2.1 The Clothesline - Class 6 - Kumarbharati

Author: Charlotte Druitt Cole

Genre: Poem (Descriptive / Imaginative)

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Class 6

Board: Maharashtra State Board

English Summary

The poem The Clothesline by Charlotte Druitt Cole beautifully describes the lively scene of freshly washed clothes fluttering on a clothesline. The poet compares these white clothes to living creatures. They move in different directions, sometimes leaping and prancing like restless horses, and at other times whirling like fairy-tale witches dancing in the wind. The March breeze makes the clothes sway, skip, and shiver happily in the open air. One handkerchief slips away from the clothesline, dancing with excitement until it is free. The poet imagines it flying like a bird and wonders where it might have gone—perhaps hiding in a ditch or drowning in the sea. The poem uses simple yet vivid comparisons to make ordinary clothes appear magical and alive.

Theme / Central Idea

The poem highlights the beauty of simple, everyday sights in nature. It teaches us to enjoy small things around us and to look at ordinary objects with imagination and creativity.

Character Sketches

Clothes (Fluttering Creatures):

• Appear like living beings full of joy and freedom.

• Compared to restless horses, moving with energy.

• Compared to witches, wildly dancing in the wind.

• Represent imagination and the liveliness of nature.

Handkerchief (Runaway Cloth):

• Playful and excited, eager to break free.

• Escapes from the peg and flies away like a bird.

• Symbol of freedom and adventure.

• Shows the poet’s imaginative way of seeing ordinary things.

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions (5)

1. Infinitive / Gerund

   Sentence: “She flew like a bird.”Q. Pick out the infinitive/gerund from the sentence.

   Answer: The word “to fly” is in the infinitive form, but here “flew” is used as past tense verb, not infinitive.

   
   

2. Passive Voice

   Change the voice: The March wind shook the clothes.

   Answer: The clothes were shaken by the March wind. (Passive Voice)

   
   

3. Modal Auxiliary

   Use ‘must’ in a sentence based on the poem.

   Answer: The handkerchief must have fallen into the sea. (Here ‘must’ shows possibility or assumption.)

   
   

4. Tense Change

   Change to future tense: She flew like a bird.

   Answer: She will fly like a bird. (Changed from past to future tense)

   
   

5. Wh-question framing

   Make a Wh-question to get the underlined part as the answer: She flew like a bird.

   Answer: How did she fly? (Wh-question with ‘How’)

   
   

Personal Response Questions (5)

1. Question: Why do you like this poem?

   Answer: The poem The Clothesline is liked by me because it makes ordinary clothes appear lively and magical. The comparisons to horses and witches make the scene very imaginative. It also shows how nature adds beauty to simple things. The poet’s creativity inspires me to see the world differently.

   
   

2. Question: What do you imagine when you see clothes fluttering on a line?

   Answer: Clothes fluttering on a line remind me of colourful birds flying in the sky. They create a cheerful and playful picture. This imagination makes me feel happy and lighthearted.

   
   

3. Question: Do you think imagination makes life more interesting? Why?

   Answer: Imagination makes life more interesting because it adds joy to simple moments. It helps us see magic in ordinary things. It also develops creativity and makes us feel positive.

   
   

4. Question: What do you learn from the handkerchief flying away?

   Answer: The handkerchief flying away teaches us the value of freedom. It shows that everything loves to be free and independent. It also tells us to enjoy life and explore the world with courage.

   
   

5. Question: Write about one simple thing in nature that amazes you.

   Answer: The rainbow amazes me the most because it appears suddenly after the rain. Its seven colours look very beautiful in the sky. It reminds me that there is always beauty after every difficulty.

   
   

True or False (5)

1. The clothes on the line were compared to birds.

   → False (They were compared to horses and witches, not birds.)

   
   

2. The poet saw one handkerchief flying away like a bird.

   → True

   
   

3. The clothes danced slowly in the March wind.

   → False (They danced wildly, like witches.)

   
   

4. The fluttering clothes were as white as snow.

   → True

   
   

5. Nobody knows where the handkerchief went.

   → True

   
   

Probable Board / Exam Questions (5)

1. Question: What picture does the poet create through the description of the clothesline?

   Answer: The poet Charlotte Druitt Cole creates a lively picture of white clothes fluttering in the March wind. The clothes appear as if they are living beings. They look like restless horses leaping and like witches dancing in a fairy-tale. This makes the simple clothesline appear magical and full of life.

   
   

2. Question: How does the poet describe the handkerchief that flew away?

   Answer: The poet describes one handkerchief dancing excitedly and struggling to get free. At last, it leaves the clothesline and flies away like a bird. The poet wonders where it went, whether it is hiding in a ditch or drowned in the sea. This shows the poet’s imaginative vision.

   
   

3. Question: Why are the clothes compared to horses and witches?

   Answer: The clothes are compared to horses because they leap and prance with energy. They are compared to witches because they dance wildly in the wind. These comparisons bring the picture of the clothesline alive in the reader’s mind.

   
   

4. Question: What is the importance of the March wind in the poem?

   Answer: The March wind plays an important role in making the clothes move. It makes the white clothes flutter, flap, skip, and dance with joy. Without the wind, the clothes would remain still and lifeless.

   
   

5. Question: What message does the poem convey to the readers?

   Answer: The poem The Clothesline conveys that imagination can make ordinary things appear magical. It teaches us to observe nature carefully and enjoy simple sights. It also reminds us that freedom and liveliness bring joy to life.

   
   

Appreciation / Reflection Paragraph

The poem The Clothesline by Charlotte Druitt Cole is a delightful description of everyday life. The poet transforms the ordinary act of drying clothes into a scene of joy and wonder. By using similes, she compares the fluttering clothes to horses and witches, making them appear alive and playful. The imagery of a handkerchief flying like a bird adds a sense of adventure and freedom. The simple language and rhythmic flow make the poem easy to read and recite. The poem teaches us to look at small, common things with creativity and imagination. It reminds us that beauty exists everywhere if we observe nature carefully. The lesson leaves us with a message to appreciate freedom and enjoy the little joys of life.

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