Hi Everyone!! This article will share No Poem by Thomas Hood Questions & Answers.
This poem is written by Thomas Hood. In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of Light in the Night, Black Beauty, The Story of an Invitation and The Lumber Room so, make sure to check these posts as well.
No Poem by Thomas Hood Questions & Answers
Question 1: In what way is the title of the poem good one?
Answer: The title is a good one because it is reflected in every line of the poem including the last line, in which the poem is summarized by yet another ‘no’ word, ‘November’. November is in the Autumn season, when Summer has come to an end and nature is preparing for winter. The negative ‘no’ tells us that everything is coming to an end, as far as plants are concerned.
Question 2: Is there any rhyming scheme to the poem?
Answer: There is no regular rhyming pattern. Some of the lines are rhyming couplets, but this is not constant. We could break it up like this:
1. a a b c c b
2. a a b b c c d d d
3. a a b b c d c c d
Question 3: Which words in the poem tell us about the following?
Answer:
i. times of day: morn, noon, dawn, dusk, proper time, afternoon
ii. roads: road, street, ‘t’ other side the way’, row, crescents, way, ring
iii. motion or interaction: indications, recognitions, courtesies, showing, knowing, travelling, locomotion inkling, notion, go, mail, post, news, cheerfulness, healthful ease, comfortable feel.
iv. weather conditions or geographical features: sun, moon, sky, earthly view, land, ocean, coast, park, warmth, shade, shine
v. living creatures and plants: people, company, nobility, member, butterflies, bees, fruits, flowers, leaves, birds.
Question 4: How would you describe the general picture painted by the poet?
Answer: The poem describes a month, November (in late Autumn), in which there are a lot of negatives indicated by ‘no’. The poet describes this season as being one without warmth or cheerfulness. It has none of the other aspects that feature in some other months of the year. However, he does this in a cheerful way, so the poem is not depressing or sad. (Don’t forget the poem describes a typical British or Western season, Autumn or Fall, just before Winter sets in. There are no trees on the leaves and the animals have migrated or gone into hibernation. People do not go out as much, because of the cold.)
Question 5: Do you think the poet has a good sense of humour? Why?
Answer: Although the poem is full of negative statements, the poet still manages to make it sound fairly cheerful. The rhyming couplets, the use of the same word to start each line, and the pace at which the poem moves, all help to make it cheerful. The last line shows he has humour!
Question 6: Answer the following with reference to the context.
(a) What is meant by ‘t’other side the way’?
Answer: It literally means: the other side of the road.
(b) Why do you think the phrase ‘No go’ is put in inverted commas, while others (e.g, No mail) are not? (Is there another expression in inverted commas?)
Answer: ‘No go’ is in inverted commas because it is what was said by the transport authorities. The other phrases are not quotes, except for ‘t’ other side of the way’ which is in inverted commas because it is a quote of a colloquial phrase.
(c) What does the word ‘ring’ refer to?
Answer: The Ring is a circular course in Hyde Park (in London), used for riding and driving.
(d) Comment on the phrase ‘no afternoon gentility’?
Answer: ‘Gentility’ refers to people who are courteous and well-mannered and who also belong to the upper classes. When out walking, such people would greet each other. This is not evident at this time because it is November, and very cold, so nobody is out walking and greeting, or talking to, each other.
Question 7: Find out words in the poem which may be described in the following way:
Answer:
1. The star at the centre of the solar system – Sun
2. The Earth’s only natural satellite – Moon
3. Appropriate or correct – proper
4. The first appearance of light in the sky as the sun rises at the beginning of the day – Dawn
5. Signs or signals – Indications
6. Well-known; commonly seen or heard; easily recognized – Recognitions
7. The perception that somebody has been seen before and is known – Familiar
8. A vague idea or suspicion about a fact, person or event – Inkling
9. Contented and relaxed – Comfortable
10. Limb – Member
11. An insect or the order Lepidoptera – Butterflies
12. Heat/affection/friendliness – Warmth
So, these were No Poem by Thomas Hood Questions & Answers.