Solution of English Grade IX || Unit 4 Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson || Summary

Unit 4

Reading II

Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson

About the Poem:

‘Crossing the Bar’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson is about death. The poet uses the metaphor of a journey to the sea is to describe the journey from life to death. Journey, acceptance of death, and faith are the major themes of the poem. The poem follows the ABAB rhyme scheme.

Stanza-Wise Summary

Stanza 1

This stanza begins with the transitional time between day and night. The phrase sunset and evening star indicates the end of the day. In a deeper sense, it represents the end of life and beginning of the afterlife.

The speaker hears that he is being called. It is the call of death. He sets out to the sea and he hopes that the sea will be calm, and won’t make the mournful sound of waves beating against the sand bar. The sand bar can be compared to a barrier between life and death.

Stanza 2

The speaker says the tide which was full of sound and foam, is now quiet and calm. Its strength is gone. It can neither produce sound nor foam. It came from depth of the sea and now going back to its origin. Here, tide represents life. Though he seems to be alive, he is dead as he has no energy left. He is now returning to the place from where he came to the world.

Stanza 3

The speaker says that he hears the evening bell at twilight. This is the indication of the end of the day, which will be followed by darkness. He wants no sad goodbyes when he departs. In a deeper sense, the speaker’s approaching his end. He asks his friends not to be sad after his departure.

Stanza 4

The speaker knows that the flood will take him far from the boundary of time and place. The physical world where we live is referred to the ‘bourne of Time and Place’. The word ‘flood’ refers to the afterlife journey. He hopes to see his Creator (Pilot) face to face after crossing the sand bar. He thinks that he will be able to see his creator only when he leaves the world.

A. Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B.

a. moaning - v. complaining

b. boundless- iv. never-ending; infinite

c. twilight- vii. dusk

d. embark - iii. go on board

e. tho’ - ii. though

f. bourne- i. a boundary; a limit

g. crost- vi. crossed

B. Fill in the gaps with the words/phrases given below to complete the paraphrase of the poem.

1. the sunset and evening star

2. the sandbar

3. on a tide

4. return

5. the evening bell

6. sad goodbyes

7. floating

8. God

C. Answer the following questions.

a. Where does the speaker have to go crossing the sandbar?

The speaker has to go to the sea crossing the sandbar.

b. Why can’t the tide make a huge sound or create a lather?

The tide can't make a huge sound or create a lather because it seems asleep.

c. What do the twilight and the evening bell suggest in the poem?

In the poem, the twilight and the evening bell suggest the end of the day. In a deeper sense, the speaker’s approaching his end.

d. Where is the speaker going without accepting sad goodbyes?

The speaker is going to a sea journey without accepting sad goodbyes.

e. Who is the only agent that helps the speaker to go far on his journey?

His Pilot (God) is the only agent that helps the speaker to go far on his journey.

f. Does the speaker fear death? Why/Why not?

The speaker does not fear death because he believes that he will be able to see his creator face to face in the afterlife. He believes that death is not the end, but rather a transition to a new life.

g. What does the pilot symbolise?

The pilot symbolises God (his creator).

Grammar II

A. Complete the following sentences with the correct adverbs from the brackets.

a. I see one or two movies every week. I .... (often/never) ..... go to the movies.

often

b. I let my roommate borrow my car just once. I ………… (sometimes/rarely) ……….. let my roommate borrow my car.

rarely

c. Maria eats cereal for breakfast seven days a week. Maria …… (usually/always) …….. eats cereal for breakfast.

always

d. Four out of five visitors to the museum stay for three hours or longer. Museum visitors ……… (usually/seldom) ….. stay for at least three hours.

usually

e. We occasionally have quizzes in history class. The teacher ……… (always/sometimes) …….. gives quizzes in history class.

sometimes

f. Subina always misses the morning assembly. She ...... (rarely/ never) ....... arrives at school on time.

never

g. In the desert, it rains only two days between May and September every year. It ……… (rarely/often) …….. rains there in the summer.

rarely

h. Rohit asks me to go to the winter camp, but I don’t accept his invitation. I ……… (seldom/often) …….. go to the winter camp.

seldom

i. Lisa and Samrat go fishing/ to dinner at least three times a week. They ……… (usually/seldom) ………. go out to dinner with each other.

usually

B. Rewrite the following sentences with the correct alternatives from the brackets.

a. Your friendship over the years and your support ....... (has/have) ........ meant a great deal to us. - plural subject

have

b. Hamilton Family Center, a shelter for teenage runaways in San Francisco, ......... (offers/offer) .......... a wide variety of services. - singular subject

offers

c. One of the major sources of income of Trinidad ....... (is/are) ....... tourism. - singular subject

is

d. The chances of your being promoted .... (is/are) ...... excellent. plural subject

are

e. There ............... (was/were) ............... a Pokemon card stuck to the refrigerator. - singular subject

was

f. Neither the professor nor his assistants ............... (was/were) ................ able to attend the conference. plural subject

were

g. Many hours at the driving range ...... (has/have) ....... led us to design golf balls with GPS locators in them. - plural subject

have

h. Discovered in the soil of our city garden ........ (was/were) ...... a button dating from the turn of the century.- singular subject

was

Writing II

Read the email below and write a reply to Asmita Praja. Express your sympathy and wish that she gets well soon.

From: salinabasnet2007@gmail.com

To: asmitapraja@gamil.com

Subject: Expressing sympathy and wishing a speedy recovery

Dear Asmita,

I was deeply sorry to hear about your accident. I want to offer my sincere sympathy and wish you a speedy recovery. Knowing how careful you are, I'm still wondering how the accident happened. I am certain that it wasn't your fault.

I'm glad to hear that you'll able to do some bed reading and writing after a week. That's great news! Don't worry about your studies at the moment. Your health is your top priority, so focus on getting better. I'll make sure to record all the lectures and class notes for you, so you won't miss out on anything.

Remember that I'm here for you, and if there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to reach out.

With love,

Salina