Wind (class-9th)

WIND

WORD	MEANING
SOFTLY	SLOWLY
SHUTTERS	DOORS
SCATTER	SPREAD
POKING FUN	LAUGHING AT
CRUMBLING	BREAKING UP
RAFTER	A WOODEN BEAM
WINNOW	TO SEPARATE
FIRMLY	STRONGLY
STEADFAST	FIRM, STRONG
FRAIL	WEAK
WEAKLINGS	THE WEAK
ROAR AND FLOURISH	RESOUND AND THRIVE

SUMMARY OF THE POEM

The poet describes the power of wind in this poem. The wind is compared with force in this poem. The wind can easily break window panes when it blows strongly. The books from shelf fell down and wind tears apart the pages. It feels like wind enjoys its power and laughs at weaker things.

CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM

The central idea of the poem is that we should be strong in mind and body. The wind will be our friend when we are strong. Actually the wind represents the difficulties and challenges we face in our life. we should encounter them boldly.

Question – Answers

1.       What are the things the wind god does in the first stanza?

The wind god throws down all the books. He tears the pages of the books. He brings the rain again. He makes fun of weak people, weak houses, weak doors, weak rafters, weak wood, weak bodies, weak lives and weak hearts. He scatters and crushes them all.

2.      Have you seen anybody winnowing grain at home or in a paddy field? What is the word in your language for winnowing? What do people use for winnowing? (Give the words in your language, if you know them.)

I have often seen farmers winnowing grain at home and also in their fields. In our language, we call it pachhorna. A chhaj is used for winnowing. It helps to remove the chaff from the grain. Nowadays, it is done with machines also.

3.      What does the poet say the wind god winnows?

He winnows everything that is weak, old and crumbling. He winnows weak people, weak houses, weak doors, weak rafters, weak wood, weak bodies, weak lives and weak hearts.

4.      What should we do to make friends with the wind?

We should make our bodies and heart strong. Only then we make friends with the wind.

5.      What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?

In the last four lines, the poet means to say that the weak always go to the wall. It is the way of the world to kick the weak and to bow to the strong. Therefore, we should make our bodies and hearts very strong.

6.      How does the poet speak to the wind – in anger or with humour? You must also have seen or heard of the wind ‘crumbling lives.’ What is your response to this? Is it like the poet’s?

The poet speaks very gravely. He wants to convey the idea that gods will be friends with you if you are strong. They will crush you if you are weak. Therefore, one must make oneself strong in heart and body. I fully agree with what the poet says.

Extracts

1.      Wind, come softly.

Don’t break the shutters of the windows.

Don’t scatter the papers.

Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.

a)      How does the poet want the wind to come?

The poet wants the wind to come softly.

b)      What does the poet want the wind not to break?

He wants the wind not to break the shutters of the windows.

c)      What does the poet want the wind not to scatter and not to throw down?

He wants the wind not to scatter the papers and not to throw down the books on the shelf.

2.      You tore the pages of the books.

You brought rain again.

You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings.

Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,

crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives, crumbling hearts –

the wind god winnows and crushes them all.

a)      What has the wind done to the books?

It has torn their pages.

b)      What has the wind brought again?

It has brought rain again.

c)      What is the wind clever at?

It is clever at poking fun at weaklings.             

Write message of the poem ‘Wind’.

If the fire is weak, the wind blows it out. If the fire is strong, the wind adds more power to it. It makes it roar and flourish. So, we should become strong. If we are weak, everybody will harm us. If we are strong, everybody will like to be friends with us. Even gods help those who are strong. They pay no attention to the prayers of the weak.

Discuss title of the poem ‘Wind’.

The word ‘Wind’ without the definite article ‘the’ refers only to the natural process called wind. That can be both good and evil, constructive and destructive depending on the circumstances and the attitude of the people.

List of the literary devices-

1.      Personification- You tore the pages of the books

                              He makes strong fires roar and flourish

2.      Anaphora-

·        Don’t break the shutters of the windows.

Don’t scatter the papers.

Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.

·        Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,

crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives, crumbling hearts –