Today, in this post ‘Rain On The Roof Summary, Central Idea, Explanation’ we are going to learn about the poem ‘Rain on the Roof’ by Coates Kinney from Class 9 NCERT English Beehive book. In this post, we will cover everything you need to know about this poem, starting with About the Poem, About the poet, the Theme, a Short & Detailed Summary, the Central Idea, Poetic Devices used in the poem, stanza wise explanation, and finally, a Mind Map drawing to recall this chapter before the exam. Let’s begin!
Rain on the Roof About the Poem
“Rain on the Roof” is a lyrical poem written by Coates Kinney. The poem beautifully describes the poet’s emotions and feelings when he listens to the sound of rain falling on the roof of his house. It expresses the soothing effect of nature and how rain evokes sweet childhood memories, especially of the poet’s mother.
Rain on the Roof About the Poet
Coates Kinney (1826–1904) was an American poet and lawyer. He is best known for his sentimental and nature-inspired poetry. His most famous work is “Rain on the Roof”, which reflects his deep emotional attachment to nature and family, particularly his mother.
Rain on the Roof Theme
The main theme of the poem is the comfort and nostalgia brought by the sound of rain. It highlights:
- The calming effect of nature.
- How rain can stir sweet childhood memories.
- The emotional bond between the poet and his late mother.
Short Summary of Rain on the Roof
On a rainy night, the poet lies in his cosy bed listening to the gentle patter of raindrops on the roof. The rhythmic sound of the rain soothes him and fills his mind with nostalgic memories of childhood. He recalls his mother’s affectionate love and the times when she cared for him. The rain becomes a medium that connects him to his past and makes him feel her presence again.
Rain on the Roof Summary
The poem begins with the poet describing the atmosphere just before it rains. The sky is covered with dark, dense clouds that bring a sense of melancholy and gloom. These clouds seem to be full of tears, ready to weep and pour down as rain. The poet expresses that whenever such a situation arises, he feels immense joy because he loves the music of raindrops falling on the roof of his house.
As the rain starts, the poet lies comfortably on his bed with his head pressed into the soft pillow. He feels the soothing effect of the sound produced by the raindrops tapping on the shingles of the roof above him. The gentle, continuous rhythm of raindrops creates a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, making him feel drowsy and calm.
This musical patter of rain does more than just relax the poet—it triggers a flood of old memories in his mind. He starts recalling various incidents and experiences from his childhood. Each raindrop seems to bring back a different thought or memory, like a troop of ghosts appearing one by one. These memories come in a random yet delightful manner, reminding him of the past days filled with innocence and joy.
Among all these memories, one is the most precious and unforgettable: the memory of his mother. He remembers how his mother used to look at him lovingly while he was asleep. Her affectionate smile and gentle care flash in his mind, making him feel both happy and nostalgic. The rain, therefore, becomes a bridge between his present life and his sweet childhood days, especially the tender love of his mother.
The poem concludes on this emotional note, showing how natural elements like rain can deeply affect human emotions and bring back cherished memories.
Key Points of the Summary:
- Describes the gloomy sky before rain.
- Poet feels joy hearing raindrops on the roof.
- Lying on bed, he enjoys the soothing sound.
- Rain triggers childhood memories.
- Most significant memory: love and care of his mother.
- Rain connects the poet to his past and lost loved ones.
Rain on the Roof Central Idea
The central idea of the poem is that rain not only refreshes nature but also refreshes human emotions and thoughts. It creates a link between the present and the sweet memories of the past, especially the love and care of one’s mother.
View all Chapetr: NCERT Solutions for Class 9th English
Rain on the Roof Poetic Devices
The poem uses several poetic devices:
- Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds
e.g., “humble hermit”, “starry spheres” - Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate natural sounds
e.g., “patter”, “tinkle” - Personification: Giving human qualities to non-living things
e.g., “Melancholy darkness gently weeps in rainy tears” - Imagery: Creating pictures in the reader’s mind
e.g., “starry spheres”, “tinkle of the raindrops” - Repetition: Repeating words or phrases for effect
e.g., “Rain on the roof” - Metaphor: Implicit comparison
e.g., Darkness compared to sadness in “melancholy darkness”.
Rain on the Roof Explanation
Below is the difficult word meanings and stanza-wise explanation with reference to context for the poem “Rain on the Roof”:
Stanza 1
Lines:
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!
Difficult Word Meanings
- Humid shadows – Dark, moisture-laden clouds
- Hover – Move around in the air
- Starry spheres – The sky full of stars
- Melancholy – Sadness, gloom
- Weeps in rainy tears – The clouds pour down rain like tears
- Bliss – Great joy or happiness
- Patter – Sound of light raindrops falling
Explanation with Reference to Context
These lines describe the scene before and during rainfall at night. The poet says that when dark, moisture-filled clouds cover the starry sky, and the gloomy darkness of the night appears to weep in the form of rain, he feels immense happiness lying in his cottage bedroom. The sound of raindrops falling softly on the roof gives him great joy and comfort.
Reference to Context: These lines show how the poet finds peace and pleasure in the sound of rain on the roof, even when the outside world is dark and gloomy.
Stanza 2
Lines:
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.
Difficult Word Meanings
- Tinkle – Light, ringing sound
- Shingles – Tiles on the roof
- Echo in the heart – Deep emotional effect
- Fancies – Imaginative thoughts
- Recollections – Memories
- Weave their air-threads into woof – Memories coming together like threads woven into fabric
Explanation with Reference to Context
The poet says that every sound of raindrops falling on the tiled roof creates an emotional response in his heart. These sounds stir his imagination, and many dreamy thoughts arise in his mind. Along with these thoughts, countless old memories come alive and blend together like threads forming a beautiful fabric.
Reference to Context: These lines show how the rain does not just soothe the poet but also brings back forgotten memories and fills his mind with imagination.
Stanza 3
Lines:
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.
Difficult Word Meanings
- Years agone – Many years ago
- Regard – Look lovingly at
- Darling dreamers – Children sleeping peacefully
- Ere – Before
- Fond look – Loving and caring gaze
- Refrain – Repeated musical sound
Explanation with Reference to Context
The poet recalls the most cherished memory of his childhood – his mother. He remembers how his mother used to look at her children lovingly when they were asleep before leaving them for the night. The poet feels as if his mother is still looking at him fondly while he listens to the sweet, musical sound of the raindrops on the roof.
Reference to Context: These lines reveal the deep emotional connection of the poet with his mother, and how the rain evokes her tender memories in his heart.
Read Also: Rain on the Roof NCERT Solutions Class 9