Poem - Wind

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Give in brief the central idea of the poem ‘Wind’.

Answer: The central idea of the poem is that nobody cares for the weak. Even gods help the
strong. Therefore, we should not pray for mercy or help. We should make ourselves strong. If we
are strong, everybody will like to be friends with us.
2. What lesson can we learn from the action of the wind on the tire?
Answer: If the fire is weak, the wind blows it out. If the fire is strong, the wind adds more power
to it. It makes it roar and flourish. Therefore, we should make ourselves strong. If we are weak,
everybody will harm us. If we are strong, everybody will like to be friends with us. Even the
gods help those who are strong. They pay no attention to the prayers of the weak
3. How does the wind poke fun at weaklings?
Answer: Weaklings pray to the wind to come softly. They pray to the wind god not to break the
shutters of their windows. But the wind god does not listen to their prayers. Rather he pokes fun
at them. He blows down their houses. He breaks their doors. He breaks their bodies, their lives
and even their hearts. He crushes them badly.
4. Why does the poet plead with the wind to blow softly?
Answer: When the wind blows softly, it is harmless and enjoyable but when it blows fiercely, it
wreaks havoc. Therefore, the poet wants the wind to be gentle and soft.
5. What kind of destruction is caused by the violent wind?
Or
What are the things that the wind does in the first stanza?
Answer: When the wind blows violently, it destroys everything. It breaks the window shutters,
scatters papers around, makes the books fall down, tears their pages and brings about the heavy
downpour.
6. Explain the line: You brought rain again”
Or
How does the wind bring rain?
Answer: The line highlights the fact that the wind brings rain. He blows the vapour-laden clouds
around and causes them to make rain. Sometimes the rain brought about by the wind also causes
damage.
7. How does the wind make fun of the weaklings?
Answer: The strong wind uses his destructive power to harm weak persons and delicate things.
Without showing any mercy or sympathy, he crushes weak houses, crumbling doors, and even
human lives and hearts. By moving violently and destroying the weak, he seems to make fun of
their helplessness.
8. What does the poet say the wind god winnows?
Answer: The poet states that the wind god winnows because it is nature’s way of rejecting the
frail and unhealthy objects. In a way, the wind god separates the weak from the strong like the
chaff is separated from the grain. The wind god is the winnower, the wind as the winnowing fan
and the weak men are the grain.
9. What does the poet think of the wind god’s attitude to the requests of people?
Answer: The poet believes that the wind god is indifferent to the requests of people. Even
though people request him to blow gently, he does not pay any heed to their pleas. He is defiant
and does not care about the wishes of people. It means that the intensity of the wind is beyond
human control.
10. What should people do to avoid the destruction caused by the strong winds?
Or
Why should people build strong houses and strong doors?
Answer: To avoid the destruction caused by the strong wind, it is essential that people construct
solid, sturdy houses with firm strong doors. The buildings should be able to resist the attack of
the violent wind.
11. What does the wind symbolize in this poem?
Answer: The poet converts the natural force, wind, into a symbol in the context of human life.
The destructive wind symbolizes the hardships, problems and obstructions in the life of people.
Just as buildings have to face strong winds, people have to encounter difficulties and obstacles in
life.
12. Why does the poet want people to have firm bodies and strong hearts?
Answer: In life, people have to encounter the winds of hardships, unfavourable circumstances,
and big obstacles. If people are infirm, unhealthy, and weak-willed, they will be defeated by
these difficulties. But, if they are physically strong and mentally confident, they can resist all the
hardships boldly and successfully.
13. What is the impact of the wind on weak fires and strong fires?
Answer: Weak fires are powerless and helpless against the force of winds and are easily
extinguished. But the strong fires when fanned by the wind, rage more furiously and burn with a
thundering roar.
14. What should we do to make friends with the wind?
Answer: As friendship exists and thrives among equals, we can befriend the wind only by
becoming as strong and forceful as he is. If we are physically and mentally strong, we can
embrace it as a friend without being afraid of its fury.
15. Why does the poet remark that the friendship of wind is good?
Answer: The poet remarks that the friendship of wind is good because the wind has both kind
and wicked aspects. If we are weak, its destructive force causes havoc. But if we are strong, we
may harness its power and use it for constructive purposes. As a friend, the wind works for the
benefit of mankind.
16. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?
Answer: The last four lines of the poem carry an important message about it- e benefits of
strength. Strong people come out stronger in the face of difficulties and challenges, just like the
strong fires burn brighter when harsh winds blow. Thus even the trying situations become
friendly for strong people.
17. Briefly describe the central idea of the poem.
Answer: The poem “Wind” motivates us to face challenges of life with grit and determination. It
inspires us to face all the hardships of life with courage. Representing the turmoil and troubles of
life, the strong wind teaches us the value of unshakeable determination.
18. What can wind do if it becomes our friend?
Answer: Wind can teach us positive qualities just like our good friends do. Its strength can teach
us to be tough and determined in difficult times and its force can teach us to face obstacles
bravely.
19. What does the wind God winnows?
Answer: The wind God winnows all the things available at home. The windbreaks and crushes
weak houses, doors, rafters, wood, human beings and lives. The wind God windows and crushes
all the weak things.
20. What should we do to make friends with the wind?
Answer: The poet suggests that we should build strong houses and fix the doors firmly to make
friends with the wind. Moreover, we should make ourselves mentally and physically strong
enough to face the difficulties in life.
21. How does the poet describe the wind in the poem ‘Wind’?
Answer: In the poem, the poet describes the destructive and constructive forms of the wind. The
wind destroys and crushes the weak and makes the strong more stronger.
22. How does the wind behave with stronger fires?
Answer: It behaves like a friend with strong ones. It cannot destroy them. So it accepts their
might and stops troubling them. Rather, it increases their strength by contributing its own.
23. How does the wind behave with weak things and persons?
Answer: The wind does not like weak things and persons. It does not behave in a friendly way
with them. It destroys the weak things as it does with the crumbling houses, doors etc.
24. How does the wind become the cause of rain?
Answer: The wind sometimes becomes violent and appears to be a storm. It brings clouds with it
from distant lands. There is no need to say that clouds bring rain. It is a universal truth and
scientific fact that clouds bring rain from the blue sky.
25. What does the poet ask us to do?
Answer: The poet wants us to realise the true nature and power of the wind. He advises us to
build strong houses. The doors must be closed firmly. Weak hearts will never succeed. Let us
make our heart and body strong and steadfast. The wind god does not harm strength and
steadfastness but even supports them.
26. Why should the earthly people build strong houses?
Answer: They should build strong houses so that they may not be damaged by the wind. They
should be strong enough to endure violent winds and become a challenge to the potent wind.
27. Whom does the poet praise and why?
Answer: The poet praises the wind. He has accepted the power of wind, which stands for
hardships in our life. If we want to be successful in life, we must have a strong body and heart.
Only strong people can face challenges in life.
28. How does the poet speak to the wind—in anger or with humour? You must also have
seen or heard of the wind “crumbling lives”. What is your response to this? Is it like the
poet’s response?
Answer: The poet speaks to the wind with humour. I opine that the poet’s behaviour is pertinent
and I have also seen the wind devastating the property mercilessly. The poet invites the wind to
attack him and intends to prepare himself for the attack.
29. What does the wind do with the books?
Answer: The wind tears the pages off and throws them down from the bookshelf. The potent
(powerful) wind scatters the books and sheets of paper on the floor. It disturbs everything.
30. What is the central idea of the poem, ‘Wind’?
Answer: The poet advises us to be strong in mind and body. The wind will be our friend when
we are strong. Here the wind represents the difficulties and challenges we face in our life.
Therefore, we should face them boldly.
31. Why and how does the wind blow out weak fires? Who roars and flourish?
Answer: The god of wind is against any and every shaky and weak thing. Our heart should be
fired with determination and strength. Weak fires and weaklings are flown out. Only the strong
roar and flourish. His friendship is well rewarding. Let us praise the wind, the symbol of power
and strength.
Long Answer Type Questions

1. What kind of destruction can be caused by violent wind?

Answer: The wind, through its violent force, can play havoc in the world. It causes huge damage
to life and property. Buildings collapse, window shutters are broken, papers are scattered and
books are thrown down. The wind causes clouds to make heavy showers which creates many
problems for the poor and weak people. When the violent wind blows, the fragile, unsteady
houses crumble down, doors come off their hinges, rafters fall down, and the wooden panels
collapse. The small flames of fires are extinguished by the wind. The god of wind suppresses and
destroys weak people and structures. Proud of his power, he causes large-scale destruction.
2. How does the poet use wind as a symbol in relation to human beings?
Or
Human life is full of hardships. How does the poet reveal it?
Answer: In relation to human beings, the wind has been used by the poet as a symbol of the
hardships that life is dotted with. Men have to encounter terrible suffering, sorrows, difficulties,
and failures. So powerful are these troubles that only very strong people are able to overcome
them and move ahead. Weak, infirm and indecisive people surrender in front of hardships and
accept defeat. But, strong people with patience, unwavering minds and firm will fight against the
hardships and emerge even stronger. Human lives can never be devoid of struggle. One only
needs physical and mental strength to overcome unfavourable circumstances. The winds of
trouble cannot harm those who have the power to stand firm. Strong people can turn their
difficulties into opportunities and learn lessons from them. They know how to turn the tides in
their favour.
3. Which values of life do the poet emphasizes in the poem?
Or
Do you think the poem “Wind” is a didactic poem? What moral values does it preach?
Answer: The poem “Wind”, by Subramania Bharati, teaches a very deep moral lesson for human
beings. The poet uses the wind as a symbol of problems in life while the sturdy structures
symbolize unfaltering, strong human beings. The poet uses both the symbols and direct statement
to bring home the values of strong physical health and mental powers, confidence and a firm
will.
Life is not a cakewalk; it is strewn with obstacles and challenges. However, only the weak-willed
and infirm people are unable to beat these obstacles and challenges, and meekly accept their
failures and defeats.
The forces of unfavourable, unhappy circumstances fail to conquer those who have the courage.
Such people beat all odds against them and come out victorious and move on. Just as the wind
extinguishes only small flames and the high flames rise higher with the wind, similarly troubles
terrify only those who have not equipped themselves with an act of unfaltering courage and
determination. Difficulties are a part of life; they cannot be avoided, but they can be resisted
through courage and confidence. Thus, the poem is didactic in nature and emphasizes the values
of courage, confidence and strong will.
4. Why does the poet suggest to the people that they have to be strong? Write your answer
in the context of the poem, ‘Wind’.
Answer: According to the poet, the wind is very powerful. It has the power to break the shutters
of the windows, scatter the papers and throw the books down the shelf. When it blows violently,
it brings the clouds. It mocks at the weak and destroys their homes. The weak persons are really
helpless before the wind. But the poet is quite hopeful. He thinks that when people build strong
houses, they can challenge the wind. Actually, the poet suggests the people that they should be
strong at heart because the weak persons cannot face the challenges of life. Only the people with
a strong heart and body have the courage to face the challenges of life.
5. How can you say that friendship with the strong wind is good? Explain with reference to
the poem ‘Wind’.
Answer: When we have a friendship with the strong, we learn several new things. We learn that
we may become strong when we fight with difficulties. The people say that if we are strong, the
wind may be our friend. Because the wind likes strong friends. So, if we desire to have the
strength to be our friends, we have to show courage. This is the main reason that the poet talks
about the steadfast heart in the poem.
6. How can you say that the poet of the poem ‘Wind’ is a great lover of mankind?
Answer: The poet wants to make people strong at hearts. His desire is that they should be bold
enough to face the challenges of life. When we have strong houses, we can protect ourselves
from the angry wind. In the same manner, when we are strong at heart we can face the challenges
of life. Only the weak peoples are defeated by the problems of life. Similarly, the poet wants that
people should face the challenges of life and make their life happy. His thought shows that he is
really a great humanist. His heart is filled with compassion for mankind.
7. The wind is a symbol of power and strength. How can we befriend it and survive in our
struggle for existence?
Answer: The wind symbolises the uncontrollable and raw power of nature. The wind god
symbolises strength and steadfastness. Weaklings who are weak in the mind and body are swept
away by the mighty power of the wind. Only those who are blessed with steadfast minds and
hearts survive in the bitter struggle of life. The poet gives a broader message. Whatever we do or
think must stand on the foundations of strength and power. Only strong minds and bodies can
face the anger of the wind and challenges of life. We can befriend the god of wind by building
strong homes and doors. We can also win his favour by firming the body and making the heart
steadfast.
8. What moral lesson do you get from the poem ‘Wind’?
Answer: The poem Wind’ is full of moral lessons. The poet has poured out his heart in the
present poem. He says that people must be strong at heart because only the weak at heart are
troubled by difficulties. Here, wind symbolises difficulties which have the power to devastate
life on earth. But if the people are strong at heart, they face the challenges thrown out by
difficulties. They struggle and at last, come out with flying colours.

Wind Extract Based Question

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow—

Stanza 1 of Wind
Wind, come softly.
Don't break the shutters of the windows.
Don't scatter the papers.
Don't throw down the books on the shelf.
There, look what you did-you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.

Question 1: What does the poet ask the wind to do?

(a) The poet asks the wind not to blow.
(b) The poet asks the wind to blow softly.
(c) The poet asks the wind to bring rain.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(b) The poet asks the wind to blow softly.

Question 2: Which things does the poet ask the wind not to do?
(a) The poet asks the wind not to damage, shutters of the windows, scatter his papers and throw
down the books.
(b) He asks the wind not to blow the roof of his house, tear up his clothes and damage his crops.
(c) He asks the wind not to damage his household goods.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(a) The poet asks the wind not to damage, shutters of the windows, scatter his papers and throw
down the books.

Question 3: What does the wind actually do?

(a) The wind does as requested by the poet.
(b) The wind does not damage his things.
(c) The wind throws down the books, tears their pages and brings rain.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(c) The wind throws down the books, tears their pages and brings rain.
Question 4: Can the wind be asked to do or not to do a particular thing? Why?
(a) Yes, it can be asked what to do or what not to do. It is sensitive to human sufferings.
(b) No, it can't be asked what to do or what not to do. It is a force of nature.
(c) The wind does not care about our requests. It takes pleasure in human suffering.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(b) No, it can't be asked what to do or what not to do. It is a force of nature.

Answers : 1. (b) The poet asks the wind to blow softly. 2. (a) The poet asks the wind not to
damange, shutters of the windows, scatter his papers and throw down the books. 3. (c) The wind
throws down the books, tears their pages and brings rain. 4. (b) No, it can't be asked what to do
or what not to do. It is a force of nature.

Stanza 2 of Wind
You're very clever at poking fun at weaklings.
Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,
crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives,
crumbling hearts-
The wind god winnows and crushes them all.

Question 1: "You're very clever ". Who is very clever?

(a) The reader
(b) The poet
(c) The wind
(d) The weaklings
Answer
(c) The wind

Question 2: Who are weakings?

(a) They are weak and decaying men and things
(b) Plants and animals
(c) School-going children
(d) Domestic animals
Answer
(a) They are weak and decaying men and things

Question 3: Who winnows and crushes whom?

(a) The wind winnows and crushes the weak and decaying men and things.
(b) The powerful people crush the weak.
(c) Men crush one another.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(a) The wind winnows and crushes the weak and decaying men and things.

Question 4: Is the fun poked by the wind kind or cruel?

(a) The fun poked by the wind is kind.
(b) It is cruel.
(c) It is neither kind nor cruel.
(d) It is cruel and kind both.
Answer
(b) It is cruel.

Stanza 3 of Wind
He won't do what you tell him.
So, come, let's build strong homes.
Let's joint the doors firmly.
Practise to firm the body.
Make the heart steadfast.
Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.

Question 1: How does the wind behave?

(a) The wind behaves kindly and generously.
(b) The wind behaves like a friend.
(c) The wind behaves stubbornly and wilfully.
(d) The wind behaves indifferently.
Answer
(c) The wind behaves stubbornly and wilfully.

Question 2: What does the poet suggest us to do to be friends with the wind?
(a) The poet suggests that our bodies and things should be as strong as the wind.
(b) We should keep praying to the wind to protect us.
(c) We should keep praying to the wind to protect us.
(d) All the above.
Answer
(a) The poet suggests that our bodies and things should be as strong as the wind.

Question 3: What is the attitude of the wind towards men and his things?
(a) The wind is kind to weak men and their week things.
(b) The wind likes to be friends with weak men and their weak things.
(c) The wind does not care for weak men and things. He crushes them all.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(c) The wind does not care for weak men and things. He crushes them all.

Question 4: When will the wind be friends with us?

(a) The wind will be friends with us if we and our things are weak and decaying.
(b) When we and our things are as strong as the wind, he will be friends with us.
(c) The wind will be friends with us whether we and our things are weak or strong.
(d) All the above.
Answer
(b) When we and our things are as strong as the wind, he will be friends with us.
 Stanza 4 of Wind
The wind blows out weak fires.
He makes strong fires roar and flourish.
His friendship is good.
We praise him every day.

Question 1: What is the winds behaviour towards the weak fires?

(a) The wind helps weak fires grow into strong fires.
(b) The wind blows out weak fires, but helps strong fires grow and burn noisily.
(c) The wind behaves in the same manner towards the weak and the strong fires.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(b) The wind blows out weak fires, but helps strong fires grow and burn noisily.

Question 2: Which trait of the wind is revealed in its treatment of weak and strong fires?
(a) Being itself strong, the wind is friendly towards strong fires, but inimical towards weak fires.
(b) It treats both strong and weak fires equally.
(c) Sometimes the wind favours strong fires and sometimes it favours weak fires.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(a) Being itself strong, the wind is friendly towards strong fires, but inimical towards weak fires.

Question 3: How can the wind's friendship be good to us?

(a) The wind's friendship can be good to us when we and our things are as strong as the wind.
(b) The wind's friendship can be good if we worship it.
(c) Let, us and our things be weak and humble, and the wind will be our friend.
(d) The wind's friendship can never be good to us whatever we do.
Answer
(a) The wind's friendship can be good to us when we and our things are as strong as the wind.

Question 4: Why do we praise the wind?

(a) We praise the wind so that it may not harm us.
(b) We praise the wind because we consider the wind a God.
(c) We praise the wind because it brings rains with it. Also, it does not harm us if we are strong.
(d) None of the above.
Answer
(c) We praise the wind because it brings rains with it. Also, it does not harm us if we are strong.