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| The Night Mail - Morning Star Beeta Publication |
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SECTION A : MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. On the arrival of the Night Mail, the birds
(a) continue with their sleep.
(b) fly away.
(c) turn their heads and stare at her.
(d) do not look at it.
Answer: (c) turn their heads and stare at her.
2. The Night Mail makes noise because
(a) she wants to tell everyone that she is late.
(b) she wants to tell everyone of her arrival.
(c) she wants to scare everyone away.
(d) she wants to warn the animals sleeping on the railway tracks.
Answer: (b) she wants to tell everyone of her arrival.
3. The poet has used the term 'blank-faced' to show that
(a) the coaches had passengers.
(b) the train did not come.
(c) people could not see the train.
(d) the coaches were without passengers.
Answer: (d) the coaches were without passengers.
4. The Night Mail shovels white steam because
(a) it uses coal to get power and emits smoke.
(b) it passes along the banks of a stream.
(c) it announces its arrival.
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (a) it uses coal to get power and emits smoke.
5. Which figure of speech is used in the line given below?
Snorting noisily as she passes
(a) Imagery
(b) Metaphor
(c) Personification
(d) Irony.
Answer: (c) Personification
6. The journey of the Night Mail symbolises which of the following?
(a) Journey of life.
(b) Journey of a woman.
(c) Journey of postal services.
(d) None of the above.
Answer: (c) Journey of postal services.
7. The Night Mail passes through
(a) the fields and plains.
(b) the grassy lands.
(c) the slopes.
(d) All of the above.
Answer: (d) All of the above.
8. What does the Night Mail bring?
(a) Letters
(b) Cheques
(c) Postal orders
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
9. How is the Night Mail different from other trains?
(a) She is always late
(b) She carries both letters and passengers
(c) She makes a lot of noise
(d) She does not have human passengers.
Answer: (d) She does not have human passengers.
Section B: Context Questions
I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
This is the Night Mail crossing the border,
Bringing the cheque and the postal order,
Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,
The shop at the corner, the girl next door.
(i) Why has the poet used 'This' in the first line of the extract? What does
the poet mean by a "Night Mail"?
Answer: The poet has used 'This' to draw attention to the Night Mail and to
emphasize its importance and distinctness. By "Night Mail", the poet refers to
the special train that travels during the night, carrying mail for delivery.
(ii) According to the extract, what does the Night Mail bring and for whom?
Answer: The Night Mail brings cheques, postal orders, and letters. It carries
letters for everyone, be it the rich or the poor, the shop at the corner, or
the girl next door.
(iii) How is the Night Mail different from regular trains?
Answer: The Night Mail is different from regular trains because it
specifically carries mail for delivery and does not have human passengers
onboard.
(iv) The extract shows that the Night Mail does not discriminate among people.
How?
Answer: The Night Mail delivers letters for both the rich and the poor,
suggesting that it serves all sections of society without discrimination.
(v) Give two examples of the use of rhymes in the extract. What role do they
play in the poem?
Answer: Two examples of rhymes in the extract are "border" with "order" and
"poor" with "door". The rhymes add a rhythmic quality to the poem, making it
melodious and enhancing its auditory appeal.
II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb:
The gradient's against her, but she's on time.
Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder
Shovelling white steam over her shoulder
(i) Who is the poet talking about? What is a "gradient" and it is against
whom?
Answer: The poet is talking about the Night Mail. A "gradient" refers to the
slope or incline of the railway track. Here, it means that the slope is
steep, making it challenging for the train, but despite that, the Night Mail
is on time.
(ii) What are the qualities of the Night Mail as indicated in this extract?
Answer: The Night Mail is depicted as punctual, determined, and capable of
overcoming challenges, as it maintains its schedule even when faced with a
steep gradient.
(iii) Why does the poet call the train's "climb" as "steady"?
Answer: The poet calls the train's "climb" as "steady" to emphasize the
consistent and unwavering pace at which the Night Mail travels, even when
faced with obstacles.
(iv) What does "Shovelling white steam over her shoulder" mean?
Answer: The phrase "Shovelling white steam over her shoulder" is a
metaphorical way of describing the train expelling steam as it moves. It
gives the train a human-like quality, as if it's tossing steam behind it
much like a person might toss something over their shoulder.
(v) How has poet used personification in this extract?
Answer: The poet has used personification by giving the Night Mail human
attributes. Phrases like "gradient's against her", "she's on time", and
"shovelling white steam over her shoulder" treat the train as if it has
human qualities and emotions.
III. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Dawn freshens, Her climb is done.
Down towards Glasgow she descends,
Towards the steam tugs yelping down a glade of cranes
Towards the fields of apparatus, the furnaces
Set on the dark plain like gigantic chessmen.
All Scotland waits for her: In dark glens, beside pale-green lochs
Men long for news.
(i) What is meant by 'Her climb is done'? Where is she now headed towards?
Answer: "Her climb is done" means that the Night Mail has finished its
uphill journey or its ascent. Now, she is headed downwards towards Glasgow.
(ii) What does the repetition of the consonant 'd' in the first two lines of
the extract indicate?
Answer: The repetition of the consonant 'd' in "Dawn freshens" and "Down
towards Glasgow" gives a rhythmic quality to the lines, emphasizing the
downward movement or descent of the train towards Glasgow.
(iii) Which figure of speech is used in the following line? Explain its
usage.
Set on the dark plain like gigantic chessmen
Answer: The figure of speech used in the line is a simile. The poet compares
the furnaces set on the plain to gigantic chessmen to emphasize their large,
imposing structures and their strategic placement, much like how chess
pieces are placed on a chessboard.
(iv) Explain in your own words the meaning of "All Scotland waits for her."
Answer: "All Scotland waits for her" means that the entire country of
Scotland is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Night Mail. This signifies
the importance of the train and the mail it carries for the people of
Scotland.
(v) Which theme of the poem is reflected in this extract? Explain briefly.
Answer: The theme of connection and the importance of communication is
reflected in this extract. The entire country waits eagerly for the Night
Mail as it brings news, letters, and other communication, emphasizing the
human need to stay connected and be informed.
IV. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Asleep in granite Aberdeen,
They continue their dreams,
But shall wake soon and hope for letters,
And none will hear the postman's knock
Without a quickening of the heart,
For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?"
(i) What were people doing while the Night Mail was travelling through
different cities?
Answer: While the Night Mail was travelling through different cities, people
were asleep and dreaming.
(ii) What sort of dreams do these people have? What are these dreams
symbolic of?
Answer: The extract mentions that people "continue their dreams", but the
specific nature of these dreams is not described. However, the dreams can be
symbolic of hopes, aspirations, and the subconscious desires of the people.
(iii) What would happen to their heartbeat on hearing the postman's knock?
Why?
Answer: On hearing the postman's knock, their heartbeats would quicken with
anticipation. This is because they are eager and hopeful to receive letters,
indicating that someone remembered them.
(iv) If the postman does not bring them letters, what would be the feelings
of the people?
Answer: If the postman does not bring them letters, the people would likely
feel disappointed, forgotten, and perhaps even lonely, as the act of
receiving a letter signifies being remembered and valued by someone.
(v) Explain how does the Night Mail help to promote human relations?
Answer: The Night Mail promotes human relations by serving as a vital medium
of communication. It carries letters, news, and other forms of communication
that help people stay connected. Receiving a letter can make someone feel
remembered, valued, and connected, highlighting the importance of
interpersonal relationships.
PROJECT WORK
1. Why do people look forward to the arrival of the Night Mail?
Answer: People eagerly anticipate the arrival of the Night Mail because it
brings them letters, cheques, postal orders, and other forms of
communication from their loved ones, acquaintances, and business associates.
In the era the poem depicts, the Night Mail served as a vital connection
between distant regions, bringing news, affirmations of love, business
communications, and other personal messages. The excitement surrounding the
Night Mail's arrival also signifies the human desire to be remembered,
connected, and valued. In essence, each letter represents a bond, a memory,
or an emotion that ties people together, making the Night Mail's arrival a
significant event in their daily lives.
2. Which types of letters does the poet mention?
Answer: The poet mentions a diverse array of letters in the poem. These
include letters of thanks, letters from banks, letters conveying love
declarations, gossip, news - both circumstantial and financial, letters of
condolence, and notes from overseas. The letters are written on various hued
papers like pink, violet, white, and blue. They embody different tones such
as chatty, catty, boring, adoring, official, heartfelt, clever, stupid, and
even some that are misspelled. This diversity in the types of letters
represents the multifaceted nature of human communication and relationships.
3. What are the positive characteristics of the Night Mail?
Answer: The Night Mail is depicted as a reliable, punctual, and efficient
service. Despite the challenges it faces, such as steep gradients and
varying terrains, it ensures timely delivery of mail. The Night Mail
operates during the night, symbolizing its unwavering commitment to its
duty, ensuring that people receive their letters by the time they wake up.
It serves all strata of society, delivering letters for both the rich and
the poor without discrimination. Its ability to cross borders and connect
various regions highlights its crucial role in bridging distances and
promoting communication.
4. How does the Night Mail announce her arrival?
Answer: The Night Mail announces her arrival with the noise she makes while
traversing the tracks. She snorts noisily as she passes, with the white
steam being shoveled over her shoulder, symbolizing the train's powerful
engine at work. This noise, combined with the rhythmic movement of the
train, serves as a distinctive announcement of its presence as it moves
through the quiet countryside during the night.
5. How does the poet personify the Night Mail and give it human attributes?
Answer: The poet employs personification throughout the poem to give the
Night Mail human-like qualities. For instance, the train is described as
"snorting noisily" and "shoveling white steam over her shoulder," likening
it to a living being that breathes and moves with purpose. The use of the
pronoun "her" further humanizes the train, attributing it with feminine
characteristics. This personification helps readers relate more closely to
the Night Mail, seeing it not just as a mechanical entity but as a lifeline
connecting people, emotions, and stories.
6. In the present times of instant communication and social media, explain
the relevance of the poem.
Answer: Even in our modern era, characterized by instant messaging and
digital communication, the poem "The Night Mail" retains its relevance. It
serves as a poignant reminder of a time when communication was not
instantaneous, and the anticipation of receiving a handwritten letter was a
cherished experience. The poem emphasizes the deep human desire to connect,
be remembered, and feel valued. While the mediums of communication have
evolved, the underlying emotions remain unchanged. The Night Mail symbolizes
the joy of anticipation, the thrill of connection, and the profound
significance of personal communication. In an age where digital
communication can sometimes feel impersonal, the poem underscores the
timeless value of genuine, heartfelt connections.
