Weathers by Thomas Hardy

 

Unit- 14 Reading- II

Weathers -df};d_

-by Thomas Hardy(British poet)

·         This poem was first published in Good Housekeeping magazine in May 1922.

·        This poem talks about the spring and the winter seasons in the UK.

·         Rhyme scheme: ABABCCCCB in each stanza

 

Stanzas	Word-meanings
This is the weather the cuckoo likes, And so do I; When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, And nestlings fly: And the little brown nightingale bills his best, And they sit outside at 'The Traveller's Rest', And maids come forth sprig-muslin drest And citizens dream of the south and west, And so do I.	cuckoo-sf]OnL_ showers-aiff{_ betumble-v;fNg', laufg{'_ chestnut-s6';_ nestlings-ar]/fx?_ spikes-ltvf kftx?_ nightingale-a'na'n r/f]_ bills-ufpF5_ maids-sGof s]6Lx?_ forth-cuf8L_ spring-muslin-dndnsf] sk8f_
This is the weather the shepherd shuns And so do I; When beeches drip in brown and duns, And thresh and ply; And hill-hid tides throb, throe, and throe, And meadow rivulets overflow; And drop on gate-bars hang in a row, And rooks in families homewards go, And so do I.	shepherd-e]8f uf]7fnf]_ shuns-dg gk/fpg'_ beeches-7'nf ?vx?_ drip-r'x'g'_ duns-xNsf v}/f]_ thresh-lk6\g', r'6\g'_ ply-sfddf tNnLg x'g'_ tides-Hjf/ef6f_ throb-WjgL lgsfNg'_ throe-j]bgf, lk8f_ meadow-3fF;] d}bfg_ rivulets-vf]nf_ row-nfOg, k+ª\tL_ rooks-sfu h:t} r/f_ homeward-3/lt/_

 

Vocabulary -zAbe08f/_

Word	Synonym	Antonym
cuckoo-sf]OnL_	a bird with a call like its name.
likes-dg k/fpF5_	prefers	dislikes, hates, shuns
showers-aiff{_	light rainfall
betumble-v;fNg', laufg{'_	to shake, fall downward, throw into disorder
chestnut-s6';_	a large tree that produces nuts covered with spikes
spikes-ltvf kftx?_	sharp pointed leaves
nestlings-ar]/fx?_	baby birds, chicks
nightingale-a'na'n r/f]_	a kind of bird
bills-ufpF5_	sings
The Traveller’s Rest	name of an inn/restaurant
maids-sGof s]6Lx?_	young women, lasses, girls	lads, young men, married women
forth-cuf8L_	forward	backward
spring-muslin-dndnsf] sk8f_	fine transparent decorated cotton clothes
shepherd-e]8f uf]7fnf]_	a person who looks after sheep
shuns-dg gk/fpg'_	dislikes, hates	likes, prefers
beeches-7'nf ?vx?_	a tall forest tree with shiny leaves and small nuts
drip-r'x'g'_	to fall in drops
duns-xNsf v}/f]_	Greyish
thresh-lk6\g', r'6\g'_	to beat or thrash
ply-sfddf tNnLg x'g'_	to work steadily
hill-hid-8fF8f]n] 9fs]sf]_	covered by hill
tides-Hjf/ef6f_	movements of ebb and flood
throb-WjgL lgsfNg'_	to beat like heart or sound or vibrate
throe-j]bgf, lk8f_	sound caused by deadly pain
meadow-3fF;] d}bfg_	grassland, prairie
rivulets-vf]nf_	streams, small rivers
row-nfOg, k+ª\tL_	line, queue, row
rooks-sfu h:t} r/fx?_	a type of crow
homeward-3/lt/_	towards home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary:

 The poem ‘Weathers’ written by an English poet, Thomas Hardy, talks about two different seasons which are the spring and the winter seasons.  

 In the first stanza, the beautiful and pleasant spring season is described. He says that in this season cuckoo and nightingale feel good. The light rain flows over pointed leaves of chestnut tree. The poet is pleased as nightingale sings at his best tune. People come out of the house to enjoy the weather and the birds’ song. The young girls are seen in their fine clothes. The people plan to visit different places of south and west. To an English person, the south and the west are associated with summer holiday destination, where the weather at that time is often warm and sunny. And many coastal towns provide welcoming accommodations and amusements. The poet likes this weather as it is liked by all the birds, animals and human as well.

In the second stanza, he talks about winter’s coldness and severity. All the natural beauty turns into dullness and discomfort. The cuckoo hates this weather and the beeches turn dry and brown as their leaves are threshed by the wind. The water drops hang from the wooden bars of gates. One can see some streams overflow as it has been raining a lot. The rooks fly to their homes. He dislikes this season because the winter season is very cold and wet.

Symbolically the poet tries to state the bright and dark aspects of human life and the word ‘Weathers’ indicates the human life. Spring represents the bright and winter represents the dark aspects of our life.

 

A.     Find the words from the poem that are similar in meaning to the following words/phrases.

a. a brief an usually light fall of rain	showers
b.sings	bills
c. young women-	maidens
d.to tumble about; throw into disorder	betumble
e. baby birds	nestlings
f. dislikes	shuns
g. a dull greyish-brown colour	duns
h.beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm	throb
i.  small rivers; streams	rivulets
Important Questions(Asked in SLC)
j.  young girls/ ladies	maids
k.dislikes	shuns
l.  sharp pointed leaves	spikes
m. a bird with a call like its name	cuckoo
n. a large tree with spreading branches	beech
o.      all of liquid	drip
p.      rain	shower
q.      shake	betumble
r.        line/queue	row
s.       people	citizen

 

B.     Answer the following questions.

a.      What do the nestlings do in the spring?

Ans: The nestlings fly in the spring.

b.      What does the nightingale do?

Ans: The nightingale bills his best in the spring.

c.       How do the girls come out in spring?

Ans: The girls come out with fine clothes in spring.

d.      What plan do people make?

Ans: People plan to visit the south and west in spring.

e.       What happens to beeches in winter?

Ans: Beeches turn into dry and brown in winter.

f.       Where do rooks go? Why do they migrate?

Ans: Rooks go to their home in winter. They migrate because of cold and harsh weather.

g.      Does the poet enjoy the winter or spring? Why?

Ans: The poet enjoys the spring as cuckoo does. He hates the winter season because of cold and harsh weather.

 

Other Important Questions (asked in SLC Exam)

h.      Who has composed this poem?

Ans: Thomas Hardy has composed this poem.

i.        What is the similarity between speaker and the cuckoo?

Ans: The similarity between the speaker and the cuckoo is that both of them like the spring season.

j.        What do the nestlings and nightingales do?

Ans: The nestlings fly and nightingales sing in the spring season.

k.      Why do rooks go home? 

Ans: Rooks go home due to extreme cold in the winter season.

l.        What happens to the trees in the winter?

Ans: Trees look brown and dry as their leaves are threshed by the wind.

m.    How does little Nightingale sing?

Ans: A little nightingale sings at its best.

n.      Why is the autumn season unpleasant and disappointing?

Ans: The autumn (winter) season is unpleasant and disappointing because trees look dry and brown. Icicles-hd]sf] kfgLsf] yf]kfx?_ hang on the gate and it is extremely cold.

o.      How do the girls express their joys in the spring?

Ans: The girls express their joys in the spring by wearing fine dress up.

p.      Why does the poet like the spring season?

Ans: The poet likes the spring season because the cuckoo likes it, nestlings fly, little nightingale sings, maids wear fine clothes, people plan for visiting different places, etc.

q.      What is the weather that the Cuckoo doesn't like?

Ans: The cuckoo doesn’t like the winter season.

r.       What differences do you find between the first Stanza and second Stanza.

Ans: The first stanza is about the spring season which if full of pleasant activities and the second stanza is about the winter season which has only discomfort and severity.

s.       Name the birds mentioned in the poem.

Ans: Names of birds mentioned in the poem are: cuckoo, nightingale and rook.

t.        When do nestlings fly?

Ans: Nestlings fly in the spring season.

u.      What do the rooks do during the winter season?

Ans: Rooks go homeward during the winter season.

v.      Who retire in their home?

Ans: Rooks retire in their home during the winter.

w.    Do you feel the same as the poet does? Why? Why not?

Ans: Yes, I feel the same as the poet does. I too love the spring season because it is the time of rebirth for the natural world and temperature is moderate.

x.      What sorts of plan do young people make in this season?

Ans: People plan to visit different places in this(spring) season.

y.      What do baby birds learn?

Ans: Baby birds learn flying.

z.       Why do beeches look dull?

Ans: Beeches look dull because their leaves fall due to the wind.

aa.  Which weather is disliked by the cuckoo?    

Ans: The winter season is liked by the cuckoo?     

 

C. Complete the interpretation of the poem using suitable words or phrases given below. The poem ‘Weathers’ written by an English poet, Thomas Hardy, talks about two different seasons which are the spring and the winter seasons.  

In the first stanza, the beautiful and pleasant spring season is described. He says that in this season cuckoo and nightingale feel good. The light rain flows over pointed leaves of chestnut tree. The poet is pleased as nightingale sings at his best tune. People come out of the house to enjoy the weather and the birds’ song. The young girls are seen in their fine clothes. The people plan to visit different places of south and west. To an English person, the south and the west are associated with summer holiday destination, where the weather at that time is often warm and sunny. And many coastal towns provide welcoming accommodations and amusements. The poet likes this weather as it is liked by all the birds, animals and human as well.

In the second stanza, he talks about winter’s coldness and severity. All the natural beauty turns into dullness and discomfort. The cuckoo hates this weather and the beeches turn dry and brown as their leaves are threshed by the wind. The water drops hang from the wooden bars of gates. One can see some streams overflow as it has been raining a lot. The rooks fly to their homes. He dislikes this season because the winter season is very cold and wet.

Symbolically the poet tries to state the bright and dark aspects of human life and the word ‘Weathers’ indicates the human life. Spring represents the bright and winter represents the dark aspects of our life.

 

 

 

 

C.     Write True and false.

a.    People like to stay inside the house in winter season. True

b.   Water drops freezes to ice during summer. False

c.    Cuckoo hates the weather described in the first verse. False

d.      The young girls dress up in their fine clothes. True

D.     Fill in the gaps:

a.    People love to ................ new places.  

Ans: visit       

b.   ............. is the name of an inn.

Ans: “The Traveller’s Rest”

c.    Baby birds are called ............

Ans: nestlings                             

d.   ............ is a black bird like crow.

Ans: Rook

E.     Find opposite meaning.

a.       Exposed- hid         

b.      Huge- little         

c.       Admire- shun