Students can Download English Poem 6 Ballad of the Tempest Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes Pdf, Activity, KSEEB Solutions for Class 10 English helps you to revise the complete Karnataka State Board Syllabus and to clear all their doubts, score well in final exams.
Karnataka State Syllabus Class 10 English Poem Chapter 6 Ballad of the Tempest
Ballad of the Tempest Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes
Understand the poem:
Question 1.
We were crowded in the cabin,
Not a soul would dare to sleep’.
a) Who does the word ‘we’ refer to here?
b) Not a soul would dare to sleep – why was it so?
Answer:
a) The sailors.
b) All were worried about the impending storm.
Question 2.
Usually, storms are formed in the deep sea. What precaution have the sailors got to take before a voyage?
Answer:
According to the poet, a violent deep storm in winter was a fearful thing. The force of the wind could cause the ship to wreck.
Question 3.
The poet says It is a fearful thing in winter. K.’ According to the poet, what is referred to as a fearful thing in winter? How would the condition be in the deep sea during winter?
Answer:
A storm is a fearful thing in winter. The sea goes turbulent and in the deep sea the disturbance is so much that there are blasts rattling the ship.
Question 4.
How does ‘it’ affect the sailors? (Read the first two stanzas)
Answer:
It affects the sailors both physically and emotionally. They remain huddled in the cabin, and they are so frightened that they are unable to sleep. The storm is so devastating that it seems to shout, “Cut the mast.”
Question 5.
The speaker and his crew-mates sat in darkness and prayed. What did they hear?
Answer:
They heard the roaring of the hungry seas and the waves talking with death.
Question 6.
When the captain shouted ‘We are lost”, how did his daughter react?
Answer:
The captain’s little daughter took his hand reassuringly and reminded him that the Lord, who protected his people on the land, will protect them out on the sea too.
Question 7.
The crew-mates kissed the maiden and spoke in better cheer. What made them feel cheerful?
Answer:
The little girl’s faith in God revived their faith too and instead of growing more and more despondent, they grew hopeful and cheerful.
Question 8.
‘A ship is always safe at the shore/But it was not built for that’. What does this mean?
Answer:
The idiom points out that by not trying out anything new and adventurous, one may not come across problems and difficulties; but such an existence can be dull and boring. It is true that a ship which remains at the shore will not be posed with the danger of storm, pirates and dangerous sea creatures. But such a ship serves no purpose at all and such a ship needn’t have come into existence. Thus the idiom shows that in life one should do what one is meant to do without being unduly worried over the risk factor.
Read and appreciate:
Question 1.
The poet uses the phrase ‘the hungry sea’. What can the reader imagine from this? What is the figure of speech employed in lines 11 and 12?
Answer:
The poet succeeds at creating a mental picture of the sea as a monster, all set to devour the ship. The intention of the poet is to point at the destructive element of the sea while on storm, by personifying it. He refers to the breakers as talking with death continuing with the figure of speech of personification.
Question 2.
The poet uses expressions which are unusual, evocative and rhythmic. Some examples are given with explanation.
Answer:
expression – why the expression is unusual
a) ‘not a soul would sleep’ – use of synecdoche (part for the whole) and emphasis
b) ‘rattling trumpet’ – use of alliteration
c) ‘hungry sea roaring’ – personification
d) ‘shuddered in silence’ – imagery (of fear)
Now, describe how the following expressions impress you. Clues are given in brackets. Match them.
i) (shattered by blast) – ______________
ii) (midnight on the waters) – __________
iii) (breakers talked with death) – __________
iv) (captain staggered down the stairs) – ________
v) (icy hand) – ________
[image of movement, image of one imposing (covering) on the other, onomatopoeia, (tactile) sense of touch, personification]
Answer:
i) Shattered by blast – imagery of destruction
ii) Midnight on the waters – as a contrast to the peaceful midnight on the land
iii) Breakers talked with death – personification ‘
iv) Captain staggered down the stairs – to point out the hopelessness of the situation as the captain himself has lost hope and has lost confidence
v) Icy hand – to point out the fear of death of the captain and also the coldness of the storm-hit ship.
Quote from memory:
We were crowded in the cabin,
Not a soul would dare to sleep,-
It was midnight on the waters,
And a storm was on the deep.
‘Tis a fearful thing in winter
To be shattered by the blast,
And to hear the rattling trumpet
Thunder, “Cut away the mast!”
So we shuddered there in silence,-
For the stoutest held his breath,
While the hungry sea was roaring
And the breakers talked with death.
As thus we sat in darkness
Each one busy with his prayers,
‘We are lost!” the captain shouted,
As he staggered down the stairs.
But his little daughter whispered,
As she took his icy hand,
“Isn’t God upon the ocean,
Just the same as on the land?”
Then we kissed the little maiden,
And we spake in better cheer,
And we anchored safe in harbour
When the morn was shining clear.
Ballad of the Tempest Additional Questions and Answers
Answer the following questions in a word or a sentence each:
Question 1.
What is a ballad?
Answer:
A ballad is a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing.
Question 2.
Why were the sailors huddled in the cabin?
Answer:
The sailors were huddled in the cabin because there was a storm raging outside.
Question 3.
Why couldn’t the sailors sleep?
Answer:
They couldn’t sleep because of the storm.
Question 4.
What is referred to as a fearful thing?
Answer:
A storm in the winter is a fearful thing.
Question 5.
What does the blast refer to?
Answer:
The blast refers to the storm and the gusts of cold wind that were blowing.
Question 6.
Who ordered the mast to he cut?
Answer:
The captain of the vessel ordered the mast to be cut.
Question 7.
Why was the mast being cut?
Answer:
The mast was being cut so as to save the vessel during the storm.
Question 8.
Why did the sailors shudder?
Answer:
They shuddered in fright because of the storm.
Question 9.
Why did the stoutest hold his breath?
Answer:
The stoutest held his breath in anxiety and worry.
Question 10.
Why was the sea hungry?
Answer:
The sea was very rough and it looked like the vessel might fall prey to the rough sea., Therefore, the poet calls the sea hungry.
Question 11.
Why does the poet say that the breakers were talking with death?
Answer:
The sea was so rough that the poet is trying to suggest that death was around the corner. Therefore, he says that the breakers, which are on the side of the boat, were talking with death.
Question 12.
Why were the sailors praying?
Answer:
They were praying to God to protect the vessel and their lives.
Question 13.
Whose little daughter is referred to in the poem?
Answer:
The captain’s little daughter is referred to in the poem.
Question 14.
Why was the captain’s hand icy?
Answer:
The captain’s hand was icy with fear and worry and perhaps due to the weather.
Question 15.
Who was the little maiden?
Answer:
The captain’s daughter.
Question 16.
What did the little maiden ask her father?
Answer:
The little maiden asked her father, “Isn’t God upon the ocean, just the same as on the land?”
Question 17.
What effect did the little girl’s question have on the sailors?
Answer:
The despondent sailors cheered up, believing in the protective love of God towards them.
Question 18.
Who kissed the little maiden?
Answer:
All the sailors on the vessel kissed the little maiden.
Question 19.
Why were the sailors in better cheer after the little maiden’s statement?
Answer:
They were in better cheer because the little maiden reminded them that God looked over the seas just as he looked over the land.
Question 20.
How did the sailors feel in the morning?
Answer:
The sailors felt relieved to find themselves safe in the harbour the next morning.
Question 21.
Who had the belief that the ship would not be wrecked?
Answer:
The captain’s daughter had the belief that the ship would not be wrecked.
Question 22.
Who thundered ‘cut away the mast’?
Answer:
The captain of the vessel ordered the mast to be cut.
Question 23.
Why was the little maiden kissed?
Answer:
Because the little girl brought hope to the sailors by saying that God would protect them.
Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each:
Question 1.
What picture of the sea does the poet create in the poem ‘The Ballad of the Tempest’?
Answer:
The picture of the sea is of destruction. The poet creates the picture of the sea as a monster ready to swallow everything including the ship. It is as if the sea colludes with death to destroy the sailors.
Question 2.
How does the poet highlight the strength of faith?
Answer:
Though the sailors had been praying, they did not completely believe in their prayer and thought that they would get destroyed. But the faith of the little girl transformed them and they placed themselves fully in the care of God and got saved.
Question 3.
The sailors in ‘Ballad of the Tempest’ shuddered in silence. When did they do so?
Answer:
The sailors were huddled in the cabin as there was a storm raging outside. When the captain ordered the mast to be cut so as to save the vessel, the sailors shuddered in silence.
Question 4.
When the captain shouted, “We are lost”, how did his daughter react?
OR
Who made the crewmates cheer? How did she do it?
OR
When the captain shouted “We are lost”, who instilled hope in him? How?
Answer:
When the captain lost all hope and shouted that they were lost, his little daughter reacted with absolute calm. She took his icy hand and asked whether God who protected his children on land, wouldn’t protect them on the ocean as well. With this, she restored the faith and courage of all on the ship.
Answer the following questions in 6-8 sentences each:
Question 1.
What is a ballad? What features of a ballad do you see in this poem?
Answer:
A ballad is a long narrative poem set to music. A story or an incident is narrated in a ballad. Ballads are known for the simple language employed and mental pictures or images created. Usual figures of speech and stock phrases are used. We see that in the poem, the poet narrates the fearful incidents of one night and makes the narration descriptive with mental imagery. Although it is a poem revolving around the emotion of fear, there is an easy rhythmic flow which makes the poem musical.
Question 2.
Write in your own words the substance of the poem ‘Ballad of the Tempest’.
Answer:
‘The Ballad of the Tempest’ is a simple narrative poem, covering the incidents from midnight to morning. When the poem begins, we see that the crew are all crowded in the cabin as the sea is on storm and they think their end is near. They are unable to sleep as they think that the strong wind would cut away the mast. They shudder at the thought of the hungry sea roaring in rage, ready to devour them all.
The captain himself has lost hope and he announces that they are lost. However, the innocent little daughter of the captain is different from the rest and taking the cold hand of her father she reassures him saying that God who protects them on the land will save them out on the sea too. The sailors, who had been praying without much conviction, now realise the power of faith and grow cheerful. As a sign of God’s mercy, they are able to reach the harbour safe even as it turns out to be a bright morning.
In this simple poem, the poet talks about the power of faith. In times of difficulty, complete faith in God will give us peace of mind. The poem also shows that we should submit ourselves to the will of God because through human endeavour alone things cannot change.
Read the following extracts and answer the questions given below them:
Question 1.
We were crowded in the cabin,
Not a soul would dare to sleep.
a) Who were crowded in the cabin? OR Who does ‘we’ refer to?
b) Why were they crowded?
c) Why did none of them dare to sleep?
Answer:
a) The sailors.
b) They were crowded in the cabin as the sea was on storm and they thought their end was near.
c) All the sailors were worried about the impending storm and hence none dared to sleep.
Question 2.
‘This is a fearful thing in winter.
a) What is a fearful thing in winter? OR What is the ‘fearful thing’ referred to?
b) Where did the fearful thing appear?
c) How does ‘it’ affect the sailors?
Answer:
a) A storm is a fearful thing in winter.
b) The fearful thing appeared in the mid-sea.
c) It affects the sailors both physically and emotionally. They remain huddled in the cabin, and they are so frightened that they are unable to sleep.
Question 3.
“Isn’t God upon the ocean,
Just the same as on the land?”
a) Who asked the question? OR Who is the speaker?
b) Why does the speaker say this?
c) What effect did it have on the sailors? OR How does the statement have an impact on others?
d) How does the poet highlight the power of faith through these lines?
Answer:
a) The captain’s daughter.
b) She said so because the captain said that they were lost and declared his fears about their safety.
c) On hearing the little girl, the despondent sailors cheered up, believing in the protective love of God towards them.
d) Though the sailors had been praying, they did not completely believe in their prayer and thought their end was near. But the faith of the little girl transformed them and they placed themselves fully in the care of God and were saved.
Question 4.
“Then we kissed the little maiden and we spake in better cheer”.
a) Who was the little maiden?
b) Who does ‘we’ refer to?
c) Why did they kiss her? OR What made them kiss the little maiden?
d) How did it help them? OR Why were they back in cheer?
Answer:
a) The little maiden was the captain’s daughter.
b) The sailors.
c) They kissed the little girl because she brought hope to the sailors by saying that God would protect them.
d) The little girl’s faith in God revived their faith too and instead of growing more and more despondent, they grew hopeful and cheerful.
Question 5.
“Isn’t God upon the ocean Just the same as on the land.”
a) Who asked this question?
b) When did the speaker say so?
c) What does it mean?
Answer:
a) The captain’s little daughter.
b) When the captain was shouting desperately that they were lost.
c) It means that God is omnipresent and will protect his children on land and ocean. It is necessary that we submit ourselves to the complete care and protection of God and let His will have its way.
Question 6.
“We were crowded in the cabin,
Not a soul would dare to sleep”.
a) Who does the word ‘we’ refer to?
b) ‘Not a soul would dare to sleep’. Why was it so?
c) Find out the word which means ‘private room on a ship or boat’ in the above lines.
Answer:
a) The sailors.
b) All we’re worried about the impending storm.
c) Cabin.
Question 7.
“We are lost”, shouted the captain.
a) Who does ‘we’ refer to?
b) Why did the speaker make the statement?
c) What reaction did the speaker get?
Answer:
a) The ship with its crew.
b) The crew is all crowded in the cabin as the sea is on storm and they think their end is near. They shudder at the thought of the hungry sea roaring in rage, ready to devour them all. The captain himself, having lost hope, announces that they are lost.
c) When the captain said so, his little daughter calmly took his hand and reminded him that the Lord, who protected his people on the land, will protect them out on the sea too. The little girl’s faith in God revived the faith of the sailors too and instead of growing more and more despondent, they grew hopeful and cheerful.
Question 8.
“But his little daughter whispered,
As she took his icy hand.”
a) Whose daughter was she?
b) What did she say to him?
c) What was the effect of her words?
Answer:
a) The captain’s daughter.
b) “Isn’t God upon the ocean Just the same as on the land?”
c) The crew members regained faith and hope and became cheerful and reached safely.
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
Why were the people in the cabin unable to sleep?
A) Because the party was going on.
B) Because no one wanted to sleep.
C) Because their ship had got caught in a storm
D) Because the Captain had not permitted them.
Answer:
C) Because their ship had got caught in a storm
Question 2.
‘The stoutest held his breath’ means, even the,
A) captain was scared
B) bravest was scared
C) captain’s little daughter panicked
D) the sea was afraid.
Answer:
B) bravest was scared
Question 3.
The sea was roaring because
A) the sailors had insulted it
B) the ship had hit it hard
C) the cloud had disturbed it
D) the storm had disturbed it.
Answer:
D) the storm had disturbed it.
Question 4.
We are lost’ – the captain meant that
A) the ship had gone in the wrong direction
B) the ship had been hijacked by pirates
C) the ship was going to sink due to a heavy storm
D) the ship had some technical problem.
Answer:
C) the ship was going to sink due to a heavy storm
Question 5.
The captain’s hands were ‘icy’ because
A) he had taken a dip in the chilled sea
B) he was suffering from high fever
C) he had noticed an iceberg on the way
D) he was scared and had given up hope.
Answer:
D) he was scared and had given up hope.
Question 6.
The word which means – ‘large sea waves’ is
A) storm
B) blast
C) breakers
D) roaring
Answer:
C) breakers
Question 7.
‘Not a soul would dare to sleep’. The figure of speech used here is
A) metaphor
B) personification
C) simile
D) synecdoche
Answer:
D) synecdoche
Question 8.
‘Then we kissed the little maiden’. The sailors did so because
A) she was a pretty little girl
B) they wanted to say good bye
C) she was the captain’s daughter
D) she filled their hearts with hope.
Answer:
D) she filled their hearts with hope.
Question 9.
The Captain’s daughter had faith that
A) winter should soon end
B) god would protect them
C) her father could save the ship
D) she could calm the sea.
Answer:
B) god would protect them
Question 10.
While the hungry sea was roaring’. The figure of speech employed here is
A) simile
B) metaphor
C) personification
D) synecdoche.
Answer:
C) personification
Question 11.
‘And the breakers talked with death’. The figure of speech here is
A) metaphor
B) synecdoche
C) personification
D) simile.
Answer:
C) personification
Ballad of the Tempest summary in English
‘The Ballad of the Tempest’ is a simple narrative poem, covering the incidents from midnight to morning. When the poem begins, we see that the crew are all crowded in the cabin as the sea is on storm and they think their end is near. They are unable to sleep as they think that the strong wind would cut away the mast. They shudder at the thought of the hungry sea roaring in rage, ready to devour them all.
The captain himself has lost hope and he announces that they are lost. However, the innocent little daughter of the captain is different from the rest and taking the cold hand of her father she reassures him saying that God who protects them on the land will save them out on the sea too. The sailors, who had been praying without much conviction, now realise the power of faith and grow cheerful. As a sign of God’s mercy, they are able to reach the harbour safe even as it turns out to be a bright morning.
In this simple poem, the poet talks about the power of faith. In times of difficulty, complete faith in God will give us peace of mind. The poem also shows that we should submit ourselves to the will of God because through human endeavour alone things cannot change.
Ballad of the Tempest summary in Kannada
Glossary:
- ballad: a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing
- tempest: a violent storm
- cabin: a private room on a ship or boat
- shatter: to break apart
- rattle: to make a rapid succession of short sharp noises
- shudder: to shake
- stout: brave, determined
- stagger: to come unsteadily
- anchor: a metal device attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place
- harbour: space for a ship
- breakers: large turbulent waves moving towards land