NATURE -
THE GENTLEST MOTHER IS, Emily Dickinson
WORD MEANINGS
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A. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
1. How does nature
deal with the feeble, the wayward and the children?
Nature is
calm and patient with her children. She is patient with the feeble or the
waywardest. She does not discriminate among her children. Even her admonition or scolding is mild.
2. Why does the
nature have to restrain the animals and birds of the forests?
The
traveler hears denotes humans in general. Humans are also Nature’s children but
humans have a tendency to destroy animals and birds. Therefore, mother nature is
restraining the rampant animals and impetuous birds so that the humans do not
harm them.
3. Why do you think
the words, ‘household’ and ‘assembly’ have been used in connection with nature?
Nature is personified as mother, who cares for all its creatures; hence it is referred to as 'household'. On the other hand all the activities of nature from morning to evening are set. When evening comes, it gives way to all the creature to depart for the night and rest. This common manner is referred to as 'assembly'.
4. Why is nature’s
conversation ‘fair’?
Nature works in all aspects. Nature survives through every season and change. Nature looks after everyone in all their forms. This is referred to as fair conversation.
B. CHOOSE THE RIGHT ANSWER
1. The poem shows
us that
a. Nature is benevolent to her children.
b. Nature restrains her children amidst the human beings.
c. Nature is represented as an ideal mother who cares for all.
d. All of the above. ✔️
2. Nature takes
care of
a. Only large animals.
b. The smallest of insects and the ugliest of flowers.
c. The hills and the trees.
d. None of the above. ✔️
C. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING.
1. Her voice among
the aisles, Incite the timid prayer.
Explain this line.
Nature prays and acknowledges the voices of the smallest of creatures inciting the prayer, regardless of how unworthy the creature might seem.
Why has the word ‘aisles’ been used here?
Aisles are normally the pathways between rows. Nature keeps every creature in her prayer and when she prays, it is for all creatures in every place, seen or unseen.
2. With infinite
affection
An infinite care,
Her golden finger on her lip,
Wills silence everywhere
a. What is meant by
‘her golden finger’?
The golden finger indicates the arrival of dusk, which makes the sky golden.
b. How and why does she
‘will silence everywhere’?
After the evening as the night falls; and it is time to depart from all the activities: nature creates the moment to silence everywhere.
With all her affection and boundless care, Nature is seen to hush down her children with a golden finger on her lip and brings silence everywhere.
c. What trait/s of
nature do these lines reveal?
The last stanza of the poem brings us to the end of the night where there is a sense of calmness at the end of the day and throughout the night. It's a routine life of nature.
D. THINK AND ANSWER
1. How does the poet show that nature takes care of all, including those that are not even noticed by anyone?
The poet brings out the human elements of motherhood of nature. Since ages nature takes care of her children without any sense discrimination. She restrains the rampant squirrel and the impetuous bird. She prays for her every child, including ‘unworthy flower’, which humans think as inferior. With her affection and boundless care, she brings silence everywhere.
2. What feelings does
the poet have about nature? Give reasons for your answer.
Throughout the poem there is a sense of praising and gratitude towards nature and its functioning. The running theme throughout the poem is motherhood. The instincts of love, care, protection and unbiased compassion of motherhood are reflected beautifully in nature through this poem.
E. DISCUSS IN CLASS.
Even though humans are nature’s children, they tend to destroy more than nature can recoup. Explain this statement.
There is a sense of comparison between nature and humans. While Nature is unbiased and non- discriminatory, humans are considered to be destructive and selfish. We see Nature admonishing and restraining her children as travelers pass by the hills and forests.
Though humans are also Nature’s children, Mother nature perceives humans as someone who would pose a threat to her other children. The poem is a symbolism of nature as an ideal mother and questioning human behavior.
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