2.5 Autumn - Std 9 - Kumarbharati

Poet: Kalidas (Translated by Prof. A. W. Ryder)

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Std X

Genre: Lyrical / Nature Poetry / Personification-based Poem

English Summary

The poem Autumn presents the season as a beautiful maiden. She is described as slender, graceful, and adorned with natural elements like rice-stems in her hair and flowers for clothes. Birds joyfully welcome her, and their cooing is compared to the tinkling of a bracelet. During the night, she is decorated with moonlight and stars, looking like a young girl who will soon grow into a mature woman. The poet personifies the season of autumn, showing both her beauty and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and metaphors, the poem evokes the calm charm and gentleness of nature in this season.

Theme / Central Idea

The poem celebrates the beauty and gentleness of autumn through personification. It reflects nature's elegance, the transition of time, and the harmony between the natural world and human imagination.

Word Meanings

Figures of Speech

1. "The autumn comes, a maiden fair"

   • Metaphor

   • Autumn is directly described as a beautiful young woman.

     
     

2. "Birds greet her with their cooing glad / Like a bracelet’s tinkling song"

   • Simile

   • The sound of birds is compared to the tinkling of a bracelet.

     
     

3. "Her silken robe is white moonlight"

   • Metaphor

   • Moonlight is compared to a silky robe, showing its smoothness and beauty.

     
     

4. "A diadem adorns the night"

   • Personification

   • Night is given a human trait of wearing a crown of stars.

     
     

5. "She seems a slender maid, who soon / Will be a woman grown"

   • Symbolism

   • The line symbolizes the change and maturity that comes with time.

     
     

Two-Mark Questions

1. Explain the line: “Birds greet her with their cooing glad.”

   • The poet describes birds welcoming autumn with happy sounds, showing how nature celebrates the arrival of the season.

     
     

2. What is the tone of the poem “Autumn”?

   • The tone is calm, appreciative, and filled with wonder at nature’s quiet beauty.

     
     

3. What does the line “Her silken robe is white moonlight” suggest?

   • It suggests that autumn is wrapped in soft, glowing moonlight, enhancing her elegance and purity.

     
     

4. How does the poet personify the season of autumn?

   • The poet presents autumn as a beautiful maiden, dressing her in natural elements and giving her human emotions.

     
     

5. What comparison is made using a simile in the poem?

   • The cooing of birds is compared to the tinkling of a bracelet, showing the harmony of sound in nature.

   
   

True or False

1. Autumn is described as a graceful woman.

   → False

   
   

2. The stars are called a diadem of the night.

   → True

   
   

3. The poem uses a simile to compare birds to sheep.

   → False

   
   

Probable Board Questions

1. What does the poet compare moonlight to, and why?

   • The poet compares moonlight to a silken robe, suggesting its softness and elegance, as if autumn wears it at night.

     
     

2. What is the significance of calling autumn a ‘maiden fair’?

   • It symbolizes beauty, grace, and the beginning of maturity. Autumn is portrayed as delicate and youthful.

     
     

3. How do the birds respond to the arrival of autumn in the poem?

   • Birds joyfully welcome autumn with their cooing, which the poet compares to the pleasant sound of a bracelet.

     
     

4. What poetic devices enhance the beauty of the poem “Autumn”?

   • The poet uses metaphor, simile, personification, and imagery to make the descriptions vivid and memorable.

   
   

Poem Appreciation

The poem “Autumn” by Kalidas, translated by Prof. A. W. Ryder, is a beautiful personification of the autumn season. The theme revolves around nature’s grace and the transition of time. The language is poetic and rich in imagery, creating a soft and peaceful tone. Poetic devices like metaphor, simile, and personification bring the poem alive. Autumn is portrayed as a graceful maiden, and the night as her magical attire. What stands out most is the emotional and aesthetic appeal of the poem. It leaves the reader with a deep appreciation for nature’s quiet beauty and gentle transformation.

English Worksheet:

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