Line 21

““Did you gather wild beans, Gopi?”
1. Literal Meaning

When Gopi returns, she is asked whether she collected the beans.

2. Literary Meaning

When Gopi returns, she is asked whether she collected the beans. This repeats ordinary expectations just before the magical surprise.

3. Poetic Devices
Repetition / repeated sentence pattern — Repeated openings create rhythm and emphasise the list of tasks or questions.
Example: “Come and look. Come and listen.” In the poem: Several lines begin with the same command or question pattern. Effect: It makes the verse easy to follow and strengthens the repeated expectation.
4. Theme

expectation and surprise

5. Tone

The tone is questioning and expectant .

6. Mood

The reader feels anticipation .

7. Rhyme / Sound

This narrative poem mostly uses a simple ABCB rhyme pattern. The short lines and recurring rhymes keep the folk-tale action moving.

Questions for Line 21
What does Line 21, ““Did you gather wild beans, Gopi?”, mean? 2 Marks
How to answer: Explain this exact line in simple words.
View Answer

Answer: When Gopi returns, she is asked whether she collected the beans.

Why is Line 21, ““Did you gather wild beans, Gopi?”, important at this point in the poem? 3 Marks
How to answer: Connect the line with what changes in the story at this moment.
View Answer

Answer: When Gopi returns, she is asked whether she collected the beans. This repeats ordinary expectations just before the magical surprise.

Line 22

“Did you fetch some rice?”
1. Literal Meaning

She is asked about the rice she was supposed to fetch.

2. Literary Meaning

She is asked about the rice she was supposed to fetch. This repeats ordinary expectations just before the magical surprise.

3. Poetic Devices
Repetition / repeated sentence pattern — Repeated openings create rhythm and emphasise the list of tasks or questions.
Example: “Come and look. Come and listen.” In the poem: Several lines begin with the same command or question pattern. Effect: It makes the verse easy to follow and strengthens the repeated expectation.
4. Theme

expectation and surprise

5. Tone

The tone is questioning and expectant .

6. Mood

The reader feels anticipation .

7. Rhyme / Sound

This narrative poem mostly uses a simple ABCB rhyme pattern. The short lines and recurring rhymes keep the folk-tale action moving.

Questions for Line 22
What does Line 22, “Did you fetch some rice?”, mean? 2 Marks
How to answer: Explain this exact line in simple words.
View Answer

Answer: She is asked about the rice she was supposed to fetch.

Why is Line 22, “Did you fetch some rice?”, important at this point in the poem? 3 Marks
How to answer: Connect the line with what changes in the story at this moment.
View Answer

Answer: She is asked about the rice she was supposed to fetch. This repeats ordinary expectations just before the magical surprise.

Line 23

“Did you pluck the mangoes”
1. Literal Meaning

The questioning continues with the mangoes she was meant to pick.

2. Literary Meaning

The questioning continues with the mangoes she was meant to pick. This repeats ordinary expectations just before the magical surprise.

3. Poetic Devices
Repetition / repeated sentence pattern — Repeated openings create rhythm and emphasise the list of tasks or questions.
Example: “Come and look. Come and listen.” In the poem: Several lines begin with the same command or question pattern. Effect: It makes the verse easy to follow and strengthens the repeated expectation.
4. Theme

expectation and surprise

5. Tone

The tone is questioning and expectant .

6. Mood

The reader feels anticipation .

7. Rhyme / Sound

This narrative poem mostly uses a simple ABCB rhyme pattern. The short lines and recurring rhymes keep the folk-tale action moving.

Questions for Line 23
What does Line 23, “Did you pluck the mangoes”, mean? 2 Marks
How to answer: Explain this exact line in simple words.
View Answer

Answer: The questioning continues with the mangoes she was meant to pick.

Why is Line 23, “Did you pluck the mangoes”, important at this point in the poem? 3 Marks
How to answer: Connect the line with what changes in the story at this moment.
View Answer

Answer: The questioning continues with the mangoes she was meant to pick. This repeats ordinary expectations just before the magical surprise.

Line 24

“And bring home something nice?””
1. Literal Meaning

The speaker still expects ordinary food, unaware of the magical gift.

2. Literary Meaning

The speaker still expects ordinary food, unaware of the magical gift. This repeats ordinary expectations just before the magical surprise.

3. Poetic Devices
No special device to identify — This line mainly carries the narrative forward; there is no need to force a literary term onto every line.
Example: A plain story line can still be important. In the poem: The line states the next action or detail clearly. Effect: It keeps the folk-tale narrative moving.
4. Theme

expectation and surprise

5. Tone

The tone is questioning and expectant .

6. Mood

The reader feels anticipation .

7. Rhyme / Sound

This narrative poem mostly uses a simple ABCB rhyme pattern. The short lines and recurring rhymes keep the folk-tale action moving.

Questions for Line 24
What does Line 24, “And bring home something nice?””, mean? 2 Marks
How to answer: Explain this exact line in simple words.
View Answer

Answer: The speaker still expects ordinary food, unaware of the magical gift.

Why is Line 24, “And bring home something nice?””, important at this point in the poem? 3 Marks
How to answer: Connect the line with what changes in the story at this moment.
View Answer

Answer: The speaker still expects ordinary food, unaware of the magical gift. This repeats ordinary expectations just before the magical surprise.

Questions for Stanza 6
What happens in Stanza 6? 3 Marks
How to answer: Summarise all four lines in sequence.
View Answer

Answer: Gopi is questioned about the ordinary task she has not completed, preparing the first magical surprise.

How does Stanza 6 develop the idea of expectation and surprise? 3 Marks
How to answer: Name the idea and show how the stanza expresses it.
View Answer

Answer: Gopi is questioned about the ordinary task she has not completed, preparing the first magical surprise. It develops expectation and surprise through the choices and consequences shown in these four lines.

Why is Stanza 6 important to the movement of the whole poem? 5 Marks
How to answer: Explain the stanza’s role in the larger narrative.
View Answer

Answer: Stanza 6 is important because gopi is questioned about the ordinary task she has not completed, preparing the first magical surprise. It moves the folk-tale from one clear stage to the next and prepares the following consequence.

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CA Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant with 16+ years of practical experience and 20+ years of teaching experience. At Teachoo, he simplifies Accounts, Tax and GST with step-by-step examples so students can apply concepts confidently in exams and real life.

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