Ballad of the Tempest
I Read the following extracts and answer the questions given below them:
1.We were crowded in the cabin, Not a soul would dare to sleep.
a)Who were crowded in the cabin? OR Who does ‘we’ refer to?
A)The sailors.
b)Why were they crowded?
A:-They were crowded in the cabin as the sea was on storm and they thought their end was near.
c)Why did none of them dare to sleep?
A:-All the sailors were worried about the impending storm and hence none dared to sleep.
2.“Isn’t God upon the ocean, Just the same as on the land?”
a)Who asked the question? OR Who is the speaker?
A:-The captain’s daughter
b)Why does the speaker say this?
A:-She said so because the captain said that they were lost and declared his fears about their safety.
c)What effect did it have on the sailors? OR How does the statement have an impact on others?
A:-On hearing the little girl, the despondent sailors cheered up, believing in the protective love of God towards them.
d)How does the poet highlight the power of faith through these lines?
A:-Though the sailors had been praying, they did not completely believe in their prayer and thought their end wasnear. But the faith of the little girl transformed them and they placed themselves fully in the care of God and were saved.
3.“Isn’t God upon the ocean Just the same as on the land.”
a) Who asked this question?
A:-The captain’s little daughter.
b)When did the speaker say so?
A:-When the captain was shouting desperately that they were lost
c)What does it mean?
A:-It means that God is omnipresent and will protect his children on land and ocean. It is necessary that we submitourselves to the complete care and protection of God and let His will have its way.
4.“We are lost”, shouted the captain.
a)Who does ‘we’ refer to?
A:-The ship with its crew.
b)Why did the speaker make the statement?
A:-The crew is all crowded in the cabin as the sea is on storm and they think their end is near. They shudder at thethought of the hungry sea roaring in rage, ready to devour them all. The captain himself, having lost hope, announces that they are lost.
c)What reaction did the speaker get?
a) A:-When the captain said so, his little daughter calmly took his hand and reminded him that the Lord, who protectedhis people on the land, will protect them out on the sea too. The little girl’s faith in God revived the faith of the sailors too and instead of growing more and more despondent, they grew hopeful and cheerful.
5. ‘We were crowded in the cabin, Not a soul would dare to sleep’
a. Who does the word ‘we’ refer to here?
A:- Here we refer to the group of sailors in that particular ship.
b. Not a soul would dare to sleep-why was it so?
A. In the midnight during the winter season, their ship caught by the violent storm. So the sailors would not dare to sleep because of fear.
II Answer the following:-
1. The poet says ‘This is a fearful thing in winter….’ According to the poet, what is referred to as a fearful thing in winter? How would be the condition in the deep sea during winter on the sea?
A:- The sailors need to carry life jackets. There should also be small boats which might be of use if the ship is wrecked. The sailors need to be good swimmers. They should have good knowledge of the direction of the wind, sea, and sea creatures.
2. How does ‘it’ affect the sailors? (Read the first two stanzas)
A:- During winter the seawater will be very chill and became frozen into ice. If the ship shattered, the condition would be serious. The sailors had to face many difficulties. It affects the sailors to death. The rescue was a formidable task.
3. The speaker and his crew-mates sat in darkness and prayed. What did they hear?
A:- When the speaker and his crewmates were busy with their prayers, they heard the shout of the captain that they were lost.
4.When the captain shouted “We are lost”, how did his daughter react?
Answer:The captain’s daughter was little and innocent. In this situation, she reacted calmly. She took the captain’s cold hand and whispered. God is there upon the sea as God on the land. God was the same everywhere.
5.The crew-mates kissed the maiden and spoke in better cheers. What made them feel cheerful?
Answer:By hearing the innocent words of the little maiden, the crew-mates got some hope. The sudden changes occurred in their heart. They kissed her and cheered up.
6.What picture of the sea does the poet create in the poem ‘The Ballad of the Tempest’?
Answer:The picture of the sea is of destruction. The poet creates the picture of the sea as a monster ready to swallow everything including the ship. It is as if the sea colludes with death to destroy the sailors.
7.The sailors in ‘Ballad of the Tempest’ shuddered in silence. When did they do so?
Answer:The sailors were huddled in the cabin as there was a storm raging outside. When the captain ordered the mast to be cut so as to save the vessel, the sailors shuddered in silence.
8.‘A ship is always safe at the shore, But it was not built for that’. What does this mean?
Answer:The ship was built to sail on the sea and ocean. If we keep the ship at the shore, it is safe. But what is the use? Ships sail on the sea, it should face the dangers that would come across. Then only its purpose survived. So it was not built to keep at the shore. Similarly, the man was born to some purpose, if he was not ready to face the problems or challenges of life, what is the use of his life. So we are ready to face the challenges. Read And Appreciate
9.The poet uses the phrase ‘the hungry sea’. What can the reader imagine from this?
Answer:The hungry sea means, the sea wanted something to eat. When the violent storm was deep and the ship was going to wreck. The seamen or the sailors had to face great risk. In this situation, the crew might think that they might become victims. The would feel like this because of fear. The reader could imagine that sailor’s life is not safe. The figure of speech employed in lines 11 and 12 is personification.
10.The poet uses expressions which are unusual, evocative, and rhythmic. Some examples are given with explanations.
Answer
:i Shattered by the blast – Onomatopoeia
ii Midnight on the waters – the image of one imposing (covering) on the other.
iii. breakers talked with death – Personification
iv. Captain staggered down the stairs – the image of movement.
v. icy hand – (tactile) sense of touch.
11.What is a ballad? What features of a ballad do you see in this poem?
Answer:A ballad is a long narrative poem set to music. A story or an incident is narrated in a ballad. Ballads are known for the simple language employed and mental pictures or images created. Usual figures of speech and stock phrases are used. We see that in the poem, the poet narrates the fearful incidents of one night and makes the narration descriptive with mental imagery. Although it is a poem revolving around the emotion of fear, there is an easy rhythmic flow which makes the poem musical.
III Multiple Choice Questions
1.James Thomas Fields wrote the poem by the name _____
a. Ballad of the Tempest
b. Anniversary poem
c. Book of Ballads
d. Ballads and verses
e. Answer:Ballad of the Tempest
2.The tempert means ______
a. temperature
a. wind
b. wind on sea
c. a violent storm
d. Answer: a violent storm
3.Fortune favours the ______
a. devotees
b. brave
c. poets
d. sailors
e. Answer:. brave
4.In this peom, the Sailors face a great _____
a. danger
b. sea whale
c. rock
d. peril
Answer:peril
5.The sailors were crowded in the
a. Cabin
b. room
c. temple
d. at sea shore
e. Answer:Cabin
6.The storm is a fearful thing in _____
a. Summer
a. Rainy season
b. Winter
c. Autumn
d. Answer: Winter
7. It was a______ on the waters
a. day
b. midnight
c. night
d. evening
e. Answer: midnight
8. To hear the rattling ______
a. Cabin
b. mast
c. trumpet
d. deck
Answer: trumpet
9. We ______ there in silence.
a. shout
b. whisper
c. spoke
d. shuddered
e. Answer: shuddered
10. The _____ held his breath
a. man
b. crew
c. stoutest
d. seamen
e. Answer:. stoutest
11. The hungry sea was ____
a. eating
b. roaring
c. shouting
d. jumping
e. Answer: roaring
12. The _____ talked with death
a. breakers
b. crew
c. captain
d. sea
e. Answer:breakers
13.Thus we sat in ____
a. cabin
a. room
b. kitchen
c. darknes
d. Answer: darkness
14. Each onebusy with his _____
a. shedule
b. work
c. prayers
d. task
e. Answer:c. prayers
15.The captain shouted that “_____”
a. we won
b. we are lost
c. we get it
d. we succeeded
e. Answer:. we succeeded
16.His little daughter _____
a. singing
b. dancing
c. playing
d. whispered
e. Answer: whispered
17. As she took his ______
a. icy hand
b. hand
c. bag
d. food
e. Answer:icy hand
18.Isn’t _____ upon the ocean, just the same as on the land?
a. whale
a. Seamen
b. God
c. Man
d. Answer: c. God
19.Then we kissed the little _____
a. girl
b. boy
c. child
d. maiden
e. Answer:maiden
20. We______ in better cheer.
a. ask
b. spake
c. worship
d. get
e. Answer: spake
21.We ____safe in the harbor.
a. guarded
b. watched
c. anchored
d. sit
Answer:anchored
22.When the morn was ______ clear.
a. shining
b. going
c. rising
d. founding
e. Answer:shining
23.James Thomas Fields delivered his _____ poem to the Boston Mercantile Library.
a. famous
a. anniversary
b. little
c. well known
d. Answer: anniversary
IV. Give one word for the following:
1.A narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing. = Ballad
2. A violent storm. =Tempest
3. A private room on a ship or boat. =Cabin
4. to break apart. =: Shatter
5.to make a rapid succession of short sharp noises. = rattle
6.A device of metal attached to a ship ‘ or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place. =Anchor
7.Large turbulent waves moving towards the land. =:Breakers
8.to come unsteadily =:Stagger
0 Comments