The Voice of the Rain for class 11 English CBSE (Summary, Detailed Explanation, NCERT Solution, Question-Answer, Poetic Devices & Word-Meaning )

 

THE VOICE OF THE RAIN

By Walt Whitman

Summary, Line by Line Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings and Literary Devices of the Poem “The Voice of the Rain”

ABOUT THE POET

Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. He is best known for his “Leaves of Grass”, which is about the beauty of the natural world and the human spirit. Whitman's poetry is famous for its free verse style. He wrote about themes like democracy, individualism, and the interconnectedness of all life. 

INTRODUCTION OF THE POEM “THE VOICE OF THE RAIN”

In the poem, “The Voice of the Rain”, Walt Whitman treats rain as a human being and personifies it. At the same time, the cyclic movement of rain has been explained. The poet has also compared rain to music.

THEME OF THE POEM “THE VOICE OF THE RAIN”

The poem emphasises the cyclical nature of rain, illustrating how it rises, transforms, and returns to Earth. This cycle symbolises continuity and renewal. By describing the rain as a "Poem of Earth," the poet highlights how interconnected natural elements are and their roles in the sustenance of life. The rain's ability to revitalise the Earth and purify the environment reflects themes of renewal and the restoration of natural balance. Moreover,  comparing the rain to a song, the poet emphasises the idea of a harmonious and inevitable return to its origin.

WORD-MEANING

art – are

thou – you 

Eternal – permanent/never-ending

Impalpable – which cannot be touched/grasped

Heaven – sky

Whence – where

Vaguely – not clearly

Descend – fall/come down

Lave – wash

Atomies – small particles

Latent – hidden

Reck’d or unreck’d – noticed/cared or not notice/cared

Poetic Devices Used in the poem "The Voice Of the Rain"

Personification:

• The poet has given the rain a voice and human attributes, such as "I am the Poem of the Earth", “Eternal I rise”, “I descend to lave the droughts” etc. 

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Metaphor:

• "I am the Poem of the Earth"

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Hyperbole:

•  "bottomless sea". 

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Paradox:

• "I give back life to my own origin". 

Imagery

         "soft falling shower" and "I rise impalpable out of the land". 

Symbolism

• The rain symbolises the life-giving and renewing power of nature

SUMMARY OF THE POEM “THE VOICE OF THE RAIN”

In the poem, the poet asks the soft falling rain about its identity. The rain replies that it is the "poem of earth." She explains that she’s untouchable, rising as vapour from the land and the bottomless sea. Though her form changes to clouds through condensation, she remains the same. The rain then falls back to the earth, bringing water to dry areas and making the land beautiful and clean. It helps seeds grow and doesn’t worry if anyone notices her work. The poet also compares the rain to a song, which starts in the singer’s heart, travels out, and returns with love to its origin

Detailed Explanation Of the poem “The Voice Of The Rain”

And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower, …………………………………..bottomless sea,

• The speaker asks the rain about its identity. To his surprise, he gets the answer. It seems strange for the speaker(poet). The rain responds saying that it is the "Poem of Earth." This metaphor suggests that rain is a natural and essential element of the Earth's cycle.

• After that the rain talks about its journey. It says that it rises from the land and the bottomless sea. The term "eternal" signifies that this process is unending. 

Q. Who is the speaker in the first line?

Ans. The poet is the speaker.

Q. What is strange to tell?

Ans. The poet gets an answer from the rain.

Q. What does the speaker ask the rain?

Ans. The speaker asks, "Who art thou?"

Q. How does the rain respond to the speaker?

Ans. The rain says, "I am the Poem of Earth."

Q. Which two literary devices have been used in the line “I am the poem of earth”?

Ans. Personification and metaphor.

Q. What is the origin of rain?

Ans. Bottomless Sea and the Earth

Q. Why is the rain described as a "Poem of Earth"?

Ans. The rain has been described as a "Poem of Earth" because it is an eternal and transforming force that nourishes and renews the Earth.

Upward to heaven, whence, vaguely form’d, altogether changed, and yet the same, …………………… And all that in them without me were seeds only, latent, unborn;

• Then it goes up in the sky. As the rain reaches the sky, it transforms into a different form (clouds or vapour) but retains its essential nature. Here "Impalpable" means that the rain, in its rising form, is intangible or not easily grasped.

• The rain then returns to the Earth and removes dryness and the dust settled on its surface. Without rain, seeds would have been hidden under the ground. The rain is essential for the germination of the seeds.

Q. Where does rain travel after getting out of the earth and the bottomless sea?

Ans. Up in the sky

Q. How is rain formed?

Ans. Rain is vaguely formed

Q.  What does the expression “altogether changed and yet the same” mean?

Ans. It means rain changes its form but it remains the same as the watery substance never disappears.

Q. What is the cycle described in the poem?

Ans. The rain rises, transforms, returns, and revitalises the Earth.

Q. What happens to the rain after it rises?

Ans. It becomes intangible and forms vaguely as it reaches heaven.

Q. What does the rain do when it returns to Earth?

Ans. It refreshes and beautifies the Earth after coming back to its origin.

Q. How does the rain affect the droughts and dust layers?

Ans. It cleans and revitalises them.

Q. What does the rain do to seeds under the Earth?

Ans. It gives life to the seeds.

And forever, by day and night, I give back life to my own origin,.........................

Reck’d or unreck’d, duly with love returns.)

• The rain continually renews the Earth and gives it a new life. It purifies the Earth and enhances its beauty and health.

• In the last two lines, the poet has compared rain to music. Indeed, the comparison is apt. The poet expresses that just like music comes out from the bottom of the heart and then comes back and touches the heart. In the same way, rain also originates from the earth and comes back to the earth. Both rain and music have soothing and healing effects. On the one hand, music provides freshness and eases our worries. On the other hand, rain gives new life to the earth.

Q. What does the rain do continuously by day and night?

Ans. It gives life back to its origin and purifies it.

Q. What is compared to a song in the poem?

Ans. The rain is compared to a song.

Q. What is the eternal role of the rain according to the poem?

Ans. To renew and beautify the Earth.

Q. What is the cycle described in the poem?

Ans. The rain rises, transforms, returns, and revitalises the Earth.

Q. What does the rain symbolise in this poem?

Ans. It symbolises the life-giving and renewing power of nature.

NCERT Solution of “The Voice of the Rain”.

Q. There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?

Ans. These two voices belong to the poet and the rain. The lines that indicate this are “And who are thou? said I to the soft-falling shower' (line 1) and 'I am the Poem of Earth said the voice of the rain' (line 3). 

Q. What does the phrase 'strange to tell' mean?

Ans. The phrase 'strange to tell' actually means the reply given by the rain itself. 

Q. There is a parallel drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this? Explain the similarity between the two. 

Ans. There is a parallel between rain and music because both give rejuvenation, that is, 'life. Both start from their respective origins, accomplish their purpose, and to their respective sources. On the one hand, music gives soothing freshness. On the other hand, the rain gives new life.

Q. How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem? Compare it with what you have learnt in science. 

Ans. The rain rises from the ground and the bottomless sea in the form of vapour,  then goes up to form the cloud. Finally, it falls on the earth in the form of rain.

Q. Why are the last two lines put within the bracket?

Ans. The last two lines are within the bracket because they are an addition. They are not directly connected with the main idea of the poem. These two lines talk about song and music.