1.

Alone she cuts and binds the grain

And sings a melancholy strain
O listen! For the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound
a. Identify “she” from the above stanza
i. A traveller
ii. The Poet
iii. Solitary Reaper
iv. None of the above

2. How does the poet know that the song is melancholy when he cannot understand
the words?
i. From the girl’s expression
ii. From the words of the song
iii. From the tune
iv. From her dress

3. What effect does the girl’s song have over the surroundings?
i. Has no effect
ii. All people desert the valley
iii. The valley echoes with the song
iv. The valley is indifferent

4. A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard

In spring-time from the cuckoo bird
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides
a. What is cuckoo bird famous for?
i. Cheerfulness
ii. Thrill
iii. Driving away tiredness
iv. Welcoming the spring
b. How does the Solitary Reaper’s song score over the song of cuckoo?
i. It is far more reaching
ii. It echoes more
iii. It is more musical and fresh
iv. It does not have any effect
c. Hebrides means
i. A group of trees
ii. Far off valleys
iii. Sea
iv. A group of islands near Scotland

5. Will no one tell me what she sings?

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far off things
And battles long ago
 a. Explain the use of “perhaps” in the second line
i. The poet is not sure
ii. He is double minded
iii. He is indifferent
iv. None of these
b. “Flow” what quality of the solitary reaper song is expressed here?
i. Its fluidity
ii. Its spontaneity
iii. Its music
c. What is the poet’s guess?
i. The theme is of spring
ii. Of happiness and forgotten things
iii. Of battles and sad events in the past
iv. Of stories

6. Or is it some humble lay

Familiar matter of today?
Some natural sorrow, loss or pain
That has been, maybe again
a. “IT” in the first line refers to
i. The valley
ii. The song
iii. The solitary reaper
iv. Her dress
b. Explain humble lay
i. A song about ordinary events
ii. A song about extraordinary things
iii. A song about modest things
iv. A song about rich people
c. What does the poet wish to convey by saying “that has been and may be again”?
i. A natural loss, pain
ii. A natural event
iii. Natural sorrow which can occur again
iv. Both I and iii

7. Whatever the theme, the maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending
I saw her singing at her work
And o’er the sickle bending
a. What other activities is the maiden doing besides singing?
i. She is ploughing
ii. Binding the corn
iii. Cutting the grass
iv. None of the above
b. What makes the maiden’s song extraordinary?
i. It’s music
ii. It’s theme
 iii. It’s eternal nature
iv. Her voice
c. What effect does the song have over the poet?
i. Mesmerising
ii. Impressive
iii. No effect

8. I listened, motionless and still

And, as I mounted up the hill
The music in my heart I bore
Long after it was heard no more
a. Where does the poet go?
i. Down the valleys
ii. Doesn’t go anywhere
iii. Climbed up the mountains
b. How does the song affect the poet?
i. It impressed him
ii. Served as an inspiration
iii. Left a permanent mark on his heart
iv. Had no effect
c. What does the poet want to convey by “long after it was heard no more”?
i. Music is entertaining
ii. Music is eternal
iii. Sad music is always remembered
iv. The universal and permanent impression of the music

Behold her, single in the field’.

-Who is single in the field? What is she doing there in the field?

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Stop here, or gently pass!’

Who says this and to whom? Why does he say this?

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‘Will no one tell me what she sings?’

Why does the poet ask this question? What, according to the
speaker, might be the theme of the girl’s song?

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‘O listen! for the vale profound

Is overflowing with the sound.’

What is meant by ‘vale profound’? What sound is referred to here?

Why does the poet use the word overflowing?

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“More welcomes notes to weary bands

Of travellers.”

What notes are referred to here? Why are they described as

“welcome notes”?

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“The music in my heart I bore.

Long after it was heard no more.”

– (i) What music is referred to here? (ii) Who bore it in his heart and
why?

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Who does the expression 'Highland Lass' refer to? Why does he
describe her as "Yon solitary Highland Lass ?"

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What is the girl doing ?

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Who does the poet say Stop here or gently pass? Why does he say so?

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Pick out the words which tell that the girl does not have anyone by her
side.
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What is the tone of her song happy, sad, soothing or sympathetic?
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"Overflowing with sound' - Explain.

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The solitary reaper's song reminds the poet of other singers. Who are
they?

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Who sings welcome notes? Where ? For whom ? What for ?

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Whose voice is thrilling ? Where does it sing ? When ?

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Who does Wordsworth compare the farmer girl with ? Why ?

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What does the phrase 'humble lay' mean ?

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The expression 'plaintive numbers' refers to sad music. Pick out

another phrase in the poem carrying the same meaning.
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What other words are used in place of 'sad' ?

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What are the two synonyms for the 'young girl'?

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Three other words are used to mean 'song'. What are they ?
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A melancholy strain' in stanza -2 means 'sad song'. Find out another

phrase in stanza - 4 with similar meaning.
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Which word in stanza -4 expresses the poet's guess ?

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