Class 9 Lower English Appreciations Maharashtra Board

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Complete Guide: Class 9 English Poem Appreciations | Maharashtra Board (All Units)

Here are the appreciations for the poems in Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the "My English Coursebook" (Standard Nine).



Unit 1

1.1 Walk a little slower...

Title: Walk a little slower...

Poet: Author Unknown (Anonymous)

Rhyme Scheme: abcb (e.g., small/fall, see/me, be/me, true/you)

Figures of Speech:

  • Metaphor: "I’m following in your footsteps."
    • Explanation: The father's actions and life decisions are implicitly compared to "footsteps" without using "like" or "as".
  • Alliteration: "Said a little child so small"
    • Explanation: The sound of the letter 's' is repeated for musical effect.

Central Idea:

It is a serious and reflective poem. A child asks the father to slow down his actions. The child wants to understand the father's life better. The child does not want to make mistakes in life. The child wants to be a good role model for their own future child. It highlights the importance of parents leading by example.



1.3 ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers -

Title: ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers -

Poet: Emily Dickinson

Rhyme Scheme: abcb (There are some slant rhymes, but the general pattern is abcb).

Figures of Speech:

  • Personification: "That perches in the soul" / "And sings the tune..."
    • Explanation: Hope (an inanimate idea) is given the human/living quality.
  • Metaphor: "'Hope' is the thing with feathers"
    • Explanation: Hope is directly compared to a bird.

Central Idea:

The poem is comforting and inspiring. The poet compares hope to a little bird. This bird lives inside the human soul. It keeps singing even during the hardest times (storms). Hope never asks for anything in return from us. It provides comfort in the most difficult situations.



Unit 2

2.1 Comparisons

Title: Comparisons

Poet: Anonymous

Rhyme Scheme: abcb (e.g., snail/nail, lamb/jam, sea/pea)

Figures of Speech:

  • Simile: "Fast as a spaceship, slow as a snail"
    • Explanation: Direct comparisons are made between different objects using the word "as".
  • Antithesis: "Strong as an ox, weak as kitten"
    • Explanation: Opposite words (Strong/Weak) are placed close together for contrast.

Central Idea:

The poem is very light-hearted and full of fun. The poem lists many different things in the world. It compares objects to show how different they are. It uses opposites like fast/slow and big/small. It reminds us that the world is full of variety. It encourages us to think of new comparisons.



2.4 Please Listen!

Title: Please Listen!

Poet: Author Unknown

Rhyme Scheme: No rhyme scheme (Free Verse).

Figures of Speech:

  • Repetition: "When I ask you to listen to me"
    • Explanation: This line is repeated multiple times.
  • Tautology: "bored and irrational" or "hear and listen"
    • Explanation: Words with similar meanings are used together for emphasis.



Tone and Mood: Frustrated, serious, pleading, and emotional.

Central Idea:

The poem is serious and emotional. The speaker is frustrated. He wants to be heard, not advised. Adults often try to fix problems instead of listening. Giving advice too quickly makes the speaker feel helpless. God is called the best listener because He is silent. Listening is the most important part of communication.


Unit 3

3.1 Coromandel Fishers

Title: Coromandel Fishers

Poet: Sarojini Naidu

Rhyme Scheme: aabb

Figures of Speech: Personification, Simile, Metaphor

  •  Personification
    •  Example: "The wakening skies pray to the morning light"
      • Explanation: The skies are given the human quality of waking up and praying.
    • Example: "The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn"
      • Explanation: The wind is described as sleeping like a human or a child.
  • 2. Simile
    • Example: "The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn like a child that has cried all night."
      • Explanation: The calmness of the wind is directly compared to a sleeping child using the word "like."
  • 3. Metaphor
    • Example: "The sea is our mother, the cloud is our brother, the waves are our comrades all."
      • Explanation: The sea, cloud, and waves are implicitly compared to family members (mother, brother, comrades) to show the close relationship fishermen have with nature.

Central Idea:

The poem is energetic, optimistic and encouraging. It describes the life of fishermen. It calls them to wake up and work. It shows their deep connection with nature. They treat the sea as their mother. They are brave and trust the Sea-God.


3.3 To a Butterfly

Title: To a Butterfly

Poet: William Wordsworth

Rhyme Scheme: The first stanza is aabbccb. The second stanza is irregular.

Figures of Speech: Apostrophe, Personification, Inversion, Simile

  • Apostrophe
    • Example: "STAY near me—do not take thy flight!"
      • Explanation: The poet directly addresses the butterfly.
  • Personification
    • Example: "Historian of my infancy!"
      • Explanation: The butterfly is given the human profession of a "historian".
  • Inversion
    • Example: "Much converse do I find in thee."
      • Explanation: The word order is changed for poetic effect. The correct prose order is "I find much converse in thee."
  • Alliteration
    • Example: "I followed on from brake to bush"
      • Explanation: The sound of the letter ‘b’ is repeated for musical effect.

Central Idea:

The poem is nostalgic. The poet asks a butterfly to stay near him. The butterfly reminds him of his happy childhood. He remembers playing with his sister, Emmeline. As a boy, the poet chased butterflies like a hunter. His sister was very gentle and kind to them.



Unit 4

4.1 What is Success?

Title: What is Success?

Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rhyme Scheme: There is no rhyme scheme. It is written in Free Verse.

Figures of Speech: Repetition, Alliteration

  • Repetition
    • Example: "To laugh... To win... To earn... To appreciate..."
      • Explanation: The word "To" is repeated at the beginning of consecutive lines.
  • Alliteration
    • Example: "betrayal of false friends"
      • Explanation: The sound of the letter ‘f’ is repeated.

Central Idea:

This is a philosophical, inspirational, and reflective poem. Success is not just about money or fame. It means winning respect and love from others. It is about appreciating the beauty in life. A successful person leaves the world a better place. Helping even one life breathe easier is success.


4.3 Silver

Title: Silver

Poet: Walter de la Mare

Rhyme Scheme: aabb (Couplets)

Figures of Speech: Personification, Alliteration, Simile

  • Alliteration
    • Example: "Slowly, silently, now the moon / Walks the night in her silver shoon"
      • Explanation: The sound of the letter ‘s’ is repeated to create a quiet, musical tone.
  • Personification
    • Example: "Walks the night in her silver shoon"
      • Explanation: The moon is given the human quality of walking and wearing shoes ("shoon").

Tone and Mood: Calm, peaceful, and magical.

Central Idea:

The poem is calm and peaceful. It describes a beautiful moonlit night. The moon slowly turns everything into silver. It highlights the stillness of animals and objects. Even a sleeping dog and fish look silver. It shows the magical effect of moonlight on nature.



Quick Revision: Class 9 Poems Summary

Poem Title Poet Rhyme Scheme Major Figures of Speech Central Idea / Theme
1.1 Walk a little slower... Unknown abcb Metaphor, Alliteration Importance of
parents leading by example.
1.3 ‘Hope’ is the
thing with feathers		 Emily
Dickinson		 abcb Personification, Metaphor Hope is a bird
that comforts us in hard times.
2.1 Comparisons Unknown abcb Simile, Antithesis The diversity and variety
in the world.
2.4 Please Listen! Unknown Free Verse Repetition, Tautology The need for listening without giving advice.
3.1 Coromandel Fishers Sarojini Naidu aabb Personification, Metaphor Fishermen's bond with nature and bravery.
3.3 To a Butterfly William Wordsworth aabbccb (irreg) Apostrophe, Inversion Nostalgia for happy childhood days.
4.1 What is Success? Ralph Waldo Emerson Free Verse Repetition, Alliteration Success is about kindness, not money.
4.3 Silver Walter de la Mare aabb Personification, Simile The magical effect of moonlight on nature.

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