Night Mail - W.H. Auden | BOSEM Class 9 English Literature Reader (Poetry)

 Board of Secondary of Education (BOSEM)
Class: IX
English Literature Reader (Poetry)

Night Mail

W.H. Auden

Summary/Substance of the Poem

In the poem, "Night Mail" the poet W.H. Auden describes the journey of night train that carries the mail, from England to Scotland. The poet narrates the story of her travel through various places and the attitude of birds, dogs, sheep, etc. on her arrival.

The poet says that Night Mail is coming. She is bringing postal orders, cheques, and letters for all people. She is steadily moving in plain areas. She reaches on time in spite of all the hurdles in the way. She passes the cotton fields and moorland. She throws white steam across her shoulder and continues her journey. She makes noise and passes through vast areas of bent grass.

On her arrival, the birds turn their heads to look at her. They watch her passing but do not leave their nest on the bushes. The dogs and sheep keep sleeping and they have no reaction at all.

She passes through farms where farmers and labourers are sleeping. Although she makes a loud noise, no one awakes. They continue to slumber.

Paraphrase of the Poem

This is the night mail crossing the Border,

Bringing the cheque and the postal order,

Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,

The shop at the corner, the girl next door.

Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb:

The gradient's against her, but she's on time.

Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder

Shovelling white steam over her shoulder,

Snorting noisily as she passes

Silent miles of wind-bent grasses.

Birds turn their heads as she approaches,

Stare from bushes at her blank-faced coaches.

Sheep-dogs cannot turn her course;

They slumber on with paws across.

In the farm she passes no one wakes,

But a jug in a bedroom gently shakes.

This is the night mail crossing the Border, Bringing the cheque and the postal order: The opening lines introduce the night mail train as it crosses the border, carrying important items such as cheques and postal orders, highlighting the significance of its cargo.

Letters for the rich, letters for the poor, The shop at the corner, the girl next door: The poem emphasizes that the mail train carries letters and parcels for people from all walks of life, from the wealthy to the less privileged, reflecting the inclusive nature of the postal service.

Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb: The gradient's against her, but she's on time: The poem describes the train's ascent up Beattock, highlighting the challenge of the incline but noting that the train is maintaining its schedule, showcasing its reliability.

Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder Shovelling white steam over her shoulder: The poem paints a vivid picture of the train journey, depicting the landscape through which the train travels and the billowing steam from the locomotive.

Snorting noisily as she passes Silent miles of wind-bent grasses. Birds turn their heads as she approaches, Stare from bushes at her blank-faced coaches: These lines illustrate the train's interaction with the natural environment, as it passes through the countryside and captures the attention of the wildlife.

Sheep-dogs cannot turn her course; They slumber on with paws across. In the farm she passes no one wakes, But a jug in a bedroom gently shakes: The poem highlights the train's impact on its surroundings, as it continues on its journey without disrupting the sleeping animals and inhabitants of the countryside.

Dawn freshens, Her climb is done.

Down towards Glasgow she descends,

Towards the steam tugs yelping down a glade of cranes

Towards the fields of apparatus, the furnaces

Set on the dark plain like gigantic chessmen.

All Scotland waits for her:

In dark glens, beside pale-green lochs

Men long for news.

Dawn freshens, Her climb is done: This line signifies the beginning of a new day, as the dawn freshens or becomes more vibrant, and the Night Mail has completed her climb, possibly indicating a journey or a task.

Down towards Glasgow she descends: This indicates the movement of the Night Mail towards the city of Glasgow.

Towards the steam tugs yelping down a glade of cranes: Describes the movement of train powered by a steam engine, among a group of cranes, in or industrial area.

Towards the fields of apparatus, the furnaces set on the dark plain like gigantic chessmen: This line evokes imagery of industrial landscapes, with fields of machinery and furnaces resembling enormous chess pieces on a dark plain.

All Scotland waits for her: This line suggests that the arrival of the Night Mail is eagerly awaited by the people of Scotland.

In dark glens, beside pale-green lochs, Men long for news: This paints a picture of people waiting in shadowy valleys and near light-green lakes, longing for news or information.

Letters of thanks, letters from banks,

Letters of joy from girl and boy,

Receipted bills and invitations

To inspect new stock or to visit relations,

And applications for situations,

And timid lovers' declarations,

And gossip, gossip from all the nations,

News circumstantial, news financial,

Letters with holiday snaps to enlarge in,

Letters with faces scrawled on the margin,

Letters from uncles, cousins, and aunts,

Letters to Scotland from the South of France,

Letters of condolence to Highlands and Lowlands

Written on paper of every hue,

The pink, the violet, the white and the blue,

The chatty, the catty, the boring, the adoring,

The cold and official and the heart's outpouring,

Clever, stupid, short and long,

The typed and the printed and the spelt all wrong.

Letters of thanks, letters from banks: These represent formal and business-related correspondence, reflecting the mundane and routine nature of daily life.

Letters of joy from girl and boy: Correspondence filled with happiness and youthful exuberance, possibly representing the excitement of young love or friendships.

Receipted bills and invitations: Mundane administrative letters, such as bills and event invitations, portraying the practical aspects of life.

Applications for situations: Job applications, reflecting the pursuit of employment and economic stability.

Timid lovers' declarations: Love letters or expressions of affection, highlighting the vulnerability and tenderness of romantic relationships.

Gossip from all the nations: Correspondence filled with rumours and news, suggesting the spread of information and the interconnectedness of the world.

News circumstantial, news financial: Different types of news, including everyday events and financial information, reflecting the diverse content of letters.

Letters with holiday snaps to enlarge in: Possibly indicating letters containing photographs, emphasizing the visual aspects of communication.

Letters with faces scrawled on the margin: Personal touches added to letters, possibly reflecting the intimacy and individuality of written communication.

Letters to Scotland from the South of France: Geographically diverse correspondence, underscoring the far-reaching nature of communication.

Letters of condolence to Highlands and Lowlands: Expressions of sympathy and support during times of loss, demonstrating the emotional depth of written communication.

Written on paper of every hue, the pink, the violet, the white and the blue: Descriptions of the colourful and varied stationery used for writing letters, highlighting the materiality of communication.

The chatty, the catty, the boring, the adoring, the cold and official and the heart's outpouring, clever, stupid, short and long, the typed and the printed and the spelt all wrong: These phrases capture the diverse tones, emotions, and qualities of the letters, showcasing the multifaceted nature of human communication.

Thousands are still asleep,

Dreaming of terrifying monsters

Or of friendly tea beside the band in Cranston's or Crawford's:

Asleep in working Glasgow, asleep in well-set Edinburgh,

Asleep in granite Aberdeen,

They continue their dreams,

But shall wake soon and hope for letters,

And none will hear the postman's knock

Without a quickening of the heart,

For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?

Thousands are still asleep: This line sets the scene of a city where thousands of people are still asleep, unaware of what's happening around them.

Dreaming of terrifying monsters or of friendly tea beside the band in Cranston's or Crawford's: The poet describes the dreams of the sleeping people, which range from terrifying nightmares to pleasant dreams of enjoying tea alongside a band in the mentioned establishments. This contrast reflects the diverse range of experiences and emotions that people have while they sleep.

Asleep in working Glasgow, asleep in well-set Edinburgh, Asleep in granite Aberdeen: The poet mentions specific cities in Scotland to illustrate that the people mentioned are spread across the country, each in their own environment.

They continue their dreams, But shall wake soon and hope for letters: This line conveys the transition from the dream world to the waking world, where the individuals will awaken and eagerly hope for letters or news.

And none will hear the postman's knock Without a quickening of the heart: The poet emphasizes the significance of receiving letters by suggesting that the mere sound of the postman's knock will excite and stir the hearts of those awaiting communication.

For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?: This poignant question highlights the universal desire for connection and recognition. It reflects the fear of being overlooked or forgotten, underscoring the deep human need for acknowledgment and communication.

Solved Textbook Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a sentence each.

1. What does the Night Mail shovel over her shoulder?

Ans.: - The Night Mail shovels white steam over its shoulder.

2. Why does a jug in the bedroom gently shake?

Ans.: - The jug in the bedroom gently shakes as a result of the vibrations produced by the Night Mail as it travels past the farm.

3. What are the people doing as the Night Mail passes through the night?

Ans.: - The people are sleeping when the Night Mail passes through the night.

4. Why is Aberdeen described as 'granite Aberdeen'?

Ans.: - Aberdeen, located in the northeast of Scotland, is known as "Granite Aberdeen" due to the extensive quarrying of granite in and around the city.

II. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Name the people for whom the Night Mail carries letters.

Ans.: - The Night Mail transports letters intended for a wide range of recipients, including friends, associates, business partners, family members, and lovers. Additionally, it delivers letters for individuals from various backgrounds, encompassing both the affluent and the less privileged members of society.

2. How does the Night Mail pass through cotton grass and moorland boulder?

Ans.: - The Night Mail journeys through cotton grass and rocky moorland, steadily ascending and descending slopes, yet it consistently arrives at its destination punctually, never delayed. This depicts the landscape through which the train travels.

3. What do the birds do when the night mail comes?

Ans.: - When the Night Mail arrives, the birds turn their heads to observe the train. They observe it as it goes by, yet they remain in their nests within the bushes, showing no signs of fear. It illustrates the train's interaction with the natural environment, as it passes through the countryside and captures the attention of the wildlife.

4. Describe Glasgow as the night mail turns towards it.

Ans.: - By the time dawn arrives, the Night Mail finishes its journey upwards and begins its descent towards Glasgow, a Scottish industrial city. The Night Mail, propelled by a steam engine, travels past a collection of cranes, "fields of machinery," and furnaces that look like enormous chess pieces arranged on a dark landscape.

5. Why does all Scotland wait for the Night Mail?

Ans.: - Scotland eagerly awaits the arrival of the Night Mail as it serves as the sole communication lifeline during that time. The anticipation is fuelled by the community's yearning for news. (The Night Mail delivers a wide array of postal items tailored to different recipients, catering to both the affluent and the less privileged.)

6. Give an idea of the colours of the letters that the mail train carries.

Ans.: - The Night Mail transports a wide variety of letters, encompassing those written on papers of various colours such as pink, violet, white, and blue. This showcases the diverse and vibrant stationery utilised for composing letters, emphasising the material aspects of communication.

7. What kinds of dreams do the people have in the early hours of the morning?

Ans.: - In the poem, the poet depicts the various dreams experienced by sleeping individuals, spanning from frightening nightmares to delightful visions of sipping tea accompanied by a band in Cranston or Crawford. It showcases the wide spectrum of experiences and emotions that people encounter during their sleep.