Class 9 Beehive Poem Chapter 8 Question Answers - A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

Q1. What did the slumber do to the poet’s spirit?

Ans: The slumber caused the poet's spirit to become sealed. This deep sleep signifies a state where he feels no human fears. In this state, he perceives his loved one as a being that cannot feel the passage of time or the effects of the world around her. She is described as having no motion or awareness, existing in a tranquil state, undisturbed by earthly concerns.

Q2. What does ‘the slumber’ refer to?

Ans: The slumber refers to the death of a lovely child named Lucy.

Q3. What can’t the poet realize?

Ans: The poet cannot comprehend human fears.

Q4. What had sealed the poet’s spirit?

Ans: The death of Lucy sealed the poet's spirit.

Q5. What is meant by ‘human fears’? 

Ans: Human fears refer to the common worries and anxieties experienced by people. These fears can include concerns about failure, rejection, and loss, which are universal emotions that many individuals face throughout their lives.

Q6. What is meant by earth’s diurnal course’?

Ans: Earth’s diurnal course refers to the daily movement of the Earth as it rotates on its axis. This rotation causes the cycle of day and night.

Q7. Why can’t Lucy see or hear now?

Ans: She cannot see or hear because she is dead.

Q8. On the basis of reading this poem, how would you describe William Wordsworth?

Ans: In this poem, William Wordsworth expresses his profound love for nature. He envisions it as a source of comfort and peace, particularly when reflecting on the death of a loved one. Wordsworth imagines that if someone dear to him becomes part of nature after their passing, it brings him a sense of relief.

Q9. Explain the line ‘She seemed a thing that could not feel’?

Ans: The line ‘She seemed a thing that could not feel’ suggests that the person is now dead. It implies she lacks any sense of human emotions, meaning she cannot experience grief or happiness. As a result, she is perceived as a lifeless entity, disconnected from the feelings that define living beings.

Q10. What is the theme of the poem ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’?

Ans: The poem reflects on the death of a loved one. The poet expresses that his soul is sealed in a deep sleep, indicating a profound sense of loss. Despite this sorrow, he finds some comfort in the thought that the child has become a part of nature. This connection to nature brings him a sense of peace, as he believes that the passing of time will no longer affect her.