Cradle Song Class 6 English Solution

Complete Class 6 English solution for the poem ‘Cradle Song.’ This blog provides a detailed summary, in-depth analysis, and answers to all the questions from the class 6 English textbook Manipur Board (BOSEM). Perfect for students looking for comprehensive study material.

Short Summary of the poem “Cradle Song”

The poem “Cradle Song” written by Sarojini Naidu is a lullaby. In the poem, the mother poet is trying to lull her child to sleep. The poem shows maternal love and
care for her child. It also shows the power of a mother’s voice which is soothing for
the child.

The cradle song

From groves of spice
O’er fields of rice
Athwart the lotus stream,
I bring for you,
Aglint with dew,
A little lovely dream.

Sweet, shut your eyes,
The wild fireflies
Dance through the fairy neem;
From the poppybole
For you, I stole
A little lovely dream.

Dear eyes, good night,
In golden light
The stars around you gleam;
On you I press
With soft caress
A little lovely dream.

-Sarojini Naidu

About the poet: Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu, often called the “Nightingale of India,” was a prominent Indian poet, freedom fighter, and politician. Born on February 13, 1879, in Hyderabad, she showed a remarkable talent for writing from a young age. Naidu’s poetry, known for its lyrical beauty and emotional depth, often drew upon themes of Indian culture, nature, and patriotism.

Besides her literary contributions, she played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence, working closely with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. She was also the first woman to serve as the President of the Indian National Congress and later became the first woman to hold a state governor’s office in independent India. Sarojini Naidu’s legacy endures through her poetry and her dedication to India’s freedom and progress.

The Substance of the poem

The poem”Cradle Song” written by Sarojini Naidu is a lullaby. In the poem, the mother(Poet) is trying to lull her child to sleep. The poem shows maternal love and care for her child. It also shows the power of a mother’s voice which is soothing for the child.

The Cradle Song Explanation

The poem has been divided into three stanzas having six lines each. The rhyme scheme of the poem is aabbcc

First Stanza

In the first stanza, the poet prepares the child to have a lovely dream by creating an imagination of beautiful places. She says that she has bought a lovely dream with glittering dews from gardens of spice, fields of rice and streams full of lotus flowers.

Second stanza

In the second stanza, the poet is trying to let her child be lost in the imagination of an enchanted world of dreams full of wild fireflies flying among neem plants in the dark night. She says that she has stolen a lovely dream for him from the poppybole which has a sleep-inducing effect.

Third stanza

In the last stanza, the child finally falls asleep. The mother bids him good night in the golden light of the gleaming stars around him. Then, she touches the child gently and wishes him a sweet dream.

The Cradle Song Questions and Answers

Q1. Who are the “I” and “you” in the poem?

Ans: “I” and “you” in the poem are the mother and her child respectively.

Q2. Why is the dream described as “A little lovely dream”?

Ans: The dream is described as “A little lovely dream” because the mother wants her little child to have a pleasant and beautiful dream in a sound sleep.

Q3. What is the meaning of “fairy neem”?

Ans: The phrase “fairy neem” refers to the look of neem trees with wild fireflies flying among them in the night. Also, it has magic-like healing power.

Q4. What beautiful things does the poet name to make the dream lovely?

Ans: The things that the poet names to make the dream lovely are groves of spice, fields of rice, lotus stream, dew, wild fireflies, fairy neem, poppybole, golden light, stars and soft touch.

Q5. Describe how the poet builds up an enchanted world of dreams.

Ans: The poet builds up an enchanted world of dreams in her poem through her magical description of a beautiful imaginary scene with groves of spice, fields of rice and a stream of lotus. Bright dew on the plants and trees, wild fireflies among the neem trees and the poppy plants make it even more attractive. The glittering stars of the night again make it a complete dream world.