When Autumn Came Class 11 Alternative English Question Answers (AHSEC)
About the poem:
"When Autumn Came" by Faiz Ahmed Faiz is a deeply moving, allegorical poem that uses the harsh, destructive nature of the autumn season to mirror political tyranny and human suffering. Transformed into English by Naomi Lazard, the poem vividly describes how autumn violently strips trees of their leaves, silences the birds, and shatters the natural world. However, this bleak transformation serves as a powerful metaphor for the oppression, loss of freedom, and silencing of voices under a dictatorial regime. Despite the overwhelming sense of pain, cruelty, and despair that dominates the verses, the poem ultimately concludes with a resilient plea for rebirth and renewal, symbolizing the enduring hope for revolution and the restoration of life and freedom.
About the poet:
Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911–1984) was one of the most celebrated and influential twentieth-century Marxist poets from Pakistan. He was a leading figure of the Progressive Writers' Movement, using his pen to champion the cause of the oppressed. His poetry masterfully blends the traditional lyrical beauty of the Urdu ghazal with modern political consciousness.
COMPREHENSION
I. Answer these questions in one or two words:
1. With what does the poet compare the yellow leaves?
Ans: Hearts (of the trees)
2. Who remains undisturbed by the 'single moan of protests?
Ans: The Autumn (season)
3. Who are exiled from their song in autumn?
Ans: The birds
4. With whom does the poet plead for mercy?
Ans: God of May
5. What does the poet mean by 'gift of green'?
Ans: Revival of life, growth, and renewal that comes with the arrival of spring.
II. Answer these questions in a few words.
1. What happens to the leaves in autumn?
In autumn, the leaves are violently stripped from the trees. The poet describes how autumn shakes them down and tears them apart, comparing the yellow, withered leaves to the "hearts" of the trees being ripped out. They are trampled into the dust and scattered.
2. What do you understand by the expression 'ebony bodies naked'?
The expression "ebony bodies naked" refers to the dark, bare branches and trunks of the trees after all their leaves have been violently stripped away by autumn. Metaphorically, it represents the helpless, exposed, and stripped dignity of people living under political tyranny and oppression.
3. What does the poet mean by 'birds that herald dreams'?
The "birds that herald dreams" symbolize the poets, singers, visionaries, and activists who bring hope, voice aspirations for freedom, and inspire a better future for society. Their songs represent the "dreams" of a free and just world.
4. How does autumn affect the birds' lives?
Autumn completely shatters the lives of the birds. They are "exiled from their song," meaning they are silenced and lose their freedom of expression. Their voices are torn from their throats, and their feathers are scattered across the ground, representing how a dictatorial regime violently silences any voice of dissent or protest.
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