Mare. The title is very suitable because the entire poem describes how the moonlight turns everything into a silvery scene at night.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is aa, bb, cc, dd, ee, ff, gg. The poem is written in rhyming couplets, which gives it a smooth and musical flow. The regular rhyme pattern makes the poem pleasant to read and easy to remember.
The central idea of the poem is to describe the magical and peaceful effect of moonlight on the countryside. The poet shows how the moon quietly spreads her light and changes the appearance of everything into silver. The poem highlights the beauty of nature at night.
The poet has used personification as an important figure of speech. In the line, “This way and that she peers and sees,” the moon is given human qualities. The repeated use of the word “silver” creates strong imagery and helps the reader clearly imagine the scene.
I like this poem because it creates a calm and beautiful picture of nature. The imagery is vivid and soothing. The repetition of the word “silver” adds charm to the poem and makes the scene appear magical and peaceful.
🌟Warming Up!
1. Imagine that your class has to be divided into groups or houses. Each house will have its own colour, symbol/emblem, motto, dress code, and a common room with suitable furniture and objects of interest. Think of sets of four names for the groups.
Ans:
| Category | Names |
|---|---|
| Metals | Steel, Copper, Silver, Gold |
| Flowers | Rose, Lotus, Lily, Sunflower |
| Stars or Galaxies | Milky Way, Sun, Andromeda, Sirius |
| Trees | Neem, Banyan, Gulmohur, Ashoka |
| Seasons | Summer, Winter, Spring, Autumn |
2. Read the lines of the following poem. Guess and fill in suitable words to make the lines rhyme.
Ans:
Soon after dawn, rises the sun;
It wakes and enlivens every one.
It scares away the long, dark night;
The shining stars go out of sight.
From tree to tree birds flit and fly;
Searching for food, with a sharp eye.
The buds that open now show their colour;
As flowers they dance with beauty and splendour.
The hill slope wears a grassy green dress;
The curved sparkling river shines with golden brightness.
The cock then crows to give a loud call;
Come on! Wake up, folks! One and all.
I then wake up to say, “Good Morning” to all;
Let’s look forward to a golden day.
🌌 In Between the Poetry!
Which of the objects, animals, etc. in the poem are at rest without any motion?
Ans: The fruits, trees, casements (windows), thatch, kennel, dog, cote, doves, fish, reeds, and the stream are at rest without any movement.
📝 ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. If you were asked to draw a detailed picture of the scene described in the poem, what objects, animals, natural features, etc. would you show in the picture? Make a list.
Ans:
Objects: Houses, windows, kennel, nests.
Animals: Dog, doves, mouse, fish.
Natural Features: Moon, moonlight, trees, fruits, stream, reeds.
2. Write the rhyming words and the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Ans: Rhyming Words:
- moon – shoon
- sees – trees
- catch – thatch
- log – dog
- peep – sleep
- by – eye
- gleam – stream
Rhyme Scheme:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is aa, bb, cc, dd, ee, ff, gg.
3. Underline the word silver/silvery in the poem. In which lines does it occur? What pattern does it show?
Ans: The words “silver” and “silvery” appear in almost every alternate line of the poem. This shows a clear pattern of repetition, which creates a musical effect and highlights the shining moonlight.
4. Can you think of a parallel scene of dawn or evening when everything is steeped in golden light?
Ans: Yes, at sunrise or sunset, the sky and surroundings are covered in golden light. The sea, buildings, trees, and even clouds appear golden and beautiful during that time.
5. The same landscape appears different at different times. What message can we draw from this?
Ans: The message we can draw is that things may look different depending on the time and situation. Just like the landscape changes in different light, our views and feelings may also change according to circumstances.
6. Read: ‘The Listeners’ and ‘Someone’ – poems by Walter de la Mare.
Ans: Students should read these poems from their textbook for better understanding and appreciation.