CBSE Class 9 English - Unit 6 - The Brook (Questions and Answers)

The Brook 

(Questions and Answers asked in exam papers in previous years.)

Q1: Where does the the brook come from? Where is it destined to be?


Answer: The brook starts its journey from dwelling place of birds (such as coot and hern) in the hills. Finally it flows into the overflowing river.


Q2: What is the message of the poem about life?

Answer: The poem tells that life is eternal.


Q3: How does the brook behave at the origin?

Answer: At the origin, the brook is happy, bubbly and full of noise like a small child.


Q4: Who is the poet of poem 'The Brook'? What parallelism does he draw in his poem?

Answer: Alfred Lord Tennyson is the poet. He draws a parallelism between the journey of the brook with the life of a man.




Q5: How does the brook sparkle?

Answer: The brook sparkles because of the sun rays shining on its water. Its sudden rush is depicted as sparkling motion.


Q6: How does the brook behave in wilderness?

Answer: In the wilderness, the brook is somewhat lazy and flows peacefully and quietly. It seems it is not in hurry as it passes around the stones and plants. It passes through aimlessly.


Q7: Read the following stanza and answer the following questions:

I chatter, chatter, as I flow 

To join the brimming river, 

For men may come and men may go, 

But I go on for ever.

i) Why does the brook create many sounds before joining the brimming river?
ii) What does brimming river signify?
iii) What does the poem highlight in the last two lines?
         OR
    What is the refrain in the poem? What message does it convey to the readers?


Answer:
i) The brook before meeting its final destination, makes repetition of sounds. It seems the brook talks about its completion of journey in a lively manner.

ii) The brimming or overflowing river signifies the ultimate soul (the almighty) where a little soul merges into it.

iii)  The last two lines highlights the eternal state of the brook (i.e. flows forever) and the ephemeral state (mortal state) of men.



Q8: ’Bicker’ means ‘to quarrel’. Why does the poet use this word here?

Answer: ‘Bicker’ means a noisy discussion or an argument. The poet uses the word ‘bicker’ to describe the noisy flow of the brook as it flows through the valley. This word also depicts the flow of the course of the brook with a gentle repetitive noise.


Q9: How does the brook behave in its old age?

Answer: In her final stage, it is peaceful, tired and quiet. It wanders around carelessly and spends longer time noiselessly.


Q10: "I make the netted sunbeam dance". What does the poet mean by "netted sunbeam"?

Answer: It means the brook has trapped the sunshine and it appears dancing in the disturbances of the brook.