Analytical Questions — 6 Marks Each

Answer: The speaker does not merely fantasise; he begins with real observation through a lens. Magnification reveals physical details that ordinary sight misses. Imagination then provides comparisons that make those observations meaningful: moss becomes a forest, water becomes a hive, the spider has tigerish claws and the Moon seems close enough to walk upon. The poem therefore shows imagination as a way of responding to scientific evidence, not replacing it.

Answer: The magnifying glass is a scientific instrument whose purpose is to make hidden detail visible. In the poem, it also symbolises curiosity itself: the desire to look again, look closer and refuse to assume that ordinary appearance is complete. Because the poem later extends from hand lens to astronomical lenses, the object becomes a symbol of investigation across scales. It connects observation, instruments, knowledge and wonder.