THE RAINY DAY
NOTES
1) About the Author – Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941)
Rabindranath Tagore was a world-renowned poet, novelist, playwright,
essayist, composer, painter, and philosopher from India. He was the first
non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 for his collection
of poems Gitanjali. Tagore composed India’s national anthem Jana Gana
Mana and Bangladesh’s national anthem Amar Shonar Bangla. His works
reflect humanism, nature, spirituality, and social reform.
2) Summary of “The Rainy Day”
The poem vividly describes the atmosphere in a village before a heavy rainfall.
Dark and gloomy clouds gather in the sky, covering the forest. The palm trees bend
in the strong wind, and the crows sit silently with drooping wings. The cows, tied
in the cowshed, moo restlessly. Men gather in the flooded fields to catch fish, while
rainwater runs down the narrow lanes. The roads become deserted, and the evening
lamps must be lit early due to the darkness.
The poet warns a child not to go out in such harsh weather as the storm may strike
at any moment. The poem captures the power and restlessness of nature during
monsoon and also reflects the difficulties faced by people and animals during
heavy rainfall.
3) Word Meanings
● Sullen – dull and gloomy
● Fringe – outer edge or margin
● Smiting – striking sharply or heavily
● Dismal – dark, gloomy
● Lowing – sound of cows (mooing)
● Desolate – deserted or empty
● Ford – shallow area of a river that can be crossed on foot/vehicle
MAKE SENTENCES ON THE FOLLOWING WORDS.( TO BE DONE BY
THE STUDENTS)
● SULLEN
● DESOLATE
● DISMAL
● FRINGE
● SMITING
4) Poetic Devices Used
1. Imagery –
o “Sullen clouds are gathering fast over the black fringe of the
forest.”
o Creates a visual picture of the gloomy weather.
2. Personification –
o “The sky seems to ride fast upon the madly rushing clouds.”
o Sky is given human qualities of riding.
3. Simile –
o “Like a laughing boy who has run away from his mother to
tease her.”
o Compares running rainwater to a playful boy.
o “The wind is roaring and struggling among the bamboo
branches like a wild beast tangled in a net.”
4. Alliteration –
o “Fast over the black fringe
o Rainwater running in the rills
o Flooded field to catch the fish
o Daylight is dim
o Cow is lowing loud
5. Metaphor –
o “The sky seems to ride fast upon the madly rushing clouds.”
(compares the sky’s movement with a rider).
5) Solutions
Reading Skills – Answer these questions
Q1. Why is the child being told not to go out?
Ans: The mother asked the child not to go out because the weather was
stormy and dangerous. The sky was overcast with dark clouds and a
heavy spell of rainfall was about to strike.
Q2. Why have men crowded in the flooded fields?
Ans: The men crowded in the flooded fields to catch fish that had
overflowed from the ponds due to the heavy rain.
Q3. Why have the women gone home early? What were they doing?
Ans: The woman went home early from the Ganges because it was
overflowing. They had gone to fill water in their pitchers and were now
hurrying home with the filled pitchers.
Q4. According to the speaker, what must be kept ready? Why?
Ans: The speaker is the poet who is warning the child. He says that the
storm is ready to strike and the sky is dark, so evening lamps should be
kept ready and need to be lit earlier.
B 1. The clouds: The clouds at the edge of the forest look angry and bad
tempered to the speaker. The sky looks gloomy.
2. the palm trees: The palm trees are shaking due to strong winds. To the
speaker it looks as if the palm trees are hitting their heads against the sky.
3. the rain water and the river water: The rain water is running in rills
through the narrow lanes and looks ready to pour down from the sky with
all its might. The water of the river flows very fast and looks menacing.
4. the roads and the lanes: The road to the market is deserted and the lane
that leads to the river is slippery.
Thinking Skills
Q1. How do the animals mentioned in the poem react to the rain? Why do you
think they react in these ways?
Ans: The crows sit silently with drooping wings, and the cows low restlessly
in their sheds. The fish from the ponds have overflowed into the fields.
They react this way because animals can sense the approaching storm and
feel uncomfortable and restless.
Q2. Who do you think is the speaker of the poem? Why do you think so?
Ans: The speaker is an elderly figure, most likely the child’s mother
who is warning the child not to go outside. The concern and
protective tone suggest this. She vividly describes the scenes in the
village before a heavy spell of rainfall is about to strike the place.
Poetry Appreciation
Q1. There are several images that the poet has used in the poem. List any four
such images that you like the most.
1. Sullen clouds gathering over the forest.
2. Palm trees smiting their heads in the storm.
3. Rainwater running through the narrow lanes like a laughing boy.
4. Wind roaring like a wild beast tangled in a net.
Q2. You will find several instances of personification in the poem. State the
lines and explain how they contribute to the poem.
● “The sky seems to ride fast upon the madly rushing clouds.” → Sky is
personified, showing the speed and restlessness of nature.
● “Rainwater … like a laughing boy who has run away from his mother.”
→ Personifies rainwater, making it playful and mischievous.
Q3. The poet has also used similes to describe two scenes. Underline the
sections in the poem where the poet has used a simile.
● “Like a laughing boy who has run away from his mother to tease her.”
● “Like a wild beast tangled in a net.”
COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONS ( TO BE DONE BY THE
STUDENTS ON THEIR OWN)
Q1) The poem describes how people and animals react to the heavy
rainfall—crows sit silently, cows low restlessly, men crowd in flooded fields,
and a child is warned not to go out. Based on this description, explain how
nature influences the daily life of both humans and animals. Give examples
from the poem to support your answer.
Q2) The poet uses vivid images like “rainwater running through the narrow
lanes like a laughing boy” and “the wind roaring like a wild beast tangled in
a net.” How do such images and comparisons help you visualize the
atmosphere during the rainy day? Write your answer in about 80–100
words.
