WBBSE 9th Class English Solutions Chapter – 9 The North Ship
WBBSE 9th Class English Solutions Chapter – 9 The North Ship
West Bengal Board 9th Class English Solutions Chapter – 9 The North Ship
WBBSE 9th Class English Solutions
Introduction
About the Poet: Philip Arthur Larkin ( 1922-1985) was an English poet, novelist and librarian. His first book of poetry was ‘The North Ship’ followed by two novels ‘Zealand ‘A Girl in Winter’. He came to prominence in 1955 with the publication of his second collection of poems The Less Deceived’, followed by “The Whitsun Weddings’ and ‘High Windows’. He was offered the position of Poet Laureate’ in 1984 but he declined itThis poem describes the urney of three ships that head to different destinationsWhile two ships return, one presses forward and faces perils to continue its long onward journey, almost like symbol of aspiration that overcomes all obstacles.
Philip Larkin was born on August 9, 1922 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England. His parents were Sydney and Eva Emily Day. Philip was the only son and the younger child of the couple. Young Larkin was educated at home until the age of eight by his mother and sister. Later Larkin joined King Henry VIII Junior School and then to Senior School. He joined the Oxford University in October 1940.
In 1943, he was appointed as librarian of the public library in Wellington, Shropshire. His father died of cancer in March 1948. He was appointed as sub-librarian at Queen’s University, Belfast in June 1950. In 1970, he started working on compiling a new anthology, ‘The Oxford Book of Twentieth century English Verse’. In 1985, Larkin suffered from oesophageal cancer. He was admitted to hospital and underwent a surgery. But the cancer could not be checked. Larkin breathed his last on December 2, 1985 at the age of 63.
SUBSTANCE AND CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE POEM
‘The North Ship’ by Philip Larkin is a poem about the voyage of three ships. It was morning, full of wind on the sea. One ship was directed towards the west. It got the favour of the wind. So it reached its destination of a rich country easily.
The second one was bound for the east. As it started its journey it had to face the obstruction of wind flowing from the opposite direction. So the sea seemed ‘quaking’, stirring for the ship. Its forward movement was arrested by the wind and the ship had to anchor.
towards the north where it faced the darkening sea. The sea was getting dark as the northern sky was going to be covered by black cloud. So, the sea became unfavourable for the ship. It continued its northward journey but the sea became ‘unforgiving’ to it. However, both the ships of the west and the east came back, though with different moods. The ship of the west was happy fulflling its wishes, travelling a rich country, whereas the ship of the east came back unhappily as its journey was restricted by the wind of the sea. But the ship of the north never came back and it continued pressing. forward towards its destination fighting the obstacles. stand for three
The third one drove Metaphorically, the ships in the poem kinds of people. The first are those who get all that they want easily and are happy and content. The other who face obstacles in life and become victim of circumstances and the third are those with an undaunted zeal. They fight the obstacles to march forward in the journey of life.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Tick (√) the correct answer from the given alternatives:
1. The number of ships sailing by was —
A. three
B. two
C. five
D. four
2. The wind carried the first ship to a —
A. big country
B. small country
C. rich country
D. distant country
3. The second ship turned towards the —
A. west
B. north
C. south
D. east
4. The decks of the third ship shone —
A. brightly
B. frostily
C. clearly
D. dimly
5. The northern sky rose over the —
A. unfruitful sea
B. kind sea
C. stormy sea
D. calm sea
6. The third ship was rigged for a —
A. long journey
B. short journey
C. slow journey
D. quick journey
7. The wind rose in the —
A. morning
B. evening
C. afternoon
D. none of these
8. The word rigged’ means —
A. to equip for a long journey
B. to destroy people
C. to stoop to unscrupulous means
D. to solve a problem
9. For the first ship, the sea was —
A. unfruitful
B. dark
C. raised
D. running
10. The first ship reached —
A. in confinement
B. prosperous destination
C. sea
D. an anchor
11. The ship which reached the destination smoothly-was the —
A. first ship
B. second ship
C. third ship
D. no ship
12. The obstruction caused to the second ship was because of —
A. heavy sea
B. windy sea
C. calm sea
D. frosty sea
13. The wind hunted the second ship as —
A. a shooting star
B. a beast
C. a captive animal
D. the sky
14. The wind hunted the ship that sailed towards —
A. east
B. west
C. north
D. north-east
15. The number of ships that came back was —
A. three
B. one
C. two
D. zero
16. Under the northern sky the sea is described as —
A. quaking
B. running
C. lifting
D. proud and unfruitful
17. The last of the three ships —
A. did not come back
B. came back with much wealth
C. came back with a big crowd
D. did not want to come back
Answer the following questions
1. What did the wind do to the second ship?
Ans. When the second ship started its journey, the wind hunted it like a wild beast. It kept the ship in captivity. So it could not sail further.
2. Give any two points of difference between the journey of the third ship and the other two ships.
Ans. Unlike the other two ships, the third one did not get a breath of wind, favourable or unfavourable. Only in its case a fire-spilling star was noticed.
3. Describe the sea when the three ships were sailing.
Ans. When the three ships were sailing, the sea was turbulent, described by the poet as ‘lifting sea’ and then wind was blowing strongly.
4. What was the wind’s behaviour towards the third ship?
Ans. As the third ship started its journey towards north, no breath of wind came forth. The sky was getting dark and the weather was frosty.
5. Why has the sea been called ‘proud’ and unfruitful’?
Ans. For the third ship, the sea was arrogantly unfriendly. So, it was ‘proud. It helped the ship in no way to reach its destination. Hence it was ‘unfruitful’.
6. Where were the ships going?
Ans. The three ships were going in three different directions the first one towards west, the second towards east and the third towards north.
7. What role did ‘a fire-spilling star’ play?
Ans. A fire-spilling star was an omen. Its appearance in the sky indicated turbulence. But the third ship, went on voyaging despite this obstacle.
8. Describe, after Philip Larkin, the return of the three ships.
Ans. The first two ships returned from the east and the west respectively, happily or unhappily. The third ship, however, never came back and went on in its journey.
9. What do the three ships stand for?
Ans. The first ship symbolizes a smooth-sailing life. The second ship depicts an unhappy life. The third one represents a life full of perils.
10. What is meant by ‘running sea’?
Ans. Here ‘running sea’ means the sea favourable for journey with the blowing of favourable wind.
11. What is the difference between the running sea’ and ‘the quaking sea?
Ans. The running sea ensures an uninterrupted voyage. A ship finds no problem to reach its destination there. A quaking sea, however, poses hindrance to a sailing ship.
12. Why did the ship sail towards west? Give your own opinion.
Ans. The ship sailed towards west as westward journey was safe and prosperous. With the help of favourable wind, the ship reached a rich country.
13. Write the inner meaning of the poem ‘The North Ship’.
Ans. The poem tells of three kinds of life. Some people lead happy life. Some are unhappy. Some others face obstacles with an undaunted spirit.
Complete the following sentences taking information from the poem:
1. The above poem is composed by…………………………….
Ans. The above poem is composed by Philip Larkin.
2. The poet watched………………………………
Ans. The poet watched the journey of the three ships over the sea.
3. The first ship turned……………………………..
Ans. The first ship turned towards the west.
4. The time the day when the poet observed the ships was ……………………………………
Ans. The time of the day when the poet observed the ships was morning.
State True or False. Write ‘T’ for True’ and ‘F’ for False
1. The first ship turned towards the south.
Ans. F
2. The first ship reached a poor country.
Ans. F
3. The decks of the third ship were covered with frost.
Ans. T
4. The sea is compared to a humble and helpful person.
Ans. F
Follow on Facebook page – Click Here
Google News join in – Click Here
Read More Asia News – Click Here
Read More Sports News – Click Here
Read More Crypto News – Click Here