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    4.2. : Travel and Adventure - Travel- Class 7 - Poorvi

    Chapter Title: Travel

    Author:  Edna St. Vincent Millay

    Textbook:  Poorvi (CBSE Class VIII)

    Genre: Poem / Travel and Adventure


    📝 Summary

    The poem “Travel” by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a short and reflective piece that explores the poet’s deep fascination with trains and her longing for travel. Though the railroad is far away and she is surrounded by people and conversations during the day, the poet imagines hearing the train whistle. At night, when everything is quiet, she visualizes the red cinders and hears the engine steaming. Despite being content with her present life and her good friends, she admits that no train could pass without her wishing to be on it. The train symbolizes freedom, movement, and the unknown. The poet uses vivid imagery and sound to evoke a powerful emotional response and highlight the inner desire to explore new places, regardless of where the journey leads. The poem beautifully captures the spirit of wanderlust and adventure.


    👤 Character Sketch:

    The Speaker (Poet)

    The speaker is imaginative, emotional, and filled with a desire for adventure. Though surrounded by good friends and a familiar setting, she dreams of traveling and is constantly enchanted by the thought of distant places. She hears the train's whistle in her imagination both day and night, reflecting her deep yearning to break free from routine and explore the world. She is thoughtful, nostalgic, and adventurous at heart.


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Wanderlust

    The speaker longs to travel anywhere, drawn by the sound and image of the train.

    Imagination and Desire

    Even in the absence of real trains, she imagines and dreams about them.

    Restlessness

    Despite a happy life, the poet is not content and desires something more.

    Beauty of Travel

    Trains symbolize excitement, discovery, and movement toward the unknown.

    ✨ Literary Devices / Poetic Devices

    Device

    Example

    Rhyme Scheme

    AABB (e.g., away/day, speaking/shrieking)

    Repetition

    "There isn’t a train goes by..." repeated in each stanza

    Imagery

    “Cinders red on the sky,” “day is loud with voices speaking”

    Personification

    “Its whistle shrieking” – whistle is given human qualities

    Symbolism

    Train symbolizes freedom, escape, and opportunity

    📖 Title Justification


    The title “Travel” is fitting because the poem revolves around the speaker’s intense desire to journey to unknown destinations. The train becomes a metaphor for travel and adventure, symbolizing movement and the pull of distant places. The poet reflects not on one specific journey, but on the universal longing to explore the world, making Travel a powerful and relevant title.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions

    1. What is the only thing the poet keeps thinking about in the poem?

      → The poet keeps thinking about trains and travel.


    2. When does the poet imagine seeing cinders in the sky?

      → At night, when it's quiet and still.


    3. What emotion is expressed in the line “No matter where it’s going”?

      → A strong desire to travel anywhere.


    4. What keeps the speaker’s heart warm?

      → The friendship she shares with people around her.


    5. What does the word ‘shrieking’ describe in the poem?

      → The sound of the train’s whistle.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions

    1. How does the poet describe the train during the night?

      → The poet imagines seeing the red cinders lighting up the sky and hearing the engine even though there’s no train passing by. It shows her deep connection with the idea of travel.


    2. What does the speaker mean by the line “better friends I’ll not be knowing”?

      → She means that although she already has great friends, her desire for travel is so strong that she would still be willing to leave for the unknown.


    3. What does the repetition of the phrase “there isn’t a train goes by” convey?

      → It emphasizes the poet’s constant yearning for travel and how deeply the thought of the train affects her, even in its absence.


    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q: What does the poem teach us about inner desires and the importance of exploring new experiences?

    A: The poem teaches that even when we are happy and surrounded by loved ones, there may still be a part of us that seeks something more—adventure, change, and new experiences. It reminds us to acknowledge our inner passions and not ignore the curiosity that leads to personal growth and discovery. The poem encourages us to embrace our dreams and step out of our comfort zones.


    End


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