The Rainbow Summary | English Class 5

Summary Note

Chapter overview

Summary

Study Note

The Rainbow overview

The poem 'The Rainbow' by Christina Rossetti is a lyrical celebration of nature's unparalleled beauty, set within the theme of 'My Colourful World.' The poet begins by acknowledging the charm of human creations and everyday sights. She mentions how boats sail gracefully on rivers and large ships travel across vast seas. While these sights are undoubtedly pleasing and serve a functional purpose, they are immediately compared to the 'clouds that sail across the sky.' The poet argues that the movement of clouds in the infinite heavens is far more beautiful than the sailing of man-made vessels on water. This sets the stage for a deeper comparison between the physical world we build and the natural world that exists above us.

In the second part of the poem, Rossetti shifts her focus to bridges. She notes that bridges built over rivers are 'pretty' and useful, allowing people to cross water with ease. However, she introduces the 'bow that bridges heaven'—the rainbow—as a superior structure. This natural bridge is described as 'overtopping' the trees, signifying its grand scale and height. Unlike stone or wooden bridges, the rainbow 'builds a road from earth to sky.' This metaphorical road represents a connection between the terrestrial world and the divine or celestial realm. The poet concludes that this heavenly bridge is 'prettier far' than any bridge built by human hands.

Beyond the verses, the chapter explores the scientific reality of this beauty through the concept of VIBGYOR. It explains that a rainbow is formed when sunlight passes through rain droplets and splits into seven distinct colours: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red. The text also introduces the contribution of Sir Isaac Newton, who used a spinning disc to demonstrate that these seven colours combine to create white light. This blend of poetic appreciation and scientific inquiry teaches students that nature is not just a collection of random sights, but a perfectly designed masterpiece. The poem encourages children to look up from their man-made surroundings and find wonder in the sky. By comparing the 'pretty' works of man with the 'prettier' works of nature, Rossetti gently reminds us that while humans can build impressive things, the artistry of the natural world remains supreme in its grace, colour, and spiritual reach.

ByteNotes

Keywords

Important chapter terms

Keywords

Study Note

The Rainbow keywords

Important Terms

Sail

To move smoothly over water or through the air.

Example: The white clouds sail across the blue sky on a windy day.

Prettier

More pleasing or attractive to look at than something else.

Example: The garden looks prettier now that the colorful roses have bloomed.

Bridges

Structures built over a river or road so people can cross it.

Example: The old stone bridges over the river help the villagers reach the market.

Heaven

The sky or the space above the earth.

Example: The stars twinkled brightly in the dark heaven during the night.

Overtops

To be higher than the top of something else.

Example: The giant mountain overtops all the surrounding hills in the valley.

Bow

A curved object, referring here to the arch of a rainbow.

Example: After the rain, a beautiful colorful bow appeared in the eastern sky.

VIBGYOR

An acronym for the seven colours found in a rainbow.

Example: Students use VIBGYOR to remember the sequence of colours in a rainbow.

Droplets

Very small drops of a liquid like rain.

Example: Tiny water droplets on the leaves glittered like diamonds in the sun.

Splits

To break or divide into different parts.

Example: The prism splits the white light into many different beautiful colours.

Spinning

Turning around quickly on a central point.

Example: The spinning top moved so fast that its colors blurred together.

Across

From one side of something to the other.

Example: We watched the birds fly across the river to reach their nests.

Earth

The planet we live on or the ground beneath our feet.

Example: The seeds were planted deep in the earth to help them grow.