The Coromandel Fishers
B. Answer with reference to context.
1. “He who holds the storm by the hair, will hide in his breast our lives.”
a. ‘He’ refers to God or the sea-god.
b. He holds the lives of the fishermen.
c. The poet means that God, who controls the powerful storm, will also protect them in the
sea.
2. “But sweeter, O brothers, the kiss of the spray and the dance of the wild foam’s glee;”
a. Earlier, the poet refers to the shade of the coconut glade, the mango grove, and the
sands under full moon as sweet.
b. The contrast is between the comfort of the land and the thrill of the sea; the poet prefers
the adventurous sea.
c. The image describes the joyful, lively movement of the sea spray and foam, likened to a
kiss and a dance.
3. “Row, brothers, row to the edge of the verge, where the low sky mates with the sea.”
a. The ‘brothers’ are fellow fishermen.
b. The ‘edge of the verge’ is the horizon—the farthest visible meeting point of sky and sea.
c. The sky and sea appear to meet at the horizon, symbolizing the fishermen’s adventurous
spirit and longing to reach far-off destinations.
C. Answer these questions.
1) God or the sea-god holds the storm by the hair.
2)The fishermen use catamarans.
3)The sea gull’s call seems to lead the way out to the sea, showing them where to go
fishing.
4) The poet refers to the coconut glade, mango grove, sands at full moon, and voices of
loved ones as ‘sweet’—but says the sea spray and foam are sweeter.
D. Write the rhyme scheme of this poem.
Let’s take the first stanza as an example:
Rise, brothers, rise; the wakening skies pray to the morning light, (a)
The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn like a child that has cried all night. (a)
Come, let us gather our nets from the shore and set our catamarans free, (b)
To capture the leaping wealth of the tide, for we are the kings of the sea! (b)
Rhyme scheme: aabb
Like this the whole poem follows the aabb rhyme scheme.
E. List the rhyming words in each stanza.
Stanza 1:
Light – night
Free – sea
Stanza 2:
Call – all
Drives – lives
Stanza 3:
Grove – love
Glee – sea
F. Explain these phrases.
1) Leaping wealth of the tide: Refers to the fish jumping in the sea, which are valuable to the
fishermen.
2) Kings of the sea: The fishermen feel powerful and proud of their command over the sea.
3) At the fall of the sun: Refers to sunset or evening time.
4) The edge of the verge: The horizon—the point where the sky seems to meet the sea.
G. Find and write the lines in the poem that refer to:
1) Early morning:
“Rise, brothers, rise; the wakening skies pray to the morning light”
2) Evening:
“What though we toss at the fall of the sun where the hand of the sea-god drives?”
3) Full moon night:
“And sweet are the sands at the full o’ the moon with the sound of the voices we love;”
***Poetic Devices Used in the Poem
1. Metaphor – The sea is metaphorically referred to as the mother of the fishermen,
signifying nourishment and protection.
2. Personification – Nature is personified; for example, the “cloud is their brother” and
“waves are their comrades.”
3. Alliteration – The repetition of consonant sounds, such as “wind wakes” and “sea’s
call,” creates musicality and rhythm.
4. Imagery – Vivid descriptions like “kiss of the spray” and “leaping wealth of the tide”
paint a lively picture of the sea and its elements.
5. Repetition – The use of “come, my brothers” emphasizes urgency and unity,
reinforcing the poem’s call to action.
Also,
1. Imagery: Naidu uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the fishermen’s world – the
brightening sky, the sleeping wind, the abundant fish, the kiss of the sea spray, and
the dance of the wild foam.
2. Personification: The sea, clouds, and waves are personified as family members and
companions of the fishermen, highlighting their close relationship with nature.
3. Rhythm and rhyme: The poem has a rhythmic pattern, Almost chant-like quality,
with a consistent rhyme scheme that adds to its musical nature.
4.Like a child that has cried all night.”(Simile)
5.“The wind lies asleep in the arm of the dawn.”(Personification)
6.“Leaping wealth of tide.”(Metaphor)
