The Brook: AHSEC Class 12 Alternative English summary, answers

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Get here the summary, questions, answers, textbook solutions, extras, and pdf of the poem “The Brook” by Lord Tennyson of the Assam Board (AHSEC / SEBA) Class 12 Alternative English (Vibgyor) textbook. However, the given notes/solutions should only be used for references and should be modified/changed according to needs.

the brook Class 12 AHSEC notes questions answers summary

Summary: In Tennyson’s poem, “The Brook,” he describes the rocky stream’s zig-zagging path as if it were a person. The stream considers itself to be a human being, taking in the sights and sounds it encounters along the way as it travels. The stream’s source is a wetland where waterfowl like the coot and heron live. It bursts out of the remote hills and slams into the overflowing river in the valley below in a matter of seconds. There is quite a commotion, and a lot of noise is created. Rivers flow through the valleys of the hills and between the peaks, passing by a small town and a dozen villages. 

They burst, gurgle, and bubble at night as they flow downward in a curving motion. Finally, it joins the swollen stream. A system of life support is built into the brook. A wide variety of plants, bushes, willows, lawns, and flowers can be found growing along the river’s banks. The poet draws a comparison between human transience and the brook’s unending flow. The brook is a never-ending process that is unaffected by the goings-on in the rest of the world.

Answer the following questions in one or two words.

1. Where does the brook come from? 

Answer: The coot and the heron call the highest hill ranges home, where the brook originates.

2. Whom does the brook want to join at the end of its journey? 

Answer: The brook longs to join the raging river below in the valley.

3. What are the flowers that grow near the brook? 

Answer: Forget me nots and hazel are the bright blue flowers that grow near the brook.

4. Mention the name of the bird that flies above the brook. 

Answer: Coots and herons are among the birds that fly above the brook.

5. Where was the poet born? 

Answer: In Lincolnshire, England, the poet was born and raised.

Answer the following questions in a few words

1. What does the brook do as it flows down?

Answer: As it flows downhill, the brook makes a lot of commotion and noise.

2. Mention some of the words relating to sound that are scattered throughout the poem.

Answer: Words like bicker, chatter, sharp, and tribles, babble, murmur, and fruit are associated with sound in the poem.

3. Mention some words relating to movement in the poem. 

Answer: The poem uses words like sally, slide, travel, hurry, slip, flow, move, steal, and wind to suggest movement.

4. What does the brook represent? Human life or nature? 

Answer: Brook is a representation of both human and natural life. It symbolises both the fleeting character of human existence and the eternal joy of nature.

5. Explain the line: “I murmur under the moon and stars/In brambly wilderness.”

Answer: The brook’s slow pace is depicted in the above line. At night, as the brook meanders through the forested wilderness, it makes a low, soothing sound.

Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

1. Quote the refrain of the poem “The Brook.” Explain it briefly. 

Answer: In poetry and music, the refrain is a phrase or line that is repeated over and over again. “For men may come and go, but I go on forever,” is the refrain in the poem “The Brook.”

The refrain in the poem effectively contrasts the transient nature of man’s life with the eternal flow of the book, which is a symbol of nature. The brook, on the other hand, never stops flowing. The poem’s refrain emphasises the single idea and keeps the poem cohesive. The poetic and musical effects have also been heightened as a result.

2. Which lines in the poem compare the brook to a human being?

Answer: “For men may come and men may go, but I go on forever,” are the lines that compare the brook to a human being.

3. Describe in brief the journey of the brook in the early part of the poem.

Answer: Beginning in the highest mountain ranges, where waterfowl like coot and heron make their home, the brook makes its way down to the valley below. As the brook makes its way down thirty hills, it disappears between the ridges. About twenty villages lie ahead of it as it continues its journey. Rivers and creeks flow down the narrow hillsides of farmland and fields, bursting and bubbling at night as they make their way down a curved path. ZIGZAGING along, the brook follows its own path. A lot of times, it goes upstream and overflows into the tributaries. On a flat surface, it moves more leisurely, allowing it to spread out and expand its footprint.

Give suitable answers to the following

1. Discuss in brief the beauty of nature, as described by the poet in the poem.

Answer: A keen observer of nature, Lord Tennyson was Lord Tennyson. Natural elements were given human characteristics in the poem “The Brook” by the poet. The rocky stream is portrayed by the poet as it rushes down from the remote hills to join the overflowing river in the valley below. Coot and heron are aquatic birds, and this is how nature is depicted by the poet in his description of where the stream originates. That’s when it makes an abrupt change of direction and thunderously plunges into the valley below. In the sunlight, it glitters and gleams through the leafless plants and ferns. It continues its journey in a series of zigzags and zags. There are times when it shrinks and expands in an unpredictable zigzag fashion. There is more wildlife and scenery to see as it continues its journey. While gliding across the brook’s surface, it picks up a flower as a companion. Reflecting the eloquent side of life, nature’s beautiful brook is a symbol of its own. Nature and its beautiful landscapes will never die, but all forms of life will eventually end. “The Brook” by Tennyson idealises nature in all its splendour and grace.

2. How does the poet convey the central idea of the poem through the journey of the brook?

Answer: The brook is a central figure in the poem. The rocky stream is portrayed as a character in the poet’s descriptions of the difficulties he encounters on his journey. While moving through the forest, the stream describes itself as an observer of the various manifestations of nature that it encounters. Reflecting the poem’s central theme, the brook’s movement brings to light a number of universal truths. It demonstrates that while life is transient, nature is eternal. Except for the brook, a metaphor for nature, all life has an expiration date. The brook represents the journey from infancy to old age. Overflowing rivers are fed by springs bursting forth from faraway hills. It appears to be constantly conversing with the objects that are preventing it from moving freely. That’s where we’re going. With each step, the stream boasts of its ability to withstand the ravages of time. For the first time, we see the stream’s eternal existence and man’s helplessness in front of its recursive cycle. It is indestructible, unlike boastful humans, who, despite their best efforts, cannot avoid the clutches of death.

Extra/additional questions and answers/solutions

1. What is the source of the brook?

Answer: Coots and herons, among other waterfowl, make their homes in the highest mountain ranges, where the brook begins its journey.

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6. Describe the eventful journey of the brook.

Answer: Waterfowl like the coot and heron call the highest mountain ranges home, and it is from there that the stream begins its journey. Descending rapidly from the far hills, it reaches the river in the valley just as it is beginning to exceed its banks. There is an initial burst of activity and noise as it makes an abrupt debut. Fast as it can, the creek rushes down thirty slopes and disappears between the ridges. Twenty communities, towns, farms, and fields are traversed in the bright sunshine. At night, it breaks, gurgles, and bubbles as it winds its way downward in a curved motion. The stream follows its own winding path, narrowing and widening as it goes. No two of its movements are alike. An accompanying flower floats over the brook as it continues its trip through the countryside’s flora and animals. Along its course, it protects juvenile fish. The stream seems to be having an ongoing conversation with the obstacles it encounters along its path. After some chitchat, it gets ready to plunge down into the valley and join the overflowing river.

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