Introduction:- Rain on the Roof | English Literature for Grade 9 PDF Download

INTRODUCTION

When the sky is covered with dark clouds and it starts raining, everybody feels thrilled. One wishes to lie in a cosy bed and thousands of fancies rush through his mind. It is most joyful to enjoy listening to the music of the pattering sound of the rain-drops on the shingles of the roof. The poet expresses his love for nature and its beauty.

Introduction:(2)

This lyrical poem “Rain on the Roof” by Coates Kinney presents the memories aroused in the poet’s mind by the showers falling on the tin roof. Through a number of metaphors, the poet shows that the drops of rain falling on the shingles of the roof sends a train of thoughts running in his mind. He is reminded of the way his mother used to bid him and his siblings a good night and put them to sleep. The poet connects his present with his past through the memories revived by the rain.

THEME 

The theme of the poem is the healing power of rain. The musical sound of raindrops falling on the rooftop at night has the ability to revive sweet memories and rouse fancies in an otherwise busy mind. The rain thus soothes and comforts an overworked mind by taking it back to its lovely past. Some of our best memories in life are associated with rain.

Theme (2)

When certain events happen, long-lasting memories come flooding back to our mind. Here, on a rainy day, the poet is listening to the sound made on the roof by the falling raindrops. This pitter-patter sound of the raindrops brings back lost memories of the poet about his mother and her affection towards him. The sound of rain appears to create bliss to the poet.

TITLE

The very title, with a repetition of the sounds ‘r’ and ‘n’ and the long vowels ‘ai’ and ‘oo’ imitates the rhythmic pitter-patter of rain on a tin roof. Article ‘the’ before the word ‘roof’ makes it a specific roof – the roof of the poet’s house. Thus, the title is very apt as it is suggestive of the childhood memories the poet has of rain. The rain has magic like an effect on him every time it falls on his room and lying lazily in his room, he listens to the sheer music of the rain. It triggers ‘a thousand dreamy fancies’ in his mind and thousands of memories come alive. In particular, the memory of the poet’s mother putting her children to sleep at night is indelible in his mind. Every time it rains, the poet relives the golden moments of his childhood. Thus, the title of the poem can be termed very appropriate.

WORD MEANING

Humid  = damp = गीला ; hover == float in the air = फड़फड़ाना ; starry = full of stars =तारों से पूर्ण ; sphere = the heavens = आकाश ; melancholy =sadness =उदासीपूर्ण ; patter = a tapping noise = टक – टक का शोर I Tinkle = soft ringing sound = मधुर हल्की –सी आवाज़ ; shingles = wooden tiles used on roof= छत पर लगाई जाने वाली लकड़ी की फट्टियां (स्लेटें) ; echo = reflection of sound = गूँज ; fancies = imaginations  = कल्पनाएँ ;woof = cloth = बाना , वस्त्र ।
Humid—wet; Hover—remain in one place in the air; Starry—full of stars; Sphere—a solid figure that is completely round with every point at an equal distance from the centre; Melancholy—sad; Bliss—happiness; Cottage—small hut; Chamber—room; Patter—a sound of drops; Overhead—above head;Tinkle—ringing sound; Echo—reflected sound; Dreamy—dreamlike; Fancies—imagination;Recollections—memories; Weave—pattern of weaving; Woof—word to describe a sound; Agone—past time; Dreamer—one who dreams; Ere—before; Dawn—early morning; Fond look—loving gaze;Shingles—small round stones.