Pre-Reading Task
- Have you seen women wearing bangles?
Answer: Yes, I have seen women wearing bangles. They are often worn as a symbol of beauty, tradition, and marital status in many cultures, especially in India.
- Name any two festivals or occasions of significance. Talk about the importance of these festivals.
Answer: Two important festivals are Diwali and Karva Chauth.
Diwali, the festival of lights, signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. People decorate their homes, light lamps, burst crackers, and worship Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity.
Karva Chauth is a festival where married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life and well-being of their husbands. It highlights love, devotion, and the strong bond in a marital relationship.
Word Meaning
Word | Meaning (English to English) | Meaning (English to Hindi) | |
Bangle sellers | People who sell bangles | चूड़ी बेचने वाले | |
Bear | Carry | ढोना / ले जाना | |
Shining | Bright or glowing | चमकदार | |
Temple fair | A gathering or celebration at a temple | मंदिर का मेला | |
Delicate | Fine in texture; fragile | नाज़ुक / कोमल | |
Rainbow tinted | Coloured like a rainbow | इंद्रधनुष जैसे रंगों से युक्त | |
Lustrous | Shiny and bright | दमकता हुआ / चमकीला | |
Tokens | Symbols | प्रतीक | |
Radiant | Bright and shining | प्रज्वलित / दीप्तिमान | |
Maiden | Young unmarried girl | कुँवारी लड़की | |
Flushed | Having a warm or pinkish glow | गुलाबी आभा से भरा हुआ | |
Buds | Young flower parts | कली | |
Tranquil | Calm and peaceful | शांत / सौम्य | |
Woodland stream | A small river in a forest | जंगल की नन्ही नदी | |
Aglow | Glowing or shining | दमकता हुआ | |
Cleaves | Clings or adheres | चिपकना / जुड़ना | |
Limpid | Clear and transparent | स्वच्छ / पारदर्शी | |
Bloom | Blossom; fresh flower | फूल / खिलना | |
Sunlit | Lighted by the sun | सूरज की रोशनी से प्रकाशित | |
Bride | A woman on her wedding day | दुल्हन | |
Bridal morn | Morning of the wedding | विवाह की सुबह | |
Flame | Fire or blaze | अग्नि / ज्वाला | |
Desire | Strong feeling of wanting something | इच्छा | |
Tinkling | Making a light ringing sound | छनछनाहट | |
Luminous | Full of light; glowing | प्रकाशमान / चमकीला | |
Tender | Soft, gentle | कोमल | |
Laughter | The act of laughing | हँसी | |
Tear | A drop of liquid from the eye | आँसू | |
Flecked | Spotted or marked | छींटे पड़ना / धब्बेदार | |
Journeyed | Traveled or passed through | यात्रा की / सफर किया | |
Cherished | Loved dearly | स्नेहपूर्वक संभालना | |
Blest (Blessed) | Favoured or made holy | आशीर्वाद प्राप्त / पवित्र | |
Cradled | Held gently, usually in the arms like a baby | पालना करना / गोद में लेना | |
Faithful | Loyal and devoted | वफ़ादार / निष्ठावान | |
Fruitful | Productive or successful | फलदायी / उपयोगी | |
Worships | Shows reverence to a deity | पूजा करना | |
Household | All the people living in one house | परिवार / घर | |
Pride | A sense of dignity or self-respect | गर्व | |
Summary in English: The Bangle Sellers
The poem “Bangle Sellers” by Sarojini Naidu celebrates the beauty, emotions, and stages of a woman’s life through colourful bangles. The bangle sellers go to the temple fair to sell their bangles, which are not just ornaments but symbols of womanhood and Indian culture. Each colour and type of bangle represents a different phase of a woman’s life:
Silver and blue bangles for young maidens, symbolizing purity and dreams.
Red and golden bangles for brides, reflecting passion, love, and the sacred bond of marriage.
Purple and grey bangles for mature women, signifying wisdom, experience, and motherhood.
Through this, the poem pays tribute to Indian womanhood, highlighting the deep emotional value of bangles in a woman’s life.
सारांश हिंदी में:
सरोजिनी नायडू की कविता “चूड़ी बेचने वाले” भारतीय स्त्री जीवन की विभिन्न अवस्थाओं को रंग-बिरंगी चूड़ियों के माध्यम से प्रस्तुत करती है। चूड़ी बेचने वाले मंदिर के मेले में अपनी चमकदार चूड़ियाँ बेचने आते हैं। ये चूड़ियाँ केवल सौंदर्य प्रसाधन नहीं हैं, बल्कि स्त्री के जीवन के विभिन्न चरणों का प्रतीक हैं:
नीली और चाँदी जैसी चूड़ियाँ युवतियों के लिए हैं, जो उनकी मासूमियत और सपनों को दर्शाती हैं।
लाल और सुनहरी चूड़ियाँ दुल्हनों के लिए होती हैं, जो विवाह, प्रेम और पवित्रता की भावना को दर्शाती हैं।
बैंगनी और भूरे रंग की चूड़ियाँ उन स्त्रियों के लिए हैं जो जीवन के मध्य में हैं — जिन्होंने मातृत्व को जिया है और परिवार को संभाला है।
यह कविता भारतीय नारी की गरिमा, त्याग और भावना को बहुत ही कोमलता और गहराई से दर्शाती है।
Understanding the Story
A. A few graceful phrases have been used in Stanza 1 of the poem to describe bangles. One is given below. Find out two more and write them in the space provided. Write two such phrases of your own.
Answer – Graceful phrases used in Stanza 1 to describe bangles from the poem:
Rainbow-tinted circles of light
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives
Two original phrases of my own:
Glistening rings of joy and charm
Shimmering loops of tradition and pride
B. On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the following statements meaningfully.
- The bangles which the poet finds fit for the maiden’s wrist are of _______
and _______ colour.
Answer – silver and blue
- Some bangles are fresh like _________ growing on the _________ banks of
the _________ flowing through the woods.
Answer – buds, tranquil, stream
- Some bangles reflect the kind of glow we normally find on _________ leaves.
Answer – new-born
- The bangles that the bride shall wear on her bridal morning are like _________ brightened by the _________ .
Answer – fields of sunlit corn, marriage fire
- The bangles of the bride have the colour of the _________ of the marriage fire and some have the colour of her _________ desire.
Answer – flame, heart’s
- Some bangles are of _________ or grey colour.
Answer – purple, gold-flecked
- The hands of the middle-aged woman have _________ and loved her sons and have served her _________ and her husband.
Answer – cherished, household
C . Read these extracts from the poem and answer the questions that follow.
- ‘Whose hands have cherished,’
(a) Whose hands are being referred to?
Answer – The hands of a middle-aged woman are being referred to.
(b) Whom have these hands cherished?
Answer – These hands have cherished and cared for her children, especially her sons.
(c) How are these hands ornamented?
Answer – These hands are adorned with purple and gold-flecked grey bangles.
(d) Discuss the importance of these hands in the development of human race.
Answer – These hands symbolize a mother’s nurturing and selfless love. They play a vital role in raising children, preserving family values, serving the household, and worshipping the divine, thereby shaping the future of humanity and ensuring the continuation of cultural traditions.
- ‘Some, like the flame of her marriage fire,
Or rich with the hue of her heart’s desire;’
(a) Whom does ‘her’ refer to?
Answer – ‘Her’ refers to an Indian bride on her wedding day.
(b) List any two adjectives used by the poet to describe the bangles of the bride.
Answer – Two adjectives are tinkling and luminous.
(c) What colour do you think would appropriately describe ‘heart’s desire’? Why?
Answer – A deep red or crimson colour may appropriately describe ‘heart’s desire’ because it symbolizes passion, love, and longing — emotions often associated with a new bride’s aspirations and dreams.
(d) The poet has compared the bangles of the Indian bride to her laughter as well as her tears. Why?
Answer – The comparison highlights the bittersweet emotions of a bride. Her laughter reflects the joy of a new beginning, while her tears reflect the sorrow of leaving her parental home. The bangles capture both the happiness and emotional depth of her transition.
HOTS
- ‘Bangles are not mere ornaments or accessories for women; they are a part of their identity.’ Discuss.
Answer – In the poem, Sarojini Naidu uses bangles as symbolic expressions of a woman’s identity at various stages of life—girlhood, bridehood, and motherhood. They are not just decorative items but carry emotional, cultural, and social significance. For a maiden, they reflect dreams; for a bride, they symbolize love and new beginnings; for a mother, they express pride, sacrifice, and devotion. Thus, bangles become a reflection of a woman’s journey, joys, and responsibilities, making them an essential part of her identity.
- ‘Man has drawn all colours and freshness from various aspects of Nature.’ Comment.
Answer – Sarojini Naidu beautifully shows how human creativity is deeply inspired by nature. The bangles in the poem are described using natural elements—silver and blue like the mountain mist, green like new-born leaves, red like the flame of a marriage fire, and gold-flecked like sunlit corn. This reflects how mankind finds inspiration in the beauty and colours of nature, using them to create objects of cultural and emotional value, like the bangles that symbolize various phases of a woman’s life.
Life Skills
‘Worships the gods at her husband’s side.’ What is the presence by her husband’s side during worship?
Answer – The presence of a woman by her husband’s side during worship signifies companionship, devotion, and equality in spiritual responsibilities. It highlights her role in maintaining the family’s religious values and traditions. Her presence reflects mutual respect, shared beliefs, and a joint commitment to upholding cultural and spiritual duties.
Values
Happiness lies in enjoying the little things around us rather than waiting for big things to happen. How is this idea conveyed by the poet? Give examples from the poem.
Answer – The poet conveys that happiness can be found in the simple, everyday experiences of a woman’s life, represented through bangles. The joy of a young girl dreaming of her future, the emotions of a bride on her wedding day, and the quiet pride of a mother—all are captured through the vibrant descriptions of bangles. Each stage of life is celebrated with colour and symbolism, suggesting that fulfillment lies in cherishing these small yet meaningful moments, rather than chasing grand achievements.
Writing Skills
Sarojini Naidu’s ‘Bangle Sellers’ is rooted in Indian culture and tradition.’ Explain in a short paragraph of not more than 80 words.
Answer – Sarojini Naidu’s ‘Bangle Sellers’ is deeply rooted in Indian culture and tradition as it celebrates the life of Indian women through the symbolic use of bangles. Each stanza represents different stages of a woman’s life—maidenhood, marriage, and motherhood—highlighting her roles and emotions. The poem reflects traditional Indian values, ceremonies like marriage, the devotion of a wife, and the pride of a mother, making bangles not just ornaments, but symbols of womanhood in Indian society.
Additional Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Answers
- Where are the bangle sellers taking their shining loads?
- a) To the market
- b) To the temple fair
- c) To the village square
- d) To the city bazaar
Answer: b) To the temple fair
- How does the poet describe the bangles in the first stanza?
- a) Heavy and dull
- b) Delicate and bright
- c) Dark and mysterious
- d) Rough and sturdy
Answer: b) Delicate and bright
- What are the bangles called in the first stanza?
- a) Tokens of joy
- b) Circles of light
- c) Symbols of love
- d) Rings of beauty
Answer: b) Circles of light
- Who are the bangles meant for in the first stanza?
- a) Young boys
- b) Happy daughters and wives
- c) Elderly women
- d) Temple priests
Answer: b) Happy daughters and wives
- What colours are the bangles for a maiden’s wrist?
- a) Purple and gold
- b) Silver and blue
- c) Red and yellow
- d) Green and white
Answer: b) Silver and blue
- What are some maiden bangles compared to in the second stanza?
- a) The flame of a fire
- b) The buds on a woodland stream
- c) The sunlit corn
- d) The gods at her side
Answer: b) The buds on a woodland stream
- What are the bangles for a bride compared to in the third stanza?
- a) The mountain mist
- b) The flame of her marriage fire
- c) The new-born leaves
- d) The faithful breast
Answer: b) The flame of her marriage fire
- What emotions do the bride’s bangles symbolize?
- a) Sorrow and grief
- b) Bridal laughter and tear
- c) Fear and anxiety
- d) Pride and honour
Answer: b) Bridal laughter and tear
- What colours are the bangles for a woman who has journeyed through life midway?
- a) Silver and blue
- b) Purple and gold flecked grey
- c) Red and orange
- d) Green and yellow
Answer: b) Purple and gold flecked grey
- What role does the woman in the fourth stanza play in her household?
- a) She worships alone
- b) She serves in fruitful pride
- c) She dreams of youth
- d) She avoids her duties
Answer: b) She serves in fruitful pride
- What does the term “limpid” mean in the poem?
- a) Bright
- b) Clear
- c) Warm
- d) Soft
Answer: b) Clear
- What do the bangles symbolize for the bride in the third stanza?
- a) Her sorrow
- b) Her heart’s desire
- c) Her loneliness
- d) Her wealth
Answer: b) Her heart’s desire
- What does the poet compare the maiden’s bangles to in terms of clarity?
- a) The sunlit corn
- b) The new-born leaves
- c) The woodland stream
- d) The mountain mist
Answer: b) The new-born leaves
- Who does the woman in the fourth stanza worship with?
- a) Her children
- b) Her husband
- c) Her friends
- d) Her parents
Answer: b) Her husband
- What quality of the bangles is emphasized in the third stanza?
- a) Heavy and bold
- b) Tinkling and luminous
- c) Dark and heavy
- d) Rough and dull
Answer: b) Tinkling and luminous
- What does the term “tinted” mean in the poem?
- a) Slightly coloured
- b) Completely covered
- c) Brightly painted
- d) Faded away
Answer: a) Slightly coloured
- What stage of life is represented by the woman in the fourth stanza?
- a) Childhood
- b) Youth
- c) Middle age
- d) Old age
Answer: c) Middle age
- What do the bangles for the maiden symbolize?
- a) Her maturity
- b) Her innocence and dreams
- c) Her marriage
- d) Her wisdom
Answer: b) Her innocence and dreams
- What natural element is the bride’s bangle compared to in the third stanza?
- a) A river
- b) A flame
- c) A mountain
- d) A forest
Answer: b) A flame
- What does the woman in the fourth stanza cherish with her hands?
- a) Her jewelry
- b) Her fair sons
- c) Her wealth
- d) Her dreams
Answer: b) Her fair sons
Short Questions and Answers
- Question: Where are the bangle sellers going?
Answer: To the temple fair.
- Question: How does the poet describe the bangles in the first stanza?
Answer: Delicate and bright.
- Question: What are the bangles called in the first stanza?
Answer: Circles of light.
- Question: Who are the bangles meant for in the first stanza?
Answer: Happy daughters and wives.
- Question: What colours are the bangles for a maiden’s wrist?
Answer: Silver and blue.
- Question: What are some maiden bangles compared to?
Answer: The buds on a woodland stream.
- Question: What are the bride’s bangles compared to?
Answer: The flame of her marriage fire.
- Question: What emotions do the bride’s bangles symbolize?
Answer: Bridal laughter and tear.
- Question: What colours are the bangles for a woman in middle age?
Answer: Purple and gold flecked grey.
- Question: What role does the woman in the fourth stanza play?
Answer: She serves in fruitful pride.
- Question: What does “limpid” mean in the poem?
Answer: Clear.
- Question: What do the bride’s bangles symbolize?
Answer: Her heart’s desire.
- Question: What are the maiden’s bangles compared to for clarity?
Answer: The new-born leaves.
- Question: Who does the woman in the fourth stanza worship with?
Answer: Her husband.
- Question: What quality of the bride’s bangles is emphasized?
Answer: Tinkling and luminous.
- Question: What does “tinted” mean in the poem?
Answer: Slightly coloured.
- Question: What stage of life does the woman in the fourth stanza represent?
Answer: Middle age.
- Question: What do the maiden’s bangles symbolize?
Answer: Her innocence and dreams.
- Question: What natural element is the bride’s bangle compared to?
Answer: A flame.
- Question: What does the woman in the fourth stanza cherish?
Answer: Her fair sons.
Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion) and Answers
- Question:
Assertion (A): The bangles in the poem symbolize different stages of a woman’s life.
Reason (R): The poet describes bangles for maidens, brides, and women in middle age with distinct colours and imagery.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the bangles represent life stages—“for a maiden’s wrist,” “meet for a bride,” and “she who has journeyed… midway”—as the poem states. The reason explains this by detailing the distinct descriptions—“silver and blue,” “like the flame,” and “purple and gold flecked grey”—as the poem notes, directly linking the imagery to each stage, supporting the assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The bangles for the bride reflect her emotional state on her wedding day.
Reason (R): The poet compares the bangles to her bridal laughter and tear, capturing joy and sorrow.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the bride’s bangles reflect her emotions—“tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear”—as the poem states. The reason explains this by comparing them to “her bridal laughter and bridal tear,” as the poem notes, directly capturing the duality of joy and sorrow on her wedding day, supporting the assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The bangles for the maiden symbolize purity and dreams.
Reason (R): They are described as silver and blue, like the mountain mist and buds on a stream.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the maiden’s bangles symbolize purity—“silver and blue as the mountain mist”—as the poem states. The reason explains this by detailing the comparisons—“flushed like the buds that dream”—as the poem notes, directly linking the imagery to innocence and aspirations, supporting the assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The bangles for the middle-aged woman highlight her nurturing role.
Reason (R): The poet describes her as someone who has cradled sons and serves her household.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the bangles highlight her nurturing role—“whose hands have cherished”—as the poem states. The reason explains this by detailing her actions—“cradled fair sons… serves her household”—as the poem notes, directly linking the bangles to her maternal and domestic duties, supporting the assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The bangle sellers cater to women of all ages.
Reason (R): The poem describes bangles for maidens, brides, and middle-aged women.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the bangle sellers cater to all ages—“for happy daughters and happy wives”—as the poem states. The reason explains this by listing the stages—“some are fit for a maiden’s wrist,” “meet for a bride,” and “she who has journeyed… midway”—as the poem notes, directly showing their broad appeal, supporting the assertion.
Long Questions and Answers (60-70 words)
- Question: How does the poet use imagery to describe the bangles for a maiden in the second stanza?
Answer: The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the maiden’s bangles, comparing them to “silver and blue as the mountain mist,” “buds that dream on… a woodland stream,” and “the limpid glory of new-born leaves,” as the poem states. These images evoke purity, freshness, and dreaminess, as the comparisons suggest, reflecting the maiden’s youthful innocence and aspirations, as Naidu portrays, enhancing the poem’s lyrical beauty.
- Question: Discuss the significance of the bride’s bangles in the third stanza and their emotional symbolism.
Answer: The bride’s bangles in the third stanza, “like the flame of her marriage fire” and “rich with… her heart’s desire,” symbolize her passion and dreams, as the poem states. Their “tinkling, luminous” quality mirrors “her bridal laughter and bridal tear,” as the poem notes, reflecting the joy and sorrow of her wedding day, as Naidu captures, highlighting the emotional depth of this transformative moment in her life.
- Question: How does the fourth stanza portray the role of a middle-aged woman through the description of her bangles?
Answer: The fourth stanza portrays the middle-aged woman’s role through her bangles, “purple and gold flecked grey,” symbolizing maturity, as the poem states. Her nurturing is highlighted—“cradled fair sons on her faithful breast”—and her devotion—“serves her household in fruitful pride”—as the poem notes, showing her as a pillar of family and tradition, as Naidu depicts, emphasizing her strength and fulfillment in domestic life.
- Question: Analyse how the poem reflects the cultural importance of bangles in Indian society.
Answer: The poem reflects bangles’ cultural importance in Indian society by linking them to women’s life stages—maidens, brides, and mothers—as “lustrous tokens of radiant lives,” as the poem states. Their colours and comparisons, like “flame of her marriage fire” for brides, symbolize roles and emotions, as the poem notes, showing bangles as markers of identity and tradition, as Naidu celebrates, deeply rooted in Indian customs.
- Question: How does the poet use colour symbolism to differentiate the bangles for various stages of a woman’s life?
Answer: The poet uses colour symbolism to differentiate bangles: “silver and blue” for maidens symbolize purity, as the poem states; “flame” and “sunlit corn” for brides reflect passion and joy, as the poem notes; and “purple and gold flecked grey” for middle-aged women signify maturity, as the poem describes. These colours, as Naidu employs, highlight each stage’s distinct emotional and social significance, enhancing the poem’s thematic depth.
- Question: Discuss the theme of transition in a woman’s life as depicted through the bangles in the poem.
Answer: The theme of transition is depicted through bangles for maidens—“silver and blue”—brides—“like the flame of her marriage fire”—and middle-aged women—“purple and gold flecked grey,” as the poem states. Each set marks a shift from innocence to passion to maturity, as the poem notes, reflecting the evolving roles and emotions of women, as Naidu portrays, celebrating their journey through life’s stages with vibrant symbolism.
- Question: How does the poet blend nature imagery with human emotions in describing the bangles?
Answer: The poet blends nature imagery with emotions by comparing bangles to “mountain mist” for maidens’ dreams, “flame of her marriage fire” for a bride’s passion, and “fields of sunlit corn” for her joy, as the poem states. These images—“limpid glory of new-born leaves”—evoke freshness and vitality, as the poem notes, mirroring the women’s feelings, as Naidu crafts, creating a harmonious connection between nature and human experience.
- Question: Explore the role of the bangle sellers in the poem and their connection to the temple fair.
Answer: The bangle sellers, bearing “shining loads to the temple fair,” as the poem states, serve as cultural symbols, offering bangles that mark women’s life stages, as “rainbow tinted circles of light” suggests. Their presence at the temple fair, a communal celebration, as the poem notes, underscores their role in tradition, as Naidu depicts, linking their trade to spiritual and social festivities, enriching the poem’s cultural context.