LifeClass 9 English Chapter 1 Notes – Maharashtra Board

Summary: Life

The poet argues against the 'sages' (wise old thinkers) who say life is a dark, sad dream. She believes life is mostly bright and hopeful.

She uses pictures from nature: a little rain in the morning often comes before a lovely day, and clouds of sadness do not stay for long. If rain helps roses to bloom, why should we cry when it falls?

Happy hours in life pass very quickly, so we should enjoy them gladly and thankfully while they last.

Sometimes death takes away the people we love most, and sorrow seems to defeat hope. But hope is like a bird that falls and rises again; her golden wings are still strong enough to carry us.

The last stanza advises us to face hard days bravely and without fear, because courage can defeat despair and lead us to victory.

Key points to remember

• Poet: Charlotte Bronte (the name printed below the poem)
• Theme: optimism — life has troubles, but they pass; hope and courage win in the end
• The poem opens by disagreeing with the sages, who call life a dark dream
• Morning rain, clouds and showers stand for small sorrows; a pleasant day, sunshine and blooming roses stand for the good that follows
• 'Transient' means temporary — sad times do not last
• We should enjoy happy times gratefully and cheerfully because they 'flit by' (pass quickly)
• 'Calls our Best away' is a euphemism — a gentle way of saying that a loved one dies
• Hope, Sorrow, death and courage are personified (treated like people)
• The poem uses rhetorical questions — questions asked to make a point, not to get an answer
• Many -ly adverbs give rhythm: rapidly, merrily, gratefully, cheerily, manfully, fearlessly, gloriously, victoriously

Life – Notes

1. Meaning in simple words

• Stanza 1: Believe me, says the poet, life is not the gloomy dream that wise men describe. A short spell of rain in the morning often means the rest of the day will be fine. Sad moments come like clouds, but they soon pass. The rain helps roses to flower, so there is no reason to be sad about it.
• Stanza 2: The bright, happy hours of life fly past fast. We should enjoy them with a thankful and cheerful heart while we have them.
• Stanza 3: Death may sometimes come and take away our dearest ones, and grief may seem stronger than hope. Still, hope bounces back. Even after a fall she is not defeated; her shining wings can still lift us and carry us safely.
• Stanza 4: So we must bear our days of trouble bravely and without fear. Courage can crush despair and give us a glorious victory.

2. Metaphors: the weather of life

• Morning rain foretelling a pleasant day — a small trouble early on is often followed by good times.
• Clouds of gloom — moments of sadness that cover our happiness for a while, like clouds cover the sun.
• The shower that makes roses bloom — troubles help us grow and bring out the best in us, so we should not complain about them.
• Life's sunny hours — the happy, joyful times of life; they 'flit by' like a bird, that is, they pass very quickly.

3. Personification and rhetorical questions

• Personification: Death 'steps in' and calls our Best away; Sorrow 'seems to win'; Hope is 'she' who falls and springs up again with golden wings; Courage 'quells' (crushes) despair.
• A rhetorical question (interrogation) is asked only to make a point; the answer is already clear.
• Question 1 — if the rain makes roses bloom, why cry over it? Point: troubles bring good results, so do not grieve.
• Question 2 — so what if death sometimes takes our loved ones? Point: even such a loss cannot destroy life's hope.
• Question 3 — so what if sorrow seems to rule over hope? Point: sorrow's win is only for a time; hope rises again.

4. Euphemism and the optimistic message

• A euphemism is a soft, polite word or phrase used in place of something unpleasant or painful.
• 'Calls our Best away' gently means that someone we love has died.
• Other gentle ways to speak of death: passed away, no longer with us, left for heavenly abode, gone to rest, breathed his/her last.
• Hope's wings are called 'golden' because hope is precious and bright, and it shines even in dark times.
• Message: be positive. Troubles are short-lived, joys must be enjoyed, and hope plus courage can carry us through anything.

Words and phrases to know

Key terms

Life – Flashcards

Read the question, answer it in your head, then tap the card to check. 20 cards.

Life – MCQ Quiz

15 questions. Tap an option — you will see at once if it is right and why.

How to study Life

⏱ About 20 minutes

1. Read (5 min)
   Read the poem aloud and note how each stanza moves from a sad picture to a hopeful one.
2. Learn (8 min)
   Learn the word meanings, the four metaphors, the personified ideas (Death, Sorrow, Hope, Courage), rhetorical questions and the euphemism.
3. Practise (7 min)
   Answer the 'Try it yourself' questions, take the quiz and play 🎮 Play.