Hi Everyone!! This article will share When Tillie Rides Her Wheel Questions & Answers.
This poem describes a cycling race and gives us a very clear picture of how it feels to watch Tillie as she speeds along the race track. Both, the cyclist’s actions and the audience’s reactions are perfectly captured here.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of Toinette and The Elves, Gold At Last and Sujan Harbola so, you can check these posts as well.
When Tillie Rides Her Wheel Questions & Answers
Word Galaxy
- Whiz – a buzzing sound, made by something moving very fast
- Whir – a soft continuous noise like a wheel turning very quickly
- Dazzling – very impressive
- Blur – something that cannot be seen clearly
- Firm-set – determined
- Whirlwind pace: when something happens unexpectedly at a very quick speed
- Slits – makes a long, straight, narrow cut
- Cant – at an angle
Question 1: What event is described in the poem? Where does it take place?
Answer: The event described in this poem is a bicycle race where Tillie is competing. It takes place on a special track designed for cycling, where Tillie showcases her skills and determination as she rides her bike.
Question 2: What expression does Tillie wear? What does this say about her?
Answer: The line – firm set face – suggests that Tillie is keeping her face very firm. It helps her to stay focused. It also shows her determination and seriousness about the race she is participating in.
Question 3: Why is Tillie able to hold the lead position?
Answer: Tillie able to hold the lead position because she is highly focused and does not feel tired while riding.
Question 4: Describe the line ‘A wheel that slits the air!’ in your own words.
Answer: “A wheel that slits the air” describes the swift movement of Tillie’s bicycle as she races around the track. It suggests that her bike is cutting through the air with such speed that it almost seems to slice through it.
Question 5: Which line tells us that Tillie is calm as she rides?
Answer: The line ‘With swooping swerve, How cool her nerve!” tells us that Tillie stays calm and collected as she rides her bicycle. It means that even when she’s making quick turns and passing through the most difficult stretch of the track, she keeps herself calm and focused towards her goal.
Question 6: Is the race a close one? How do we know this?
Answer: Even though it is not clearly mentioned in the poem, we can say that the race was competitive. However, the line “she holds her place” explains that once Tillie takes the lead, she is able to maintain her position ahead of other cyclists. The phrase “The goal in sight – How wild her flight” suggests that once Tillie visualises the finish line, she finishes the race aggressively. The line, “a maddest race” also tells us that the race is a close one.
Question 7: How do the spectators feel when they watch Tillie ride?
Answer: The spectators feel amazed and captivated as they watch Tillie ride. They are impressed by her speed, skill, and confidence on the track. The line “Too slow our eyes” indicates that the spectators struggle to keep up with Tillie’s speed. As Tillie gets closer to the finish line, there’s a moment of silence in the crowd but soon after, they show a lot of energy and excitement as Tillie is about to cross the finish line.
When Tillie Rides Her Wheel Questions & Answers
Question 8: Read the lines and answer the questions:
A whiz, a whir,
A dazzling blur.
(a) Who or what is being described here?
Answer: The above lines describe the speed of the cyclists (especially Tillie) during a cycle race event. Whiz and whir are a kind of a sound of this rapid movement. Dazzling blur is an impressive but blurry vision as the cyclists are riding their bikes very fast during the race.
(b) What does this reveal about how the speaker feel when watching the race?
Answer: These lines reveal that the speaker feels awe and shock at Tillie’s speed and ability.
2. “Too slow our eyes”.
(a) What are our eyes too slow for?
Answer: Our eyes are too stow to follow the speed at which Tillie is riding her bicycle around the track.
(b) Describe what Tillie does to make the speaker say this.
Answer: Tillie rides so fast that it seems like she is flying. This prompts the speaker to say these words.
3. “Hear the hush”.
(a) What does the word ‘hush’ mean?
Answer: The word hush denotes a sudden silence. In the context of this poem, it is used for the spectators who become quite in anticipation when Tillie reaches near to the finish line.
(b) Describe this scene from the poem in your own words.
Answer: The line “Hear the hush” indicates a moment of anticipation among the spectators as they watch Tillie approach the finish line. It suggests a sudden silence or stillness in the air. It creates a dramatic atmosphere as everyone holds their breath in anticipation to conclude the outcome of the race.
Question 9: There are two tines in the poem that compare Tillie to a bird.
(a) Find these tines.
Answer: The two tines in the poem that compare Tillie to a bird are:
“so fast she flies”
“how wild her flight”
(b) What quality or ability of Tillie’s does each line reveal?
Answer:
So fast she flies – It reveals Tillie’s incredible speed and agility. It indicates her rapid movements on the track like a bird is flying freely in the sky.
How wild her flight – This line reveals Tillie’s boldness and fearlessness. It suggests that Tillie cross the finish line with a sense of adventure and excitement, much like a bird soaring through the sky.
Question 10: Is the goal mentioned in the poem merely to win this particular event? Is there a target goal here? What do you think it could be?
Answer: The goal is not to just win the event. The larger goal is for her to achieve great things in a field dominated by men. It also refers to winning more freedom for women and encouraging and inspiring them to achieve as much and more than their male counterparts.
By breaking the gender barrier and challenging the social norms at her times, she sets a perfect example of woman empowerment and success.
Question 11: Find three examples of alliteration from the poem.
Answer: Three examples of alliteration from the poem are:
A whiz, a whir,
A firm-set face,
So fast she flies
swooping swerve!
Hear the hush!
Question 12: When we read the poem, we feel as if the event described is happening right in front of our own eyes. How does the poet achieve this?
Answer: The poet uses single words and short phrases and describes the action as it happens. The use of these words and phrases make us understand that she rides so quickly that one can hardly process or fully take in the speed at which she rides. The speaker describes the whole race in this manner, keeping the reader waiting for what comes next. This gives the reader a very clear picture of what is happening, and also gives the feeling that the reader too is in the stands watching the race live.
Question 13: How wild her flight,
And how our senses reel
To see the rush
Why do the spectators’ senses ‘reel’?
Answer: The spectators’ senses ‘reel’ because Tillie travels at such high speed that keeping pace with her, even when watching the race, is difficult.
Question 14: What qualities of the cyclist does the writer bring out in the poem?
Answer: In the poem, the writer brings out that the cyclist is fearless, confident, focused and speeds towards victory.
So, these were When Tillie Rides Her Wheel Questions & Answers.