Poem "Mowing"
BY
Robert Frost
Class 9 Poem "Mowing"
National Book Foundation (Federal board)
Original Readings (Text) of the poem " Mowing"
There was never a sound beside the wood but one,
And that was my long scythe whispering to the ground.
What was it it whispered? I knew not well myself;
Perhaps it was something about the heat of the sun,
Something, perhaps, about the lack of sound—
And that was why it whispered and did not speak.
It was no dream of the gift of idle hours,
Or easy gold at the hand of fay or elf:
Anything more than the truth would have seemed too weak
To the earnest love that laid the swale in rows,
Not without feeble-pointed spikes of flowers
(Pale orchises), and scared a bright green snake.
The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows.
My long scythe whispered and left the hay to make.
Paraphrasing of the poem " Mowing" written by Robert Frost:
Stanza No. 1:
There was never a sound beside the wood but one,
And that was my long scythe whispering to the ground.
What was it it whispered? I knew not well myself;
Perhaps it was something about the heat of the sun,
Something, perhaps, about the lack of sound—
And that was why it whispered and did not speak.
Line-by-Line Paraphrasing of Stanza 1:
1. “There was never a sound beside the wood but one,”
👉 The poet says that everything around the forest was completely silent, except for one sound.
2. “And that was my long scythe whispering to the ground.”
👉 The only sound was that of the poet’s scythe making a soft whispering noise as it cut through the grass.
3. “What was it it whispered? I knew not well myself;”
👉 The poet wonders what message or meaning the whispering sound might have, but he himself doesn’t fully know.
4. “Perhaps it was something about the heat of the sun,”
👉 He guesses that the scythe might be whispering about how hot and bright the sun is.
5. “Something, perhaps, about the lack of sound—”
👉 Or maybe, he thinks, the whisper is about the peaceful silence all around him.
6. “And that was why it whispered and did not speak.”
👉 The poet feels that the scythe whispered softly instead of speaking loudly because the quietness of nature suited the moment.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 4 in a paragraph:
The poet describes a quiet scene near the forest where the only sound is that of his scythe softly “whispering” as it cuts the grass. He wonders what the scythe might be saying — perhaps it speaks of the warmth of the sun or the peaceful silence of the place. The poet feels that the whisper suits the calmness of nature more than loud speech.
Stanza No. 2:
It was no dream of the gift of idle hours,
Or easy gold at the hand of fay or elf:
Anything more than the truth would have seemed too weak
Line-by-Line Paraphrasing of Stanza 2:
7. “It was no dream of the gift of idle hours,”
👉 The poet says the whisper was not about lazy dreams or wasting time doing nothing.
8. “Or easy gold at the hand of fay or elf:”
👉 Nor was it about magical or imaginary rewards like gold given by fairies or elves.
9. “Anything more than the truth would have seemed too weak”
👉 The poet believes that anything beyond simple truth would have seemed meaningless and unworthy compared to the reality of his honest work.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 3 in a paragraph:
The poet reflects that the whisper of the scythe is not about magical rewards or lazy dreams of getting rich easily through fairies or elves. The scythe’s song is about truth and reality — the satisfaction that comes only from sincere, hard work. For the poet, imagination or fantasy cannot compare to the power of real effort.
Stanza No. 3:
To the earnest love that laid the swale in rows,
Not without feeble-pointed spikes of flowers
(Pale orchises), and scared a bright green snake.
Line-by-Line Paraphrasing of Stanza 3:
10. “To the earnest love that laid the swale in rows,”
👉 The poet shows his sincere love and dedication to his work as he cuts and arranges the grass in neat rows.
11. “Not without feeble-pointed spikes of flowers”
👉 While mowing, he notices small, delicate flowers still standing among the cut grass.
12. “(Pale orchises), and scared a bright green snake.”
👉 He also sees pale wildflowers (Orchises) and accidentally frightens a bright green snake hiding in the field.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 3 in a paragraph:
The poet expresses his deep affection and devotion for his work. His mowing lays the grass in neat rows, showing his care and attention. As he works, he notices small wildflowers and even startles a green snake — simple signs of life in nature that accompany his labour.
Stanza No. 4:
The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows.
My long scythe whispered and left the hay to make.
Line-by-Line Paraphrasing of Stanza 4:
13. “The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows.”
👉 The poet concludes that the truth — he real satisfaction that comes from honest labour — is the “sweetest dream” a person can have.
14. “My long scythe whispered and left the hay to make.”
👉 Finally, the poet finishes his work as the scythe stops whispering, leaving the cut grass behind to dry and turn into hay.
Paraphrasing of Stanza 4 in a paragraph:
In the end, the poet concludes that truth — the real satisfaction that comes from honest labour — is the “sweetest dream” a person can have. His scythe completes its work, leaving behind the freshly cut hay as a result of his effort. Frost celebrates this moment as a symbol of peace, simplicity, and the deep fulfilment that comes from sincere, hard work.
Summary Writing Steps to Follow:
1. Read the poem "Mowing" by Robert Frost carefully.
2. After reading, write a summary of the poem in your own words including the following elements
- The main theme or message of the poem.
- A brief description of the speaker's feelings and emotions.
- Key imagery or symbols used in the poem.
3. Your summary should be clear, concise, and well-organized.
4. Aim to capture the essence of the poem while keeping your summary within 100- 150 words.
Summary of the poem:
1. The poem “Mowing” by Robert Frost celebrates the beauty and dignity of honest physical labour. The poet describes himself working alone in a quiet field, cutting grass with his scythe. The only sound he hears is the soft “whisper” of the scythe moving through the grass. He wonders what the whisper means—perhaps it speaks about the warmth of the sun, the peace of nature, or the satisfaction of work. Frost rejects the idea of magical rewards or lazy dreams and instead values the truth and joy found in real, hard work. In the end, he believes that the “sweetest dream” a person can have is the satisfaction that comes from honest labour.
2. In the poem "Mowing," Robert Frost talks about the calm and quiet experience of using a scythe to cut grass in a field. The speaker listens to the soft sound the scythe makes and thinks about what it might be saying. It's not about daydreaming or imagining magical things, but rather about the real and simple pleasure of working hard and being close to nature. The act of mowing and the peace it brings is the sweetest reward.
The Central Idea of the poem:
1. The central idea of "Mowing" is the profound satisfaction and truth found in honest labour and the connection with nature. The Poet (Frost) meditates on the quiet, rhythmic act of mowing grass, suggesting that the simple, honest work brings a deeper, more genuine satisfaction than any fantasy or idle dream.
2. The central idea of the poem “Mowing” is the poet’s belief in the importance of sincere work and the joy that comes from it. Frost suggests that true happiness does not come from fantasy, magic, or idle dreaming, but from real effort and honest labour. The “whisper” of the scythe symbolizes the quiet satisfaction that work brings to the soul. Through the act of mowing, the poet expresses the dignity of human labour and the peace that comes from being close to nature.
Short Answer Questions:
1. Who is the poet of the poem “Mowing”?
👉 The poem “Mowing” is written by Robert Frost, a famous American poet known for writing about nature, rural life, and hard work.2. What is the only sound heard beside the wood?
👉 The only sound heard beside the wood is the soft whisper of the poet’s long scythe as it moves through the grass.3. What does the poet think the scythe is whispering about?
👉 The poet wonders if the scythe is whispering about the heat of the sun or the peaceful silence all around him.4. What does the poet mean by “It was no dream of the gift of idle hours”?
👉 The poet means that the scythe’s whisper is not about lazy dreams or wasting time, but about the real satisfaction that comes from honest work.5. What magical creatures are mentioned in the poem?
👉 The poet mentions “fay” and “elf,” which are fairies or magical beings, but he rejects their imaginary rewards in favour of real labour.6. What natural things does the poet see while mowing?
👉 While mowing, the poet sees small pale orchids (Orchises) and even frightens a bright green snake.7. What is the meaning of the line “The fact is the sweetest dream that labour knows”?
👉 It means that truth and reality — the satisfaction of hard, honest work — bring more joy than any dream or fantasy.8. What does the scythe leave behind at the end of the poem?
👉 The scythe leaves behind freshly cut grass that will dry in the sun and become hay.Long Answer Questions:
1. What is the main theme of the poem “Mowing”?
👉 The main theme of “Mowing” is the dignity and joy of honest labour. The poet finds beauty in the simple act of mowing a field. He values real work over idle dreams or magical fantasies. Through the whispering scythe, Frost suggests that the truest happiness comes from working sincerely and being close to nature. The poem celebrates simplicity, effort, and truth.2. How does the poet use the scythe as a symbol in the poem?
👉 In the poem, the scythe symbolizes hard, honest work and the quiet satisfaction it brings. Its “whisper” represents the voice of labour — calm, steady, and real. Unlike loud speech or magical promises, the scythe’s whisper is peaceful and truthful. Frost uses it to show that work done with love and dedication gives meaning to life.3. How does Robert Frost connect nature and human labour in the poem “Mowing”?
👉 Frost beautifully connects nature and human labour by showing the poet working alone in a quiet field, surrounded by flowers, sunlight, and silence. The poet’s scythe moves gently through the grass, becoming part of nature’s rhythm. The scene shows that human effort and nature can exist in harmony, and that honest work in natural surroundings brings deep peace and satisfaction.4. What message does Robert Frost give through the poem “Mowing”?
👉 The poet’s message is that true joy and fulfilment come from sincere, honest work, not from fantasy or laziness. He teaches that there is dignity and peace in labour, especially when done with love and attention. Frost believes that the truth of work — the fact — is more meaningful than any dream, and that this truth is life’s sweetest reward.Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What is the only sound heard beside the woods in the poem “Mowing”?
A) The chirping of birdsB) The rustling of leaves
C) The poet’s long scythe whispering to the ground
D) The flowing of a nearby stream
✅ Answer: C) The poet’s long scythe whispering to the ground
👉 Explanation: The poet mentions that there was no other sound except his scythe softly whispering as it cut through the grass.
2. What does the poet imagine the scythe might be whispering about?
A) The cool breezeB) The heat of the sun or the peaceful silence
C) The coming rain
D) The songs of birds
✅ Answer: B) The heat of the sun or the peaceful silence
👉 Explanation: The poet guesses that the scythe might be whispering about the warmth of the sun or the quietness around him.
3. What kind of rewards does the poet reject in the poem?
A) Hard-earned successB) Magical or imaginary gifts
C) Friendship and love
D) Knowledge and wisdom
✅ Answer: B) Magical or imaginary gifts
👉 Explanation: The poet rejects dreams of “fay or elf,” meaning magical or unreal rewards, valuing truth and real work instead.
4. What does the poet see while working in the field?
A) A rabbit and a butterflyB) Pale orchids and a green snake
C) A squirrel and a bird
D) Roses and a stream
✅ Answer: B) Pale orchids and a green snake
👉 Explanation: While mowing, the poet notices pale orchids (Orchises) and accidentally scares a bright green snake.
5. What is meant by the line “The fact is the sweetest dream that labour knows”?
A) Imaginary dreams are the bestB) Truth and honest work bring real joy
C) Rest is better than work
D) Dreams are more important than reality
✅ Answer: B) Truth and honest work bring real joy
👉 Explanation: The poet believes that the real satisfaction from hard work is more beautiful and meaningful than any fantasy or dream.
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