Ultimate Guide to A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

Looking for a complete guide to A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal by William Wordsworth? This ultimate guide provides a summary, line-by-line explanation, comprehension questions, and extra practice questions to help Class 9 students prepare for their exams and tests. Understand the themes, meanings, and poetic devices in this classic poem with simple explanations. Whether you need a detailed analysis or quick revision, this post has everything you need. Perfect for CBSE and other exam boards, this study guide ensures you grasp every aspect of the poem effortlessly!

Summary of A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal by William Wordsworth

A deep, dreamlike state consumed the poet’s soul, shielding him from the harsh reality of mortality. He once believed his beloved was beyond time’s grasp, untouched by ageing or decay. But death shattered this illusion. Now, she lies motionless, merged with the eternal forces of nature. She neither sees nor hears, nor feels the passage of time. The earth’s perpetual motion bears her lifeless form, rolling her along with stones, air, and water. Wordsworth’s poignant reflection on death reveals the inescapable cycle of life and the silent, indifferent embrace of nature.

Line-by-Line Explanation of A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

Stanza 1

"A slumber did my spirit seal—"
The poet was in a kind of deep sleep, not an actual sleep but a state where he didn’t realise the harsh reality of life and death.

"I had no human fears;"
Because of this dreamy state, he had no worries or fears about losing his loved one. He felt as if she would always be there.

"She seemed a thing that could not feel"
He thought of her as something beyond human suffering. She appeared untouched by pain or ageing.

"The touch of earthly years."
Time, which affects all living beings, didn’t seem to have any effect on her. The poet believed she was above the changes that come with age and time.

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Stanza 2

"No motion has she now, no force;"
Now, she is lifeless. She doesn’t move or have any strength because she has passed away.

"She neither hears nor sees;"
She can no longer hear or see anything. She is completely still, unaware of the world around her.

"Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course"
She has become part of nature. The Earth rotates daily, and now she moves along with it, as a part of the natural world.

"With rocks, and stones, and trees."
She no longer exists as a living person but as an element of nature, just like rocks, stones, and trees. Death has united her with the earth forever.

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This poem expresses deep sorrow and acceptance. The poet first lived in an illusion, thinking his loved one was beyond time, but death made him realise the truth—she is now part of nature, silent and still.

Workbook 7 Unit 6 Page 70 - 86 solved

 

Words in Action - Part A

(Select the correct words from those given in brackets and fill in the blanks.)

1. a. Can you see the rainbow?
   b. Look at the atlas and find out where Istanbul is.

2. a. Study the timetable carefully.
   b. Read this funny story.

3. a. Stop at the traffic lights.
   b. When the captain gives the order, the soldiers will cease firing.

4. a. ‘Can I speak to Sasi?’ ‘Speaking.’
   b. When they get together, all that they talk about is computer games.

Words in Action - Part B

(Use the correct forms of these ‘make’ expressions to complete the given sentences.)

1. Even if the jacket doesn’t fit you well, I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with it.

2. Shiv doesn’t like cooking, so he makes a habit of dropping in on us during dinner time!

3. It’s my first trip abroad, so I’m going to make the most of it.

4. Lata loves plants and trees. She has made up her mind to study botany.

5. Raj’s pocket has been picked and he has lost Rs 500. But his mother has promised to make good the loss.

6. Can you make out what is written in the letter?

Here are the correct answers with the appropriate plural forms:

Plural Forms in Recipe

Ingredients required for making peas pulao:

1. 2 cups of rice
2. 1 cup of shelled peas
3. 1 chopped onion
4. 2 cups of water
5. Salt to taste
6. 2 teaspoonfuls of ground pepper
7. 1 tablespoonful of oil

Note:

• "Rice," "salt," "pepper," and "oil" are uncountable nouns, so they remain singular.
• "Onion" remains singular since only one is mentioned.
• "Cup," "teaspoonful," and "tablespoonful" take the plural form when the quantity is more than one.
• "Pea" changes to "peas" because it is countable.

Here is the corrected and rewritten passage with the necessary edits:

Corrected Passage:

It was morning when I woke up. I tried to get up, but something strange had happened while I was asleep. I could not move an inch. My arms and legs were tied down to the ground, and even my hair, which was long and thick, had been tied down with a string so that I could not move my head to see what was happening to me.

Corrections Made:

1. "was waking up" → "woke up" (Correct verb form)
2. "tried to get" → "tried to get up" (Missing word "up")
3. "had happen" → "had happened" (Correct past participle)
4. "can not" → "could not" (Correct past tense)
5. "tying" → "tied" (Correct verb form)
6. "down a string" → "down with a string" (Missing word "with")

Answer:

1. Gilchrist
   Gilchrist is a bright and hardworking student. He is very tall, about six feet, and has a strong build. He is not only good at studies but also excels in sports. He plays rugby, cricket, hurdles, and the long jump. He is disciplined and determined to succeed. Though he faces challenges, he remains focused on his goals. His love for sports and studies makes him an all-rounder.

2. Mr. Soames
   Mr. Soames is an honest and responsible man. He has been working at the college for ten years and is known for his loyalty. He is kind, faithful, and always stands for what is right. He gives good advice to students and wants them to be honest. He is very strict about discipline and fairness. He believes in hard work and sincerity. His experience and wisdom make him a respected person in the college.

Answers:

1. What did Geoffrey Lapin discover inside a Baltimore library book?
   Geoffrey Lapin found the name Mildred Wirt Benson written inside a book in a Baltimore library. This made him curious because he had never heard of her before.

2. What did he do after he saw the name Mildred Wirt Benson?
   After seeing the name, Geoffrey Lapin started researching her. He wanted to find out more about her and why her name was inside the book.

3. When they met, what details about her personal life did Mildred share with Geoffrey?
   Mildred told Geoffrey about her life as a writer. She shared that she had written many books but never got full credit. She also talked about her love for writing and her personal struggles.

4. What project did Edward Stratemeyer give Mildred?
   Edward Stratemeyer asked Mildred to write books for the Nancy Drew series. She wrote many of them under the fake name Carolyn Keene.

5. Why did Mildred reveal her real identity in 1980?
   In 1980, Mildred revealed her real identity because she wanted people to know that she was the real author behind Nancy Drew. She wanted to get the recognition she deserved.

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The Real Carolyn Keene (Summary)

Mildred Wirt Benson was the real writer of many Nancy Drew books, but she wrote them under the name Carolyn Keene. Geoffrey Lapin discovered her name inside a library book and decided to research her. When he met her, she told him about her life and how she had written many books without receiving full credit. Edward Stratemeyer had hired her to write for the famous Nancy Drew series. For many years, nobody knew the real author. In 1980, Mildred finally revealed that she was the true writer of Nancy Drew stories. She wanted to be recognized for her hard work.

Answers to the questions based on the passage:

a. What is changing the lifestyle of the people who depend on rivers?
The pollution and drying up of rivers are changing the lifestyle of people who depend on them. Fishermen can no longer catch fish and are forced to take up other jobs like driving cycle-rickshaws or working as daily labourers.

b. What is the percentage of the population that is dependent on our major rivers?
Nearly 85 per cent of the population depends on India's 13 major river basins.

c.
i. Which part of the river is most polluted?
The stretches near towns and industrial belts are the most polluted.

ii. What is the only thing that has increased?
The number of bacteria feeding on the waste has increased, sometimes 20 to 1,000 times over safe levels.

d. Complete this chart.

Polluted water causes → waterborne diseases → dysentery and jaundice

e. Why were the people of Vidisha horrified?
The people of Vidisha were horrified because they saw thousands of dead fish floating on the Betwa River, which was their only source of drinking water.

f.
i. Why are there very few fishing boats between Agra and Allahabad?
There are very few fishing boats between Agra and Allahabad because the river has become highly polluted and depleted of fish.

ii. What do the fishermen do now to earn a living?
The fishermen now drive cycle-rickshaws or work as daily labourers to earn a living.

ANSWER:

2. Use "water" with these words to form compound words:

a. bird → waterbird
b. cooler → water cooler
c. fall → waterfall
d. melon → watermelon

3. Now use the words that you have formed and fill in the blanks:

a. In summer we love eating chilled watermelon.
b. The heron is a waterbird.
c. There is a water cooler on every floor of our school.
d. The Jog waterfall in Karnataka is awe-inspiring.