Lesson notes

LESSON 9PALANQUIN BEARERS

Answer the following questions
1. Are the palanquin bearers happy or do they feel burdened to be carrying
the palanquin? Which words in the poem tell you so?
Ans: The palanquin bearers were happy to be carrying the palanquin. The words
Lightly, o lightly we bear her along and Gaily, o gaily we glide and we sing tell
us that they do not feel the weight of the woman they have to carry in the
palanquin. In fact, they do so happily.
2. What does the narrator mean by the wind of our song and the dew of our
song?
Ans: The narrator refers to the smallness and lightness of the bride that the
palanquin bearers are carrying on the journey. Just like a delicate flower that
sways in the wind, the bride sways lightly to the tune of the song of the palanquin
bearers. Similarly, as a star that shines on a dew-filled night, she hangs in
between the palanquin bearers as they sing their song.
LESSON 10--THE APPLE TREE
Answer the following questions:
1. What was the space in the wild orchard used for?
Ans: The open space in the middle of the wild orchard was used to dry the
familys wet linen.
2. What kind of fruit does the narrator refer to as windfalls?
Ans: Apples marked by a birds beak and bruised pears are called windfalls
by the narrator.
3. What is the Forbidden Tree?
Ans: The Forbidden Tree is an apple tree discovered by the Father and a
friend during an after-dinner stroll on a Sunday afternoon.
4. Why was the friend excited on finding this particular apple tree in the
orchard?
Ans: The friend was excited because he said the tree would give
wonderful apples; the kind that could not be found anywhere else.
5. Why was Father pleased with the discovery?
Ans: Father was pleased with the discovery because it meant that his
purchase of the land, that included this wild orchard and the apple tree, meant
it was worth all the money he had spent on it.
6. What was the warning given to the children, when there was company and
after the company had left?
Ans: Father was firm with the children when the guest was there. He
forbade them from going near the tree. When the guest left, Father adopted a
different tone, almost threatening, when he warned the children of the
consequences they would have to face if they touched the apples.
7. How did the children respond when they were offered the apple?
Ans: They were quiet and humbly took the apples that were offered to
them. They knew how much this meant to their father.
8. What was Fathers reaction on tasting the apple?
Ans: Father was disgusted by the taste and spat the rest of the piece out.
LESSON 11--LES BALLOONS
Answer the following questions
1. What are the colours and textures captured by the narrator in the opening
stanza of the poem?
Ans: Turbid, turquoise, light, luminous, satin and silken.
2. What do the balloons depend on to stay afloat? Pick out the words that
suggest movement.
Ans: The balloons depend on the breeze around them and the gas that
they are filled with to stay afloat. The words that suggest movement are: dip
and drift; reel; rise and reel; float; fall and float; they cling; straining; climb;
wandering.
3. Name the precious and semi-precious stones mentioned in the poem.
Ans: Turquoise, pearls, silver, amethyst, opals and rubies.