Question

Explain how simile is used in this stanza in the poem, ‘Palanquin Bearers’.

Lightly, O lightly we bear her along,

She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;

She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,

She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.

Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,

We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Answer 1

Answer:

• We bear her along like a pearl on a string - Movement of a pearl on a string.
• She falls like a tear - Dripping movement of the tear.
• She springs like a beam - Quick movement of the ray of light.
• She hangs like a star - Movement of a star that twinkles in the sky.

• She sways like a flower - Swaying of a lovely flower in the wind.
• She skims like a bird - Gliding movement of the bird flying over a stream.

Explanation:

Similes – It is a figure of speech which directly compares two things. It can use words such as 'like', 'as', 'than' etc. to convey the comparison.