4.3. Silver - My English Coursebook - Std 9 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board
- Jun 26
- 12 min read
Updated: Jun 29
Section 1 — Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय
Category | Details |
Chapter | Unit 4 — Chapter 4.3: Silver |
Type | Poetry |
Poet | Walter de la Mare |
Textbook | My English Coursebook, Std 9, Maharashtra State Board |
Assessment | School-level examination following MSBSHSE guidelines |
मराठी टीप: हा पाठ MSBSHSE मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार शालेय परीक्षेत येतो.
Section 2 — About the Poet / कवी परिचय
Walter de la Mare (1873–1956) was an English poet, short story writer, and novelist. He is best known for his works for children and his poems exploring themes of imagination, dreams, and the supernatural. His writing style is highly atmospheric and musical, often painting vivid pictures with words. In the poem "Silver", de la Mare beautifully captures the transformative and magical power of moonlight as it turns an ordinary night landscape into a tranquil, silvery world.
मराठी टीप: (वॉल्टर दे ला मारे हे एक प्रसिद्ध इंग्रजी कवी आणि लेखक होते. त्यांच्या कवितांमध्ये कल्पनाशक्ती आणि निसर्गाचे सुंदर वर्णन आढळते. 'सिल्व्हर' या कवितेत त्यांनी चंद्रप्रकाशामुळे रात्रीच्या वेळी निसर्गात होणाऱ्या जादुई बदलांचे अतिशय विलोभनीय वर्णन केले आहे.)
Exam Tip: Poet introduction may be asked as part of Poem Appreciation (5 marks) or as a short answer (2 marks).
Section 3 — Full Text / पूर्ण कविता
Stanza 1
Slowly, silently, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon;
Stanza 2
This way, and that, she peers, and sees Silver fruit upon silver trees;
Stanza 3
One by one the casements catch Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Stanza 4
Couched in his kennel, like a log, With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
Stanza 5
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep Of doves in silver feathered sleep
Stanza 6
A harvest mouse goes scampering by, With silver claws, and silver eye;
Stanza 7
And moveless fish in the water gleam, By silver reeds in a silver stream.
Section 4 — Stanza-wise Meaning / कडव्यांचा अर्थ
Stanza 1
Slowly, silently, now the moon / Walks the night in her silver shoon;
English Meaning: The moon is personified as a lady slowly and quietly walking through the night sky. She is described as wearing silver shoes ("shoon"), casting a soft, silvery glow everywhere.
मराठी अर्थ: चंद्राला एका स्त्रीचे रूप दिले आहे, जी रात्रीच्या वेळी आकाशात हळूहळू आणि शांतपणे चालत आहे. तिने जणू रुपेरी (चांदीचे) बूट (shoon) घातले आहेत आणि तिचा प्रकाश सगळीकडे पसरत आहे.
Exam Tip: Questions often ask for the old English meaning of the word "shoon" (shoes).
Stanza 2
This way, and that, she peers, and sees / Silver fruit upon silver trees;
English Meaning: As the moon looks around in different directions, her light falls on the trees and their fruits. The reflection of the moonlight makes both the trees and the fruits look as if they are made of solid silver.
मराठी अर्थ: चंद्र जेव्हा इकडे-तिकडे पाहतो, तेव्हा चंद्रप्रकाशामुळे झाडे आणि त्यावरील फळे अगदी चांदीची असल्यासारखी चमकताना दिसतात.
Exam Tip: Identify the objects the moon looks at in this stanza (trees and fruit).
Stanza 3
One by one the casements catch / Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
English Meaning: The moonlight gradually hits the windows (casements) of houses one after another. Even the dry grass roofs (thatch) of the cottages shine like silver under her bright beams.
मराठी अर्थ: चंद्रप्रकाश हळूहळू घरांच्या खिडक्यांवर पडतो. घरांच्या गवताच्या छप्परांवरून (thatch) परावर्तित होणारा प्रकाश त्यांनाही रुपेरी बनवतो.
Exam Tip: Vocabulary question regarding "casements" (windows) is highly likely here.
Stanza 4
Couched in his kennel, like a log, / With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
English Meaning: A dog is sleeping soundly and motionless, just like a heavy wooden log, inside its doghouse. As the moonlight falls on its paws, they appear to be made of bright silver.
मराठी अर्थ: एक कुत्रा आपल्या कुत्र्याच्या घरात लाकडाच्या ओंडक्यासारखा गाढ झोपला आहे. चंद्रप्रकाश पडल्यामुळे त्याचे पंजे चांदीसारखे चमकत आहेत.
Exam Tip: The simile "like a log" is frequently tested for figure of speech.
Stanza 5
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep / Of doves in silver feathered sleep
English Meaning: Inside a small bird shelter (cote), sleeping doves can be seen. Only their white chests reflect the moonlight, making their feathers look as if they are made of shimmering silver.
मराठी अर्थ: कबुतरांच्या अंधाऱ्या खुराड्यातून (cote) त्यांची पांढरी छाती डोकावताना दिसते. चंद्रप्रकाशामुळे झोपलेल्या कबुतरांची पिसे रुपेरी रंगाची भासतात.
Exam Tip: Comprehension questions usually ask where the doves are sleeping.
Stanza 6
A harvest mouse goes scampering by, / With silver claws, and silver eye;
English Meaning: This is one of the few moving creatures in the poem. A small mouse runs quickly by (scampering). As it moves, the moon's light catches its tiny claws and eyes, making them glisten like silver.
मराठी अर्थ: एक छोटा उंदीर वेगाने धावत जातो. चंद्रप्रकाशामुळे त्याचे पंजे आणि डोळे चांदीसारखे चमकत आहेत.
Exam Tip: Often tested for identifying the moving creatures in the otherwise still poem.
Stanza 7
And moveless fish in the water gleam, / By silver reeds in a silver stream.
English Meaning: Completely motionless ("moveless") fish shine brightly in the water. They rest near the tall water grasses (reeds), which are also illuminated by the moon, turning the entire stream into a river of liquid silver.
मराठी अर्थ: पाण्यातील अगदी स्थिर (moveless) मासे चमकत आहेत. पाण्यातील गवत (reeds) आणि संपूर्ण प्रवाहच चंद्रप्रकाशामुळे रुपेरी झाला आहे.
Exam Tip: The repetition of the word "silver" reaches its peak here; questions on repetition are common.
Section 5 — Poetic Devices / काव्यात्मक उपकरणे
Device / उपकरण | Example from poem | Effect in English | मराठी स्पष्टीकरण |
Personification (व्यक्तित्वारोप) | "now the moon / Walks the night in her silver shoon" | The moon is given the human ability to wear shoes and walk. | चंद्राला चालणाऱ्या एका स्त्रीचे मानवी रूप दिले आहे. |
Simile (उपमा) | "Couched in his kennel, like a log" | Directly compares the sleeping, motionless dog to a heavy wooden log using "like". | झोपलेल्या कुत्र्याची तुलना लाकडाच्या ओंडक्याशी 'like' वापरून केली आहे. |
Repetition (पुनरावृत्ती) | "By silver reeds in a silver stream." | The word 'silver' is repeated to emphasize the glowing, magical atmosphere. | 'silver' या शब्दाची पुनरावृत्ती करून कवितेचा प्रभाव वाढवला आहे. |
Alliteration (अनुप्रास) | "Slowly, silently, now the moon" | The repetition of the 's' sound creates a quiet, whispering, peaceful effect. | 's' या अक्षराच्या उच्चाराची पुनरावृत्ती करून शांततेचा नाद निर्माण केला आहे. |
मराठी टीप: Figures of Speech हे Poem Appreciation मध्ये विचारले जातात. किमान 3 सांगणे आवश्यक आहे.
Section 6 — Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये
6A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी
Theme / विषय | How it appears |
Beauty of Nature (निसर्गाचे सौंदर्य) | The poet highlights the enchanting beauty of a rural landscape under the moonlight. |
Stillness and Peace (शांतता आणि स्थिरता) | Most objects and animals (dog, doves, fish) are depicted in deep sleep, emphasizing a quiet night. |
The Magic of Moonlight (चंद्रप्रकाशाची जादू) | The moon's light completely transforms ordinary, everyday objects into precious "silver". |
प्रधान रस + मूड (Tone & Mood) | The mood is incredibly calm, tranquil, and magical. |
6B. Values / मूल्ये
Observation (निरीक्षण) — The poet teaches us to observe the minute, quiet details of nature, from the "silver claws" of a mouse to the "white breasts" of doves.
Appreciation (कौतुक) — The poem encourages us to appreciate the quiet, calming moments of life, rather than just the noisy and fast-paced daytime hours.
Harmony (सुसंवाद) — The poem illustrates perfect harmony in nature, where animals and elements peacefully coexist under the night sky.
6C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश
Nature possesses a magical ability to transform the ordinary world into something exceptionally beautiful and peaceful, which we should pause to appreciate.
मराठी टीप: चंद्रप्रकाशामुळे सामान्य जग कसे सुंदर आणि रुपेरी बनते, आणि निसर्गातील ही शांतता आपण कशी अनुभवली पाहिजे, हा या कवितेचा संदेश आहे.
Section 7 — Model Poem Appreciation (5 Marks) / कविता कौतुक
The poem 'Silver' is written by Walter de la Mare.
The title clearly suggests the central motif of the poem, as the moonlight turns everything it touches into shimmering, precious silver.
The poem consists of one continuous stanza of 14 lines, which can be read as seven rhyming couplets.
RHYME SCHEME: The poem is written in couplets, so the rhyme scheme is aa, bb, cc, dd, ee, ff, gg (e.g., moon/shoon, sees/trees).
FIGURES OF SPEECH: Personification: The poet uses Personification in 'Walks the night in her silver shoon'. The moon is given the human action of walking in shoes. Simile: The poet uses Simile in 'Couched in his kennel, like a log'. The sleeping dog is directly compared to a motionless log. Alliteration: The poet uses Alliteration in 'Slowly, silently, now the moon'. The 's' sound is repeated for a soothing poetic effect.
THEME: The central theme of the poem is the magical and transforming beauty of nature. The poet describes how the quiet, peaceful light of the moon falls on a rural landscape, magically turning ordinary animals, trees, and streams into brilliant, motionless silver.
FAVOURITE LINES:
My favourite lines from the poem are:
"And moveless fish in the water gleam, / By silver reeds in a silver stream."
I like these lines because they create a highly visual, almost painting-like image in the mind. The utter stillness of the water and the glowing fish evoke a deep sense of peace.
मराठी टीप — कविता कौतुक कसे लिहावे:
Rhyme Scheme: aa, bb, cc... असे लागोपाठ यमक जुळणारे शब्द आहेत.
Figures of Speech: निदान 3 — नाव + ओळ + परिणाम.
Favourite Lines: 2-3 ओळी + का आवडल्या ते 2-3 वाक्यांत.
Section 8 — Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर आधारित प्रश्न
Extract 1:
Slowly, silently, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon; This way, and that, she peers, and sees Silver fruit upon silver trees; One by one the casements catch Her beams beneath the silvery thatch; Couched in his kennel, like a log, With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
Q.(A)(i) — State True or False: (2 marks)
The moon is running quickly across the night sky. — False
The dog is awake and guarding the house. — False
The light of the moon makes the fruit and trees look like silver. — True
The moonlight is caught by the windows (casements) of the houses. — True
मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.
Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)
The word 'shoon' in the extract means: (a) shiny (b) shoes (c) shadow (d) shout Answer: (b)
How is the dog sleeping in his kennel?
(a) like a baby (b) barking loudly (c) like a log (d) standing up
Answer: (c)
Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) How is the moon described in the opening lines of the extract?
Answer: The moon is personified as a graceful lady walking through the night sky. She moves "slowly" and "silently," wearing silver shoes ("shoon"), and peers around to look at the earth below.
मराठी टीप: चंद्राला स्त्रीचे रूप दिले आहे. ती हळूहळू, शांतपणे चालत आहे आणि तिने रुपेरी बूट घातले आहेत हे सांगा.
Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) What is the effect of the moon's beams on the houses and the dog?
Answer: When the moon's beams fall on the houses, they illuminate the windows ("casements") and make the thatched roofs shine like silver. Similarly, the beams fall on the sleeping dog in his kennel, making its resting paws look as if they are coated in shimmering silver.
मराठी टीप: चंद्रप्रकाशामुळे घरांच्या खिडक्या, छप्पर आणि कुत्र्याचे पंजे चांदीसारखे कसे चमकतात हे स्पष्ट करा.
Extract 2:
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep Of doves in silver feathered sleep A harvest mouse goes scampering by, With silver claws, and silver eye; And moveless fish in the water gleam, By silver reeds in a silver stream.
Q.(A)(i) — State True or False: (2 marks)
The doves are flying high in the silver sky. — False
A harvest mouse is moving quickly through the scene. — True
The fish in the stream are jumping out of the water. — False
The reeds in the stream look like silver under the moon. — True
मराठी टीप: उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.
Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)
The word 'moveless' in the extract means: (a) very fast (b) still, motionless (c) swimming (d) dying Answer: (b)
Where are the sleeping doves located?
(a) in the trees (b) in a kennel (c) in a shadowy cote (d) in the stream
Answer: (c)
Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks) Which are the only two things shown to move in the entire poem?
Answer: The entire landscape is mostly still and asleep. The only two things shown to move are the moon, which "walks" through the night, and the harvest mouse that goes "scampering by."
मराठी टीप: कवितेत फक्त चंद्र (moon) आणि उंदीर (mouse) हे दोनच घटक हालचाल करताना दाखवले आहेत, हे सांगा.
Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks) Describe the scene in the water as painted by the poet in this extract.
Answer: The poet paints a perfectly still and shining picture of the stream. Motionless fish rest in the water, gleaming brightly under the moonlight. The tall grasses (reeds) growing in the water reflect the light so intensely that the entire water body looks like a "silver stream."
मराठी टीप: पाण्यातील मासे अगदी स्थिर (moveless) आहेत. चंद्रप्रकाशामुळे मासे, गवत (reeds) आणि संपूर्ण प्रवाह चांदीसारखा चमकत आहे, हे वर्णन करा.
Section 9 — Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे
Q1. Why does everything appear silver in the poem?
Answer: Everything appears silver because of the bright, pale light of the moon. As the moonlight falls over the dark landscape, it creates a magical reflection on objects like fruits, trees, thatched roofs, and animals, giving them a glowing, silvery appearance. मराठी टीप: रात्रीच्या वेळी चंद्राचा शुभ्र आणि तेजस्वी प्रकाश सर्व वस्तूंवर पडतो. या प्रकाशामुळेच सर्व गोष्टी रुपेरी (silver) दिसतात हे सांगा.
Q2. Which of the objects, animals, etc. in the poem are at rest without any motion? Answer: The poet creates a very quiet scene where almost everything is at rest. The dog is sleeping in its kennel like a log, the doves are resting in their shadowy cote, and the fish are completely motionless in the water.
मराठी टीप: कुत्रा (dog), कबुतरे (doves), आणि पाण्यातील मासे (fish) हे सर्व शांतपणे झोपलेले किंवा स्थिर आहेत हे इंग्रजीत लिहा.
Q3. Identify and explain the figure of speech in "Couched in his kennel, like a log". Answer: The figure of speech is a Simile. The poet uses the word "like" to make a direct comparison between the sleeping dog and a wooden log, emphasizing how heavily and motionlessly the dog is sleeping.
मराठी टीप: 'Simile' (उपमा) ओळखा. कुत्र्याच्या गाढ झोपेची तुलना लाकडाच्या ओंडक्याशी केली आहे हे स्पष्ट करा.
Q4. How does this poem make you feel about nighttime?
Answer: This poem makes me feel that nighttime is not something scary or dark, but rather peaceful and magical. The silence of the animals and the beautiful silvery glow of the moon show that nature is calm and beautiful when the sun goes down.
मराठी टीप: स्वतःचे मत मांडा (Personal Response). रात्र ही भीतीदायक नसून शांत, जादुई आणि सुंदर असते हे ३-४ वाक्यांत लिहा.
Section 10 — Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे
Q1. Summarize the poet's description of the rural landscape bathed in moonlight. Answer: In the poem 'Silver', Walter de la Mare presents a highly visual description of a quiet rural landscape under a full moon. The poet begins by personifying the moon as a lady walking softly in silver shoes. As she looks down, her light magically transforms ordinary things. The trees and their fruits appear as though made of solid silver, while the cottage windows and thatched roofs catch the bright beams. The animal world is mostly at rest: a dog sleeps like a log in its kennel, and doves rest peacefully in their cote. The only movement comes from a tiny harvest mouse scurrying by. Finally, the moonlight illuminates the stream, making the motionless fish and tall reeds gleam. The entire scene is painted as a tranquil, frozen, and beautifully silver world.
मराठी टीप: 1. सुरुवात: कवितेतील निसर्गाचे दृश्य. 2. मुख्य मुद्दे: चंद्र, घरे, झाडे, झोपलेला कुत्रा आणि कबुतरे यांचे वर्णन. तसेच उंदीर आणि मासे यांचा उल्लेख. 3. शेवट: सर्व दृश्य कसे शांत आणि रुपेरी वाटते याचा निष्कर्ष.
Q2. The same landscape appears different at different times. What message can we draw from this with reference to the poem?
Answer: The poem 'Silver' clearly shows that the same landscape appears drastically different at different times of the day. During the daytime, this rural setting would likely be full of noise, color, and constant activity. The fruits would be brightly colored, the dog would be barking, and the stream would be bustling with life. However, under the cover of night and the moon's silvery glow, this very same, ordinary landscape is transformed into something magical, quiet, and monochromatic. The core message we can draw from this is one of perspective and appreciation. We learn that beauty exists in various forms and conditions. Just as the bustling day has its energetic charm, the night offers a unique, profound peace. We must learn to pause, observe, and appreciate the hidden beauty around us that reveals itself only under specific circumstances, like the quiet silver of moonlight.
मराठी टीप: 1. सुरुवात: दिवसा आणि रात्री निसर्ग कसा वेगळा दिसतो. 2. मुख्य मुद्दे: दिवसा असणारा गोंगाट व रंग विरुद्ध रात्रीची शांतता व रुपेरी सौंदर्य (उदाहरणांसह). 3. शेवट: आपण निसर्गाच्या विविध रूपांचे कौतुक करायला शिकले पाहिजे हा संदेश.
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