1. Who is the author of the poem “The Indian Weaver”?
a) A.K. Ramanujan
b) Rabindranath Tagore
c) Kamala Das
d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: d) Sarojini Naidu
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu, known as the “Nightingale of India,” is the author of “The Indian Weaver,” a lyrical poem. Naidu’s poetry often reflects the beauty of India, its people, and its landscapes. In this poem, she highlights the life cycle of a human being through the metaphor of a weaver weaving different garments for various stages of life, using vivid and colorful imagery.
2. What is the central metaphor in “The Indian Weaver”?
a) A river flowing
b) A weaver weaving cloth
c) A bird flying
d) A tree growing
Answer: b) A weaver weaving cloth
Explanation: The central metaphor in the poem is “a weaver weaving cloth.” The weaver symbolizes the forces of life and fate, who creates garments that represent different stages of a person’s life, from birth to death. Through this metaphor, Sarojini Naidu explores the themes of life, death, and the cyclical nature of existence, emphasizing how every human being is part of a greater, interconnected process.
3. How many stanzas does “The Indian Weaver” have?
a) Four
b) Two
c) Three
d) Five
Answer: c) Three
Explanation: “The Indian Weaver” consists of three stanzas. Each stanza is dedicated to a different part of a human’s life cycle, symbolized by the garments the weaver makes. The first stanza represents the birth of a child, the second depicts a wedding, and the third symbolizes death. The three stanzas connect the personal with the universal, offering a reflection on the cycle of life.
4. What time of day is associated with the weaving of a newborn’s robe?
a) Noon
b) Break of day
c) Midnight
d) Fall of night
Answer: b) Break of day
Explanation: The robe for a newborn is woven at the “break of day.” The time of day symbolizes new beginnings and the dawn of life. The imagery suggests that a child is a fresh start, a new chapter in the world, and the “break of day” represents the hope, purity, and newness of birth.
5. What color is the garment woven for the newborn child?
a) Green
b) White
c) Blue
d) Purple
Answer: c) Blue
Explanation: The garment for the newborn child is described as “Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild” in the first stanza. Blue symbolizes purity, calm, and the freshness of life’s beginning, reinforced by the halcyon, a mythical bird associated with peace.
6. Which bird is mentioned in the description of the newborn’s robe?
a) Sparrow
b) Peacock
c) Eagle
d) Halcyon
Answer: d) Halcyon
Explanation: The bird mentioned in the newborn’s robe description is the halcyon, from the line “Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild.” The halcyon, a mythical bird associated with peace and tranquility. In the context of the newborn’s robe, it represents calm and serenity, further reinforcing the purity and peace of a newborn’s arrival into the world. The halcyon’s gentle nature mirrors the innocence and hope associated with new life.
7. What is the garment woven at the “fall of night” meant for?
a) A queen’s marriage
b) A warrior
c) A dead man
d) A newborn child
Answer: a) A queen’s marriage
Explanation: The garment woven at “fall of night” is for a queen’s marriage, as stated in the second stanza: “We weave the marriage-veils of a queen.” “Fall of night” suggests evening, symbolizing the vibrancy and maturity of marriage, with the veil’s “purple and green” colors evoking celebration.
8. Which colors are associated with the marriage veil?
a) Red and gold
b) Purple and green
c) Black and grey
d) Blue and white
Answer: b) Purple and green
Explanation: The colors associated with the marriage veil are purple and green. Purple often represents royalty, dignity, and passion, while green symbolizes fertility, renewal, and hope. Together, these colors emphasize the importance of marriage as a significant life event, one that brings together both tradition and fresh beginnings.
9. What animal’s plumes are compared to the marriage veil?
a) Swan
b) Dove
c) Peacock
d) Halcyon
Answer: c) Peacock
Explanation: The marriage veil is compared to the “plumes of a peacock” in the line “Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green.” The peacock, a symbol of beauty, grace, and vibrancy, is a fitting metaphor for a wedding veil. The feathers, with their intricate patterns and rich colors, echo the elegance and splendor of a marriage, which is a joyful and celebratory occasion.
10. What time of day is linked to the weaving of the funeral shroud?
a) Evening
b) Noon
c) Break of day
d) Moonlight chill
Answer: d) Moonlight chill
Explanation: The funeral shroud is woven at “moonlight chill,” as seen in the third stanza: “Weavers, weaving solemn and still / What do you weave in the moonlight chill?” This nighttime setting, with its cold, eerie tone, symbolizes death’s finality and stillness, contrasting with the earlier stanzas. It evokes the quiet solemnity of death, as the moonlight is associated with the end of the day and life’s final stages. The shroud represents the inevitable end of the human life cycle, reinforcing the poem’s theme of life’s cyclical nature.
11. What color is the funeral shroud described as?
a) Green
b) Purple
c) Blue
d) White
Answer: d) White
Explanation: The funeral shroud is described as “White as a feather and white as a cloud” in the third stanza of “The Indian Weaver.” White symbolizes purity, peace, and the finality of death. It represents the clean slate that death brings, a transition from the earthly life to the afterlife. In many cultures, white is traditionally used for mourning and burial, reflecting the serene and inevitable nature of death. By using this color, the poet underscores the stillness and calmness that accompanies the end of life.
12. Which natural object is the funeral shroud compared to?
a) A river
b) A cloud
c) A mountain
d) A tree
Answer: b) A cloud
Explanation: The funeral shroud is compared to a cloud in the line “White as a feather and white as a cloud” from the third stanza. This comparison emphasizes the lightness, softness, and ethereal nature of death. Clouds are transient, ever-changing, and often associated with both beauty and melancholy. The comparison evokes a sense of peacefulness and acceptance, suggesting that the shroud, like a cloud, drifts gently into the afterlife, symbolizing the passage from life to death.
13. What does the poem symbolize through the weaver’s work?
a) The cycle of life
b) The beauty of nature
c) The power of love
d) The struggle of labor
Answer: a) The cycle of life
Explanation: Through the weaver’s work, the poem symbolizes the cycle of life. The act of weaving represents the interconnectedness of all life stages—from birth to marriage to death. Each garment woven by the weaver reflects a different phase of human existence. The poem portrays how life unfolds in a continuous cycle, with each stage being as inevitable as the last. The weaver’s work, thus, is a metaphor for the rhythms of life, emphasizing the natural progression of time.
14. Which stage of life is represented by the “break of day” stanza?
a) Death
b) Marriage
c) Old age
d) Birth
Answer: d) Birth
Explanation: The “break of day” stanza represents birth. Dawn signifies new beginnings, the arrival of light after darkness, much like the arrival of a newborn after the darkness of the womb. The poem uses the imagery of the “break of day” to symbolize the purity, hope, and potential that a new life brings. Birth marks the start of a human journey, full of possibilities, just as the daybreak symbolizes a fresh start in the world.
15. What emotion is suggested by the phrase “solemn and still” in the third stanza?
a) Joy
b) Anger
c) Sorrow
d) Excitement
Answer: c) Sorrow
Explanation: The phrase “solemn and still” in the third stanza (“Weavers, weaving solemn and still”) suggests sorrow, fitting the context of weaving a “dead man’s funeral shroud.” It conveys a mood of quiet sadness, reflecting the reverence and gravity that accompanies the idea of death. The stillness and solemnity reflect the inevitability of death and the sadness associated with it. The lack of movement and the quietness evoke a somber atmosphere, indicating the sadness and emotional weight of losing a life.
16. What literary device is prominently used in the poem to describe the garments?
a) Hyperbole
b) Simile
c) Alliteration
d) Personification
Answer: b) Simile
Explanation: Simile is prominently used to describe the garments in “The Indian Weaver,” as in “Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild,” “Like the plumes of a peacock,” and “White as a feather and white as a cloud.” Similes compare one thing to another using “like” or “as.” In the poem, Sarojini Naidu uses similes to vividly describe the garments, comparing them to natural elements such as birds and clouds. These comparisons create strong, evocative images that enhance the poem’s themes and deepen its emotional impact, connecting human life to the natural world.
17. How does the poem reflect Indian culture?
a) Through descriptions of urban life
b) Through references to technology
c) Through political themes
d) Through the imagery of weaving and life rituals
Answer: d) Through the imagery of weaving and life rituals
Explanation: The poem reflects Indian culture through its imagery of weaving and life rituals. Weaving, a traditional craft in India, is not only a livelihood but also a cultural symbol of creation and continuity. The poem uses weaving as a metaphor for life’s various stages, drawing on the significance of rituals in Indian life, such as birth ceremonies, weddings, and death rites. These cultural practices, along with the poetic use of color and natural imagery, evoke the deeply rooted customs and beliefs of India.
18. What is the tone of the third stanza of the poem?
a) Playful
b) Hopeful
c) Melancholic
d) Cheerful
Answer: c) Melancholic
Explanation: The tone of the third stanza, with lines like “Weavers, weaving solemn and still” and “We weave a dead man’s funeral shroud,” is melancholic. It reflects the sorrow and inevitability associated with death. The solemn and still atmosphere created by the imagery of the funeral shroud evokes a sense of sadness, as the poem contemplates the end of a life. The tone shifts from the hopefulness of birth and marriage to the quiet, sorrowful acceptance of death, underscoring the melancholic nature of life’s conclusion.
19. What is the primary theme of “The Indian Weaver”?
a) The joy of craftsmanship
b) The inevitability of time and life stages
c) The beauty of nature
d) The struggle of the working class
Answer: b) The inevitability of time and life stages
Explanation: The primary theme of “The Indian Weaver” is the inevitability of time and life stages. Through the imagery of the weaver’s work, the poem explores the cyclical nature of life—birth, marriage, and death. It emphasizes that these stages are predetermined and inevitable, woven into the fabric of existence. The poem reflects on how every human life is part of a larger, unchanging cycle, reminding us of the passage of time and the transient nature of life.
20. What does the repetition of “Weavers, weaving” at the start of each stanza emphasize?
a) The randomness of their tasks
b) The weavers’ exhaustion
c) The continuity of life’s phases
d) The monotony of their work
Answer: c) The continuity of life’s phases
Explanation: The repetition of “Weavers, weaving” emphasizes the continuity of life’s phases. By repeating this phrase, the poem highlights the ongoing, repetitive nature of life, where each phase naturally follows the previous one. The act of weaving symbolizes the continuous flow of existence, from one life stage to the next. This repetition reinforces the idea that life is a never-ending cycle, with each phase being just one thread in the grand tapestry of human existence.
