Class 10 English Solution New Course | Unit 5 The Voice of the Rain- II

Unit 5

Reading II

The Voice of the Rain by Walt Whitman

About the Poem

‘The Voice of the Rain’ is about the poet’s imaginary conversation with rain. The poem is a beautiful and powerful celebration of the power of nature and the power of poetry. It is a reminder that both rain and poetry are essential to life, and that both have the power to enrich our lives and make the world a better place.

The themes of the poem include nature's vitality, the interconnectedness of all things in nature, the idea of transformation, and the power of art. The poem is a twelve-line poem written in a single stanza. It is written in free verse, without a specific rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. Free verse is a style closely associated with Whitman, who is known as the father of free verse poetry.

Summary of the Poem

In the poem, the speaker asks the rain who it is, and the rain responds by saying it is the poem of the earth. The rain explains that it rises as water vapor from the land and sea, changing form but remaining the same. It transforms into clouds through condensation. The rain falls back to the earth, providing water to dry areas and beautifying and purifying the land, its place of origin. It gives life to seeds in the ground, helping them grow. The rain doesn't mind if its actions are noticed or not; it fulfills its purpose and returns home.

The poem draws a parallel between rain and poetry, suggesting a profound connection between the two. Just as rain fulfills its purpose by nourishing the earth, poetry too has a significant impact on the world. It suggests that poetry, like rain, has the power to rejuvenate and revitalize, enriching our lives with its beauty and significance.

A. Match the words with their meanings.

a. eternal - vii. never-ending

b. impalpable - v. not easily understood

c. vaguely - ii. unclearly

d. descend- i. come down

e. lave- vi. to pour out as water

f. atomies- iii. indivisible particles

g. reck- iv. to take care of

B. Fill in the blanks choosing the words given below.

[impalpable, recks, globe, drought, beautify, latent]

a. The river ran dry during the........

drought

b. It is still ......to understand how the earth originated.

impalpable

c. The company produces a wide variety of make up and skin care products designed to gently and effectively......human skin.

beautify

d. His greatest ambition is to sail around the .......

globe

e. Without training, his musical talent remained......

latent

f. What......it whether they win or lose?

recks

C. Complete the summary of the poem using suitable words or phrases given below.

[quenches, rhythm, mysterious, heal, atomies, condensation, ascends, showers, originality]

The poem is a conversation between the poet and the rain. When the poet asks the identity of the drizzle, she replies that she is the poem of the Earth. The rain expresses that it gives happiness to mother Earth.

The rain is a perpetual process which has different forms at different times. It rises from the land as water vapour and ascends high up to the sky. It takes the form of clouds. Though it changes its form or shape, its originality remains unchanged. It shows that nature is not fully understood. Some parts of it always remain mysterious.

The raindrops pour down from above to wash away atomies and dust layers. It quenches the thirst of the dry Earth and heals everything that is becoming lifeless. In other words, the showers make the Earth pure and beautiful.

Finally, the poet observes that the life of rain is similar to that of a song. A song also has the power to calm, heal, transform and thrill. In the same way, repeated evaporation and condensation purifies the rain. It beautifies the whole earth as a rhythm does to a poem or a music.

D. Answer the following questions.

a. What are the two voices in the poem? Who do they belong to?

The two voices in the poem are the speaker and the rain. They belong to the earth.

b. How is the cycle movement of the rain shown in the poem?

The cycle movement of the rain is shown in the poem by describing how it rises from the land and sea as water vapor, ascends into the sky, takes the form of clouds, and then descends back to the earth as rain to wash away dust and quench the thirst of the dry earth.

c. Why are the showers necessary for the Earth?

The showers are necessary for the earth because they provide moisture to the plants and animals, wash away dust and pollutants, and help in the purification and beautification of the earth.

d. How are the rain and music similar?

The rain and music are similar as they share common characteristics. They both bring happiness and rejuvenation with rain returning the earth and music enriching the singer with love and admiration from listeners.

e. How are the clouds formed?

The clouds are formed when water vapor rises from the earth and then cools and condenses into tiny droplets, which then accumulate and form larger droplets that eventually fall to the earth as rain.

f. List the pairs of opposite words in the poem.

rise/descend

rain/draught

day/night

reck'd/unreck'd (recked/unrecked)

C. Why do water and vegetable oil not mix? 

Water and vegetable oil do not mix because they have different chemical properties. Water is polar, while vegetable oil is nonpolar. This means they are unable to form a homogeneous mixture when mixed together, and they separate into two distinct layers.

Grammar II

A. Complete the following sentences using the correct form of verbs in brackets.

a. If Gaurab were the captain, the team ... (play) better.

would play

b. I .....(call) you had I known you were in Nepal.

would have called

c. If he ... ....(not/come ) to Nepal. he would not have seen Mt. Everest.

didn't come

d. Had you arrived a bit earlier, you... . . ..(see) Manashi.

would have seen

e. We could slow down global warming if we... ....(reduce) eneray consumption.

reduced

f. If he were to see me, he .......(know) me at once.

would know

g. Were Rijisa in the USA, she... .. . (be) working for a company.

would be

h. How would you feel if someone .....(ask) you for an autograph?

asked

i. What....(you/do) if Keshab had proposed you for marriage?

would you have done

j. If I ......(have) a life jacket, I could certainly swim across the river.

had

B. Complete the following sentences with appropriate clauses.

a. If you don't leave soon,......

If you don't leave soon, you will miss your bus.

b. If it rains in winter,......

If it rains in winter, you will feel colder.

c. ...... as long as you tell the truth.

You will not get into trouble as long as you tell the truth.

e. A country cannot develop unless ......

A country cannot develop unless it invests in education and infrastructure.

f. .......if they insult you?

What will you do if they insult you?

Writing II

B. Write a letter of complaint to the concerned authority about the unmanaged garbage in your locality. Mention the hazards of unmanaged garbage to public health and suggest some measures to solve the problem.

[Address]

[Date]

To

The Mayor,

Shukla Gandaki Municipality, Tanahun

Dear Sir,

I am writing to bring to your attention the unmanaged garbage situation in our locality. The current state of affairs is appalling and a cause for great concern. The piles of waste that have accumulated over time have become a breeding ground for diseases and pose a severe threat to public health. It is crucial that we address this issue immediately.

The unmanaged garbage in our locality is not only an eyesore, but it also poses a severe threat to the health and well-being of our community. The waste has been piling up for weeks, and it is now overflowing onto the streets. The odor from the garbage is intolerable, and it has attracted rodents, insects, and other pests that carry diseases.

As you are aware, the presence of unmanaged garbage can lead to the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. The stench and filth can also cause respiratory problems, skin infections, and allergies. The situation is unacceptable and calls for urgent action.

In light of this, I would like to suggest some measures that can be taken to address this problem. Firstly, we need to increase the frequency of garbage collection. The current schedule is insufficient and does not cater to the needs of the community. Secondly, we need to sensitize the community on the importance of proper waste disposal. This can be done through public awareness campaigns. Finally, we need to consider investing in modern waste management systems that are more efficient and eco-friendly.

In conclusion, I urge you to take immediate action to address the unmanaged garbage situation in our locality. The health and well-being of our community are at risk, and we cannot afford to ignore this issue any longer.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]