The Solitary Reaper | Question Answer | Class 10 | Odisha Board

 The Solitary Reaper 

By William Wordsworth

Question Answer

1. What is the central idea of the poem?

(a) Reapers can sing like birds.

(b) Sweet music appeals to all

(c) Beautiful experiences have long-lasting effects.

(d) Rich harvest makes the reaper happy

Ans: Sweet music appeals to all

2. The setting of the poem is_______________________________

(a) the Arabian deserts

(b) the British Islands

(c) the Hebrides Islands

(d) the mountain regions of Scotland

Ans: The mountain regions of Scotland.

3. Who are the people described in the poem?

Ans: The poet and the solitary reaper are described in the poem.

4. Who does the expression 'Highland Lass' refer to? Why does he describe her as "You solitary Highland Lass?"

Ans: Here 'Highland Lass' refers to the solitary reaper whom the poet saw in the valley. The poet described her as "Yon solitary Highland Lass" because the girl was alone over there. Besides he knew that the girl must be a native of that mountain region.

5. What is the girl doing?

Ans: The girl is cutting the grains and binding them and at the same time she is singing a song.

6. Who does the poet say 'Stop here or gently pass'? Why does he say so?

Ans: The melodious song of the girl appeals to the poet. He says "stop here or pass gently" to the passers-by. He says so that the girl will not be disturbed.

7. Pick out the words which tell that the girl does not have anyone by her side.

Ans: The words like ‘solitary', 'single', and 'alone' tell that the girl does not have anyone by her side.

8. What is the tone of her song-happy, sed, soothing or sympathetic?

Ans:  The tone of her song is soothing.

9. "Overflowing with sound”-Explain.

Ans: The poet finds a young girl singing an enchanting song in a loud voice. The entire valley is flooded with her beautiful voice.

10. The solitary reaper's song reminds the poet of other singers. Who are they?

Ans: The solitary reaper's song reminds the poet of other singers. They are the nightingale and the cuckoo.

11. Who sings welcome notes? Where? For whom? What for?

Ans: The nightingale sings welcome notes in the shady places among the Arabian sands for the tired travelers to welcome and soothe them.

12. Whose voice is thrilling?

Ans: The voice of the cuckoo-bird is thrilling

13. Where does it sing? When?

Ans: It sings in the most remote group of islands of the sea in Scotland in spring

14. Who does Wordsworth compare the farmer girl with? Why?

Ans: Wordsworth compares the farmer girl with the nightingale and the cuckoo-bird because her tone was as melodious as the cuckoo's and nightingale's.

15. The peasant girl's song is not intelligible to the poet because ____________

(a)her song is in a dialect he does not understand.

(b)he is far away to hear the words of the song.

(c)her voice is not clear as she is humming the words.

(d)her voice is too soft for him to get.

Ans: her song is in a dialect he does not understand.

16. What does the phrase 'humble lay' mean?

Ans: The phrase ‘humble lay’ means ordinary song or modest song.

17. The expression 'plaintive numbers' refers to sad music. Pick out another phrase in the poem carrying the same meaning.

Ans: The expression ‘Plaintive numbers' refers to sad music. Another phrase in the poem carrying the same meaning is 'melancholy strain’.

18. What does the poet mean to say "As if her song could have no ending."?

(a) Her song is too long to end.

(b) She keeps on singing and seems not to end.

(c) The poet does not want the song to end.

(d) The song contains an everlasting universal theme which recycles.

Ans: She keeps on singing and seems not to end.

19. The poet listens 'motionless and still because___________________

(a) the rich melodious voice of the singer holds him mesmerised and spellbound.

(b) he was tired after walking uphill.

(c) he wanted to learn the words and rhythm of the song.

(d) he is rooted to the spot by the girl's beauty,

Ans: the rich melodious voice of the singer holds him mesmerised and spellbound.

20. How did the song affect the narrator?

Ans: No doubt the song of the solitary reaper was melodious. The narrator was deeply impressed by the sweet tone of the girl. It held him mesmerised and spellbound.

21. In stanza-I and stanza-2, four words and phrases have been used to show that the girl working in the fields is without anyone by her. Pick out these words and phrases.

Ans: In stanza-1 and 2, four words and phrases have been used to show that the girl working in the fields is without anyone by her. These words and phrases are single, solitary, by herself, alone, cuts and binds and sings.

22. The theme of the solitary reaper's song contains sadness. What other words are used in place of "sad"?

Ans: The theme of the solitary reaper's song contains sadness. The other words used in place of 'sad' are melancholy, plaintive, unhappy and sorrow.

23. What are the two synonyms for the 'young girl'?

Ans: The two synonyms for the "young girl' are 'Lass’ and ‘Maiden'.

24. Three other words are used to mean 'song’. What are they?

Ans: Three other words are used to mean 'song'. They are 'notes', 'strain' and 'numbers"/"lay".

25. A melancholy strain' in stanza-2 means 'sad song’. Find out another phrase in stanza 5 with similar meaning.

Ans: A melancholy strain in stanza-2 means 'sad song’. Another phrase in stanza-5 with similar meaning is "Plaintive numbers".

26. Which word in stanza-5 expresses the poet's guess?

Ans: The word 'perhaps’ in stanza-5 expresses the poet's guess.