2. The River
The river’s a wanderer, a nomad, a tramp.
He doesn't choose any one place to set up his camp.
The river’s a winder, through valley and hill.
He twists and he turns, he just cannot be still.
The river’s a hoarder and he buries down deep
Those little treasures that he wants to keep.
The river’s a baby, he gurgles and hums
And sounds like he’s happily sucking his thumbs.
The river’s a singer, as he dances along
The countryside echoes the notes of his song.
The river’s a monster, hungry and vexed
He’s gobbled up trees and he’ll swallow you next.
3. Match the meanings to the
words in bold
wanderer a person who moves from place to
nomad place
does not have a permanent home
tramp aimless living
winder not straight
hoarder collect things
gurgle sounds of happy baby
hums sounds of baby sucking thumb
hungry Wanted to eat
vengeful
vexed Eat up
gobbled Gulped down
swallow
4. Paraphrase in the correct
order (according to stanza)
a) The river is like a singer and a dancer. As
he moves gracefully along, he makes
music and this can be heard from a
distance throughout the countryside.
b) The river is like a hungry creature that
greedily swallows up and destroys the
trees in its way and he may get you too
someday.
5. c) The river collects things as it moves along
and bits and pieces sink to the bottom and
settle on the river bed.
d) The river is like a homeless man, who
wanders aimlessly from place to place and
does not have a fixed or permanent home.
e)The river is like a baby, who makes happy
baby noises and sounds, like he is sucking his
thumbs happily.
6. Theriver is not straight. It bends and
meanders as it flows from the highland to
the lowland. It does not stop flowing.
7. SYNOPSIS
The River is about the many faces of a river. The
river is a wanderer where he moves all over the
place. He does not sit still and is always in
motion. He is also a winder where he twists and
turns. He meanders. He is also a hoarder
where he keeps things deep down in his river
bed. Sometimes, he is a baby when he is happily
flowing along. At times, he is a singer as seen
through the happy sounds of the water. Finally, he
is also a monster and can devour trees (most
probably referring to a flood).
8. COMPREHENSION QUESTION
WHAT IS PERSONIFICATION?
GIVE 5 EXAMPLES FROM THE POEM
WHAT IS ONOMATOPEIA
GIVE EXAMPLES FROM THE POEM
