ICSE Class 8 Answered

1.where is the poem set

The poem is set in the local markets of Hyderabad in colonial India.

2.what are mirrors and dagger handle made of

The mirrors have panels of amber and the daggers have jade handles.

3.how has the poet described the anklets on the feet of blue pigeons

The goldsmiths make wristlets, anklets and rings. They also make bells to be tied onto the feet of pigeons. In the context of the extract, ‘frail’ means very fragile and dainty. The phrase “frail as a dragon fly’s wing” means that the goldsmiths are so skilled in their work that they create bells to be tied on to the feet of pigeons which are as light and delicate as the wings of a dragon fly.

4.explain the rhyme scheme in the poem

The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABCBDB. Each of the six stanzas in “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad” follows the same rhyme scheme. It gives the poem a lilting tune and conjures up a magical place, especially for readers who are unfamiliar with the space of the bazaar in the Indian landscape.

5.identify the repetition used in the poem.

The expression “What do you ___, O ye merchants?” is repeated at the beginning of each stanza. The action word in the sentence changes according to the people to whom it is addressed.

“What do you sell, O ye merchants?

“What do you weave, O ye flower girls?

“What do you make, O ye goldsmiths?

“What do you weigh, O ye vendors?

“What do you cry, O ye fruitmen?

6.which are the spices mentioned here

There are no spices mentioned particularly in the poem. The maidens grind sandalwood, henna and spice which are used in everyday life for different purposes and also on special occasions.

7.what colors are the flower girls working with

The flower girls are working with ‘tassels of azure and red’ for newly-weds and  ‘sheets of white blossoms’ for those who have departed from the mortal world.  The colours ‘red’ and ‘white’ are completely opposed to each other. While ‘red’ signified love and attraction for the bride and bridegroom, ‘white’ signifies peace for the dead people in their graves.

8.what perfumes the sleep of the dead

The line “To perfume the sleep of the dead” means that the flower girls prepare sheets of white garlands to adorn the graves of the dead people in their last journey. It is believed that the flowers which are put on the dead bodies or on the grave, give a soothing feeling to the dead in their eternal sleep.