When Autumn Came: Class 11 Questions and Answers

Poet: Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Subject: Alternative English
Class: 11

📚 Short Answer Questions (SAQs)

Q1. Who is the poet of the poem "When Autumn Came"?
Ans: The poet of the poem "When Autumn Came" is Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Q2. What does the autumn season symbolize in the poem?
Ans: In the poem, autumn symbolizes death, destruction, and decay. It represents the hardships and suffering faced by the oppressed people.

Q3. How does the poet describe the trees in autumn?
Ans: The poet describes the trees as stripped of their leaves, dry, and lifeless, standing like skeletons.

Q4. What does the line "all colors are blanched from their leaves" mean?
Ans: The line means that the vibrant colors of the leaves have faded, and the trees are left lifeless and dull due to the harshness of autumn.

Q5. How does the poet contrast life and death in the poem?
Ans: The poet contrasts life and death by showing how autumn brings destruction and death to nature. However, he also emphasizes the resilience of life, as the roots and hearts of trees remain alive even after the leaves have fallen.

📖 Long Answer Questions (LAQs)

Q1. Describe the main theme of the poem "When Autumn Came" by Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
Ans: The main theme of the poem is the inevitability of death and destruction, represented by the autumn season. The poet uses autumn as a metaphor for the suffering and hardships faced by the oppressed people. He describes how autumn strips trees of their leaves, symbolizing the loss of beauty and vitality. Despite the harshness of autumn, the poet also highlights the resilience of life, as the roots of the trees remain alive, signifying hope and endurance. The poem reflects the struggle between life and death and the poet’s belief in the endurance of life despite suffering.

Q2. How does the poet use imagery to depict the impact of autumn on nature?
Ans: The poet uses vivid imagery to depict the impact of autumn on nature. He describes the trees as "stripped of their leaves," the gardens as "desolate," and the birds as "silenced." The imagery of trees standing like "skeletons" and the fading colors of leaves evoke a sense of decay and lifelessness. The use of such imagery highlights the destructive power of autumn and the sorrow it brings. However, the poet also uses positive imagery by mentioning the "roots of the trees" and the "heartbeat of the garden," signifying life and hope beneath the surface.

Q3. How is the theme of resilience portrayed in the poem?
Ans: The theme of resilience is portrayed through the poet’s depiction of life enduring beneath the harshness of autumn. Despite the destruction caused by autumn, the roots of the trees remain alive, and the heart of the garden continues to beat. This resilience signifies that life persists even in difficult times. The poet uses this imagery to convey a message of hope and endurance, suggesting that hardship is temporary, and life will eventually revive and flourish again.

🔎 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1. Who wrote the poem "When Autumn Came"?
a) William Wordsworth
b) Faiz Ahmed Faiz
c) Robert Frost
d) John Keats
Ans: b) Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Q2. What season is described in the poem "When Autumn Came"?
a) Spring
b) Winter
c) Autumn
d) Summer
Ans: c) Autumn

Q3. What does the autumn season symbolize in the poem?
a) Joy and happiness
b) Death and decay
c) Prosperity and growth
d) Peace and calm
Ans: b) Death and decay

Q4. What happens to the trees in autumn, according to the poet?
a) They bloom with flowers.
b) They shed their leaves and become lifeless.
c) They grow new branches.
d) They bear fruits.
Ans: b) They shed their leaves and become lifeless.

Q5. What message does the poet convey in the poem?
a) Destruction is permanent.
b) Life ends with suffering.
c) Hope and resilience help overcome hardships.
d) Nature is cruel.
Ans: c) Hope and resilience help overcome hardships.