Class 9 English Poem “Rain on the Roof” Question Answer

I. 1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.

(नोंथांनि थाखाय गाहायनि बाथ्रा खोन्दोबफोरा मा ओंथि दं? थाखो खथायाव सावराय।)

(i) humid shadows

(ii) starry spheres

(iii) what a bliss

(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start

(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof

Answer :

(i) humid shadows : It means dark, moisture-filled clouds that create a gloomy and rainy atmosphere. (बेनि ओंथिया जाबाय खोमसि, सिदोमाजों बुंफबनाय जोमैफोर जाय मोनसे खोमसि आरो अखानि आबहावा सोमजिहोयो।)

(ii) starry spheres : It means the night sky filled with stars. (बेनि ओंथिया जाबाय हरनि अख्रांआ हाथरखिफोरजों बुंफबनाय।)

(iii) what a bliss : It means a feeling of great joy and happiness. (बेनि ओंथिया जाबाय जोबोद रंजानायनि मोन्दांथि आरो गोजोन्नाय ।) 

(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start : It means many imaginative and dreamy thoughts start becoming active in the poet’s mind. (बेनि ओंथिया जाबाय खन्थाइगिरिनि गोसोयाव गोबां सानबोलावरि आरो सिमां नुनाय सानस्रिफोरा सांग्रां जानो हमो।)

(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof : It means many memories are woven together like threads to form a complete picture in the mind. (बेनि ओंथिया बेनोदि गोबां गोसोखांथिफोरा गोसोयाव मोनसे आबुं सावगारि सोरजिनो थाखाय खुन्दुंफोर बायदि थुननानै/दानानै दोननाय जायो।)

2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?

(अखा हाब्ला खन्थाइगिरिया मा खालामनो मोजां मोनो?)

Answer : When it rains, the poet likes to lie on his bed and listen to the soft sound of raindrops falling on the roof. (जेब्ला अखा हायो अब्ला खन्थाइगिरिया गावनि बिसनायाव उन्दुनानै उखुमआव गोग्लैनाय अखानि थरथिंफोरनि गुरै सोदोबखौ खोनानो मोजां मोनो।)

Or

      When it rains, the poet likes to lie in his cozy cottage-chamber bed with his head pressed against a pillow. He enjoys listening to the soft patter (sound) of the rain on the roof.

3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to? 

(खन्थाइगिरिनि गोसोयाव फैनाय मोनसे गुबै गोसोखांथिया मा? बिथाङा रुजुनाय ‘डार्लिं ड्रिमार्सफोरा सोर?)

Answer : The single major memory that comes to the poet is of his loving mother. The “darling dreamers” are the poet and his siblings (children) who were lovingly cared for by their mother.

(खन्थाइगिरिनि गोसोयाव मोनसेल’ गाहाइ गोसोखांथिया जादों बिनि अनजाथाव बिमा। “डार्लिं ड्रिमार्स” फोरा खन्थाइगिरि आरो बिनि बिदा-फंबाय (गथ’फोर) जायखौ बिमाया अननानै जोथोन लायोमोन।)

4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?

(खन्थाइगिरिया दा गथ’सा नामा? बिनि बिमाया दासिमबो थांनानै दं नामा?)

Answer : No, the poet is not a child now; he is now a grown-up man. His mother is no longer alive, and he remembers her with love.

(नङा, खन्थाइगिरिया दा गथ’ नङा; बियो सासे देरफुनाय सुबुं। बिनि बिमाया दा थांनानै गैया आरो बियो बिखौ अननायजों गोसोखांदों।)

II. 1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?

(जेब्ला नों उन्दै गथ’सामोन, अब्ला नोंनि बिमाया खन्थाइगिरिनि बादि नोंखौ जोथोनै दोनदोंमोन नामा ?)

Answer : Yes, when I was a young child, my mother tucked me in and made me feel safe and comfortable. 

2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?

(नोंथाङा अखाखौ मोजां मोनो नामा? खन्थाइयाव फोरमायनाय बायदि दिदोमै एबा गोबां अखा हायोब्ला नोंथाङा मा खालामो?)

Answer : Yes, I like rain. When it rains steadily or heavily, I like to stay indoors, sit near the window, and listen to the sound of raindrops. It makes me feel calm and happy.

(नंगौ, आं अखाखौ मोजां मोनो। जेब्ला दिदोमै एबा गोबां अखा हायो, आं न’नि सिङाव थानानै, खिरखि खाथियाव जिरायनानै अखानि थरथिंफोरनि सोदोबखौ खोनानो मोजां मोनो। बेयो आंखौ गोजोन आरो खुसि मोनहोयो।) 

3. Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter etc. during rain.

(अखा हाब्ला बयहाबो जिरायनो थाखाय गंसे आरामगोनां बिसिना थायो नामा? नोंथांनि सोरगिदिं नाय आरो फोरमाय दि माबोरै गुबुन गुबुन रोखोमनि सुबुंफोर एबा जिब-जुनारफोरा अखा हानाय समाव गावसोरनि समखौ हगारो, आश्रय नागिरो बायदि।)

Answer : No, everybody does not have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains. Poor people and homeless people often take shelter under trees, bridges, or small huts. Some continue working even in the rain. Animals and birds also look for shelter; birds hide in trees, and animals stay in sheds or safe places to protect themselves from rain.