The poem depicts a vivid imaginative tale that a child recounts to his mother. In the story, the two are traveling across a desolate and barren landscape in the evening. The child is on his horse, accompanying his mother who is inside a palanquin. They find themselves ..............................
The Hero - New Mulberry (ICSE) - Class 8 - English
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Back Questions - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
Give details of the strange and dangerous country through which the narrator imagines himself to be travelling with his mother. Fill in the boxes with the details.
a. land
b. meadow
c. field
d. sky
a. land - The land of the imagined journey is described as being desolate and barren. It gives an eerie feeling as the sun goes down, and the waste of Joradighi lies wan and grey before them. In the fear of the unknown place, the mother becomes frightened and unsure of where they have come to.
b. meadow - The meadow is depicted as being full of spiky, prickly grass. There is a narrow and broken path that runs through it, implying that it is not well-trodden or safe.
c. field - The field in their imaginary journey is wide but bereft of any cattle, as they have gone to their village stalls. This invokes a feeling of isolation and abandonment.
d. sky - The sky gradually turns dark and dim, further intensifying the fear and uncertainty of their journey. It's so dark that they cannot tell where they are going, adding an element of mystery and potential danger.
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It is evening and then sun goes down.
The waste of Joradighi lies wan and grey before us.
The and is desolate and barren.
i. Who are ‘us’ in these lines?
ii. By what means are they travelling?
iii. What do the travellers think and say about the place?
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Unlock now 🔓With long sticks in their bands
and hair all wild about their heads, they come nearer and nearer.
i. Who are the persons described here?
ii. What are they coming nearer and nearer to?
iii. What are the means of travel they are using?
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Unlock now 🔓A thousand useless things happen day after day,
and why couldn’t such a thing come true by chance?
It would be like a story in a book.
i. What does the boy mean by 'such a thing'?
ii. What reactions does the boy imagine from his brother?
iii. What would be the reaction of the villagers?
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Unlock now 🔓How do you know that the incidents described only happen in the boy’s imagination? Why do you think the boy imagines such a dangerous situation?
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Unlock now 🔓What response do you think the mother would give her son?
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Unlock now 🔓The little boy wants to save his mother if a situation such as he imagines were to arise. But the also wants acclaim from certain others. Who are these people, and why do you think the boy wants their appreciation?
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Unlock now 🔓Extra Questions - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
Mother, let us imagine we are travelling,
and passing through a strange and dangerous country.
You are riding in a palanquin and
I am trotting by you on a red horse.
It is evening and the sun goes down.
The waste of Joradighi lies wan and grey before us.
The land is desolate and barren.
You are frightened and thinking,
‘I know not where we have come to.’
I say to you,’ Mother, do not be afraid.’
How does the narrator describe the setting of their imaginary journey?
What emotions does the mother experience during their journey, and why?
How does the narrator attempt to ease the mother’s fears?
Why does the narrator choose a setting that is ‘wan and grey’ and ‘desolate and barren’ for their journey?
What is the possible symbolism of the mother riding in a palanquin and the narrator riding a red horse?
Mother, let us imagine we are travelling,
and passing through a strange and dangerous country.
You are riding in a palanquin and
I am trotting by you on a red horse.
It is evening and the sun goes down.
The waste of Joradighi lies wan and grey before us.
The land is desolate and barren.
You are frightened and thinking,
‘I know not where we have come to.’
I say to you,’ Mother, do not be afraid.’
How does the narrator describe the setting of their imaginary journey?
What emotions does the mother experience during their journey, and why?
How does the narrator attempt to ease the mother’s fears?
Why does the narrator choose a setting that is ‘wan and grey’ and ‘desolate and barren’ for their journey?
What is the possible symbolism of the mother riding in a palanquin and the narrator riding a red horse?
The narrator describes the setting of their imaginary journey as a desolate, barren wasteland during the evening hours. They are travelling through a strange and dangerous country with stark landscapes.
The mother experiences fear and uncertainty during their journey. She is terrified because the land is unknown and appears ominous and threatening.
The narrator tries to ease the mother’s fears by reassuring her that there’s nothing to be afraid of. He proves that he is there with her, providing a semblance of safety and comfort.
The narrator chooses a ‘wan and grey’ and ‘desolate and barren’ setting for the journey to heighten the sense of fear, uncertainty, and loneliness, thereby magnifying his heroic role.
The palanquin and red horse might symbolize the contrasting positions and roles of the mother and the narrator. The palanquin, carrying the mother, suggests a passive and vulnerable position, while the red horse, ridden by the narrator, may symbolize strength, power, and readiness.
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The meadow is prickly with spiky grass,
and through it runs a narrow broken path.
There are no cattle to be seen in the wide field;
they have gone to their village stalls.
It grows dark and dim on the land and sky,
and we cannot tell were we are going.
Suddenly you call me and ask me in a whisper,
‘What light is that near the bank?’
How does the description of the setting contribute to the overall mood of this stanza, and what emotions does it evoke in the reader?
Contrast the atmosphere at the beginning of the stanza with the atmosphere at the end. What causes this shift?
Why do you think the mother chooses to whisper when asking about the light near the bank despite presumably being alone with her child?
When the line says, “It grows dark and dim on the land and sky”, what could this represent in terms of emotional transitions within the characters?
What could the sudden appearance of the light near the bank represent in the context of this potentially dangerous journey?
Considering the overall scenario, how does the mother’s question add to the dramatic tension?
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Unlock now 🔓Back Exercises - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
Given below is an extract from ‘The Rainy Day’, another dramatic monologue composed by Tagore. Read the text aloud.
The Rainy Day
Sullen clouds are gathering fast over the black fringe of the forest.
O child, do not go out!
The palm trees in a row by the lake are smiting their heads
against the dismal sky; the crows with their dragged wings are
silent on the tamarind branches, and the eastern bank of the river
is haunted by a deepening gloom….
‘The sky seems to ride fast upon the madly rushing rain; the
water in the river is loud and impatient; women have hastened home
early from the Ganges with their filled pitchers.
The evening lamps must be made ready.
O child, do not go out!
a. Identify the persona and the listener.
b. What do these lines tell us about the persona?
c. The mood of a poem refers to its atmosphere. What is the mood of these lines?
a. The persona in the poem is an adult figure, and the listener is a child to whom the persona is providing caution against going out during the impending storm.
b. These lines give us a glimpse into the persona's protective and cautious nature. They understand the implications of the quickly changing weather conditions and are concerned about the safety of the child in such an environment. They are observant and aware of their surroundings, noting the behavioural changes in nature, the crows, women returning early from the Ganges, and the need for evening lamps.
c. The mood of these lines is foreboding and ominous. The descriptions of the sullen clouds, the silence of the crows, the driven women, and the gloomy river bank create a tense and unsettling atmosphere. There is also a sense of urgency and caution in the persona's repeated exhortations for the child not to go outside.
Read the fable given below.
The Boasting Traveller
A man who had travelled in foreign lands boasted very much, on returning to his own country, of the many wonderful and heroic feats he had performed in the different places he had visited. Among other things, he said that when he was at Rhodes, he had leaped to such a distance that no man of his day could leap anywhere neat him. There were in Rhodes many persons who saw him do it and whom he could call as witnesses. One of the bystanders interrupted him, saying, ‘Now, my good man, if this be all true, there is no need of witnesses. Suppose this to be Rhodes, and leap for us.’
Imagine that you are the boastful traveller. Compose a short dramatic monologue describing your ‘feats’. You may compose the monologue in prose or poetic form.
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Unlock now 🔓Quiz - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
Talk to Rabindranath Tagore
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Unlock now 🔓About the Poet - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
Rabindranath Tagore, born on May 7, 1861, was a renowned Bengali poet, philosopher, artist, composer, and author. He is known as the "Bard of Bengal" and is revered for reshaping Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tagore was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his acclaimed collection of poems "Gitanjali" (Song Offerings).
Besides engaging in literary pursuits, Tagore also expressed his talent in visual arts and composed music, famously known as "Rabindrasangeet". He penned the national anthems of both India ("Jana Gana Mana") and Bangladesh ("Amar Shonar Bangla"). Tagore's literature reflects his humanist views and a deep desire for a harmonious blend of Modernism and Traditionalism. His vast body of work encapsulates themes like identity, love, and the interplay of human emotions. Tagore died on August 7, 1941, but his rich legacy continues to influence literature and arts globally.
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Unlock now 🔓Summary - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
Adventure and Heroism
The poem describes a dangerous journey through a desolate land with threats appearing along the way. The speaker describes their brave actions, such as riding on a red horse, fearlessly facing frightening figures with long sticks, and succeeding in a battle, thus saving their mother.
Love and Devotion
The speaker's deep ...
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
Imagery: The poet uses vivid descriptions to create an intense visual representation of the scene, such as "The waste of Joradighi lies wan and grey before us" or "With long sticks in their hands and hair all wild about their heads."
Simile: The poet uses a simile ...
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
The Red Horse: Traditionally, a red horse symbolizes passion, action, and energy. In this context it is a symbol of the speaker's courage and readiness to protect his mother.
The Evening and Darkening Land: The ...
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - The Hero | New Mulberry (ICSE) | Class 8 Literature | English
Palanquin - a covered litter carried on poles, used for transport
The bride was carried in a beautifully decorated palanquin to the wedding venue.
Trotting - to move quickly with small, rapid steps
The little boy was trotting happily alongside his mother in the park.
Joradighi - a fictional place, representing a desolate and barren land
The protagonist found ...............................
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