The poem describes the soothing experience of listening to the rain falling on a tin roof. It evokes memories from the poet's childhood, especially the affectionate looks of his mother as she put him to bed. The pitter-patter sound of the rain awakens fantasies in his mind and heart, transporting him to the past.
The poem describes the soothing experience of listening to the rain falling on a tin roof. It evokes memories from the poet's childhood, especially the affectionate looks of his mother as she put him to bed. The pitter-patter sound of the rain awakens fantasies in his mind and heart, transporting him to the past.
The poem describes the soothing experience of listening to the rain falling on a tin roof. It evokes memories from the poet's childhood, especially the affectionate looks of his mother as she put him to bed. The pitter-patter sound of the rain awakens fantasies in his mind and heart, transporting him to the past.
The poem describes the soothing experience of listening to the rain falling on a tin roof. It evokes memories from the poet's childhood, especially the affectionate looks of his mother as she put him to bed. The pitter-patter sound of the rain awakens fantasies in his mind and heart, transporting him to the past.
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Rain on the roof
-Coates Kinney About the poet: Coates Kinney (November 24, 1826 – January 25, 1904) . • He was an American lawyer, politician, journalist and poet. • Coates Kinney was born in 1826 near Penn Yan, New York. He was partly educated at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and studied law with Thomas Corwin. He was admitted to the bar in Cincinnati in 1856. He became a journalist, and worked on papers in Cincinnati, Ohio, Xenia, and Springfield, Illinois. • From June 1861 until November 1865, he was a paymaster in the United States Army and was mustered out with the commission of brevet lieutenant-colonel of volunteers. He was a delegate to the convention that nominated Ulysses S. Grant for the presidency in 1868 and its Ohio secretary. He was the senator from the 5th district in the Ohio legislature 1882-1883, and delivered a speech against "The Official Rail Road Pass". • He wrote poetry, and his verses were collected in Keeuka and Other Poems (Cincinnati, 1855) and Lyrics of the Ideal and the Real (1888). Of his verses, "The Rain on the Roof", which was set to music, was the most popular. He died in Ohio in 1904. Central Idea • The poem revolves around the idea that nature here, rain has the healing power. • The musical sound of raindrops falling on the rooftop at night has the ability to revive sweet memories and rouse fancies in an otherwise busy mind. • The rain thus soothes and comforts an overworked mind by taking it back to its lovely past. Some of our best memories in life are associated with rain. • Here, on a rainy day, the poet is listening to the sound made on the roof by the falling raindrops. This pitter-patter sound of the raindrops brings back lost memories of the poet about his mother and her affection towards him. The sound of rain appears to create bliss to the poet. Message • The poem conveys the message that rain has therapeutic and healing powers and forms lasting memories in the human mind of the sights, sound, fragrances and our experience associated with it, especially those involving our loved ones. • Rain refreshes and rejuvenate us and forces us to recollect and relive our past memories. Value points • The poet is resting on his bed. • Suddenly he hears the sound of clouds and quietness all around disappears. • The rain starts all of a sudden. • The tin roof of his cottage creates the beautiful sound of raindrops. The sound of rain echoes in the heart of the poet and he remembers a good number of things. • He collects many memories. • The poet receives the sound of rain as a bliss. • He remembers his childhood and sweet love received from his mother. Shingles Woof
Warp and weft are the two basic
components used in weaving to turn thread or yarn into fabric. The lengthwise or longitudinal warp yarns are held stationary in tension on a frame or loom while the transverse weft (sometimes woof) is drawn through and inserted over-and- under the warp Content analysis • The poet observes that when the starry sky is overcast with rain-bearing clouds, the sad darkness is filled with raindrops which are like gentle tears. • It is a very pleasant, comforting, and thrilling experience to lie in one’s room with the head pressed on the pillow and listen to the sound of the raindrops falling on the tin roof overhead. • Every drop of rain falling on the roof makes a tinkling sound that moves the poet’s heart. These sounds rouse a number of imaginary things in the thoughts of the poet. • The soft pitter-patter of the falling rain-drops also revives many childhood memories. Among these memories, there is one about his mother. • He recollects how she used to look at her dear children as she put them to sleep and wished them to have sweet dreams till they met again early in the morning. • As the poet listens to the music made by the rain falling on the roof, he visualizes in his mind the affectionate look of his mother. Thus, the rain makes a bridge between his present and his past. Paraphrasing:
When the humid shadows hover ---------------soft rain overhead
When the sky is covered with dark clouds, the shimmering light of stars seems to be invisible. The darkness mourns sadness but the sweet rain comes with peace to solace the lonely night. At this moment, the poet likes to enjoy the joy and pleasure of sleep. He wants to lie on his bed and enjoy perfect rest. He can sleep with a sound like a child and hear the patter of sweet raindrops falling on the roof. • Every tinkle on the shingles ------------- the rain upon the roof
In this stanza, the poet describes the impact of the music made by rain on his heart and mind. He remarks that the tinkling sound produced by the raindrops falling on the roof tiles cause a resonance in his heart. His heart beats respond sensitively to every sound of the falling rain. In his much-occupied mind, a large number of fanciful and imaginative ideas spring up. Innumerable memories of the past are revived and get entwined as if woven like a patchwork as he lies listening to the pattering sound of the raindrop. • Now in memory comes my mother--------------the patter of the rain.
As the poet lies in his bed listening to the soft pattering sound of the gentle rain falling on the roof, among many other memories, there emerges in his mind the memory of his mother. He vividly remembers how she used to look affectionately at her children before she went to her bed leaving them for the night to meet again in the early morning. As he listens to the music of the rain, he can still experience the loving look of his mother. In fact, the rainy night reminds the poet of similar nights during his childhood when his mother was alive and showered love on him and his siblings. Literary devices
• Alliteration • Overall the starry spheres • What a bliss to press the pillow • Into busy being start • Now in memory comes my mother • 0! I feel her fond look on me Personification • And the melancholy darkness Gently weeps in rainy tears. Here the poet personifies darkness who is presented to be in a melancholy mood and sheds tears in the form of raindrops.
• And a thousand recollections
Weave their air-threads into woof Recollections are personified here as they are shown to be weaving cloth with threads of air. Transferred Epithet • melancholy darkness Here it is not the darkness that is sad but some human beings who are sad in the darkness. • dreamy fancies Here fancies are not lost in dreams, but it is the human beings who dream. Onomatopoeia • patter • imitates the sound the raindrops make as they land on the surface of the roof tiles. • tinkle • imitates the gentle and clear musical sound that a droplet makes. Imagery
Rhyme Scheme • The rhyme scheme followed in the poem is: abcbdefe Conclusion • The lyrical poem “Rain on the Roof” by Coates Kinney presents the memories aroused in the poet’s mind by the showers falling on the tin roof. • Through a number of metaphors, the poet shows that the drops of rain falling on the shingles of the roof sends a train of thoughts running in his mind. • He is reminded of the way his mother used to bid him and his siblings a good night and put them to sleep. The poet connects his present with his past through the memories revived by the rain. Asset Questions:
1.Which word is an antonym of bliss?
a. happiness b. ecstasy c. misery d. elation
2. “And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears”
Why does the poet call melancholy darkness ‘weeping’?
e. because of raining in darkness
f. because of sadness g. because of thunderous cries h. because of spreading darkness 3.The rhyme scheme of the poem is________________.
a. abab b. abba c. abcb d. None of the above • 4.’Melancholy darkness’ is an example of?
a. Hyperbole b. Metaphor c. Transferred Epithet
d. Onomatopoeia Assignment 1 Read the extract and answer the questions that follow “ Every tinkle on the shingles Has an echo in the heart And a thousand dreamy fancies Into busy being start” a) What finds an echo in the heart of the poet? b) How does the sound of the rain affect the busy mind of the poet ? c) Explain the metaphor used in “And a thousand recollections, weave their air threads…” ?
2 Answer the following in 30-40 words a) How is the mood of the poet contrasted with the mood of darkness ? b) Which distinctive memory is revived in the poet’s mind? c) Why does the poet call the sound of the rain “refrain”?
3 Answer the following in 100-120 words What is the effect of the sound of the rain on the heart and mind of the poet?
