Class 8 :: English Literature :: Lines Composed in a Wood on a Windy Day by Anne Bronte (Mulberry) (Standard Version)
Lines Composed in a Wood on a Windy Day
by Anne Bronte
(Mulberry) (Standard Version)
The Poem:
My soul is awakened, my spirit is soaring,
And carried aloft on the wings of the breeze;
Around me the wild wind is roaring,
Arousing to rapture the earth and the seas.
The long withered grass in the sunshine is glancing,
The bare trees are tossing their branches on high;
The dead leaves, beneath them, are merrily dancing,
The white clouds are scudding across the blue sky.
I wish I could see how the ocean is lashing,
The foam of its billows to whirlwinds of spray;
I wish I could see how its proud waves are dashing,
And hear the wild roar of their thunder today!
Summary of the Poem:
Lines Composed in a Wood on a Windy Day is a beautiful nature poem by Anne Brontë. In this poem, the poet describes her feelings while enjoying a windy day in a wood. The strong wind fills her with excitement, energy, and happiness. She feels as if her soul has awakened and her spirit is soaring high on the wings of the breeze.
The poet carefully observes the effects of the wind on nature. The long dry grass shines in the sunlight, the bare trees sway and toss their branches, and the dead leaves dance merrily on the ground. Above her, white clouds race quickly across the blue sky. All these sights create a lively and joyful atmosphere.
The poet is so thrilled by the power of the wind that she imagines how the ocean must look on such a day. She wishes she could see the waves crashing against each other, the foam rising into sprays, and hear the thunder-like roar of the sea. The poem shows the poet's deep love for nature and her admiration for its energy, beauty, and power. Throughout the poem, the mood is one of excitement, joy, wonder, and admiration.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
1. Choose the correct answer.
(a) The poem is set
i. in a wood ✔
ii. at the seashore
iii. in a market
Answer: (i) in a wood
(b) In this poem Anne Brontë describes the effect
i. the wind has on her, the Earth and the ocean ✔
ii. she has on the ocean, the Earth and the wind
iii. the ocean has on her, the Earth and the wind
Answer: (i) the wind has on her, the Earth and the ocean
(c) The pattern of the rhyme scheme is
i. abac
ii. abab ✔
iii. abba
Answer: (ii) abab
2. Read these lines and answer the questions that follow.
(a) "My soul is awakened, my spirit is soaring,
And carried aloft on the wings of the breeze;"
i. What causes the poet to feel joyful?
Answer:
The poet feels joyful because of the strong, fresh breeze blowing through the wood. The lively wind fills her heart with excitement and energy. As she watches nature responding to the wind, she experiences a sense of freedom and happiness. The beauty and movement around her awaken her soul and make her feel uplifted and cheerful.
ii. What, according to the poet, is carried with the breeze?
Answer:
According to the poet, her spirit is carried with the breeze. She imagines that the wind lifts her spirit high into the air. This does not mean that she is physically flying; rather, she feels emotionally uplifted, free, and full of joy because of the powerful wind.
iii. What does the poet mean by "soul is awakened"?
Answer:
By saying that her "soul is awakened," the poet means that her inner feelings and emotions have come alive. The beauty and power of nature have refreshed her mind and heart. She feels inspired, energetic, and deeply connected with the natural world around her.
(b) "The long withered grass in the sunshine is glancing
The bare trees are tossing their branches on high;"
i. Explain "the long withered grass in the sunshine is glancing".
Answer:
This line means that the dry, withered grass is shining or sparkling in the sunlight. As the wind blows over the grass, it catches the rays of the sun and appears bright and gleaming. The poet uses the word "glancing" to describe the flashing effect created by the sunlight on the moving grass.
ii. Which season of the year is it? How do you know?
Answer:
It is most likely autumn or late autumn. We know this because the poet mentions "withered grass," "bare trees," and "dead leaves." These are common features of autumn when many trees lose their leaves and vegetation begins to dry up before winter arrives.
iii. Why are the trees tossing their branches?
Answer:
The trees are tossing their branches because a strong wind is blowing through the wood. The force of the wind causes the branches to sway and move vigorously. The poet describes this movement as "tossing" to emphasize the energy and strength of the wind.
(c) "I wish I could see how its proud waves are dashing,
And hear the wild roar of their thunder today!"
i. What does the poet want to see?
Answer:
The poet wants to see the ocean during the stormy weather. She wishes to watch the great waves crashing against one another and the foam being thrown into the air. She imagines the sea in all its power and excitement and longs to witness the dramatic scene.
ii. Why are the waves called proud?
Answer:
The waves are called proud because they appear powerful, majestic, and confident. They rise high and crash forcefully, displaying the strength and grandeur of the ocean. The poet personifies the waves by giving them the human quality of pride.
iii. Give an example of personification from the lines above.
Answer:
An example of personification is:
"its proud waves are dashing"
The waves are described as being "proud," which is a human quality. This gives the waves human characteristics and makes the description more vivid and expressive.
3. Describe the "rapture" of the earth.
Answer:
The word "rapture" means a feeling of great joy, excitement, and delight. In the poem, the wind brings the earth into a state of rapture. The grass glitters in the sunlight, the trees toss their branches, and the dead leaves dance happily on the ground. Everything in nature seems alive and full of energy. The poet suggests that the wind has awakened the entire landscape and filled it with excitement and happiness. Thus, the "rapture" of the earth refers to the joyful and lively condition created by the strong wind.
4. What sounds are mentioned in the poem?
Answer:
Several sounds are mentioned in the poem. The poet hears the wild wind roaring around her. She also imagines hearing the wild roar of the ocean waves, which sounds like thunder. These sounds emphasize the strength and power of nature. The roaring wind and thunderous sea create a dramatic and exciting atmosphere that fills the poet with admiration and wonder.
5. Which words and phrases evoke the turbulence of the ocean?
Answer:
The following words and phrases evoke the turbulence and violent movement of the ocean:
• "the ocean is lashing"
• "foam of its billows"
• "whirlwinds of spray"
• "proud waves are dashing"
• "wild roar of their thunder"
These expressions create vivid images of rough seas, crashing waves, flying spray, and loud roaring sounds. They help the reader imagine the ocean in a powerful and stormy state.
6. If you had to give an alternative title for the poem, what would it be? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
An alternative title for the poem could be "The Joy of the Wind".
This title is suitable because the poem focuses mainly on the effect of the wind on both the poet and nature. The wind awakens the poet's soul, makes her spirit soar, and brings movement and life to everything around her. The grass shines, the trees sway, the leaves dance, and the clouds race across the sky because of the wind. Even the imagined ocean becomes powerful and exciting under its influence. Therefore, the title "The Joy of the Wind" effectively captures the central idea and mood of the poem.
7. Give examples to show how the poet's mood is reflected in nature.
Answer:
The poet's joyful and excited mood is clearly reflected in the natural world around her. Just as she feels energetic and uplifted, nature also appears lively and active.
Some examples are:
• Her spirit is "soaring" just as the wind moves freely through the air.
• The long withered grass is "glancing" in the sunshine, suggesting brightness and vitality.
• The bare trees are "tossing their branches on high," showing excitement and movement.
• The dead leaves are "merrily dancing," reflecting the poet's happiness.
• The white clouds are "scudding across the blue sky," expressing speed and freedom.
• The imagined ocean has "proud waves" that are "dashing" and roaring, mirroring the poet's intense excitement and admiration.
These examples show that the poet's emotions and the movements of nature are closely connected. The lively natural scene reflects her feelings of joy, wonder, and exhilaration.
APPRECIATION
Lyric Poetry
Read these lines:
"My soul is awakened, my spirit is soaring,
And carried aloft on the wings of the breeze;"
These lines express the poet's emotion and have musical quality. So we say that the poem is a lyric.
Lyric poetry expresses personal thoughts, feelings, and moods. Lyric poems are closely related to songs because the word lyric comes from lyre, a stringed musical instrument that accompanied songs in ancient times.
1. In each row, circle the word that best describes the mood, feeling or tone that the lyric lines express.
(a) "My soul is awakened, my spirit is soaring"
Anne Brontë
Options:
• exhilaration ✔
• bitterness
Answer: exhilaration
(b) "I wish I could see how the ocean is lashing"
Anne Brontë
Options:
• longing ✔
• weariness
Answer: longing
(c) "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,
And Mourners to and fro"
Emily Dickinson
Options:
• joy
• sorrow ✔
Answer: sorrow
(d) "My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky"
William Wordsworth
Options:
• joy ✔
• anger
Answer: joy
(e) "Forlorn! the very word is like a bell
To toll me back from thee to my sole self!"
John Keats
Options:
• solitude ✔
• frustration
Answer: solitude
HAIKU
A Haiku is a traditional Japanese poem consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines:
• First line – 5 syllables
• Second line – 7 syllables
• Third line – 5 syllables
Example:
The summer arrives (5 syllables)
with all its bright colours and songs (7 syllables)
for family feasts (5 syllables)
2. Divide the haiku given below into 17 syllables.
Everything I touch = 5 syllables
with tenderness alas = 7 syllables
pricks like a bramble = 5 syllables
3. Complete the haikus started below and then write some on subjects of your choice.
(a)
5 syllables: The winter is here
7 syllables: Cold winds sweep across the fields
5 syllables: Frost shines everywhere
(b)
5 syllables: Trees rooted in earth
7 syllables: Their branches reach to the sky
5 syllables: Birds sing happily
About the Poet:
Anne Brontë (1820–1849) was the youngest of the three famous Brontë sisters. She was educated at home by her aunt. Her sisters were Charlotte Brontë, who wrote Jane Eyre, and Emily Brontë, who wrote Wuthering Heights. Anne's first published book was a collection of poems containing works by all three sisters. The collection, published in 1846, appeared under the names Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell.
Difficult Words and Meanings
• aloft – high in the air
• arousing – creating emotions or excitement
• rapture – a feeling of great joy and happiness
• glancing – shining or gleaming
• scudding – moving quickly across
• lashing – hitting forcefully
• billows – waves
• dancing – moving lightly and happily