Year Wise Question Answer Asked From "Asleep In The Valley"
[2015] Justify the title of the poem ‘Asleep In The Valley’. 6
Ans: The title “Asleep in the Valley” is deeply ironic and evocative, perfectly capturing the poem’s essence. At first glance, it suggests a peaceful and serene scene of rest in nature. The soldier appears to be in a tranquil sleep amidst the beauty of the valley, with the warm sun and soft grass creating a comforting environment: “A small green valley where a slow stream flows,” and “His feet among the flowers, he sleeps.” However, as the poem progresses, it becomes evident that the soldier is not merely asleep but dead, as revealed by “In his side there are two red holes.” The title underscores the tragic contrast between the serene setting and the harsh reality of the soldier’s death, highlighting the futility of war.
[2016] “A soldier, very young, lies open-mouthed” – (a) Who is the soldier referred to here? (b) Narrate in your own words how the soldier lies in the valley. 2+4
Ans: (a) The soldier referred to here is a young, presumably fallen soldier who has died in battle and now lies in a peaceful valley, appearing as if he is merely asleep.
(b) The soldier lies open-mouthed, resting in the lush, green valley. His head rests on a pillow of fern, and he is surrounded by flowers. Despite the serene and sun-soaked surroundings, his lifeless state is hinted at through his stillness and the tranquility of the scene.
[2017] “In his side there are two red holes” — (a) Who is the person referred to here? (b) What do the two ‘red holes’ signify? 30 (c) What attitude of the poet to war is reflected here? 1+2+3
Ans: (a) The person referred to here is the young soldier lying in the valley.
(b) The two red holes signify bullet wounds, indicating that the young soldier was fatally shot in battle.
(c) The poet’s attitude to war is one of sorrow and critique. By juxtaposing the serene, beautiful valley with the stark image of the dead soldier and his wounds, the poet highlights the senseless loss and tragedy of war, emphasizing its devastating impact on young lives and the natural world.
[2018] (a) How does the poet express the futility of war through his poem ‘Asleep In The Valley? (b) What message does he want to convey? 4+2
Ans: (a) The poet expresses the futility of war by presenting a peaceful, idyllic valley where a young soldier lies dead. The serene environment contrasts sharply with the violent death the soldier has suffered, indicated by the “two red holes” in his side. This stark juxtaposition underscores the senseless loss of life caused by war.
(b) The poet conveys the message that war is a futile and tragic waste of young lives. Through the innocent, peaceful imagery of the valley, he highlights the senseless destruction brought about by conflict.
[2019] “… His smile/is like an infant’s …” – (a) Whose smile is being referred to here? (b) Why is his smile compared to the smile of an infant? (c) How does nature take care of him? 1+3+2
Ans: (a) The smile of the young soldier is being referred to here.
(b) His smile is compared to that of an infant to emphasize its innocence and purity. This comparison highlights the soldier’s youth and the tragic irony of his death, as he lies in eternal peace, undisturbed by the horrors of war that claimed his life.
(c) Nature takes care of him by providing a peaceful resting place. The valley, with its warm sunlight and lush greenery, acts as a gentle, nurturing environment, almost as if cradling him in a final, serene embrace.
[2020] “The humming insects don’t disturb his rest.” – (a) Who rests and where? (b) Why is his rest not disturbed by the insects? 1+1+4
Ans: (a) The young soldier rests in a small, green valley, lying peacefully amidst the natural surroundings.
(b) His rest is not disturbed by the insects because he is dead, lying in a state of eternal sleep. The insects’ humming, which would normally be a minor annoyance to a living person, has no effect on him, emphasizing his tragic, premature death and the absolute stillness of his final repose.
[2022] “His smile/ Is like an infant’s…” – (a) Whose ‘smile’ is being referred to here? (b) Explain the comparison in the given lines. (c) How does Nature take care of him? 1+3+2
Ans: (a) The smile of the young soldier is being referred to here.
(b) The comparison to an infant’s smile underscores the innocence and purity of the young soldier. It highlights the tragic loss of his young life and the peacefulness of his final rest, juxtaposing the brutality of his death with the serenity of his appearance.
(c) Nature takes care of him by enveloping him in a tranquil and beautiful setting. The sun-soaked valley, the grass, and the flowers create a peaceful resting place, as if providing a gentle, comforting embrace in his eternal sleep.
[2022] “In his side there are two red holes” – (a) Who is the person referred to here? (b) What do the two red holes’ signify? (c) What attitude of the poet to war is reflected here? 1+2+3
Ans:(a) The person referred to here is the young soldier lying in the valley.
(b) The two red holes signify bullet wounds, indicating that the soldier was fatally shot in battle. These wounds reveal the cause of his death and bring a stark contrast to the otherwise peaceful scene.
(c) The poet’s attitude to war is one of sorrow and critique. By highlighting the young soldier’s death amidst a serene and beautiful setting, the poet emphasizes the senselessness and tragedy of war. He portrays war as a cruel force that destroys innocent lives and disrupts the natural harmony, underscoring its futility and devastating impact.
[2023] MCQ – The stream flows through the valley (a) in a zigzag course (b) swiftly (c) at a slow (d) in a halting manner. 1
Ans: (c) at a slow.
SA – What is seen on the side of the soldier? 1
Ans: There are two red holes on the side of the soldier, indicating bullet wounds.
LSA – “A soldier, very young, lies open-mouthed.” – (a) Describe the place where the soldier lies. (b) Why does he lie ‘open- mouthed? (c) Who takes care of him and how? 2+1+3
Ans: (a) The soldier lies in a small green valley where a slow stream flows, creating a tranquil and serene environment. The valley is filled with bright grass, flowers, and is bathed in warm sunlight streaming from the mountaintop, making it a peaceful resting place.
(b) He lies open-mouthed because he is dead, his mouth having fallen open naturally after death.
(c) Nature takes care of him by providing a serene and beautiful resting place. The valley’s greenery, sunlight, and the soft grass create a nurturing environment, while the warm sun and surrounding flowers offer a peaceful and comforting atmosphere, almost cradling him in his eternal rest.
[2024] MCQ – The soldier appears – (a) cold (b) warm (c) pale (d) bright. 1
Ans: (c) pale.
SA What was the soldier’s pillow made of? 1
Ans: The soldier’s pillow was made of fern.
SA – Who is not expected to disturb the soldier’s rest? 1
Ans: The humming insects are not expected to disturb the soldier’s rest.
LSA – ‘A small green valley where a slow stream flows’… – (a) Who lies in the valley? (b) How does he lie? (c) Describe his bed and pillow? (d) How does the poet describe the smile on his face? 1+1+2+2
Ans: (a) A young soldier lies in the valley.
(b) He lies peacefully, stretched out in the heavy undergrowth, with his feet among the flowers and his head resting on a pillow of fern.
(c) His bed is the warm, green, sun-soaked earth of the valley, covered in grass and flowers. His pillow is made of soft, green fern, providing a natural and gentle cushion for his head.
(d) The poet describes the smile on his face as being like an infant’s—gentle and without guile. This comparison highlights the soldier’s innocence and the peacefulness of his final rest, creating a poignant contrast to the violence that caused his death.
Asleep In The Valley Suggestion
“A soldier, very young, lies open-mouthed.”
- Who is referred to as the soldier?
- Describe the surroundings where the soldier lies.
- Why does he lie ‘open-mouthed,’ and what does this signify?
“His smile is like an infant’s—gentle, without guile.”
- Whose smile is being referred to?
- Why is the smile compared to that of an infant?
- How does Nature seem to take care of the soldier?
“In his side there are two red holes.”
- Who is the person referred to here?
- What do the two red holes signify?
- How does this line reflect the poet’s attitude toward war?
“The humming insects don’t disturb his rest.”
- Who rests, and where?
- Why is his rest not disturbed?
- What does the poet suggest about the nature of this rest?
“Ah, Nature, keep him warm; he may catch cold.”
- Who is the speaker, and to whom is this line addressed?
- Why does the poet make this appeal to Nature?
- How does this statement reflect irony in the poem?
“A small green valley where a slow stream flows.”
- Describe the valley as portrayed in the poem.
- Who lies in the valley, and how is the person described?
- How does the poet contrast the beauty of nature with the soldier’s state?
“His feet among the flowers, he sleeps.”
- What is the significance of the imagery of flowers around the soldier?
- What does the soldier’s sleep symbolize?
- How does this line contribute to the overall theme of the poem?
“He sleeps in sunlight, one hand on his breast.”
- How does the poet describe the soldier’s posture?
- What does the soldier’s position reveal about his state?
- How does this image evoke pathos in the reader?
“They fill the hollow full of light.”
- What is being described in this line?
- How does the imagery of light contribute to the tone of the poem?
- How does this line juxtapose nature’s vibrancy with the poem’s underlying tragedy?
“His pale, green, sun-soaked bed.”
- What does the poet mean by the phrase “sun-soaked bed”?
- How does the description of the soldier’s bed emphasize the poem’s themes?
- How does this imagery highlight the poet’s perspective on war?
Match Your Answer
1. “A soldier, very young, lies open-mouthed.”
- Who is referred to as the soldier?
The soldier is a young man, likely a victim of war, whose body lies in the peaceful valley. - Describe the surroundings where the soldier lies.
The soldier lies in a serene, sunlit valley with a slow stream, green grass, and undergrowth, creating an atmosphere of calmness and beauty. - Why does he lie ‘open-mouthed,’ and what does this signify?
The open mouth signifies death, although the soldier’s posture and the peaceful setting initially give the illusion of sleep.
2. “His smile is like an infant’s—gentle, without guile.”
- Whose smile is being referred to?
The soldier’s smile is being referred to. - Why is the smile compared to that of an infant?
The comparison highlights the soldier’s innocence and purity, contrasting the brutality of war that caused his death. - How does Nature seem to take care of the soldier?
Nature surrounds him with warmth, light, and tranquility, creating a protective and nurturing environment.
3. “In his side there are two red holes.”
- Who is the person referred to here?
The person is the soldier lying in the valley. - What do the two red holes signify?
The two red holes are bullet wounds, revealing the soldier’s cause of death. - How does this line reflect the poet’s attitude toward war?
The poet condemns war by juxtaposing its violence with the peaceful imagery of nature, emphasizing the soldier’s untimely death.
4. “The humming insects don’t disturb his rest.”
- Who rests, and where?
The young soldier rests in the green valley, surrounded by undergrowth and sunlight. - Why is his rest not disturbed?
His rest is undisturbed because he is no longer alive; his sleep is eternal. - What does the poet suggest about the nature of this rest?
The poet suggests the irony of peace in death, as the soldier has escaped the chaos of war.
5. “Ah, Nature, keep him warm; he may catch cold.”
- Who is the speaker, and to whom is this line addressed?
The poet is the speaker, addressing Nature in a plea to care for the soldier. - Why does the poet make this appeal to Nature?
The poet uses irony, as the soldier is already dead and beyond Nature’s care. - How does this statement reflect irony in the poem?
The poet’s concern for the soldier’s comfort contrasts with the reality of his death, highlighting the futility of war.
6. “A small green valley where a slow stream flows.”
- Describe the valley as portrayed in the poem.
The valley is serene, with a slow-moving stream, bright grass, and sunlight filling it with warmth and light. - Who lies in the valley, and how is the person described?
A young soldier lies in the valley, described as peaceful, innocent, and gently smiling. - How does the poet contrast the beauty of nature with the soldier’s state?
The poet contrasts the idyllic beauty of nature with the harsh reality of the soldier’s death, emphasizing the tragedy of war.
7. “His feet among the flowers, he sleeps.”
- What is the significance of the imagery of flowers around the soldier?
The flowers symbolize life, beauty, and purity, contrasting with the death of the soldier. - What does the soldier’s sleep symbolize?
His sleep symbolizes eternal rest, a euphemism for death. - How does this line contribute to the overall theme of the poem?
The line underscores the contrast between nature’s vitality and the destruction caused by war.
8. “He sleeps in sunlight, one hand on his breast.”
- How does the poet describe the soldier’s posture?
The soldier is described as lying peacefully in the sunlight with one hand placed on his chest, as if in calm repose. - What does the soldier’s position reveal about his state?
The position reflects a sense of peace and stillness, disguising the fact that he is dead. - How does this image evoke pathos in the reader?
The imagery evokes sorrow by portraying the soldier’s untimely death in a serene setting, emphasizing the wastefulness of war.
9. “They fill the hollow full of light.”
- What is being described in this line?
The Sun’s rays are described as filling the valley with light. - How does the imagery of light contribute to the tone of the poem?
The light creates a peaceful and serene tone, masking the tragic reality of the soldier’s death. - How does this line juxtapose nature’s vibrancy with the poem’s underlying tragedy?
The light symbolizes life and vitality, contrasting with the lifeless body of the soldier, highlighting the senseless loss caused by war.
10. “His pale, green, sun-soaked bed.”
- What does the poet mean by the phrase “sun-soaked bed”?
The phrase refers to the warm, sunlit grass and foliage where the soldier lies. - How does the description of the soldier’s bed emphasize the poem’s themes?
The description juxtaposes the warmth and life of Nature with the coldness of death, emphasizing the tragedy of war. - How does this imagery highlight the poet’s perspective on war?
The imagery underscores the contrast between the beauty of Nature and the devastation of war, conveying the poet’s anti-war sentiments.
