Get summary, workbook solutions, questions, answers, notes, pdf, and extras to the poem “Spring the Sweet Spring” by Thomas Nashe, which is a part of Class 9 English syllabus for students studying under the Manipur Board (BSEM).
Summary
The poem celebrates spring as a pleasant and joyful season that brings new life and cheer after the cold winter.
In the first stanza, the poet calls spring the “year’s pleasant king” because it is a happy time when flowers bloom and everything comes to life again. Young women dance joyfully together in a ring. The cold of winter no longer stings or bites. Birds sing sweetly, making sounds like “Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!”
In the second stanza, the poet describes how palm leaves and mayflowers make country houses look festive and gay. Lambs frisk playfully, and shepherds play their pipes all day long. The birds continue their merry songs: “Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!”
The third stanza depicts spring scenes in the countryside. Meadows smell fresh and sweet. Daisies brush against people’s feet as they walk. Young lovers meet, while older wives relax in the sunshine. Everywhere people hear the happy refrains of birdsong: “Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!”
Throughout the poem, the repetition of the onomatopoeic bird sounds “Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!” at the end of each stanza creates a feeling of joy and celebration. The poet uses rich sensory imagery, alliteration, and rhyme to capture the sights, sounds, and smells that make spring such a delightful season. Overall, the cheerful tone conveys the poet’s delight in the renewal and rebirth that spring brings to the land.
Line-by-line explanation
Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king.
Spring, which is a sweet and pleasant season, is considered the most enjoyable time of the year.
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring
In spring, all the plants and flowers bloom. Young unmarried women also form rings and dance together.
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing
The coldness of winter does not bite anymore. Cute little birds start singing melodious songs.
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to- witta – woo!
The poet tries to recreate the sounds made by birds like cuckoo singing “cuckoo”, blackbird singing “jug-jug”, dove cooing “pu-we”, and pigeon hooting “to-witta-woo”.
The palm and may make country houses gay,
Palm leaves and mayflower plants decorate country houses making them look lively and happy.
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
Young lambs joyfully leap and play around. Shepherds play their flute the entire day.
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay:
And we keep hearing the cheerful songs sung by different birds:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta- woo!
The poet again tries to recreate the birds’ sounds.
The fields breath sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
The fields give out a sweet fragrance. Small daisies touch our feet as we walk on the grass.
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
Young couples in love meet up secretly. Old ladies sit basking in the warm sunlight.
In every street these tunes our ears do greet
In every lane and street, we hear the melodious tunes of the birds.
Cuckoo, Jug-jug, pu-we, to witta – woo !
The poet repeats the sounds of the singing birds.
Textual notes
Comprehension
(A) Based on your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions. Tick the correct option
i. The tone of the poem is of
Answer: joy.
ii. The most common sound in spring is
Answer: the song of the birds.
iii. The poem describes the beauty of spring in
Answer: the countryside.
(B) Answer the following questions
i. Which season is the year’s pleasant king?
Answer: Spring.
ii. What do the maids do in the spring season?
Answer: They dance in a ring.
iii. Who pipes all day during the spring?
Answer: The shepherds.
iv. What do the daisies do in spring?
Answer: They kiss our feet.
(C) Answer the following questions briefly
i. Why is spring called ‘the pleasant king’?
Answer: Spring is called ‘the pleasant king’ because it brings joy and beauty, making everything bloom and sing.
ii. Why does the poet say ‘cold doth not sting’?
Answer: The poet suggests that in spring, the coldness of winter is gone, replaced by a warmer, more pleasant climate.
iii. What makes the country houses gay?
Answer: The blooming of palm and may flowers makes country houses appear cheerful and festive.
iv. Give a picture of the village common in spring?
Answer: In spring, the village common is lively with young lovers meeting, old wives sunning, and joyful tunes filling the air.
v. ‘The fields breathe sweet.’ Explain.
Answer: This phrase conveys the fresh, sweet aroma of the fields in spring, symbolizing new life and growth.
Think and Answer
(1) The poet has given some characteristics of spring season in England. Now write some activities connected with spring season in your locality or place. It may be a fair or a festival.
Answer: In my locality during spring, people often engage in outdoor activities like picnics and nature walks to enjoy the blossoming flowers. Local festivals celebrating the arrival of spring are common, featuring traditional music, dance, and seasonal foods.
Discuss
‘Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo !’ What are these words? Why does the poet repeat these words at the end of every stanza? Discuss it in your group and tell the class.
Answer: The phrase “Cuckoo jug-jug pu-we to-witta-woo” is a poetic representation of bird calls. The poet repeats these sounds at the end of every stanza to emphasise the natural music and joyful atmosphere of spring. This discussion in your group should explore why the poet chose to repeat these sounds and their significance in the context of the poem.
Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks with the words given in the list to make every sentence meaningful.
| pleasant, sting (v), ring, tune, greet (v) |
i. There is our teacher. Let us ______ her.
Answer: greet (v)
ii. March is a ________ month in Manipur.
Answer: pleasant
iii. I like the soft ________ of that song.
Answer: tune
iv. When bees _______ you feel a sharp pain.
Answer: sting (v)
v. Boys make a _____ in the courtyard.
Answer: ring
Writing
(1) Write a diary entry expressing your joy at the coming of spring at the end of winter season.
Answer: Dear Diary,
Today was amazing! Spring’s finally here after a super long winter. Everywhere I looked, there were flowers blooming and birds chirping. It felt like the whole world was waking up. The sun was so warm, way better than the cold winter days. I hung out in our garden, and it was awesome seeing all the colors. It’s like a whole new start, you know? Feeling pretty happy and excited about what’s next. Can’t wait to see what this season brings!
Cheers,
Shyam
Extra MCQs
1. What are the four seasons mentioned in the passage?
A. Spring, summer, autumn, winter B. Summer, monsoon, autumn, winter C. Spring, rainy, autumn, winter D. None of the above
Answer: A. Spring, summer, autumn, winter
8. Why does the poet repeat ‘Cuckoo, jug-jug’ in the poem?
A. To create a rhyme scheme B. To describe the bird sounds C. To maintain a rhythm D. To make it melodious
Answer: C. To maintain a rhythm
Extra Questions and Answers
1. How does the poet describe the young lovers in spring?
Answer: The poet says that in spring young lovers meet each other.
8. How does the poem capture the spirit of spring season?
Answer: Through vivid descriptions of nature, rural life, birdsong, and young love, the poem beautifully captures the spirit of spring season. The positive and cheerful tone, alliteration, rhyme scheme, and repetitive refrain all contribute to creating a lively poem that reflects renewal, freshness, vigor and the carefree spirit associated with spring.
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