Std 9th Higher English poems Appreciations Maharashtra State Board

 Get a complete guide to writing poem appreciations for the Class 9 English 'English Balbharti' of the Maharashtra State Board. Find easy-to-understand explanations, formats, and examples to score full marks in your board exams.

This blog provides a clear and easy-to-understand guide to writing poem appreciations for all the poems in the textbook. 


Std 9th Higher English poem 1.1 Life


Life

Life, believe, is not a dream,

So dark as sages say;

Oft a little morning rain

Foretells a pleasant day:

Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,

But these are transient all;

If the shower will make the roses bloom,

Oh, why lament its fall?

Rapidly, merrily,

Life’s sunny hours flit by,

Gratefully, cheerily,

Enjoy them as they fly.

What though death at times steps in,

And calls our Best away?

What though Sorrow seems to win,

O’er hope a heavy sway?

Yet Hope again elastic springs,

Unconquered, though she fell,

Still buoyant are her golden wings,

Still strong to bear us well.

Manfully, fearlessly,

The day of trial bear,

For gloriously, victoriously,

Can courage quell despair!

 - Charlotte Bronte

 

Title: The title of the poem is "Life."

Poet: The poem was written by Charlotte Bronte.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the first two stanzas is ABCB, while the last four stanzas follow an ABAB rhyme scheme.

Figures of Speech: The poem uses several figures of speech, including

  • Personification: Hope, Death, and Sorrow are personified.
  • Metaphor: The poem uses metaphors such as "clouds of gloom" to represent sad or difficult times and "Life’s sunny hours" for happy moments.
  • Rhetorical Question: The line "Oh, why lament its fall?" is a rhetorical question used to emphasise that we shouldn't regret challenges that lead to good results.

Theme/Central Idea: The central theme of the poem is optimism. The poet suggests that life is not as dark as some might say. While there are moments of sadness and hardship ("clouds of gloom"), they are temporary and often lead to positive results, just as a shower helps roses to bloom. The poem encourages the reader to enjoy the happy moments. We should face trials with courage and maintain hope.

 

Std 9th Higher English poem 1.3 

Have you ever seen...?

Have you ever seen...?

Have you ever seen a sheet on a river bed?

Or a single hair from a hammer’s head?

Has the foot of a mountain any toes?

And is there a pair of garden hose?

Does the needle ever wink its eye?

Why doesn’t the wing of a building fly?

Can you tickle the ribs of a parasol?

Or open the trunk of a tree at all?

Are the teeth of a rake ever going to bite?

Have the hands of a clock any left, or right?

Can the garden plot be deep and dark?

And what is the sound of the birch’s bark?

- Anonymous

 

Title: The title of the poem is "Have you ever seen...?"

Poet: The poem is written by an anonymous or an unknown poet.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is aa bb cc dd ee ff, as it is composed of rhyming couplets.

Figures of Speech:

  • Pun: The poet plays on words that have multiple meanings. The entire poem is a series of questions based on these puns. 
  • Personification: Inanimate objects are given human qualities or body parts (e.g., "foot of a mountain", "hands of a clock", "teeth of a rake"). 
  • Interrogation: There are so many rhetorical questions that are not meant to be answered but to highlight the wordplay.

Theme/Central Idea: The central idea of the poem is to create humour through the clever and playful use of language. The poet uses a series of puns to show the funny and absurd side of English words. By asking literal questions about figurative expressions (like a river bed or a hammer's head), the poem encourages the reader to appreciate the wit and complexity of language. The theme is light-hearted and focuses on the humorous nature of wordplay.


Here are the appreciations for all the poems in the English Kumarbharati textbook.

1. "Life"

Title: The title of the poem is "Life".

Poet: The poem is written by Charlotte Bronte.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the first stanza is ABCB. The other stanzas have an ABAB rhyme scheme.

Figures of Speech:

Personification: Hope is given the human quality of being able to fall and spring up again in the line, "Yet Hope again elastic springs, Unconquered, though she fell".

Interrogation (Rhetorical Question): The poet asks a question not for an answer but to make a point: "If the shower will make the roses bloom, Oh, why lament its fall ?"

Theme/Central Idea: Life is a mix of happy and sad moments. We should enjoy the good times and have the courage and hope to face the bad times, as they too shall pass.

Why I like the poem: I like this poem for its realistic and encouraging message. It teaches us to be optimistic without ignoring the fact that life can be difficult, which is a very balanced and inspiring view.

2. "Have you ever seen...?"

Title: The title of the poem is "Have you ever seen...?".

Poet: The poet is Anonymous.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is made of rhyming couplets, so the rhyme scheme is AABB, CCDD, and so on.

Figures of Speech:

Pun: The poem is a series of puns, using words with the same spelling but different meanings (homographs) for a humorous effect. For example, bed (a piece of furniture vs. the bottom of a river).

Interrogation: Every line in the poem is a rhetorical question, which makes the wordplay more engaging and funny.

Theme/Central Idea: The central idea is to create humour by playing with words. The poem shows how the English language can be funny and tricky, with many words having more than one meaning.

Why I like the poem: I find this poem very clever and amusing. It’s a fun way to learn about words and their different meanings, and it shows that poetry can be playful.

3. "Invictus"

Title: The title of the poem is "Invictus". "Invictus" is a Latin word meaning 'unconquered'.

Poet: The poem is written by William Ernest Henley.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB.

Figures of Speech:

Metaphor: The poem uses powerful metaphors. "Night" stands for hardship or suffering in the line "Out of the night that covers me".

Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds for effect, as in "pit from pole to pole."

Theme/Central Idea: The main idea is that one should be brave and strong in the face of great difficulties. Our spirit can remain undefeated, and we are the ultimate masters of our own destiny.

Why I like the poem: I love this poem for its powerful and uplifting message of self-belief. The last two lines, "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul," are incredibly inspiring and give a sense of great strength.

4. "Somebody’s Mother"

Title: The title of the poem is "Somebody’s Mother".

Poet: The poem is by Mary Dow Brine.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is composed of simple rhyming couplets (AABB).

Figures of Speech:

Simile: The happy boys are compared to a group of sheep in the line, "Came happy boys, like a flock of sheep".

Inversion: The poet changes the word order for emphasis in the line, "Past the woman, so old and grey, hastened the children on their way."

Theme/Central Idea: We should be kind and help people in need, especially the elderly. An act of kindness not only helps others but also brings happiness to oneself.

Why I like the poem: This poem tells a touching story with a beautiful moral. It reminds us of the importance of compassion and shows how a simple act of helpfulness can be very meaningful.

5. "Autumn"

Title: The title of the poem is "Autumn".

Poet: The poem was originally written by Kalidas and translated by Prof. A. W. Ryder.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem has an ABAB rhyme scheme.

Figures of Speech:

Personification: The entire poem personifies the Autumn season as a beautiful young girl ("a maiden fair").

Simile: The sound of the birds is compared to a tinkling bracelet: "Birds greet her with their cooing glad, Like a bracelet’s tinkling song."

Theme/Central Idea: The poem describes the gentle beauty of the autumn season. It paints a picture of nature during this time by imagining the season as a graceful maiden.

Why I like the poem: I like the creative and imaginative way the poem describes a season. The personification of Autumn as a maiden makes nature seem very alive and beautiful.

6. "Silver"

Title: The title of the poem is "Silver".

Poet: The poem is by Walter de la Mare.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is written in rhyming couplets with an AABB rhyme scheme.

Figures of Speech:

Personification: The moon is described as a person walking through the night: "Slowly, silently, now the moon / Walks the night in her silver shoon".

Repetition: The word "silver" is repeated many times to create a magical and dream-like image of the moonlit scene.


Theme/Central Idea: The poem describes how ordinary things look magical and beautiful in the silvery light of the moon at night.

Why I like the poem: I love the beautiful and peaceful atmosphere this poem creates. The constant use of the word "silver" paints a vivid, dream-like picture in my mind.

7. "The Road Not Taken"

Title: The title of the poem is "The Road Not Taken".

Poet: The poem is by the famous American poet, Robert Frost.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAAB.

Figures of Speech:

Metaphor: The whole poem is a metaphor. The "two roads" represent the choices we face in life.

Symbolism: The "road less travelled by" symbolizes a choice that is unconventional, challenging, or not chosen by most people.


Theme/Central Idea: The choices we make in our life are very important. Sometimes, choosing a different or more difficult path can change our life completely.

Why I like the poem: I like this poem because it makes me think about the importance of making the right decisions. It is a very thoughtful poem that relates to everyone's life journey.

8. "Please Listen!"

Title: The title of the poem is "Please Listen!".

Poet: The poet is Unknown.

Rhyme Scheme: This poem is written in free verse and has no rhyme scheme. This makes it sound like a real, honest conversation.

Figures of Speech:

Repetition: The poet repeats the phrase "When I ask you to listen to me" to stress the main point of the poem.

Metaphor: The line "you are trampling on my feelings" is a metaphor comparing hurting someone's feelings to physically stepping on them.


Theme/Central Idea: The poem explains that sometimes, people with problems just want someone to listen to them without giving advice or judgment. True listening is a way of showing care and support.

Why I like the poem: I like this poem because it teaches a very important lesson about communication and friendship. It clearly explains what it really means to be a good listener.

9. "Tansen"

Title: The title of the poem is "Tansen".

Poet: The poem is by Hazrat Inayat Khan.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is a narrative poem written mostly in rhyming couplets (AABB).

Figures of Speech:

Simile: Tansen’s voice is compared to a beautiful sound: "His voice rang like the sound of silver bells".

Hyperbole: The power of music is exaggerated for effect. The "Deepak Râg" made his body "burst into consuming flame."


Theme/Central Idea: True and great art comes from a place of selflessness and devotion. Music sung for God is more powerful and divine than music sung for a king or for worldly praise.

Why I like the poem: I enjoy this poem because it tells an interesting story about a legendary musicia

n. It gives a beautiful message about the difference between talent and true, soulful art.




We hope this guide to poem appreciations for the Class 10 English 'English Balbharti' has been helpful. Remember to follow the format and include all the necessary points to score well in your exams. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. We wish you all the best for your upcoming board exams!

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