I.
Question.1. What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?
Ans. In the first stanza, the wind blows strongly. It breaks the doors of the window, scatters the papers and throws down the books on the shelf. It also tears the pages of the books and brings rain.

Question.2. Have you seen anybody winnow grain at home or in a paddy field? What is the word in your language for winnowing? What do people use for winnowing?
(Give the words in your language, if you know them.)
Ans. Yes, I have seen many ladies winnowing heaps of grain in my village. The word winnowing in our language is ‘Barsana’ ya ‘udana’. People winnow grains to remove straws, chaff and dust found in grains there. In Hindi, the winnowing fan is called ‘Chhaaj’ used by the village people.

Question.3. What does the poet say the wind God winnows?
Ans. The poet says that the wind God destroys weak houses, weak bodies, weak hearts, all the things available at home and – whatever comes its way.

Question.4. How does we make wind our friend?
Ans. The poet says that we should build strong houses and fix the doors firmly to make friends with the wind. Moreover, we should be strong enough to face the obstacles in life.

Question.5. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?
Ans. The last four lines of the poem convey the message that those who are not determined and lack confidence face defeat. And the people who set their targets and make sincere efforts are not disturbed by any difficulty.

Question.6. 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 same as the poet’s?
Ans. The elements of the wind are very powerful. They can be our friends and enemies. When the wind turns into a storm, it can blow away houses, trees and everything. It also causes damage to boats and frighten the sailors and fishermen out at sea. Yet, I do not agree with the poet that the wind only crumbles the lives. lt is responsible to bring rain. It makes the climate pleasant. But I agree that we should build strong buildings to escape from the destruction of wind.

II. The poem you have just read is originally in the Tamil.
Do you know any such poems in your language?

The tree on the mountain takes whatever the weather brings. If it has any choice at all, it is in putting down roots as deeply as possible.
—  Corrie Ten Boom

Ans. Yes, I know many poems like the one given here.(Do it yourself)