Here is Rain on the Roof, a detailed exploration and explanation of the figure of speech and its many facets. In this post, we have explained various examples of figurative speech, providing a comprehensive understanding of Rain on the Roof in terms of all Poetic Device. We have also told the reason why a particular figure of speech occurs in a particular line. This is going to help the children of various classes Class IX. Dive in for figure of speech examples-
Table of Contents
Figure of Speech in Rain on the Roof Class 9 Stanza- 1
When the humid shadows hover
Over all the starry spheres
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed
And lie listening to the patter
Of the soft rain overhead!
1. Figure of Speech: Alliteration
All the following examples have Alliteration
– Exact Line: “humid shadows hover”
– Reason: The repetition of the ‘h’ sound creates a harmonious and soothing sound effect, enhancing the gentle nature of the scene.
– Exact Line: “starry spheres”
– Reason: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound adds a musical quality to the line, emphasizing the beauty of the night sky.
– Exact Line: “press the pillow”
– Reason: The ‘p’ sound repeats, adding rhythm and emphasizing the comfort of the bed.
– Exact Line: “lie listening”
– Reason: The ‘l’ sound repetition creates a smooth, flowing rhythm, mimicking the act of listening.
2. Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia
– Exact Line: “And lie listening to the patter
– Reason: The word “patter” is used to imitate the sound of raindrops falling, making it an example of onomatopoeia.
3. Figure of Speech: Personification
– Exact Line: “melancholy darkness / Gently weeps in rainy tears,”
– Reason: Darkness is personified with human qualities, creating an emotive atmosphere.
4. Figure of Speech: Transferred Epithet
– Exact Line: “melancholy darkness”
– Reason: The emotion ‘melancholy’ is attributed to darkness instead of people, emphasizing the mood.
5. Figure of Speech: Imagery
– Exact Line: “When the humid shadows hover / Over all the starry spheres”
– Reason: These lines create vivid visual pictures, enhancing the sensory experience.
6. Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
– Exact Line: “What a bliss to press the pillow”
– Reason: This exaggeration emphasizes the comfort and peace found in such a simple action.
7. Figure of Speech: Synecdoche
– Exact Line: “Of a cottage-chamber bed”
– Reason: The bed represents the entire cozy, intimate home setting.
8. Figure of Speech: Assonance
– Exact Line: “Of the soft rain overhead”
– Reason: The repetition of the ‘o’ sound adds a soft, melodic quality to the line.
9. Figure of Speech: Enjambment
– Exact Line: Throughout the stanza
– Reason: The continuation of sentences across lines without breaks creates a fluid, uninterrupted narrative flow.
Also Read:
- Rain on the Roof Extract Based Question Answer English
- Rain on the Roof Extra Question Answer English
- Hard Words : Rain on the Roof Difficult Words in English
- Rain on the Roof-Quick Review of the Poem
- Rain on the Roof Long Question Answer
Figures of Speech Poem – Rain on the Roof Stanza- 2
Every tinkle on the shingles
Has an echo in the heart;
And a thousand dreamy fancies
Into busy being start,
And a thousand recollections
Weave their air-threads into woof,
As I listen to the patter
Of the rain upon the roof.
1. Figure of Speech: Alliteration
– Exact Lines:
– “Every tinkle on the shingles”
– “Has an echo in the heart;”
– “Weave their air-threads into woof,”
– Reason: The repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as ‘t’ in “tinkle” and “the,” ‘h’ in “Has,” “heart,” and ‘w’ in “Weave” and “woof,” creates a melodious and rhythmic quality within the lines. This alliteration enhances the auditory and rhythmic aspects of the stanza, making it more pleasant to read and listen to.
2. Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia
– Exact Lines:
– “As I listen to the patter.”
– “Every tinkle on the shingles
“Has an echo in the heart;”
– Reason: These words imitate the sound of raindrops falling, enhancing the auditory imagery.
3. Figure of Speech: Personification
– Exact Line: “Weave their air-threads into woof,”
– Reason: Recollections are personified as weavers, suggesting that memories are intricately woven together.
4. Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
– Exact Line: “And a thousand dreamy fancies / Into busy being start,”
– Reason: The word “thousand” is an exaggeration, emphasizing the vast number of thoughts and imaginations triggered by the rain’s sound.
5. Figure of Speech: Repetition
– Exact Line: “And a thousand recollections”
– Reason: The repetition of “thousand” emphasizes the abundance of memories.
6. Figure of Speech: Enjambment
– Exact Line: Throughout the stanza
– Reason: The continuation of sentences across lines without breaks creates a fluid, uninterrupted narrative flow.
7. Figure of Speech: Synesthesia
– Exact Line: “Every tinkle on the shingles”
– Reason: The sound of rain (tinkle) is described in a way that it seems to create a visual or tactile sensation (echo in the heart), blending different sensory experiences.
8. Figure of Speech: Simile
– Exact Line: “As I listen to the patter / Of the rain upon the roof.”
– Reason: This line compares the act of listening to the rain to engaging in a thoughtful, contemplative experience, akin to a meditative or dream-like state.
Rain on the Roof Poetic Device- Stanza- 3
Now in memory comes my mother,
As she used in years agone,
To regard the darling dreamers
Ere she left them till the dawn:
O! I feel her fond look on me
As I list to this refrain
Which is played upon the shingles
By the patter of the rain.
1. Figure of Speech: Personification
– Exact Line: “Which is played upon the shingles / By the patter of the rain.”
– Reason: The rain is personified as a musician playing a refrain on the shingles, giving life and agency to the natural phenomenon.
Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: “Now in memory comes my mother,”
Reason: The memories of the mother are personified as if they have the ability to “come” to the speaker, creating a sense of their presence and emotional connection with the past.
2. Figure of Speech: Alliteration
– Exact Lines:
– “memory comes my mother.”
– “darling dreamers.”
– Reason: The repetition of the ‘m’ sound in “memory comes my mother” and the ‘d’ sound in “darling dreamers” creates a musical quality and adds to the stanza’s gentle and affectionate tone.
3. Figure of Speech: Apostrophe
– Exact Line: “Now in memory comes my mother,”
– Reason: The speaker directly addresses a memory, in this case, his mother, as if she were present. This creates a direct and intimate connection with the past.
4. Figure of Speech: Onomatopoeia
– Exact Line: “By the patter of the rain.”
– Reason: “Patter” mimics the sound of rain, effectively evoking the sensory experience of listening to rain.
5. Figure of Speech: Parallelism (Parallel Structure)
Exact Line: “To regard the darling dreamers / Ere she left them till the dawn:”
Reason: The lines exhibit parallel structure by beginning with the same structure “To [verb] the [noun]” and “Ere she left them till the dawn,” creating a balanced and rhythmic pattern.
6. Figure of Speech: Imagery
– Exact Line: “O! I feel her fond look on me”
– Reason: This line creates a vivid image of the mother’s loving gaze, evoking a sense of warmth and nostalgia.
7. Figure of Speech: Synecdoche
– Exact Line: “As I list to this refrain“
– Reason: “Refrain” here represents the entire song of the rain, using a part (a recurring line or refrain) to represent the whole (the complete melody of the rain).
8. Figure of Speech: Assonance
Exact Lines:
“Ere she left them till the dawn:”
“O! I feel her fond look on me”
Reason: Assonance is used with the vowel ‘e’ in “Ere she left them till the dawn,” and with the vowel ‘o’ in “O! I feel her fond look on me,” creating a pleasing and harmonious sound within the lines.
9. Figure of Speech: Enjambment
Exact Lines- throughout the stanza
– Reason: Enjambment is used consistently throughout the stanza, where sentences continue to the next line without a break. This technique maintains a smooth flow and connects the thoughts and actions described in the stanza.
Rain on the roof Theme
The theme of the poem is the healing power of rain. The musical sound of raindrops falling on the rooftop at night has the ability to revive sweet memories and rouse fancies in an otherwise busy mind.
The rain thus soothes and comforts an overworked mind by taking it back to its lovely past. Some of our best memories in life are associated with rain.
Rain on the roof Theme (2) :
When certain events happen, long last memories come flooding back to our mind. Here, on a rainy day, the poet is listening to the sound made on the roof by the falling raindrops.
This pitter-patter sound of the raindrops brings back lost memories of the poet about his mother and her affection towards him. The sound of rain appears to create bliss to the poet.
Rain on the Roof Title
The very title, with a repetition of the sounds ‘r’ and ‘n’ and the long vowels ‘ai’ and ‘oo’ imitates the rhythmic pitter-patter of rain on a tin roof. Article ‘the’ before the word ‘roof’ makes it a specific roof – the roof of the poet’s house.
Thus, the title is very apt as it is suggestive of the childhood memories the poet has of rain. The rain has magic like an effect on him every time it falls on his room and lying lazily in his room, he listens to the sheer music of the rain. It triggers ‘a thousand dreamy fancies’ in his mind and thousands of memories come alive.
In particular, the memory of the poet’s mother putting her children to sleep at night is indelible in his mind. Every time it rains, the poet relives the golden moments of his childhood. Thus, the title of the poem can be termed very appropriate.
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