Class 6 English Skylark Question Answers - Wandering Singers

Short Answer Questions

Wandering singers were poets or singers who used to wander from place to place and sing songs with the help of musical instruments to put them in rhythm.

Q.2. What is the name of the collection of folk songs from which 'Wandering Singers' is taken?

The name of the collection of folk songs is 'The Golden Threshold'.

Q.3. What kind of places did the wandering singers visit?

The wandering singers visited different kinds of places like forests, streets, cities, and battlefields.

Q.4. What musical instruments did the wandering singers use?

The wandering singers used musical instruments like lutes to produce songs.

Q.5. What is the meaning of the line 'All men are our kindred, the world is our home'?

The line means that the wandering singers consider all people as their relatives and the world as their home.

Q.6. What do the lays of the wandering singers depict?

The lays of the wandering singers depict the glory of cities, the beauty of women, old battles, and the joy and sorrow of life.

Q.7. What is the significance of the wind in the poem?

The wind symbolizes the destiny and the path that the wandering singers take in their journey.

Q.8. Why do the wandering singers not wait or tarry anywhere?

The wandering singers do not wait or tarry anywhere because they follow the voice of the wind which is the voice of their fate.

Q.9. What was Sarojini Naidu's contribution to Indian literature?

Sarojini Naidu was a renowned poet and writer who contributed to Indian literature with her famous works like 'The Feather of Dawn' and 'The Broken Wings: Songs of Love, Death and Spring'.

Q.10. What is the central idea of the poem 'Wandering Singers'?

The central idea of the poem is the journey of the wandering singers who follow the voice of the wind and travel from place to place singing songs and playing musical instruments, and their belief that all people are their kin and the world is their home.

Long Answer Questions

In the olden times, a group of poets would wander from place to place, singing songs and playing musical instruments to put them in rhythm. Such poets or singers were called wandering singers or minstrels. They were significant as they would travel to various places and entertain people with their music and songs. They would also spread news, stories, and folklore from one place to another.

Q.2. What is the central theme of the poem 'Wandering Singers' by Sarojini Naidu?

The central theme of the poem 'Wandering Singers' is the free-spirited nature of the wandering singers who travel to different places, singing and playing musical instruments. They see the world as their home, and all people as their kindred. They sing about the beauty of the past, including cities whose lustre has faded, the laughter and beauty of women who are no longer alive, and the swords of old battles and crowns of old kings. They also express their freedom to go wherever the wind calls them, without any attachment to a particular place.

Q.3. Who is Sarojini Naidu and what is her contribution to Indian literature?

Sarojini Naidu was a child prodigy, Indian independence activist, and poet. She is popularly known as The Nightingale of India. Her contributions to Indian literature include a collection of poems called 'The Golden Threshold' and 'The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death & the Spring.' She also wrote plays such as 'Maher Muneer' and 'Harvest Hymn.' Her poetry reflects her love for India, its people, and its culture.

Q.4. How do the wandering singers view the world and people around them, according to the poem?

According to the poem, the wandering singers view the world as their home and all people as their kindred. They roam freely, singing and playing musical instruments wherever the wind takes them. They sing about the beauty of the past, including cities whose lustre has faded, the laughter and beauty of women who are no longer alive, and the swords of old battles and crowns of old kings. They see themselves as storytellers who spread news, stories, and folklore from one place to another.

Q.5. What is the role of musical instruments in the lives of wandering singers?

Musical instruments play a crucial role in the lives of wandering singers. They use instruments like lutes to put their songs in rhythm and create a musical ambiance. The use of these instruments enhances the quality of their singing and captures the attention of the listeners. The wandering singers carry these instruments wherever they go, and they become an integral part of their lives.