Go To Index
THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE IS THE HAND THAT RULES THE WORLD (POEM)
Questions-Answers and Text Book Exercise
Q.1: Why does the poet compare mother’s hands to a rainbow?
Ans. The poet find resemblance between the mother’s hands and a rainbow because “rainbow” is symbol of peace, pleasure and happiness. It appears in the sky after rainstorm and indicates that the storm has passed and trouble is over. Similarly a mother is a symbol of pity and pleasure who creates a peaceful and loving atmosphere for the whole family.
Q.2: What is guided by angles and how?
Ans.The strength and grace of mothers is guided by angles. No one can destroy the spirit of the true mothers because it is protected by the holy angles. They bring God blessings to the mothers which help the mothers to struggle with the hard routine of life.
Q.3: Explain how the poet gives the credit for all great achievements of people to their mothers?
Ans. The poet gives the credit for all great accomplishment of people to their mothers because all the great personalities are prominent in the world due to the careful bringing up to their mothers. It’s only the result of mother’s caring guidance and training that the world is passing with the periods of great successes.
Q.4: What is the divine mission of women?
The credit of all great and outstanding achievements of people goes to their mothers. She is one who lives with divine mission. She bring up the children with love and dignity which later becomes the source of winning the true trophies of life for them. In reality, the real and ultimate source of success, progress and prosperity is the mother only.
Q.5: Describe the role of a mother as brought out in the poem " The hands that rocks the cradle.....?
Ans. The role of a mother is very important for the future of her children. She brings up and trains the children with her great pain and efforts. She is the first guide and teacher for her children to developed in them a high moral character. Mother also able the children to know the difference between good and evil. So a child is virtuous or his bad character depends upon the guidance of mother.
Q.6: Why does the poet compare infancy (childhood) with the tender fountain?
Ans. The poet compares infancy (childhood) with the tender fountain because childhood is just like a sophisticated and dedicated fountain which can be led to any stage of life i.e. good or bad. It is only a mother who can guide a very young child to build his destination successfully.
Q.7: What does it mean by “Sunshine streamed or evil hurled.”
Ans. Sunshine is a symbol of goodness and virtue. This phrase means that the structure of a man’s character depends mainly upon the mother. If the training of mother is good it mean that she has infested a high moral character in her children. But if the guidance is not good than the child’s character will spoil by evilness.
Q.8: Why does the poet say that the prayers for mothers on earth mingles with that said in heaven?
Ans. We all believe that the prayers said on the earth get mixed with the prayers said by the angels and saints in heaven. These are the prayers which lead the people to heaven, where no evil storm can destroy or worsen anything. Similarly, the poet says that fathers, sons and daughters are praying loudly for the blessings of God on the hand of mothers which mixed with the sacred song sung by angels. She is one who wipes away all the worries and anxieties from man’s mind and encourages him to face the dangers with grace and dignity. In real sense she is the ruler of the world.
Q.5: Describe the role of a mother as brought out in the poem " The hands that rocks the cradle.....?
Ans. The role of a mother is very important for the future of her children. She brings up and trains the children with her great pain and efforts. She is the first guide and teacher for her children to developed in them a high moral character. Mother also able the children to know the difference between good and evil. So a child is virtuous or his bad character depends upon the guidance of mother.
Q.6: Why does the poet compare infancy (childhood) with the tender fountain?
Ans. The poet compares infancy (childhood) with the tender fountain because childhood is just like a sophisticated and dedicated fountain which can be led to any stage of life i.e. good or bad. It is only a mother who can guide a very young child to build his destination successfully.
Q.7: What does it mean by “Sunshine streamed or evil hurled.”
Ans. Sunshine is a symbol of goodness and virtue. This phrase means that the structure of a man’s character depends mainly upon the mother. If the training of mother is good it mean that she has infested a high moral character in her children. But if the guidance is not good than the child’s character will spoil by evilness.
Q.8: Why does the poet say that the prayers for mothers on earth mingles with that said in heaven?
Ans. We all believe that the prayers said on the earth get mixed with the prayers said by the angels and saints in heaven. These are the prayers which lead the people to heaven, where no evil storm can destroy or worsen anything. Similarly, the poet says that fathers, sons and daughters are praying loudly for the blessings of God on the hand of mothers which mixed with the sacred song sung by angels. She is one who wipes away all the worries and anxieties from man’s mind and encourages him to face the dangers with grace and dignity. In real sense she is the ruler of the world.
Q.9: Describe the poetic diction of William Ross Wallace?
Ans.William Rose Wallace composed patriotic songs during the civil war which became popular. He was a friend of Edgar Allen Roe whom he resembled both in temperament and habits. He possessed a splendid imagination as well as poetic diction.
Q.10: How can the mother keep the young heart open and for what?
Ans. Mother has a very divine task to complete which starts right from the beginning of the child’s life and continues till the end. She keeps the young heart open in such a way that the child can understand and accept the divine commands of Allah.
Q.11: Write a few lines on William Ross Wallace?
Ans. This poem is written by William Ross Wallace, (1819-1881). He was born in Lexington, Kentucky. His first poem appeared in 1837. He was a lawyer by profession, but spent more time on literature. He composed patriotic songs during the civil war which became popular. He was a friend of Edgar Allen Poe whom he resembled in both temperament and habits. He possessed a splendid imagination as well as poetic diction.
Q.12: Describe the theme of all the four stanzas of the poem?
Ans.
- The first stanza is in the form of a prayer asking God's blessings on mothers.
- The second stanza describes the work of a mother.
- The third stanza is addressed to mothers.
- The fourth stanza quotes, in the first line, a prayer said by all mankind in honour of mothers.
--------------------
Words / Meanings
1. Hovel: a poor man's hut.
2. Rainbow: the coloured arch made of seven colours which appears in the sky after rainstorms. In English literature, it is said that treasure lies at the end of a rainbow. It is also a sign that the storm has passed and the trouble is over.
3. Unresting: always working.
4. Natal sod: land of one's birth.
5. Trophies: a shield or cup given as a prize for some great achievement, sometimes decorated with pearls.
6. Mingled with the worship in the sky: the prayer said on earth is also said by the angels and saints in heaven.
7. Where no tempest darkens, rainbows evermore are hurled: in the heaven there will be no more sufferings. It will be like the relief we feel after a storm.
No comments:
Post a Comment