8.English (Poetry) - Poem 8

Martha

Class 10 English (Poetry) - Poem 8

Poet: Walter De La Mare

🧚‍♀️ About the Poem & Poet

Walter De La Mare was a modern poet known for his writings for children. In this poem, he describes a lady named Martha who tells beautiful stories to children in a hazel glen (valley). Her storytelling is so magical that the listeners feel like they have entered a dream world of fairies and gnomes.

📖 Summary (हिन्दी सारांश)

यह कविता 'मार्था' नाम की एक महिला के बारे में है जो बच्चों को कहानियां सुनाती है।

कहानी का जादू:

• मार्था हेज़ल ग्लेन (Hazel Glen - एक छोटी घाटी) में बैठकर कहानियां सुनाती है।
• उसकी आंखें साफ भूरे रंग (Clear grey eyes) की हैं। जब बच्चे उसे देखते हैं, तो ऐसा लगता है कि कहानी उसकी आंखों से ही कही जा रही है।
• वह अपने घुटनों को हाथों से पकड़कर (Hands clasped round her bended knees) बैठती है।
• वह हमेशा कहानी "Once... Once upon a time..." (एक बार की बात है...) से शुरू करती है।
• उसकी आवाज़ और शब्द इतने प्रभावशाली होते हैं कि बच्चे अपनी आसपास की दुनिया भूल जाते हैं और परियों (Fairies) और बौनों (Gnomes) की जादुई दुनिया में खो जाते हैं।

निष्कर्ष: मार्था की कहानी का असर ऐसा होता है कि बच्चों को लगता है वे एक सपने में हैं, और उनकी आत्मा पुराने बीते हुए समय में चली गई है।

📚 Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)

Word	Meaning (Hindi)	Meaning (English)
Glen	तंग घाटी	A narrow valley
Tranquil	शांत	Calm/Peaceful
Clasped	कस कर पकड़ा हुआ	Held tightly
Gnomes	बौने (जादुई जीव)	Dwarfs/Earth spirits
Grave	गंभीर	Serious
Fordone	थका हुआ/खत्म	Exhausted/Overcome

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

B.1. Short Answer Questions

Q1. What does Martha do in the hazel glen?

Ans: Martha tells her stories over and over again in the hazel glen.

Q2. What is the colour of Martha's eyes?

Ans: The colour of Martha's eyes is clear grey.

Q3. Who are the listeners?

Ans: The children are the listeners of Martha's stories.

Q4. How do they sit to listen to Martha's story?

Ans: They sit at Martha's feet with full attention ("hearts fordone") to listen to her story.

C.1. Long Answer Questions

Q1. Describe Martha's physical appearance.

Ans: Martha is described as a lady with a "grave small lovely head." She has clear grey eyes that look tranquil (calm) like dreams. Her hands are slim, and she sits with her hands clasped around her bended knees. Her voice is gentle and captivating.

Q2. "Her voice and her narrow chin..." Explain the significance of this line.

Ans: The poet says that Martha's physical features—her voice, her narrow chin, and her grave head—play a big role in her storytelling. It seems as if "half the effect" of the story comes from her appearance and expressions, not just her words. Her calm presence makes the story feel more real and magical.

Q3. What is the impact of Martha's stories on the children?

Ans: Martha's stories have a hypnotic effect on the children. As she speaks, the children forget their surroundings (the hazel glen and the sun). They feel transported to a distant past ("an age gone by"). They stare at her in silence, completely lost in the world of fairies and gnomes that she creates with her words.

-- Class 10 English (Bihar Board) Notes --