GRABBING EVERYTHING ON THE LAND: SUMMARY, GLOSSARY, ANTONYMS, SYNONYMS AND COMPREHENSION QUESITONS AND ANSWERS

 GRABBING EVERYTHING ON THE LAND

Summary:

The poem describes the devastating power and destruction caused by a tsunami, likening it to a great hand grabbing everything on the land. The wave, like a fist of foam, sweeps across the land, uprooting trees, smashing homes, and leaving nothing in its wake. The poem captures the terror and helplessness of people as they try to escape the approaching wave, with nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. The tsunami is depicted as a furious force of nature, born in the depths of the ocean and growing in anger and power until it unleashes its deadly force upon the shore. The poem conveys the shocking and tragic impact of the tsunami, leaving a trail of devastation, loss of lives, and sorrow in its wake.

Glossary:

1.     Wave: A long body of water that moves in a particular direction, often caused by the wind.

2.     Foam: Bubbles and froth formed on the surface of water, especially in turbulent conditions.

3.     Uprooting: Pulling out or removing something from its original position, like uprooting a tree from the ground.

4.     Smashing: Breaking into pieces with great force.

5.     Dreadful: Extremely bad or unpleasant.

6.     Fury: Intense and violent anger or rage.

7.     Potion: A magical or medicinal liquid or mixture.

8.     Galloping: Running or moving quickly, often used to describe the movements of horses.

9.     Shriek: A loud, high-pitched cry or sound expressing fear, surprise, or pain.

10.  Ashore: Onto or towards the shore or land from the sea.

11.  Beasts: Large and powerful animals, often used in a metaphorical sense to describe waves.

12.  Dissolved: To disappear or break down into smaller parts, like foam disappearing into water.

13.  Seeping: Slowly leaking or flowing out.

14.  Brutally: In a cruel, harsh, or violent manner.

15.  Hungry hound: Metaphorical representation of the tsunami as a ferocious, voracious force.

16.  Punch: A forceful blow or hit.

17.  Survived: To remain alive or continue to exist after a dangerous or challenging situation.

18.  Tsunami: A series of large ocean waves caused by a sudden and powerful disturbance, often an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

Antonyms:

1.     Great - Small

2.     Hand - Open

3.     Uprooting - Planting

4.     Smashing - Repairing

5.     Fury - Serenity

6.     Peaceful - Fierce

7.     Alive - Lifeless

8.     Found - Lost

9.     Safety - Danger

10.  Play - Work

11.  Stillness - Turbulence

12.  Survival - Destruction

Synonyms:

1.     Wave - Surging, Billow

2.     Great - Tremendous, Mighty

3.     Hand - Fist, Palm

4.     Uprooting - Pulling, Extracting

5.     Smashing - Crushing, Shattering

6.     Fury - Rage, Wrath

7.     Circled - Encircled, Surrounded

8.     Aimed - Targeted, Directed

9.     Dreadful - Terrible, Frightening

10.  Ran - Fled, Escaped

11.  Nowhere - Nowhither, Nowhere

12.  Ocean - Sea, Waters

13.  Potion - Elixir, Brew

14.  Fury - Anger, Wrath

15.  Power - Strength, Force

16.  Surprise - Astonishment, Shock

17.  Ashore - Onshore, Landward

18.  Dissolved - Disintegrated, Disappeared

19.  Seeping - Leaking, Oozing

20.  Lives - Existence, Being

Comprehension Questions and Answers:

1.     What does the wave in the poem represent?

Ans: The wave in the poem represents a tsunami, a large ocean wave caused by a sudden and powerful disturbance, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

2.     How does the poem describe the force and impact of the tsunami?

Ans: The poem describes the tsunami as a great hand that grabs everything on the land. It uses phrases like "fingers of foam" and "smashing homes to the ground" to emphasize its destructive power.

3.     What are the consequences of the tsunami's arrival?

Ans: The consequences of the tsunami's arrival include uprooting trees, smashing homes, and causing widespread destruction. People are left with nowhere to go and nowhere to hide as the wave strikes.

4.     How does the poem describe the origin and growth of the tsunami?

Ans: The poem suggests that the tsunami is born in the belly of the ocean and is fed by plates creating the potion. It grows in fury and power, ready to be unleashed.

5.     How do people react when they see the tsunami approaching?

Ans: People are shocked and surprised when they see the tsunami approaching, and they try to run in and out in time with the tide, but there is nowhere to go to escape its dreadful might.

6.     What metaphor does the poem use to describe the waves crashing ashore?

Ans: The poem uses the metaphor "huge wall of white horses galloping ashore" to describe the waves crashing onto the land.

7.     How does the poem convey the loss of lives caused by the tsunami?

Ans: The poem describes the loss of lives caused by the tsunami as bodies being found and people being swept off their feet. It also mentions the crashing, crunching, and tearing apart, conveying the brutality of the disaster.

8.     What is the ultimate meaning conveyed by the poem's last line, "The few that survived understood the meaning of 'Tsunami'"?

Ans: The last line suggests that the survivors, having experienced the devastating force of the tsunami first-hand, now truly understand the full impact and meaning of the word "Tsunami" as a catastrophic and deadly event.

9.     How does the poem evoke a sense of fear and helplessness in the face of the tsunami?

Ans: The poem uses vivid and powerful imagery, such as the wave being compared to a great hand and a hungry hound, to evoke a sense of fear and helplessness as people are unable to escape the tsunami's fury.

10.  What emotions do you think the poet wants the reader to feel after reading the poem?

Ans: The poet likely wants the reader to feel a sense of awe at the power of nature, empathy for the victims affected by the tsunami, and a reminder of the unpredictable and uncontrollable forces of the natural world