Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF and guide of Class 9 English textbook, chapter 6 Mild the Mist upon the Hill by Emily Jane Bronte 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 “Mild the Mist upon the Hill” by Emily Jane Brontë reflects on the fleeting nature of time and the bittersweet longing for childhood. The poet sees blue mist covering distant mountains, evoking memories of her youth. This natural imagery draws her into a reflection on her past, when she felt safe and comforted under her father’s roof near the old hall door.
She describes the present scene of a misty, rainy day transitioning into evening. The mist, with its soft, dreamlike quality, symbolizes the veil of memory that blurs the past and present. The damp grass, compared to morning tears, carries a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. Fragrances waft through the air, further linking her current surroundings to cherished memories of other times.
The poem moves seamlessly between the present and the past, contrasting the serenity of her childhood with the wistful mood of her adult reflection. Through simple yet vivid language, Brontë portrays how the natural world stirs deep personal memories, blending joy with sorrow in a moment of quiet introspection.
Video tutorial
Line-by-line explanations
Mild the mist upon the hill, / Telling not of storms to-morrow;
The poet observes a gentle mist covering the hill. It appears calm and does not suggest any storms or turbulent weather coming the next day. The mist symbolizes peace and stillness in the present moment.
No; the day has wept its fill, / Spent its store of silent sorrow.
The day has already poured out all its rain, like tears, and has no more sorrow (grief or sadness) left. This comparison gives the day a human quality, showing how nature can mirror emotions.
Oh, I’m gone back to the days of youth, / I am a child once more;
The poet reflects on her childhood, feeling as though she has returned to that time. This is a moment of deep reminiscence, where memories transport her to a younger version of herself.
And ‘neath my father’s sheltering roof, / And near the old hall door.
She imagines herself under her father’s protective home, standing by the door of the house where she grew up. The word ‘neath’ (shortened form of beneath) adds an old-fashioned touch to the nostalgic tone.
I watch this cloudy evening fall, / After a day of rain:
The poet shifts back to the present, observing the evening sky that is overcast with clouds, following a rainy day. This links the present weather to her reflective mood.
Blue mists, sweet mists of summer pall / The horizon’s mountain-chain.
The blue mist, described as sweet and gentle, forms a thick layer (pall) over the distant line of mountains at the horizon. This imagery connects the natural scene to her serene but wistful state.
The damp stands in the long, green grass / As thick as morning’s tears;
The grass is wet with dew or rain, likened to the tears of the morning. This comparison conveys a quiet sadness or melancholy in the atmosphere.
And dreamy scents of fragrance pass / That breathe of other years.
The air carries faint, pleasant smells (fragrance) that seem to remind her of past times. These scents evoke memories, bringing a sense of longing for the happiness of earlier days.
Textbook solutions
Exercise 1
Tick the correct answer from the given alternatives:
1. The mist was upon the
A. grass
B. roof
C. hill
D. leaf
Answer: C. hill
2. The sorrow of the day is described as
A. silent
B. terrible
C. overwhelming
D. little
Answer: A. silent
3. The hall door mentioned in the poem is
A. new
B. large
C. broken
D. old
Answer: D. old
4. The poet watches the cloudy
A. morning
B. evening
C. afternoon
D. night
Answer: B. evening
5. The colour of the mist is
A. grey
B. white
C. yellow
D. blue
Answer: D. blue
6. The damp stands on the
A. wall
B. floor
C. bush
D. grass
Answer: D. grass
Exercise 2
Answer the following questions within twenty-five words:
1. Where does the poet see herself when she thinks of her childhood?
Answer: Beneath her father’s sheltering roof and near the old hall door.
2. What did the poet watch on the ‘cloudy evening’?
Answer: The poet watched the cloudy evening fall after a day of rain.
Exercise 3
Identify the following sentences as simple, compound and complex:
(i) He is too short to climb the wall.
Answer: Simple sentence
Explanation: A simple sentence contains only one independent clause with a subject and a predicate. In this case, “He” is the subject, and “is too short to climb the wall” is the predicate. There is only one clause, so it is simple.
(ii) The sky was blue and the sun shone bright.
Answer: Compound sentence
Explanation: A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction (e.g., “and”). Here, “The sky was blue” and “the sun shone bright” are both independent clauses connected by “and.”
(iii) The old man who lived in a village believed that the earth was flat.
Answer: Complex sentence
Explanation: A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. In this case, “The old man believed that the earth was flat” is the independent clause, and “who lived in a village” and “that the earth was flat” are dependent clauses.
(iv) Leaving a job midway is not a good practice.
Answer: Simple sentence
Explanation: This sentence has only one independent clause, “Leaving a job midway is not a good practice,” where “Leaving a job midway” is the subject and “is not a good practice” is the predicate.
(v) Last week I met a friend who gave me a bag which is brown in colour.
Answer: Complex sentence
Explanation: This sentence contains one independent clause, “Last week I met a friend,” and two dependent clauses, “who gave me a bag” and “which is brown in colour.” The dependent clauses add additional information about “a friend” and “a bag,” making the sentence complex.
Exercise 4
Do as directed:
1. The question was so easy that everyone could answer it. (Change into a simple sentence)
Answer: The question was easy enough for everyone to answer.
Explanation: To change a complex sentence into a simple sentence, we condense the dependent clause into a phrase. “So easy that everyone could answer it” is rephrased as “easy enough for everyone to answer.”
2. A friend in need is a friend indeed. (Change into a complex sentence)
Answer: A friend who helps in need is truly a friend.
Explanation: A complex sentence includes a dependent clause. Here, “who helps in need” is added as a dependent clause, making it a complex sentence while maintaining the original meaning.
3. Pollution is one of the most severe threats to our beautiful planet. (Change into a compound sentence)
Answer: Pollution is a severe threat, and it harms our beautiful planet.
Explanation: A compound sentence uses conjunctions like “and” to join two independent clauses. The sentence is split into two ideas: one about pollution being a severe threat and the other about its effect.
4. Do or die. (Change into a complex sentence)
Answer: You must do it if you do not want to die.
Explanation: A complex sentence connects an independent clause with a dependent clause. “If you do not want to die” is added as a dependent clause to expand the meaning.
5. He was confused and stopped working. (Change into a simple sentence)
Answer: Being confused, he stopped working.
Explanation: A simple sentence is created by using a participial phrase like “Being confused” to condense the sentence while maintaining its original meaning.
Exercise 5
Write a letter within 100 words to the Headmaster/Headmistress of your school seeking leave of two days for the purpose of attending the marriage ceremony of your elder sister.
To
The Headmistress,
Govind Vidyalaya
Patna – 800001
30th December 2024
Subject: Leave Application for Two Days
Madam,
I humbly request leave for two days, from 2nd January to 3rd January 2025, to attend my elder sister’s wedding. The marriage will take place in our hometown, Gaya. My presence is necessary for the ceremonies.
I will ensure that I complete any pending work promptly upon my return. Kindly grant me leave for the mentioned dates.
Thanking you in advance.
Yours obediently,
Amit Kumar
Class 10-C
Exercise 6
Suppose you had bought a book from a bookstore. By mistake, you left it there instead of bringing it back with you. Providing details of the book and its author, write a letter within 100 words to the owner of the store to find the book and keep it until you come to collect it.
To
Mr. Bagchi,
Proprietor, The Book Haven
MG Road, Bengaluru
28th December 2024
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to inform you about a book I accidentally left at your store on 27th December. The book is titled Wings of Fire by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. I had purchased it from your store the same day, but while checking other books, I mistakenly left it on one of the shelves.
Kindly check if the book is still there and keep it aside for me. I will come to collect it at the earliest. I apologise for the inconvenience caused.
Thank you for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Ravi Sharma
Extras
Additional MCQs
1. What does the poet compare the mist to?
A. A summer pall
B. A winter frost
C. A spring bloom
D. An autumn breeze
Answer: A. A summer pall
10. Who is the poet of “Mild the Mist upon the Hill”?
A. Emily Jane Brontë
B. Charlotte Brontë
C. Anne Brontë
D. William Wordsworth
Answer: A. Emily Jane Brontë
Additional questions and answers
1. Who is the poet of “Mild the Mist upon the Hill”?
Answer: Emily Jane Brontë.
21. Do you think the poet views her childhood as a happier time compared to her present? Why or why not?
Answer: Yes, the poet views her childhood as a happier time, filled with security and joy. Her present reflections, though serene, carry a bittersweet longing for those carefree days.
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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