Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair...

- The Bangle Sellers, Sarojini Naidu

(i) Why does the poet use the word ‘delicate’ to describe the bangles? How is ‘rainbow-tinted circles of light’ an appropriate description of bangles?

(ii) Explain the following phrases from the poem in your own words:

Shining loads
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives
For happy daughters and happy wives

(iii) The poet uses several images of sight and sound to create a musical effect in the poem. Mention any three examples of these images.

(iv) What are the emotions that the poet associates with a bride on her wedding day? What colours are the bangles on her wrist that reflect these emotions?

(v) What colours does the poet associate with:

a maiden
a middle aged woman?

How does the poet describe the thoughts and concerns of women in both these stages of life?

Accepted Answer

Answer

(i) Bangles are probably made of glass - fragile - easily broken

Rainbow tinted a multi-culoured / all colours of the rainbow / many coloured.

Circles of light - shape of bangle is circular / they reflect the light / luminous / round/ bright

(ii) Shining loads - bangles

Lustrous tokens of radiant lives - Shining symbols / of happy fulfilled lives / bright / contented / prosperous.

For happy daughters and happy wives - intended for girls and women at different stages in their lives / different ages / for unmarried girls and married women / maidens, married ladies / young, elderly.

(iii) Sight - flushed like the buds / shining loads / lustrous token of radiant lives / aglow with bloom / fields of sunlit corn / silver blue like mountain mist / rainbow tinted circles of light/ flame of the marriage fire / glory of newborn leaves.

Sound - tinkling / bridal laughter

(iv) Passion / desire / happiness / pain / joy / sorrow

Colours - red and gold / sunlit corn / yellow or gold / hues of marriage fire / orange red

(v) Maiden - blue / silver / pink / flushed bud / green / new born leaves

Middle aged woman - purple / gold flecked grey

Maiden’s thoughts and concerns: dreams of a happy future / looking forward / hope / longing

Middle aged woman's thought and concerns: looks back with pride at having borne and raised children / served family and worshipped God at husband’s side / good mother / good wife.