Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars. The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.
Select the option that is most likely to be the speaker as per the extract.
A. B. C. D.
The speaker is most likely a young child, as the poem describes the innocent act of floating paper boats, writing one's name on them, hoping to be known by strangers, and imagining fairies sailing in the boats with baskets of dreams.
What can be inferred about the speaker's feelings when night comes?
When night comes, the speaker feels peaceful, dreamy, and filled with wonder. The act of burying his face in his arms suggests comfort and security, while dreaming of boats floating under midnight stars shows his imagination continues even in sleep. He feels hopeful and connected to the larger universe through his dreams.
What kind of beings are the 'fairies of sleep' imagined as? Select the most appropriate option.
A. mischievous B. gentle C. fearsome D. playful
B. gentle
Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option from those given in the brackets.
The phrase 'lading is their baskets full of dreams' suggests that the speaker imagines the fairies of sleep carefully _____ (carrying his dreams /collecting his wishes) in their baskets.
The phrase 'lading is their baskets full of dreams' suggests that the speaker imagines the fairies of sleep carefully carrying his dreams in their baskets.
Explanation
((i)) The extract and the poem as a whole reflect a child's perspective - the simple joy of floating paper boats, the imaginative belief that fairies sail in them at night, and the innocent hope that someone far away will find the boats. The imagery and emotions are characteristic of a child's worldview. ((ii)) The extract shows the speaker finding comfort at night, burying his face in his arms in a protective, peaceful gesture. His dreams are filled with beautiful imagery of boats floating under stars and fairies carrying dreams, indicating a sense of wonder, security, and imaginative joy rather than fear or loneliness. ((iii)) The 'fairies of sleep' are imagined as gentle beings who carefully carry baskets full of dreams. They are not described as mischievous, fearsome, or playful, but rather as nurturing figures who sail in the paper boats and tend to the speaker's dreams through the night. ((iv)) The word 'lading' means loading or cargo. The fairies are sailing in the boats with their 'lading' being baskets full of dreams. This suggests they are carrying or transporting the speaker's dreams through the night, watching over them gently.