95. Village Song (16)
1. Who is the poet of "Village Song"?
Ans:- Sarojini Naidu is the poet of "Village Song".
2. Who tempted the girl to tarry?
Ans:- The boatman's song tempted the girl to tarry.
3. Who will smite the village girl?
Ans:- Some evil spirits will smite the village girl.
4. What might bite the girl in the darkness?
Ans:- A serpent might the girl in the darkness.
5. What will be the mother's reaction?
Ans:- The mother will be very worried about the girl as she was not returning home even after it was dark. She might be weeping and waiting badly. She would pray to God for her daughter's safety as river Jamuna was deep.
6. Why will the speaker's brother murmer?
Ans:- The speaker's brother will murmer as he will be angry with the girl for reaching home late.
7. What were the things that the speaker was afraid of?
Ans:- The speaker was afraid of darkness, a serpent, evil spirits, storm and lightning.
8. With what are the shadows of the evening compared?
Ans:- The shadows of the evening are compared with blackbirds in the sky.
9. How does the girl realize that the night is approaching?
Ans:- On hearing the white crane calling and the wild owl crying and hooting, the girl realizes that the night is approaching.
10. "Ram re Ram! I shall die" - Why does the girl utter these words?
Ans:- The girl was very afraid and her faith in her God is reflected when she utters "Ram re Ram! I shall die". She hopes that her God Ram will rescue her from the impending danger of not been able to reach home before dark.
11. Describe the girl in the poem.
Ans:- The girl or young lady in the poem is filled with fear of the dark. She is on her way home with her pitchers full of water. She had been to the riverside to fetch water and delayed on her way back as she stood listening to the song of the boatmen. The darkness filled her mind with fear of snakes, spirits and if a storm comes. She thought how her brother would be angry and mother be worried and weep. She will pray to God for her safety as the Jamuna river is deep. The girl also prayed to God for help and guidance.
12. How does the poet represent the form and spirit of Indian folklore?
Ans:- The poet Sarojini Baidu represents the form and spirit of Indian folklore in artistic way. The poem is like a folk song which describes the daily women fetching water from long distances. The boatman singing and people listening to him is also found in this poem. The fear of the snakes, spirits and storms is so common in Indian thoughts and life even beyond villagers. Brothers and mothers remaining worried if the girls of the houses remain outside even after dark is still observed in pan India. Praying to God at times of difficulties is not only the belief of the village folks but also of the city dwellers in our country and this belief is found in entire eastern and Asian society. The poet, Sarojini Naidu has drawn the heart of a village and villagers in the form of this poem.
13. How does the girl realise that the night is approaching?
Ans:- The girl while returning home after filling water from Yakima river realised that night had fallen because darkness was approaching rapidly. There was the absence of the moon too. She also heard hooting of the white cranes or owls which also made her realise that night had fallen.
14. What kind of poetry did Sarojini Naidu write?
Ans:- Sarojini Naidu wrote descriptive poems on the land, the people and their aspirations for freedom.
15. Name two books by Sarojini Naidu.
Ans:- 'The Golden Threshold' and 'Coromondal Fishers' are some of the two books written by Sarojini Naidu.
16. Who was called the Nightingale of India?
Ans:- Sarojini Naidu is called the Nightingale of India.
17. Who will smite the village girl?
18. What will bite the girl in the darkness?
19. Describe the Indian folklore element in the poem.