Pranshu's English Classroom (CBSE)

 The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth (Summary Only For Reading) The Solitary Reaper is a lyric poem by William Wordsworth. As the speaker is on a quiet walk in the Scottish highlands, he draws the reader’s attention to a Scottish farm girl who is singing to herself while cutting corn during harvesting season. He asks the passers-by to either stop and listen to her admiringly or walk away quietly without disturbing her. The farm girl is completely absorbed in her work and does not take notice of anyone. As she cuts and binds the grain mechanically, she also sings a soul-stirring song—the sound of which echoes through the valley. The speaker is unable to figure out the contents of the song as the language is unfamiliar to him but he finds meaning in the song. He is as enraptured as travellers in a desert land listening to the song of a nightingale. He compares the beauty of her song to that of a cuckoo’s song which cuts across the silence in the farthest and remotest corners of...

  Singing by the River – From Bishnu, the Dhobi Singer Background of the Story: The story is set during the Mughal period in India, when music and classical singing were highly respected arts. It revolves around Bishnu, a poor washerman’s son who possesses extraordinary musical talent. The extract highlights how natural talent, dedication, and passion can rise above social status. It also introduces the legendary musician Mian Tansen , one of Emperor Akbar’s Navaratnas, known for his mastery of classical music. Summary in Points A famous qawwali singer, Ustad Badlu Khan , arrives in Agra to perform. Bishnu and his brother Laxman attend the performance. Bishnu quickly learns the tunes and notices when the singer goes off key. An elderly man sitting beside him observes his musical understanding. After the performance, the man talks to Bishnu and asks where he can hear him sing. Bishnu invites him to the dhobi ghat where he sings while guarding clothes. The next day,...

Summary of Singing by the River by Subhadra Sen Gupta (Only For Reading) Singing by the River, an extract from Bishnu, the Dhobi Singer tells the captivating story of Bishnu, a young boy with a passion for music despite his humble background as a washerman's son. The narrative tells how Bishnu encounters Mian Tansen, the renowned and legendary musician who is so impressed by Bishnu’s talent that he offers to teach him music.  The story starts with a famous qawwali singer named Ustad Badlu Khan and his troupe who come to Agra to perform for the public. Bishnu and his brother Laxman manage to get a seat midway down the tent. Bishnu is very excited. The performance starts and the crowd enjoys clapping and admiring Badlu Khan’s music. Bishnu picks up all the tunes quickly and sings along softly, even though he doesn't know the words. He also expresses his displeasure when Badlu Khan goes off keyA man with greying hair and large thoughtful eyes, sitting next to Bishnu observes all o...