Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 2 When Autumn Came Question Answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse throughout different chapters Assam Board HS Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 2 When Autumn Came, Class 11 Alternative English Question Answer, HS 1st year Alternative English and select needs one.
Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 2 When Autumn Came
Also, you can read the SCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per SCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of SCERT All Subject Solutions. Here we have given Assam Board Class 11 Alternative English Chapter 2 When Autumn Came Solutions for All Subject, You can practice these here.
When Autumn Came
Chapter: 2
| POETRY |
| COMPREHENSION |
Ⅰ. Answer these questions in one or two words.
1. With what does the poet compare the yellow leaves?
Ans: The poet compares the yellow leaves to withered bodies of nature that lie silently on the ground, without even a single moan of protest.
2. Who remains undisturbed by the ‘single moan of protest’?
Ans: The fallen leaves remain undisturbed by the ‘single moan of protest.’
3. Who are exiled from their song in autumn?
Ans: The Birds are exiled from their song in autumn.
4. With whom does the poet plead for mercy?
Ans: The poet pleaded to the god of may for mercy.
5. What does the poet mean by the ‘gift of green’?
Ans: According to the poet, the gift of green means the spring season which will come again and will-rejuvenate the trees.
II. Answer these questions in a few words each.
1. What happens to the leaves in autumn?
Ans: Autumn is the season of dry and dust. The leaves of the trees turn yellow and fall from the trees and scattered over the ground.
2. What do you understand by the expression ‘ebony bodies naked’?
Ans: The expression “ebony bodies naked” refers to the trees being stripped of their leaves, exposing their dark, bare trunks and branches.
3. What does the poet mean by ‘birds that herald dreams’?
Ans: The phrase “birds that herald dreams” refers to birds known for their sweet, melodious songs. They symbolize the charm and magic of nature, often linked with dreams and poetic inspiration.
4. How does autumn affect the birds’ lives?
Ans: Birds are exiled from their own nests and deprived of their singing when autumn comes.They die due to the exposure to the autumnal dry spell even before the hunters shoot them to death.
5. Why does the poet invoke God of May?
Ans: The poet invokes the God of May to bless the withered bodies of the plants with the spirit of renewal. He prays for life to return to their dried veins and hopes that some trees will receive the gift of green again, so that birds may return and fill the air with their songs.
III. Answer these questions in detail.
1. How does the poet describe the helplessness of the trees in autumn?
Ans: According to the poet, the trees get most adversely affected by the advent of the autumn season. Their leaves fall and scatter across the ground, distorting their natural beauty. Though the yellow leaves seem to protest in pain and sorrow, their silent cries go unnoticed and unheard by those who carelessly walk over them.
2. How does the poet create the impression that autumn is a time of silence?
Ans: The poet portrays autumn as a season of silence by highlighting how the birds, once known for their sweet songs, are silenced and exiled from their melodies. Their voices vanish, and they fall into the dust even before the hunter arrives. This absence of birdsong adds to the quiet, still atmosphere that defines autumn.
3. How does the poem represent the trees as human entities?
Ans: The poem portrays the trees as human-like beings by giving them human qualities. They are described as having bodies, hearts (represented by the yellow leaves), and even the ability to feel pain and protest when trampled. This use of personification helps the reader empathize with the trees and feel a deeper emotional connection to nature.
4. Do you think that despite the dismal mood of the poem, it expresses the poet’s hope for a positive change?
Ans: Yes, the poem expresses the poet’s hope for a positive change because the poet ends the poem on a very hopeful note as he states the word “green” as this word indicates regeneration, happiness, and shared prosperity. The poet suggests that even in a society divided by class, allowing just one bird to sing to express its thoughts freely can spark meaningful change. The poem moves from despair to optimism, from the barrenness of autumn to the promise of spring, and from a divided society to one that is renewed and inclusive.
5. Why does the poet associate God of May with the ‘passion of resurrection’? Why does he say ‘Let one bird sing’?
Ans: The poet associates the God of May with the ‘passion of resurrection’ because May is typically associated with spring, a season of rejuvenation and new life.May is the month of spring season, so he is praying to God of May to bring the dry spell to an end and rejuvenate nature with its ‘passion of resurrection’. The poet’s plea for ‘Let one bird sing’ signifies the yearning for even a small sign of hope and vitality amidst the desolation, emphasizing the desire for life to emerge and flourish once more.
IV. Answer these questions in your own words.
1. How does the poet depict autumn through a series of images of violence?
Ans: The poem uses strong and violent imagery to highlight how Autumn harshly affects nature. The bare trees are compared to ebony naked bodies, symbolizing their vulnerability and suffering.Their hearts, represented by yellow leaves, are shaken off and scattered on the ground. Anyone can easily trample on them without any protest or pain.
Birds, seen as messengers of dreams, are driven from their leafy homes and silenced, losing their songs.They die before the hunter can even prepare to shoot them. These violent images illustrate the destructive impact of Autumn on life.These powerful images not only show the destructive force of Autumn on nature but also reflect how the voices and spirits of the oppressed are brutally silenced by those in authority.
2. Describe the poet’s distinctive treatment of nature as reflected in the poem.
Ans: In autumn, nature appears harsh and unkind. The trees are left bare, like naked bodies, standing exposed and vulnerable. Their yellow leaves, symbolizing their hearts, are torn away and scattered across the ground, where they are trampled without pity. These trees cannot express their pain, as their cries go unheard.
The poem then talks about songbirds that have lost their shelters and become like outcasts. Their plight is especially tragic, as their voices are violently taken from them—their throats silenced before any hunter has a chance to strike.
This portrayal of nature as having human-like qualities brings a feeling of sadness. On a deeper level, the poem aims to give voice to all those who are oppressed by a tyrant, in this case, Autumn.
3. How does the poem express the poet’s faith that autumn can only temporarily disturb life in the world of nature?
Ans: From our reading of When Autumn Came, it becomes clear that the poet views autumn as a gloomy and depressing time of year. He presents it as a season that cruelly and violently brings an end to the life of natural things like trees and birds. The falling of leaves and the birds’ migration to warmer places are not shown as gentle transitions, but rather as tragic, untimely deaths brought on by a harsh and merciless force. The poem closes on a somber note, with the poet almost pleading with the God of May to restore life to even a single tree and one bird as if he’s unsure whether his sincere prayer will be heard or answered.
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