Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF and guide of Class 9 English textbook, chapter 3 Autumn which is part of the syllabus of students studying under West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
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Summary
The poem “Autumn” by John Clare captures the beauty of the season and its connection to the countryside. The poet describes the gusts of wind shaking the windows and carrying away faded leaves from elm trees. These leaves swirl in the air, reflecting the motion and change of the season. Clare finds joy in observing small movements, like twigs shaking and sparrows chirping on the roofs, which seem to hint at spring’s distant warmth.
The scene transitions to November, where pigeons rest near the dove cote, and smoke from cottages rises through bare trees. The countryside is alive with activity. The crow’s feather falls onto the grass-covered fields, while acorns drop from oak trees, creating a light sound as they hit the ground. Pigs eagerly gather the fallen acorns, scrambling and hurrying with excitement.
The imagery highlights autumn’s balance between calmness and energy, with nature preparing for winter. The poem uses metaphors to express deeper connections. For instance, sparrows chirping about spring in “summer’s lap” suggests hope amidst the closing year. The acorns symbolize renewal, as they are seeds for future growth, while their fall marks the current cycle’s end.
The poet’s fondness for these simple, rural sights and sounds reveals his deep connection to nature. Through Clare’s eyes, the changing season becomes not just a time of transition but a celebration of life’s small yet meaningful moments.
Video tutorial
Line-by-line explanations
I love the fitful gust that shakes / The casement all day,
The poet expresses his fondness for the irregular, restless gusts of wind. These winds shake the casement (a window that opens on hinges like a door) throughout the day, symbolizing the unpredictable nature of autumn.
And from the mossy elm-tree takes / The faded leaves away,
The wind carries away the faded, withered leaves from the moss-covered elm tree. This action represents the shedding of life in preparation for winter, a key characteristic of autumn.
Twirling them by the window pane / With thousand others down the lane.
The leaves are swept up by the wind, spinning and dancing past the window and down the road. The image of countless leaves in motion illustrates both the beauty and activity of the season.
I love to see the shaking twig / Dance till the shut of eve
The poet enjoys watching the twigs of trees trembling in the wind, as if they are dancing. This movement continues until evening, highlighting the constant activity in nature during this time.
The sparrow on the cottage rig, / Whose chirp would make believe
The sparrow perches on the roof (rig) of a cottage and chirps. Its cheerful sound creates the illusion that spring is nearby, even though it is autumn.
That spring was just now flirting by / In summer’s lap with flowers to lie.
The poet imagines that spring is playfully interacting with summer, surrounded by blooming flowers. This metaphor conveys a sense of longing for the warmth and vitality of earlier seasons, contrasting with the fading life of autumn.
I love to see the cottage smoke / Curl upwards through the naked trees,
The smoke from cottage chimneys spirals upward through the bare branches of trees. This sight reflects the coziness of human life amid the starkness of autumn.
The pigeons nestled round the cote / On dull November days like these;
The pigeons are settled comfortably around their cote (a small shelter for birds) during the grey, uneventful days of November. This scene captures the calm and sheltering aspects of the season.
The cock upon the dung-hill crowing, / The mill sails on the heath a-going.
The rooster crows from atop a pile of dung, a common sight in rural settings, while the sails of a windmill continue turning in the open heath (an area of uncultivated land). These images emphasize the simple, ongoing rhythms of life in the countryside.
The feather from the raven’s breast / Falls on the stubble lea,
A feather drops from a raven’s breast onto a stubble lea (a field with short stems of crops left after harvest). This evokes the quieter moments of nature in autumn.
The acorns near the old crow’s nest / Fall pattering down the tree;
Acorns, the seeds of oak trees, fall near a crow’s nest, creating a soft, tapping sound as they hit the ground. This signifies the end of one life cycle and the potential for new growth.
The grunting pigs, that wait for all, / Scramble and hurry where they fall.
The pigs, aware of the falling acorns, eagerly scramble and rush to gather them. This moment of rural life portrays the interconnectedness of nature and its creatures.
Textbook solutions
Exercise 1
Tick the correct answer from the given alternatives:
1. All through the day the fitful gust shakes the
(a) window-pane
(b) curtains
(c) casement
(d) door
Answer: (c) casement
2. The poet loves to see the shaking twig dance till the
(a) coming of dawn
(b) end of night
(c) end of afternoon
(d) shut of eve
Answer: (d) shut of eve
3. The sparrow sat on the
(a) cottage rig
(b) house-top
(c) mossy elm-tree
(d) casement
Answer: (a) cottage rig
4. The pigeons nestled round the
(a) cage
(b) cote
(c) branch
(d) heath
Answer: (b) cote
5. The cock was crowing upon the
(a) dunghill
(b) lea
(c) tree tops
(d) mill-sails
Answer: (a) dunghill
6. The grunting pigs
(a) walk slowly
(b) scamper by
(c) scramble and hurry
(d) dive and swim
Answer: (c) scramble and hurry
Exercise 2
Answer the following questions within twenty five words:
1. What happens to the leaves of the mossy elm-tree in autumn?
Answer: The leaves of the mossy elm-tree fade away and are taken by the fitful gust, twirling them by the windowpane with others down the lane.
2. What are the things the poet loves to see on November days?
Answer: The poet loves to see the shaking twig, sparrow on the cottage rig, pigeons nestled round the cote, and the cock crowing on the dunghill.
Exercise 3
State whether the following sentences are in Active or Passive Voice:
a) Anil will visit his grandmother’s house.
Answer: Active Voice
Explanation: In this sentence, Anil is the subject actively performing the action of visiting his grandmother’s house. Active voice sentences highlight the subject doing the action. For example, “The cat chased the mouse” is active because the cat (subject) is doing the chasing. If written in passive voice, it would be “The mouse was chased by the cat.”
b) The President has left his office.
Answer: Active Voice
Explanation: Here, “The President” is the subject who has actively performed the action of leaving his office. Sentences in active voice are straightforward, with the subject doing the action. For instance, “She baked a cake” is active because “she” is actively performing the baking.
c) The project will have been finished by the students.
Answer: Passive Voice
Explanation: In this sentence, “The project” is the subject but is not performing the action; instead, it is receiving the action done by “the students.” Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. For example, “The cake was eaten by him” is passive because the action is done to “the cake.”
d) Promita’s leave has been sanctioned by the school authority.
Answer: Passive Voice
Explanation: The subject “Promita’s leave” is not performing any action but is receiving the action of being sanctioned by “the school authority.” Passive voice sentences emphasize the recipient of the action. For example, “The letter was written by her” focuses on “the letter” as the main subject.
Exercise 4
Change the voice of the following sentences:
a) The boy has read out the letter.
Answer: The letter has been read out by the boy.
Explanation: To change from active to passive voice, the object (“the letter”) becomes the subject. The verb tense is maintained (present perfect in this case) by converting “has read out” to “has been read out.” For example, “She has completed the project” becomes “The project has been completed by her.”
b) I shall have bought a cricket bat by tomorrow.
Answer: A cricket bat shall have been bought by me by tomorrow.
Explanation: When changing to passive voice, the object (“a cricket bat”) becomes the subject. The future perfect tense “shall have bought” changes to “shall have been bought.” For instance, “He will have finished the homework” changes to “The homework will have been finished by him.”
c) Sohini’s friends had organised a picnic.
Answer: A picnic had been organised by Sohini’s friends.
Explanation: In the passive voice, the object (“a picnic”) becomes the subject. The past perfect tense “had organised” becomes “had been organised.” For example, “They had cleaned the room” becomes “The room had been cleaned by them.”
d) The football team will put up a brave fight.
Answer: A brave fight will be put up by the football team.
Explanation: To convert to passive voice, the object (“a brave fight”) becomes the subject. The future tense “will put up” changes to “will be put up.” Similarly, “They will write a report” becomes “A report will be written by them.”
Exercise 5
Change the following sentences into indirect speech:
a) I said to him, “Will you share your tiffin with me?”
Answer: I asked him if he would share his tiffin with me.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the question is transformed into a statement format, removing quotation marks. The verb “said to” changes to “asked” because it is a question. The pronoun “you” changes to “he” to match the subject of the reporting verb, and “will” changes to “would” to reflect backshifting.
b) Anjan’s mother said, “Your father has left for Mumbai.”
Answer: Anjan’s mother said that his father had left for Mumbai.
Explanation: The quotation is removed, and the tense is shifted back one step in time. “Has left” becomes “had left” as per the rules of reported speech. The pronoun “your” changes to “his” to match Anjan.
c) The girls triumphantly said, “Hurrah! We have won the match.”
Answer: The girls triumphantly said with joy that they had won the match.
Explanation: Exclamatory phrases like “Hurrah!” are replaced with words that convey the emotion, such as “with joy.” The present perfect “have won” changes to the past perfect “had won” in indirect speech.
d) He says, “Let you be successful in life.”
Answer: He says that I may be successful in life.
Explanation: The imperative “Let you” is changed to “I may” to express a wish in indirect speech. The present tense “says” is retained because the reporting verb is in the present tense.
e) The captain informed, “The tournament was postponed last month.”
Answer: The captain informed that the tournament had been postponed the previous month.
Explanation: In indirect speech, “was postponed” becomes “had been postponed” to reflect backshifting. “Last month” changes to “the previous month” to align with the reporting context.
Exercise 6
Use the following flow-chart to write a paragraph within 100 words on how to make paper: cutting down of bamboos—making pulp—adding chemicals—rolling into sheets—adding colour—drying—ready for use
Answer: The process of making paper begins with cutting down bamboos, which are then crushed to make pulp. Chemicals are added to the pulp to improve its texture and quality. This mixture is rolled into thin sheets to form the basic structure of paper. Colour is added as needed, and the sheets are dried to remove any remaining moisture. Once dry, the paper is ready for use in various forms.
Exercise 7
Write a biography of Annie Besant within 100 words based on the hints given below:
Hints: born on 1* of October 1847 in London—famous British writer—well known Socialist, activist for the rights of women—participated in Indian politics—joined the Indian National Congress—became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1917—passed away on 20″ of September 1933 in Madras, India.
Answer: Annie Besant
Annie Besant, born on October 1, 1847, in London, was a renowned British writer and an advocate for women’s rights. A committed Socialist, she actively worked for social reforms and equality. Besant’s dedication to justice led her to India, where she became a significant figure in Indian politics. She joined the Indian National Congress and, in 1917, made history as its first woman President. Her efforts greatly contributed to India’s independence movement. Besant passed away on September 20, 1933, in Madras, leaving a legacy of courage and activism.
Extras
Additional MCQs
1. What happens to the leaves of the mossy elm-tree in autumn?
A. They grow back
B. They fall off
C. They turn green
D. They remain on the branches
Answer: B. They fall off
14. What does the poet’s attention to small details, such as feathers and acorns, suggest?
A. Disconnection from nature
B. A deep appreciation of simple moments
C. A focus on negative aspects of autumn
D. An emphasis on human activity
Answer: B. A deep appreciation of simple moments
Additional questions and answers
1. Who is the poet of the poem “Autumn”?
Answer: The poet of the poem “Autumn” is John Clare.
19. What might the crow’s feather falling symbolise in the broader context of the poem?
Answer: The crow’s feather falling could symbolize the inevitable shedding and letting go that occurs during autumn. It reflects the theme of transition and the subtle reminders of mortality and renewal present in the season.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
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