THE BROOK

THE BROOK

1.How does the brook sparkle?

The brook sparkles when the sunlight and rays fall on its watery surface. The

watery surface acts as a medium and reflects the sun rays producing a

sparkling effect. The brook “sparkle out among the fern” growing near its

banks.

2. Why has the word ‘chatter’ been repeated in the poem?

The first use of the word is: ‘I chatter over stony ways’, the second time: ’I

chatter, chatter as I flow’ the repeated use of chatter seems to signify the

continuous movement of the brook and the vitality with which is flows.

3. What does the word ‘hern’ refer to ?

The word hern refers to the bird heron. The word hern is an example of poetic

license. It refers to the bird heron. The poet has used this to maintain the

rhyme scheme.

4. With many a curve my banks I fret’ What does the brook seem to be doing

here? What image has the poet tried to convey to the reader?

The brook is moving at great speed and with the rush of water at every curve

along the bank there is an erosion of the bank which is referred to as ‘banks I

fret’

The poet has tried to convey the fact that the brook flows very swiftly when it

is very near to its source and it seems to signify youth and vigour.

5. ‘By many a field and fallow

By and many a fairy foreland set

with willow wed and mallow’ What does ‘fairy foreland’ refer to?

The land or terrain that lies on either side of the flowing brook before it meets

the river is called foreland. It is referred to as a fairy because the weeds and

mallow have lent it beauty of a magical or supernatural kind.

6. Name the different things found floating in the brook.

Many things can be found floating in the brook as it is a source of life. We

find blossoms ‘sailing over its surface’, a ‘lusty trout’ and a ‘grayling’ swimming in and out of its depths. As it travels onward , we can see ‘foamy flakes’ floating over its surface.

7. What does the poet try to convey by using the words ‘steal’ and ‘slide’?

The brook steals by ‘lawns and grassy plots’ and slides by ‘hazel covers’ This

symbolises the slowing down of the brook which now has an easy quiet

movement that goes unnoticed. This is different from the energetic mood it

was in during the early part of its course.


8.‘I make the netted sunbeam dance’

The rays of the sun pass through the leaves and branches of the trees that

line the brook. The interplay of light and shadow gives the effect of

sunbeams trapped in a net. These sunbeams seem to bob up and down on

the surface of the moving brook which the poet refers to as a dance.