The Voice of the Rain | Poem 3 | English | Class 11th | Summary | Questions and Answers |

 

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English | Class 11th | Hornbill | NCERT

The Voice of the Rain | Poem 3 | Summary | Questions and Answers |

 

The Voice of the Rain

And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower,

Which, strange to tell, gave me an answer, as here translated:

I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain,

Eternal I rise impalpable out of the land and the bottomless

sea,

Upward to heaven, whence, vaguely form’d, altogether

changed, and yet the same,

I descend to lave the droughts, atomies, dust-layers of the

globe,

And all that in them without me were seeds only, latent,

unborn;

And forever, by day and night, I give back life to my own

origin,

And make pure and beautify it;

(For song, issuing from its birth-place, after fulfilment,

wandering

Reck’d or unreck’d, duly with love returns.)

                                  (Walt Whitman)

 

Short Summary

            In "The Voice of the Rain" by Walt Whitman, the poet imagines a conversation with the rain, which personifies itself as the eternal cycle of nature. The rain explains that it rises from the earth as vapor, forms clouds in the sky, and then returns to the ground to nourish the earth and sustain life. This cycle is compared to the creative process of poetry, which originates from the soul, spreads out to the world, and returns, bringing meaning and fulfilment. The poem reflects Whitman’s themes of interconnectedness in nature and the enduring impact of creativity.

 

Think it out

I.

Question 1. There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?

Answer: The two voices in the poem are:

The poet's voice: The first voice belongs to the poet, Walt Whitman, who begins by asking, "And who art thou?" This is indicated in the first line: "And who art thou? said I to the soft falling shower."

The voice of the rain: The second voice is that of the rain, personified. It responds directly to the poet, indicated by: "And I am the poem of Earth," said the voice of the rain.

Question 2. What does the phrase “strange to tell” mean?

Answer: The phrase "strange to tell" expresses a sense of wonder or surprise. It suggests that what the rain says is unusual or unexpected, even though it is a natural phenomenon. It highlights the mystery and beauty of the rain’s eternal cycle.

Question 3. There is a parallel drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this? Explain the similarity between the two.

Answer: The phrase “I am the poem of Earth” indicates the parallel between rain and music or poetry. Both rain and music are cyclic and nurturing. Rain follows a continuous cycle of rising, falling, and reviving the earth, while music or poetry originates from the soul, spreads into the world, and returns with an impact. Both bring life, refreshment, and fulfilment to the earth or human emotions.

Question 4. How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem? Compare it with what you have learnt in science.

Answer: The cyclic movement of rain is expressed in the lines: "I rise impalpable out of the land and the bottomless sea, Upward to heaven, whence, vaguely formed, altogether changed, and yet the same..." The rain describes how it rises as vapor, forms clouds, and falls back to earth as rain to nourish it. This parallels the scientific water cycle, where water evaporates, condenses into clouds, and falls as precipitation, repeating the cycle.

Question 5. Why are the last two lines put within brackets?

Answer: The last two lines are put within brackets to signify that they are an additional observation or thought by the poet. It serves as a reflective commentary on how poetry, like rain, originates, spreads, and returns with purpose and meaning, nourishing the human soul.

Question 6. List the pairs of opposites found in the poem.

Answer: The poem contains several opposites, such as:

Rise and fall (indicating the rain’s upward movement as vapor and downward movement as rain)

Day and night (showing the continuous nature of the rain)

Reck’d and unreck’d (meaning whether someone pays attention or not, the rain still serves its purpose)

These opposites emphasize the endless cycle of rain and its role in the natural world.

Here are some poems on rain and a comparison with **"The Voice of the Rain"** by Walt Whitman:

II. Notice the following sentence patterns.

1. And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower.

2. I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain.

3. Eternal, I rise

4. For song…duly with love returns

Rewrite the above sentences in prose.

Answer: Here are the sentences rewritten in prose:

1. I said to the soft-falling shower, "Who are you?"

2. The voice of the rain said, "I am the Poem of Earth."

3. I rise eternally.

4. A song, when sung, duly returns with love.

III. Look for some more poems on the rain and see how this one is different from them.

Answer: Here are some more poems on ‘Rain’ and their comparison with the Walt Whitman’s poem ‘The Voice of the Rain’.

1. "Rain" by Edward Thomas

In this poem, rain is depicted as a symbol of loneliness and sorrow. The poet listens to the rain and reflects on his isolation and the devastation caused by war. The mood is melancholic, and rain represents nature’s indifference to human suffering.

Comparison: While Thomas focuses on rain’s emotional impact, particularly sadness and isolation, Whitman’s rain is life-giving and nurturing, symbolizing a positive and eternal cycle of renewal.

 

2. "The Rain" by William H. Davies

This poem contrasts two aspects of rain: it falls on the rich leaves, causing them to drip, while it also revives the poor ones beneath. The poet reflects on how rain is a great equalizer, providing nourishment to all.

Comparison: Both Whitman and Davies portray rain as nurturing and beneficial. However, while Davies emphasizes rain’s role in bringing balance and equality in nature, Whitman focuses on the cycle of creation, connecting it to poetry and human creativity.

 

3. "Song of the Rain" by Kahlil Gibran

In Gibran’s poem, the rain is personified as a divine messenger, a connection between heaven and earth. The rain describes itself as a gift to the world, enhancing the beauty of nature and bringing joy to all living things.

Comparison: Like Whitman, Gibran personifies the rain and emphasizes its divine and creative nature. Both poems celebrate rain as essential to life, but Gibran’s rain has a more ethereal, spiritual tone, while Whitman’s focuses on the cyclic, natural process and its parallels with poetry.

 

4. "After Rain" by William Carlos Williams

In this poem, rain is seen in a more mundane, detailed way, focusing on its effects on the landscape and daily life. Williams describes how the rain has washed the streets and refreshed the environment.

Comparison: Williams’ approach is more grounded and literal, focusing on the tangible, everyday impacts of rain. In contrast, Whitman elevates rain to a poetic and philosophical level, exploring its symbolic and eternal nature rather than just its physical effects.

 

Conclusion:

Whitman's "The Voice of the Rain" stands out because it personifies rain and draws a deep parallel between natural processes and the creative cycle of poetry. Unlike many rain poems that focus on emotional or environmental aspects, Whitman’s poem delves into the philosophical, celebrating the rain as a symbol of renewal, interconnectedness, and the unending cycle of creation.