The Coromandel Fishers
Self-Assessment
Click on the correct option, and get your result
Self-Assessment
Click on the correct option, and get your result
About the poem
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The theme of the poem ‘The Coromandel Fishers’ by Sarojini Naidu revolves around the pride and unity of the fishermen , and beauty of the sea. It also metaphorically portrays daily struggle of Indian freedom fighters and glory of motherland.
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The poem focuses on the life-style and daily struggle of the fishermen for attaining their livelihood.
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It is written in an inspiring tone.
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It consists of three quatrains , and follows the rhyme scheme -aabb aabb aabb.
Long Type Questions along with answers:
1.Whom does the poet address in the poem ‘Coromandel Fishers’? Who is the speaker in the poem ,’The Coromandel Fishers’? What does the phrase ‘the leaping wealth of tide’ refer to? Why do the fishermen prefer the dangers of the sea to the comfort of the land? Who is the speaker in the poem?
Ans: The poet addresses the fishermen in the poem ‘Coromandel Fishers’.
The speaker in the poem ‘The Coromandel Fishers’ is the leader of the fishermen.
The leaping wealth of the tide refers to fishes.
The sea provides the fishermen livelihood and presents them an opportunity for adventure. Hence they prefer the foam of the waves and the kiss of the salty water of the sea.
The speaker of the poem is the leader of the fishermen.
2.What is meant by the phrase ‘Let us set our catamarans free’? What happens if the fishermen are late in their work? In what way are the fishermen the ‘kings of the sea’?
Ans: After their work was over the fishermen tie their boats for the purpose of safety in the evening. Next day when they start their work , wind will blow and disrupt their work. It is calm and quiet in the early morning which is suitable for the fishermen to start their work.
The fishermen can roam freely across the sea. They can capture ‘the leaping wealth of the tide’. So the fishermen are the kings of the sea.
3.How is the wind described in the poem? Why is the wind compared to a child?
Ans: Wind is described as if it sleeps in the arms of dawn.
The wind has been compared to a child because the wind had roared hard the previous night like a weeping child and in this morning it is as calm as a sleeping child who sleeps in the morning after crying a lot in the night.
4.Why are the nets to be gathered? What is meant by ‘the waves are our comrades all’? Why are the fishermen confident that they will be protected?
Ans: Nets are to be gathered to catch the fish.
Waves help the fishermen by controlling their speed so that the boats of the fishermen will not be drowned. like their companions. Because of the co-operation of the waves as the best companion ,the fishermen consider the waves as their comrades.
The fishermen are confident because they believe that the Sea-God will take care of them with protection.
5.Why does the poet say ‘the sea is our mother and the cloud is our brother’? Why does the poet ask the fishermen to follow the seagull’s call? What are the problems faced by the fishermen?
Ans: The fishermen are born near the sea and brought up there. The sea sustains and feeds them as a mother. It is the source of wealth for them as they earn their livelihood by eating ,selling and transporting the fish. So they call the sea their mother. Again cloud helps them as a brother during their work. It will not let out the rain which hinders their work. So they call the cloud as their brother.
According to the poet , the sea-gull only knows where the fish is. So only the sea-gull can lead them to their destination. So the poet asks the fishermen to follow the ‘sea-gull’s call’.
The fishermen sometimes face danger from formidable enemies like storms ,rains and thunderstorms. Moreover after the sunset the sea gets very rough .At this time the fishermen’s boats toss up and down. Thus the fishermen face formidable dangers when they go out to the sea.
6. “he who holds the storm by the hair”-Who does he refer to? What are the sweet things? What is considered to be the sweetest thing?
Ans: “he who holds the storm by the hair”-He refers to the Sea-God.
There are a few things which are sweet such as-i) shade which is gifted by the groves of the coconut trees ,ii) pleasing scent of mango groves ,iii)sand at the full ‘O’ moon iv)Sound of the voice of their relatives that they love.
The kiss of the spray and dance of wild foam’s glee are the sweetest thing.
Exercise
A. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences:
1.In what manner the wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn?
2.What is the role of the sea-god in the lives of the fishermen?
3.Why do the fishermen feel that the sea is their mother?
4.What is known as ‘the kiss of the spray’?
5. Why are the coromandel fishers not scared of fishing late in the dark?
6.Where does Sarojini Naidu find sweetness?
7. To whom does the fishermen pray?
8.What do the fishermen urge their fellow fishermen?
9. How does the poetess describe a day in the lives of the fishermen?
10.Who is the mother, brother and comrades in the poem?
11.Comment on the last line of the poem – ‘Row, brothers, row to the edge of the verge’.
B. Answer any two of the following questions in 100 words :
1.How does Sarojini Naidu describe the wind in the poem ‘The Coromandel Fishers’?
2.Write a brief summary of ‘The Coromandel Fishers’.
3.Justify the title of the poem ‘The Coromandel Fishers’.
4.The poem ‘The Coromandel Fishers’ is a passionate call to the Indian fisherfolk .Justify the statement with close reference of the poem.
5.How does the poet motivate the “brothers”?
6.Comment how nature is projected in the poem.
7.Comment on the use of figures of speech in the poem.
C. Do as directed:
1.The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn like a child that has cried.(Rewrite using participle)
2.Let us gather our nets from the shore and set our catamarans free.(Change the voice)
3.The fisherman said, “Rise, brothers, rise; the wakening skies pray to the morning light.” (Change the narration)
4.Sweet is the shade of the coconut glade. (Change into complex sentence)
Word-Meaning:
♦wakening skies-sky is about to wake up, ♦dawn-early morning, ♦catamarans-fast sailing boat, ♦sea-gull-sea bird, ♦comrades-friends, ♦glade-an open space in the forest, ♦foam-small bubbles formed on or in liquid, ♦kiss of the spray-water comes out of the waves, ♦glee-great delight