A Chill-CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

What can lambkins do

All the keen night through?

Nestle by their woolly mother,

The careful ewe.


What can nestlings do

In the nightly dew?

Sleep beneath their mother's wing

Till day breaks anew.


If infield or tree

There might only be

Such a warm, soft sleeping-place

Found for me.


Summary: In the poem, Christina Rossetti compares herself with little animals and birds during a cold night. She observes that lambs can stay safe and warm by nestling close to their mother, the ewe, while young birds (nestlings) sleep safely under their mother's wings until morning comes. Seeing this, the poet wishes that she too could find such a warm, soft, and protective place to rest during the chill of night. 


Exercises

A. Questions

1. Is the title of the poem a good one?

Answer: Yes. The title 'A Chill' is appropriate because the poem talks about cold nights and the poet's wish for warmth and comfort. It reflects both the physical cold and the feeling of wanting care and protection.

2. How do the baby animals keep warm?

Answer: The lambs keep warm by nestling close to their mother, the ewe, and the nestlings (baby birds) stay warm by sleeping under their mother's wing. 

3. Which words in the second stanza tell us that the birds are warm?

Answer: The words 'beneath their mother's wing' suggest that the birds are safe, protected, and warm during the night.

4. What does the poet say she would like?

Answer: The poet wishes that she too could find a warm, soft, and safe place to rest during the cold night, just like the baby lambs and birds.

B. Reference to context

Read this line from the poem, then answer the questions.

What can nestlings do...

1. What are nestlings?

Answer: Nestlings are young birds that stay in the nest and depend on their mother for warmth and protection.

2. In the poem, another word for a young animal is used. What is it?

Answer: The other word used is lambkins (young lambs).

3. What can 'nestlings' do?

Answer: Nestlings can sleep beneath their mother's wing until day breaks.

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