A. Answer the following questions :
1. Who is the poet of the poem " Village Song "?
Ans - The poet of the poem "Village Song " is Sarojini Naidu .
2. What tempted the girl to tarry ?
Ans - The boatman's song tempted the girl to tarry .
3. Who will smite the village girl ?
Ans - Some evil spirit will smite the village girl .
4. What will bite the girl in the darkness ?
Ans - A serpent will bite the girl in the darkness .
5. What words does the speaker utter when fear overcomes her ?
Ans - The speaker " Ram re Ram ! I shall die " when fear overcomes her .
B. Answer the following questions in a few words .
1. What will be the mother's reaction ?
Ans - The mother will be very worried for the girl as she has not returned home even after it is dark . She will wait weeping for her . She will pray to God for her safety as the Jamuna river is deep.
2. Why will the Speaker's brother murmur ?
Ans - The speaker's brother will murmur as he will be angry with the girl for reaching home late .
3. What are the things the speaker is afraid of ?
Ans - The speaker is afraid of darkness , a serpent , an evil spirit , an evil spirit , a storm and lightning .
4. With what are the shadows of evening compared ?
Ans - The shadows of evening are compared with black birds in the sky .
5. How does the girl realize that the night is approaching ?
Ans- On hearing the white crane calling and the wild owl crying the girl realizes that the night is approaching .
C. Answer the following questions briefly in your own words :
1. What does the girl in the poem say about her mother and brother ?
Ans - The girl is late i returning home from the river Jamuna . She says that her mother will be worried about her safety . She would weep and pray to God for her safe arrival at home . And her brother would be anxious to know the reason for her delay . Both of them are aware of the dangers associated with the river Jamuna.
2. What do the birds referred to in the poem symbolize ?
Ans - The reference to " white crane calling " and " the wild owl's cry " symbolizes the approaching darkness . Again , the comparison of the dark evening with gathering black birds in the sky is suggestive of the fear and anxiety of the maiden .
3. " Ram re Ram ! I shall die "- Why does the girl utter these words ?
Ans - The maiden's faith on God is reflected when she utters "Ram re Ram ! I shall die " . She utters these words in the hope that her saviour Lord Ram will rescue her from the impending danger .
D. Give suitable answers to the following :
1. Describe the feelings of the girl in the course of the poem ?
Ans - The village girl in the poem went to the river Jamuna to fetch water . She was late in returning home being lured by the boatman's song . It was getting dark and her way home was long and lonely . She was afraid as darkness was approaching . The white crane was calling and the owl's were crying . There was no moon light too. She was afraid wondering what would happen to her if a serpent should bite her , or if an evil spirit should smite her .
She thought that her brother would be angry with her for being late and her mother would wait weeping for her safe arrival . She was further sacred of thinking what would happen to her if a storm came then , where would she hide herself from lightning . The sky was setting even darker . At this hour of trouble she prayed to God for his help and guidance .
2. How does Sarojini Naidu represent the form and spirit of Indian Folklore in the poem "Village Song " ?
Ans - Like any other Indian folklore the poem " Village Song " , depicts a pastoral scene and situation with the village maiden going to river to fetch water . The description of the evening is typically of village . And the maiden's use of the phrase " Ram re Ram ! I shall die " to express her helpless situation lends to he poem an indigenous touch.
The poem develops a story with the maiden as the central character . The village girl in the poem went to the river Jamuna to fetch water . She was late in returning home being lured by the boatman's song .
It was getting dark and her way home was long and lonely . She was afraid as darkness was approaching . The white crane was calling and the owls were crying . There was no moon light too. She was afraid wondering what would happen to her if a serpent should bite her , or if an evil spirit should smite her .
She thought that her brother would be angry with her for being late and her mother would wait weeping for her safe arrival. She was further scared thinking what would she hide herself from lightning . The sky was getting even darker . At this hour of trouble she prayed to God for his help and guidance .
Thus , through the depiction of the rural scenes , situations, characters , etc. the poet Sarojini Naidu represents the form and spirit of Indian folklore in the poem " Village Song ".
