Short Questions
1. What does the poet write on his paper boats?
Answer: The poet writes his name and the name of his village on the paper boats.
2. What flowers does the poet load into his paper boats?
Answer: The poet loads shiuli flowers into his paper boats.
3. What does the poet hope someone will know when they find his paper boats?
Answer: The poet hopes someone will know who he is.
4. What does the poet imagine the clouds in the sky are doing?
Answer: The poet imagines the clouds are racing with his paper boats.
5. What carries the paper boats in the poet’s dreams at night?
Answer: The fairies of sleep carry the paper boats in the poet’s dreams.
6. What is the setting of the poem “Paper Boats”?
Answer: The setting is a natural, outdoor environment with a running stream.
7. What literary device is used in “big black letters” in the poem?
Answer: The literary device used is alliteration.
8. What does the poet dream about when he buries his face in his arms?
Answer: He dreams that his paper boats float under the midnight stars.
9. What do the fairies of sleep carry in their baskets?
Answer: The fairies of sleep carry baskets full of dreams.
10. What time of day does the poet associate with shiuli flowers?
Answer: The poet associates shiuli flowers with the dawn.
Long Questions
1. Why does the poet write his personal details on the paper boats?
Answer: The poet writes his name and village on the paper boats to send a message about his identity to someone in a distant land. He hopes that whoever finds the boats will know who he is, reflecting his desire for connection and discovery.
2. How does the poet use imagery to make the poem “Paper Boats” vivid?
Answer: The poet uses vivid imagery like “midnight stars” and “white bulging sails” to paint a clear picture of the scene in the reader’s mind. These descriptions create a dreamy and magical atmosphere, enhancing the poem’s emotional impact.
3. How does the poet blend imagination and reality in the poem?
Answer: The poet blends reality, such as floating paper boats down a stream, with imagination, like fairies of sleep sailing the boats under midnight stars. This combination makes the poem more engaging by connecting the tangible with the fantastical.
4. What is the significance of shiuli flowers in the poem?
Answer: Shiuli flowers symbolize purity, beauty, and the start of a new day, as they are described as “blooms of the dawn.” The poet’s use of these flowers reflects his hope that his dreams and messages will safely reach their destination.
5. How does the poem reflect the theme of a child’s innocence and imagination?
Answer: The poem captures a child’s innocence through the simple act of floating paper boats and imagining them reaching unknown lands. The poet’s dreams of fairies and racing clouds highlight a playful and imaginative spirit, typical of a child’s worldview.
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