"Lucy Gray" by William Wordsworth.
"This post offers a comprehensive breakdown of the poem 'Lucy Gray,' along with a summary and a set of questions and answers for Chapter 4 of Class 8."
SUMMARY
In "Lucy Gray" by William Wordsworth, the poem
tells the story of a young girl named Lucy Gray. She lived in a remote area
with her family. One evening, she was asked by her father to take a lantern and
guide her mother home, as a storm was approaching. Lucy set out into the
snowstorm but tragically got lost. Despite her parents' desperate search, she
never returned.
The poem highlights Lucy's close connection with nature and
the countryside where she lived. It suggests that her spirit lives on in the
natural world around her. Lucy becomes a part of the valley, and even though
her family couldn't find her, they believe she's still present in the winds and
sounds of nature.
The poem reflects on the idea that nature is timeless and
eternal, and even in the face of tragedy, there is a sense of continuity and
beauty in the world. Wordsworth uses nature as a symbol of life and death, and
Lucy's story becomes a part of this natural cycle, never truly disappearing.
In simpler terms, "Lucy Gray" is a poem about a girl
who goes missing in a snowstorm, and it suggests that her spirit lives on in
the beauty of nature, emphasizing the timeless connection between humans and
the natural world.
Let's break them down
line by line:
1.
"OFT
I had heard of Lucy Gray:" The speaker begins by telling us that he
has often heard about a girl named Lucy Gray. The use of "OFT"
suggests that Lucy Gray is a familiar figure or story.
2.
"And,
when I crossed the wild," The speaker is now recounting an experience.
He mentions that at some point in his life, he found himself traveling through
a wilderness or a wild, remote area.
3.
"I
chanced to see at break of day" While traveling through this wild
area, the speaker happened to see something or someone. This occurred at the
time when the day was just beginning, at dawn or "break of day."
4.
"The
solitary child." The speaker reveals what he saw: a solitary child.
This child, named Lucy Gray, is alone in this remote wilderness.
- "No
mate, no comrade Lucy knew;": This line suggests that Lucy Gray
lived a solitary life. She didn't have any friends or companions to keep
her company.
- "She
dwelt on a wide moor,": Lucy Gray's home was on a vast, open
moor, which is a type of uncultivated, often marshy land.
- "The
sweetest thing that ever grew beside a human door!": Despite her
solitude, Lucy is described as the "sweetest thing" that one
could ever encounter near a human dwelling. This emphasizes her innocence
and purity.
- "You
yet may spy the fawn at play,": The speaker suggests that you can
still see a young deer (fawn) playing on the moor. This contrasts with the
absence of Lucy.
- "The
hare upon the green;": Hares are also seen on the green moorland.
This line further contrasts the presence of wildlife with the absence of
Lucy.
- "But
the sweet face of Lucy Gray Will never more be seen.": This is
the most poignant part of the poem. It tells us that while you can still
see animals on the moor, Lucy Gray will never be seen again. Her
"sweet face" is gone, implying that she has passed away or
disappeared.
- "To-night will be a stormy
night–"The father is informing the child that the upcoming night
will be stormy, suggesting that there will be bad weather with strong
winds, rain, or snow.
- "You to the town must go;"The
father is instructing the child to go to the nearby town. This implies
that there is an important reason for the child to make this trip.
- "And take a lantern, Child, to
light" The father is telling the child to bring a lantern. This
is essential because the stormy night implies that it will be dark and
difficult to see without a source of light.
- "Your mother through the snow.” The
father specifies that the child's task is to use the lantern to light the
way for their mother through the snow. the child's assistance is crucial to
guide her safely.
15. “That, Father! will I gladly do" The
child responds to the father's request with enthusiasm and willingness. The
child is ready and eager to carry out the task of using the lantern to help
their mother through the snowy night. In this line, Lucy is addressing her
father, expressing her willingness to do something.
- Tis scarcely afternoon–" Lucy
is remarking that it's still early in the afternoon, indicating that
there's plenty of daylight left.
- "The minster-clock has just
struck two," She mentions that the clock in the nearby church
(minster) has just chimed two o'clock. This emphasizes the specific time
in the day.
- "And yonder is the moon!” Lucy
points to the moon in the distance, which is visible even though it's
still daytime. This might suggest an unusual or magical occurrence.
- "At this the Father raised his
hook," In response to Lucy's words, her father lifts or raises
his tool, referred to as a "hook." This action indicates his
readiness to do something.
- "He plied his work;–" Her
father resumes or continues his work, emphasizing his commitment to his
task.
- "and Lucy took" Lucy, on
the other hand, takes an action in contrast to her father's. She is about
to do something different.
- "The lantern in her hand" Lucy
picks up a lantern, holding it in her hand. This action suggests that she
intends to go out, possibly in the direction of the moon she mentioned
earlier.
- "Not blither is the mountain
roe:": In this line, the poet is comparing Lucy Gray to a
mountain roe, a type of deer. He suggests that Lucy is as joyous and
carefree as this creature.
- "With many a wanton stroke":
This means Lucy playfully moves or walks with joyful movements.
- "Her feet disperse the powdery
snow,": Lucy's feet are so light that as she walks on the snow,
it scatters like powder.
- "That rises up like smoke.":
The snow, when disturbed by Lucy's steps, appears to rise into the air
like smoke. This image creates a sense of lightness and playfulness.
- "The storm came on before its
time:": This line indicates that a snowstorm or bad weather began
earlier than expected.
- "She wandered up and down;":
Lucy Gray wandered aimlessly in the snowy landscape.
- "And many a hill did Lucy climb:":
Lucy climbed numerous hills during her wandering.
- "But never reached the
town.": Despite her efforts, Lucy never made it to the town. This
line suggests a sense of loss or tragedy in the poem, as Lucy's journey
ends without reaching her destination.
- "The wretched parents all that
night" In this line, the term "wretched parents" refers
to Lucy Gray's distressed and sorrowful parents. They are in a state of
misery or unhappiness.
- "Went shouting far and
wide;" The parents spent the entire night searching for Lucy.
They were desperately calling out her name loudly in all directions, which
is what is meant by "shouting far and wide." This shows their
deep concern and anxiety about their missing daughter.
- "But there was neither sound nor
sight" Despite their continuous shouting and searching, they
couldn't hear any response from Lucy, nor could they see her. This
suggests that Lucy was nowhere to be found, and there was no sign of her
presence.
- "To serve them for a guide."
The phrase "to serve them for a guide" means that there was
nothing to help or guide the parents in their search for Lucy. They were
left in a state of uncertainty and darkness, not knowing where she had
gone or how to find her.
- "At day-break on a hill they
stood" - This line describes a scene where two people are
standing on a hill early in the morning when the day is just beginning.
- "That overlooked the moor;"
- The hill they are standing on provides a view of a moor or open, marshy
land. The word "overlooked" means they can see the moor from
this vantage point.
- "And thence they saw the bridge
of wood," - From their position on the hill, they could see a
wooden bridge.
- "A furlong from their door."
- This bridge is located a furlong, which is a measure of distance roughly
equivalent to an eighth of a mile, from their home.
- "They wept–and, turning homeward,
cried, 'In heaven we all shall meet;'" Here, the narrator
describes an emotional moment. "They" likely refers to Lucy
Gray's family or loved ones. They are weeping, which suggests they are
deeply saddened. As they turn homeward, they comfort themselves by saying,
"In heaven we all shall meet." This line indicates their belief
in an afterlife where they will be reunited with Lucy. It reflects their
hope and consolation amidst their grief.
- "When in the snow the mother
spied The print of Lucy’s feet." In these lines, the mother of
Lucy Gray notices something in the snow. She sees "the print of
Lucy's feet." This is a significant moment in the poem because it
suggests that Lucy, who was thought to be lost in the storm, had been
there and left her footprints. It adds an eerie and mysterious element to
the poem, as it implies that Lucy's presence is still felt, even though
she is no longer with them. This discovery deepens the emotional impact of
the poem and leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and sadness.
- Then downwards from the steep hill’s
edge: In this line, the speaker describes how they moved down from the
top of a steep hill. The word "downwards" indicates the
direction of their movement, implying that they are descending.
- They tracked the footmarks small:
Here, the speaker tells us that "they," likely referring to the
speaker and others, followed or traced the small footprints. These
footprints belong to someone named Lucy Gray, who is a central character
in the poem.
- And through the broken hawthorn hedge:
This line describes how they continued their tracking by going through a
hedge made of hawthorn bushes. The hedge appears to be damaged or
"broken," suggesting that it's not an obstacle to their pursuit.
- And by the long stone-wall: In
this line, the speaker mentions that they followed Lucy's footprints
beside a long stone wall. The presence of the wall may serve as a landmark
or a path along which they are tracking Lucy.
- "And then an open field they crossed:"
In this line, the poet is describing how Lucy Gray Mother and her father, who are searching
for their lost child, move across an open field. This field is likely a
part of the landscape where they are looking for their daughter.
- "The marks were still the same;"
This line suggests that the marks or footprints they are following
have not changed. These marks are the traces or signs left behind by the
lost child, which are helping them to stay on the right track.
- "They tracked them on, nor ever
lost;" This line tells us that Lucy Gray's father and Lucy
herself are determined to keep following the footprints. They do not lose
sight of these marks and continue to follow them closely, as these
footprints are their only guide.
- "And to the bridge they
came" Here, the father and Lucy Gray reach a bridge on their
journey. This bridge could be a landmark or a significant point in their
search. It marks a specific location where their pursuit of finding the
lost child has led them.
- "They followed from the snowy
bank": In these lines, the narrator is describing a group of
people who are following footprints in the snow. The footprints are on a
snowy bank, which could be a hillside or the side of a road.
- "Those footmarks, one by
one,": The group is closely observing and tracing the footprints
step by step. They are carefully examining each mark left by the person
who made the footprints.
- "Into the middle of the
plank;": The footprints lead the group to the middle of a plank,
which might be a wooden bridge or pathway. The footprints seem to stop or
disappear at this point.
- "And further there were
none!": The last part of the stanza indicates that the footprints
do not continue beyond the middle of the plank. They simply end there.
This sudden ending of the footprints is mysterious and raises questions
about what happened to the person who made them.
- These
lines convey a sense of curiosity and intrigue as the group of people
follows the footprints in the snow, only to find that they abruptly stop
in the middle of a wooden plank, leaving them puzzled and wondering what
might have happened to the person who left the footprints. This stanza
sets the stage for the poem's exploration of mystery and the unknown.
- Yet some maintain that to this day:
The poet starts by mentioning that there are people who believe, even now,
that something unusual happened to Lucy Gray.
- She is a living child: These people
believe that Lucy Gray is still alive, even though she vanished into the
wilderness.
- That you may see sweet Lucy Gray:
According to these believers, you can still see Lucy Gray.
- Upon the lonesome wild: You can
find her in the lonely and remote wilderness.
- O’er rough and smooth she trips along:
Lucy Gray, if she's indeed alive, moves through both difficult and easy
terrain.
- And never looks behind: She
doesn't look back, possibly indicating that she's not burdened by her
past.
- And sings a solitary song: Lucy
Gray is singing a song all by herself.
- That whistles in the wind: This
song she sings can be heard echoing in the wind, emphasizing her solitude.
In these lines, the poet suggests
that there's a mystery surrounding Lucy Gray. Some people believe that she's
still alive and wandering in the wilderness, singing a solitary song that can
be heard in the wind. This adds an element of intrigue and wonder to the poem,
leaving the reader to contemplate the fate of Lucy Gray.
Overall, the poem captures the melancholy and sense of loss
associated with the disappearance of a young and innocent girl named Lucy Gray
in a remote and desolate landscape. It also highlights the beauty and
transience of human life in the natural world.
Question and Answer
"Question : Who
was Lucy? Where did she live?"
Lucy was a young girl who lived in a remote valley with her
family.
Question : What did
her father ask her to do one afternoon and why?
Her father asked her to take a lantern and guide her mother
home one afternoon because a storm was approaching, and he wanted to ensure her
mother's safe return before it got dark.
Question : What shows
that Lucy was a dutiful and loving child?
Lucy's dutiful and loving nature is shown in the poem when
she agrees to her father's request to guide her mother home with a lantern,
despite the oncoming storm. This act of responsibility and care for her family
demonstrates her loving character.
Question: What time
of the day was it when Lucy started for the town?
Lucy started for the town during the day.
Question: What did Lucy
take with her and why?
Lucy took a lantern with her to guide her mother home
through the storm. She took it to ensure her mother's safe return before
nightfall because there were signs of an approaching storm.
Question : Why has
Lucy been compared to a roe (line 25)?
Lucy has been compared to a roe in line 25 because, like a
roe, she moves swiftly and gracefully through the natural landscape. The
comparison highlights her close connection to nature and her ability to blend
in with her surroundings.
Question : Why could
Lucy not reach the town?
Lucy could not reach the town because she got lost in a
snowstorm while trying to guide her mother home with a lantern.
Question: What did
the parents do to find Lucy?
The parents searched for Lucy all night and, in the morning,
followed her footprints to a bridge near their home. However, they couldn't
find her beyond the bridge, and it's implied that she might have fallen into a
crevice.
Question: How far was
the wooden bridge from their door?
The wooden bridge was not very far from their door.
Question: ‘In heaven
we all shall meet!’ Who said this and why?
The line "In heaven we all shall meet!" is spoken
by Lucy's parents in the poem "Lucy Gray" by William Wordsworth. They
say this because they believe that even though Lucy is lost in the physical
world, her spirit lives on and they will reunite with her in heaven after their
own deaths. It reflects their hope and belief in an afterlife where they will
be together again.
Question: What did
the parents do on seeing Lucy’s footmarks in the snow?
On seeing Lucy's footprints in the snow, her parents
followed the trail to a bridge where the footprints disappeared. They assumed
that Lucy must have fallen into a crevice and died.
Question: Name the
places where the traces of Lucy’s footmarks were seen.
The traces of Lucy's footmarks were seen near a bridge.
Other places are mentioned below
1.
Through the broken hawthorn hedge
2.
By the long stone-wall.
3.
Across an open field.
4.
Along the snowy bank.
5.
Up to the middle of the plank (that was the
wooden bridge
Question: Where did Lucy’s footworks lead the unfortunate
parents?
Lucy's footprints led her parents to a little bridge in the
valley.
Question 14: What do you think would have happened to Lucy?
The poem doesn't provide a definitive answer about what
happened to Lucy, but it suggests that she became one with nature, and some
believe she still exists in the sounds of the wind and the mountains.
Question 15: What do
people still believe about Lucy?
People still believe that Lucy's spirit lives on in nature,
and they can hear her singing in the wind.