Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

The fishes dived below the lake in frantic search for silence, The very trees collapse and shake - you hear the crash a mile hence - And in the sky the feathered fly turn turtle while they’re winging.

1. What exaggerated situations has the poet depicted earlier in the context ? What affect do they create? (Analysis)
2. Why do the fishes dive below the lake? (Understanding)
3. What happens to trees? (Understanding)
4. What is amusing about the image of the flying birds in Lines 5-6 here? (Analysis)
5. Which, according to you, is the most absurd situation depicted in the poem? (Analysis and Evaluation)

Answer 1

1. Earlier, the poet describes people becoming dazed, bullock-carts overturning, and horses whining in distress because of Bhisma’s singing. These exaggerated situations create a humorous and comic effect through hyperbole.
2. The fishes dive deep below the lake in a desperate search for peace and silence. They want to escape the loud and unpleasant sound of Bhisma’s singing.
3. The poet says that the trees collapse and shake, and their crash can be heard from a mile away. This exaggerated description highlights the powerful effect of Bhisma’s singing.
4. The amusing image is that the birds turn upside down while flying because of Bhisma’s singing. This impossible and exaggerated event creates a strong comic effect and makes the poem entertaining.
5. The most absurd situation is the birds turning upside down in the sky while flying. This impossible event is highly exaggerated and humorous, making it one of the funniest images in the poem.