Harvest Hymn Extra Questions and Answers Class 8 English Chapter 11

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Harvest Hymn Extra Question Answer Class 8 English Chapter 11

Harvest Hymn Very Short Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What does the poem express towards nature and the divine?
Answer:
Gratitude and reverence.

Question 2.
Which instruments are mentioned in the poem as part of the celebration?
Answer:
Cymbal, flute, and drum.

Question 3.
What is symbolised by “Seed and Scythe”?
Answer:
Beginning and end of the harvest cycle.

Question 4.
What does the word “bounty” refer to in the poem?
Answer:
The generous harvest or gifts of nature.

Question 5.
What natural element is Varuna associated with?
Answer:
Rain and dewfall.

Harvest Hymn Short Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Who are the three main divine figures praised in the poem, and what do they represent?
Answer:
The poem praises Suiya (Sun) for light and ripening crops, Varuna (Rain God) for rain and dew, and Prithvi (Earth) for fertility and nurturing life.

Question 2.
What offerings do the people bring to express their gratitude?
Answer:
They bring songs, garlands, their lives, and their labour as offerings of tribute and thanks to the divine.

Question 3.
Why is the Earth described as “sweet and omnipotent mother”?
Answer:
Because she gives birth to life, nourishes crops, and supports all living beings like a kind and powerful mother.

Question 4.
How does the poet show the unity of the community in this hymn?
Answer:
By including separate voices of men, women, and finally all voices, the poet shows the unity of the community, with everyone joining together in praise.

Question 5.
What is symbolised by the “gold of our fields and gold of our fruit”?
Answer:
It symbolises the rich harvest—the fruits of hard work and blessings from nature.

Harvest Hymn Long Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Describe the structure of the poem “Harvest Hymn”. How does it contribute to its overall meaning?
Answer:
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each representing a different group of speakers: Men’s Voices, Women’s Voices, and finally All Voices. This structure emphasises community unity and collective gratitude. Each group addresses a different divine force—Surya (Sun), Varuna (Rain), and Prithvi (Earth)—before coming together to praise the Lord of the Universe. This arrangement reflects how every section of society plays a role in agriculture and thanks nature together.

Question 2.
What is the significance of the final stanza being spoken by “All Voices”?
Answer:
The final ‘stanza being spoken by “All Voices” shows unity among the community— everyone joins in to praise the Lord of the Universe. It symbolises that gratitude is not individual but collective.
It also elevates the theme from local harvest to a universal prayer, thanking the creator of all life and being. This closing stanza gives the poem a unifying and powerful conclusion, blending spirituality with communal harmony.

Question 3.
How is the theme of gratitude contfeyed in the poem “Harvest Hymn”?
Answer:
Gratitude is the central theme of the poem. The people thank the Sun, Rain, Earth, and the Supreme Lord for a bountiful harvest.
They offer not just prayers but their lives and labour, showing deep respect and humility. The poet conveys that human effort alone is not enough—without nature’s blessings, the harvest would not be possible. This thankfulness is shown through words, rituals, and music.

Question 4.
How does “Harvest Hymn” celebrate rural Indian life and agricultural values?
Answer:
The poem beautifully reflects rural Indian traditions, where farming is sacred, and nature is divine. It highlights how communities come together to celebrate the harvest with music, garlands, and offerings. The references to gods like Surya, Varuna, and Prithvi show cultural beliefs. Values like hard work, unity, simplicity, and gratitude are praised. The poem acts as a cultural hymn, honouring both the spiritual and physical aspects of farming life in India.

Question 5.
How does the poem express the relationship between humans and nature?
Answer:
The poem shows a deep, respectful, and spiritual bond between humans and nature. The people recognise the Sun, Rain, and Earth as divine forces that support life and harvest. They offer thanks through songs, garlands, and their labour, showing their understanding that human survival depends on nature’s blessings. Nature is not feared but honoured, creating a harmonious picture of coexistence.

Harvest Hymn Competency Based Questions

Question 1.
How can the message of “Harvest Hymn” be applied in modern times, especially in urban lifestyles where people are disconnected from farming?
Answer:
In modem urban life, people often forget where their food comes from. The poem reminds us to respect nature and the farmers who grow our food. Even if we live in cities, we can be mindful by reducing food waste, supporting local farmers, and celebrating nature’s role in our lives. The poem teaches gratitude, which is important even today.

Question 2.
Imagine you are a farmer who has just experienced a successful harvest. How would the message of the poem “Harvest Hymn” reflect your feelings and beliefs?
Answer:
As a farmer, I would feel deeply grateful, just like the people in the poem. I would thank the Sun for ripening the crops, Rain for nurturing the soil, and Earth for supporting life. The poem reflects how I see farming not just as work, but as a spiritual bond with nature. I would offer prayers, sing hymns, and celebrate with my community to show my thankfulness for a good harvest.

Harvest Hymn Extract Based Questions and Answers

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow choosing the best option from among the given ones.

1. “Thou art the Seed and the Scythe of our harvests,
Thou art our Hands and our Heart and our Home.
We bring thee our lives and our labours for tribute,
Grant us thy succour, thy counsel, thy care.” (Page 175)

Question 1.
What does the phrase “Seed and the Scythe” symbolise?
(a) Only the planting process
(b) Only the harvest celebration
(c) The beginning and the end of the farming cycle
(d) The tools used by farmers
Answer:
(c) The beginning and the end of the farming cycle

Question 2.
State Whether True or False.
The word “succour” in the poem means punishment or anger.
Answer:
False

Question 3.
Fill in the Blank.
The poet refers to the divine as “our Hands, our Heart, and our _________
Answer:
Home

Question 4.
What three things do the people ask from the Lord in the last line of the extract?
Answer:
Succour, counsel, and care.

2. “Thine is the mercy that cherished our furrows,
Thine is the mercy that fostered our grain.
We bring thee our thanks and our garlands for tribute,
The wealth of our valleys, new-garnered and ripe;” (Page 174)

Question 1.
What do the “furrows” in the poem represent?
(a) Cracks in the wall
(b) Lines on a person’s face
(c) Waves in the water
(d) Trenches in the soil for planting
Answer:
(d) Trenches in the soil for planting

Question 2.
State Whether True or False.
The phrase “fostered our grain” means the grain was ignored during growth.
Answer:
False

Question 3.
Fill in the Blank.
The wealth of the valleys mentioned in the poem is described as new- _________ and ripe.
Answer:
garnered

Question 4.
According to the poem, who is responsible for cherishing the furrows and fostering the grain?
Answer:
Varuna (the rain god).

3. “Queen of the gourd-flower, queen of the harvest,
Sweet and omnipotent mother, O Earth!
Thine is the plentiful bosom that feeds us,
Thine is the womb where our riches have birth.” (Page 175)

Question 1.
What does the phrase “plentiful bosom” symbolise?
(a) The Earth’s strength in battle
(b) Earth’s ability to provide nourishment and support life
(c) The mountains and hills
(d) The rivers flowing in the valley
Answer:
(b) Earth’s ability to provide nourishment and support life

Question 2.
State Whether True or False.
The poem refers to Earth as weak and dry.
Answer:
False

Question 3.
Fill in the Blank.
The poet calls the Earth an omnipotent _________.
Answer:
mother

Question 4.
According to the poem, what is born in Earth’s womb?
Answer:
Our riches, symbolising crops and natural wealth.

4. “Lord of the lotus, lord of the harvest,
Bright and munificent lord of the morn!
Thine is the bounty that prospered our sowing,
Thine is the bounty that nurtured our corn. (Page 174)

Question 1.
What does the word “bounty” in this extract refer to?
(a) The generous gifts of nature or harvest
(b) The prayers of the people
(c) The tools used in farming
(d) The shining sun
Answer:
(a) The generous gifts of nature or harvest

Question 2.
State Whether True or False.
The poem says the harvest grew with any divine help.
Answer:
True

Question 3.
Fill in the Blank.
The poet calls the Sun the munificent lord of the _________.
Answer:
morn

Question 4.
What two things does the divine bounty do according to the poet?
Answer:
It prospered the sowing and nurtured the corn.

Harvest Hymn Extra Questions for Practice

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
“Thou art the Seed and the Scythe” means the divine is —
(a) Only the creator
(b) Only the destroyer
(c) The beginning and end of the harvest
(d) A farmer with tools
Answer:

Question 2.
Why is the Sun praised in the poem?
(a) For warming the temples
(b) For nurturing and ripening crops
(c) For guiding the people
(d) For diying clothes
Answer:

Question 3.
What is the tone of the poem “Harvest Hymn”?
(a) Angiy and rebellious
(b) Sad and hopeless
(c) Joyful and thankful
(d) Curious and questioning
Answer:

Question 4.
Who sings the stanza addressed to Earth in the poem?
(a) Men
(b) Women
(c) Children
(d) Priests
Answer:

Question 5.
What is the meaning of “ineffable”?
(a) Loud and clear
(b) Unable to describe in words
(c) Full of energy
(d) Deeply sad
Answer:

Fill in the Blanks

1. The Earth is described as the womb where our _________ have birth.
2. The people hail and praise the divine with _________ and drum.
3. The Earth is praised for her plentiful _________ that feeds us.
4. The poem uses many archaic words, such as thou, thee, and _________.
5. The poem “Harvest Hymn” celebrates the unity between humans and _________.

State Whether True or False

1. The tone of the poem is joyful, respectful, and grateful.
2. The phrase “gold of our fields” symbolises money and wealth.
3. The poem expresses fear and anger towards nature.
4. The poem praises only the men who work in the fields.
5. The final stanza of the poem is spoken by “All Voices.”

Assertion and Reason Question

Two statements are given- Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read them carefully and choose the correct option.
1. Assertion (A): The poem criticises the gods for making people work hard during the harvest.
Reason (R) The tone of the poem is angry and full of complaints.
Codes:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What do the people offer as tribute to the divine?

Question 2.
Which goddess is praised by the women in the poem?

Question 3.
Who is referred to as the “Lord of the morn” in the poem?

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What is meant by the phrase “Thou art the Seed and the Scythe”?

Question 2.
Why is the poem titled “Harvest Hymn”?

Question 3.
What role does music play in the poem?

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Lord Varuna fostered and cherished the sowings of the farmers, briefly explain how?

Question 2.
“We owe a debt to nature”, give reasons for your answer.

Competency Based Question

Question 1.
If you had to perform a skit or role-play based on “Harvest Hymn,” which character would you choose and why?