Class 9 Beehive Poem Chapter 3 Question Answers - Rain on the Roof

Q1: What is the setting of the poem?
Ans: The poet is lying comfortably snug in his bed with his head pressed against the pillow, in a room in his cottage listening to the patter of the soft rain as it falls on the shingles of the roof.

Q2: How old do you think the poet is? Justify your answer.
Ans: The poet is a young man. He remembers his mother looking down at him and his siblings, who are sleeping in their room, long ago. The poet’s mother also is no longer alive as he says she lives on in his memories.

Q3: How does the sky look before the rain falls?
Ans: Before the rain falls, the weather turns humid and great dark clouds gather in the sky. They cover the stars and spread darkness. The poet feels these dark clouds are gloomy and melancholic. To the poet, the darkness spells despondence and gloom as the clouds – humid shadows – weep gentle tears that fall as rain.

Q4: ‘And the melancholy darkness gently weeps in rainy tears.’ Explain the phrase ‘melancholy darkness’. What does it do?
Ans: “Melancholy darkness” refers to the dark rain-bearing clouds. The poet imagines that the clouds covering the sky are gloomy and depressed because they are heavy and grey. The poet further imagines that the clouds are weeping and their tears are falling down as raindrops.

Q5: What is a ‘bliss’ for the poet in the poem ‘Rain on the Roof?
Ans: The poet thinks it is blissful to lie in his cozy bed with his head on the pillow and listen to the sound of rain falling on the shingles of the roof. He enjoys the music of nature which arouses fantasies and memories in his mind.

Q6: What does the poet like to do when it rains?
Ans: The poet likes to lie in his room in his cottage, snug in bed with his head on a pillow when it rains. It gives him the greatest pleasure.

Q7: What feelings does the falling rain arouse in the poet in the poem ‘Rain on the Roof?
Ans: The poet first describes the falling rain as the tears of the dark, gloomy clouds. However, as he lies snug in his bed, listening to the patter of rain on the shingles, the sound provides him immense pleasure and he is lost in fantasies and memories.

Q8: What are the poet’s feelings as the rain falls on the shingles?
Ans: As the rain falls on the shingles, its tinkling sound creates an echo in the poet’s heart. As he listens to the patter of the raindrops on the roof, his gloom is lifted and his heart is filled with a thousand fantasies and fond memories of his mother.

Q9: When do the ‘thousand dreamy fancies’ begin to weave in the poet’s mind? What are these fancies?
Ans: When the poet is in his cottage and lies in his cozy bed listening to the soft music of rain on the roof, his mind is flooded with various thoughts and imaginations. These fancies or imaginary thoughts and ideas spin threads of bright fanciful colors in his mind.

Q10: “And a thousand dreamy fancies into the busy heart.” When do the ‘thousand dreamy fancies’ begin in the poet’s heart?
Ans: When the poet is in his cottage and lies in his cozy bed listening to the soft music of rain on the roof, his mind is flooded with various thoughts and imaginations. The soothing sound of the gentle rain on the shingles fires his imagination.

Q11: ‘Now in memory comes my mother.’ When does the poet remember his mother? What does it show about him?
Ans: As the poet lies in his bed in his room in the cottage, listening to the sound of rain falling incessantly on the roof of his cottage. The poet loved his mother. He remembered her when he lied on his cozy bed to enjoy the sound of rain. It appears to him as if she was fondly looking at him.

Q12: ‘As I list to this refrain.’ Which kind of refrain is the poet referring to?
Ans: The poem is lying in his cozy bed in his cottage listening to the sound of rain falling on the roof of his cottage. Here, refrain refers to the continuous patter of the rain falling on the shingles of his roof.

Q13: What feeling does every tinkle on the shingle create for the poet?
Ans: Every raindrop falling on the tiles of the roof creates a rhythm with the poet’s heartbeat. This evokes thousands of dreams making his thoughts busy. While he focuses on listening to the pitter-patter on the roof, his mind starts weaving recollections of fond memories of yesteryears.

Q14: Do you think the poet is praising the healing power of rain in the poem ‘Rain on the Roof?
Ans: As the poet lies in his bed, looking at the dark clouds gather, he first is filled with feelings of gloom and unhappiness. He feels the clouds are weeping and the rain is tears of these gloomy clouds. However, as he lies snug in bed, listening to the sound of rain, his gloom is lifted and his mind is filled with fantasies and fond memories. This rain and its sound resurrect the fondest memory of the poet—that of his mother—in his mind. As the rain continues, the poet tries to recollect all that caused him pain, yet at the same time lifted his spirits. The rain has thus brought comfort to him.

Q15: Do you think the poet enjoys the rain?
Ans: At first when the clouds gather and rain starts, the poet is filled with dismay and gloom at the gathering darkness. His mood is somber. However, the patter of the raindrops on the shingles soon soothes him and his mind is filled with imaginings and fond memories of his mother.

Q16: What is the central idea of the poem ‘Rain on the Roof?
Ans: The central idea of the poem ‘Rain on the Roof’ is that nature brings solace to the mind. The poet derives immense happiness from lying in bed listening to the sound of rain falling on the roof of his cottage. He is lost in dreams as many fancies and memories crowd his mind.

Q17: How does the poet describe the falling rain in the poem ‘Rain on the Roof?
Ans: The poet first describes the falling rain as the tears of clouds. The dark rain-bearing clouds appear gloomy and depressed to him. Therefore, they are weeping. Their tears fall to earth as gentle rain. However, as he listens to the patter of rain on the shingles, it provides him immense pleasure. The poet loves to hear the melodious sound of nature. He listens to the patter of soft rain on the wooden roof and is lost in fantasies.

Q18: How does the rain affect the poet? Describe.
Ans: Though at first, the sight of the gathering dark clouds fills the poet’s mind with dismay and unhappiness, the gentle patter of the rain falling on his roof soon soothes him. The poet lies in his cozy bed, his head on his pillow, and listens to the patter of the raindrops on the shingles. The gentle sound fills him with bliss. A thousand fantasies fill his mind. He is filled with nostalgia as he remembers his mother. He recalls how his mother had looked at him and his sleeping siblings with fondness as they lay in their beds. Hence, the rain is bliss for the poet.

Q19: What happens when the poet listens to the patter of the rain? Do you think that rain is a narrative tool in the poet’s life?
Ans: The raindrops play music on the roof and create a tinkling sound on the shingles. To the poet, this music is blissful. At the beginning of the poem, there is a certain tinge of sadness, and the poet talks of “melancholy darkness/ Gently weeps in rainy tears.” However, as he lies in his cozy bed, a feeling of bliss washes over him. Every raindrop on the tiles of the roof creates a rhythm with the poet’s heartbeat.
The poet tries to focus on listening to the pitter-patter on the roof whereas his mind weaves the recollections of fond memories of yesteryears. Rain bears a subtle link with all aspects of life. It serves as a powerful narrative tool in the poet’s life as it evokes fantasies and nostalgia in the poet. He recalls his mother in a poignant manner.

Q20: In what way are the poems The Road Not Taken and Rain on the Roof evocative of the past?
Ans: In both the poems "The Road Not Taken" and "Rain on the Roof," there is a certain nostalgia for events long gone by. In "The Road Not Taken," Robert Frost talks with regret about a decision taken long ago to take a certain path in the woods. He had thought of taking the second path sometime in the future. Though he knew, even at that time, that the chances of his returning that way were slim. So his tone is one of regret.
On the other hand, the poet in "Rain on the Roof" is first filled with melancholy and gloom at the sight of the gathering clouds. However, the gentle patter of the rain soothes him and fills his mind with fond memories of his mother smiling down at him. Thus Kinney’s feelings of unhappiness vanish, and he is at peace.