Page 1 : Ballad Of The Tempest Notes, 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. Here we refer to the group of sailors in that particular ship., b. In the midnight during the winter season, their ship caught by the violent storm. So the, sailors would not dare to sleep because of fear., , Question 2. The poet says ‘This is a fearful thing in winter….’ According to the poet, what is, referred to as a fearful thing in winter? How would be the condition in the deep sea during, winter on the sea?, Answer: The sailors need to carry life jackets. There should also be small boats which might be of, use if the ship is wrecked. The sailors need to be good swimmers. They should have good knowledge, of the direction of the wind, sea, and sea creatures., Question 3.How does ‘it’ affect the sailors? (Read the first two stanzas), Answer: During winter the seawater will be very chill and became frozen into ice. If the ship shattered,, the condition would be serious. The sailors had to face many difficulties. It affects the sailors to death., The rescue was a formidable task., Question 4., The speaker and his crew-mates sat in darkness and prayed. What did they hear?, Answer:, When the speaker and his crewmates were busy with their prayers, they heard the shout of the captain, that they were lost., Question 5. When the captain shouted “We are lost”, how did his daughter react?, Answer: The captain’s daughter was little and innocent. In this situation, she reacted calmly. She took, the captain’s cold hand and whispered. God is there upon the sea as God on the land. God was the, same everywhere., Question 6., The crew-mates kissed the maiden and spoke in better cheers. What made them feel cheerful?, Answer:, By hearing the innocent words of the little maiden, the crew-mates got some hope. The sudden, changes occurred in their heart. They kissed her and cheered up., Question 7. ‘A ship is always safe at the shore, But it was not built for that’. What does this mean?, Answer: The ship was built to sail on the sea and ocean. If we keep the ship at the shore, it is safe. But, what is the use? Ships sail on the sea, it should face the dangers that would come across. Then only its, purpose survived. So it was not built to keep at the shore. Similarly, the man was born to some, purpose, if he was not ready to face the problems or challenges of life, what is the use of his life. So, we are ready to face the challenges.

Page 2 : Question 1. The poet uses the phrase ‘the hungry sea’. What can the reader imagine from this?, Answer: The hungry sea means, the sea wanted something to eat. When the violent storm was deep, and the ship was going to wreck. The seamen or the sailors had to face great risk. In this situation, the, crew might think that they might become victims. The would feel like this because of fear. The reader, could imagine that sailor’s life is not safe. The figure of speech employed in lines 11 and 12 is, personification., Question 2. The poet uses expressions which are unusual, evocative, and rhythmic. Some examples, are given with explanations., Answer:, i Shattered by the blast – Onomatopoeia, ii Midnight on the waters – the image of one imposing (covering) on the other., iii. breakers talked with death – Personification, iv. Captain staggered down the stairs – the image of movement., v. icy hand – (tactile) sense of touch., , Ballad of the Tempest Poem Summary, “Ballad of the Tempest” was written by James Thomas Fields. Once a ship was caught by the violent, storm. In this poem, the poet describes the situation and condition of the sailors. Here the speaker of, the poem is the Sailor. Really voyage on the sea is an adventurous task. Here the poem starts in which, the sailors had to face great danger. The ship was caught by the violent storm at midnight. All the, sailors had crowded in the cabin., Though it was midnight no one dared to sleep. All were frightened. The storm was very deep. It was, fearful because it was winter season. The ship was to break apart by the gust of wind. The sailors, heard the rattling sound of the trumpet and someone thundered to cut away the mast. All sailors were, in silence out of fear. Even the strongest brave person had held his breath. The sea was roaring like a, hungry lion. The large turbulent waves talked with death and moving towards the land. All were sitting, in darkness., Everyone was praying God for their safety. At that moment the captain shouted that they were lost, When he was coming unsteadily down the stairs, his little daughter by her innocent heart whispered., She took her father’s cold hands and said that the God upon the ocean was the same as on land isn’t, it? By hearing her talk all got some hope and prayed the God earnestly. All were kissed the little, maiden. Suddenly the astonishing change occurs, and the sailors anchored the ship safely in harbour., The morning in the sky was shining very clearly. The danger which comes like a mountain could, disappear like sand. Fortune favours the brave. God is everywhere but man has faith in him.