**The Rainbow — Poem by Christina Rossetti**
**Key Ideas:**
• Poem compares different types of journeys: boats on rivers, ships on seas, clouds in sky, bridges on rivers
• Rainbow is described as the prettiest of all because it bridges heaven to earth
• Word 'these' = boats and ships in stanza 1; bridges in stanza 2
**New Words:**
• **Bow** = rainbow (arc shape)
• **Overtops** = goes higher than, rises above
• **Bridges** = structures that connect two places
**Grammar Points:**
• Stanza = group of lines in a poem (like a paragraph)
• Rhyming words in poem: seas/these, please/these, trees/these
• 'Are' = verb (plural), 'is' = verb (singular)
**Word Meanings from Context:**
• 'Sail' = move through water or air
• 'Heaven' = sky or place above earth
**Values in Poem:**
• Nature is beautiful and pretty
• Rainbow connects different worlds (earth and sky)
• Simple things in nature are valuable
**Don't Confuse:** 'Bow' has three meanings — (1) rainbow, (2) bend forward, (3) bow and arrow. In this poem it means rainbow.
Q1. Where do boats sail according to the poem?
Answer: A — The poem clearly states in the first line that boats sail on the rivers.
Q2. What does the word 'bow' mean in the poem?
Answer: C — In the poem, 'bow' refers to the rainbow that bridges heaven and earth, not the weapon or action of bending.
Q3. What does 'overtops' mean?
Answer: B — Overtops means goes higher than or rises above something, as the rainbow goes higher than the trees.
Q4. In the first stanza, what does 'these' refer to?
Answer: B — In the first stanza, 'these' refers to the boats and ships mentioned in the lines before it.
Q5. According to the poem, what connects earth to sky?
Answer: C — The poem says the rainbow bow builds a road from earth to sky, connecting the two places.
Q6. Which of the following BEST describes what the poet thinks about rainbows?
Answer: B — The poet repeatedly says the rainbow is 'prettier far' than boats, ships, and bridges, showing she loves it most.
Q7. Fill in the blank: Ships sail on the ________.
Answer: C — The poem's second line states that ships sail on the seas.
Q8. What is compared with a bridge in the second stanza?
Answer: C — In the second stanza, the rainbow is compared with bridges, and the poet says it is prettier and more special.
Q9. Why does the poet call the rainbow 'a road from earth to sky'?
Answer: B — The poet uses 'road' as a comparison because the rainbow appears to link two places — earth below and sky above — like a path would connect them.
Q10. Who is the author of the poem 'The Rainbow'?
Answer: B — The poem is written by Christina Rossetti, an English poet, as shown at the end of the poem.
What does the poet say is prettier than boats and ships?
The clouds that sail across the sky are prettier than boats and ships.
What does 'bow' mean in the poem?
In the poem, 'bow' means a rainbow that bridges heaven and earth.
Which bridge does the poet like the most?
The poet likes the rainbow bow that bridges heaven and connects earth to sky.
What does 'overtops' mean?
Overtops means goes higher than or rises above something.
What journey does a rainbow build according to the poem?
The rainbow builds a road from earth to sky.
Where do boats sail according to the first stanza?
Boats sail on the rivers.
What is special about the rainbow as a bridge?
The rainbow is a bridge that connects earth to sky and is prettier than any other bridge.
What two things are compared in stanza one of the poem?
Boats on rivers and ships on seas are compared with clouds sailing across the sky.
Who wrote the poem The Rainbow?
The poem The Rainbow was written by Christina Rossetti.
What word is used to show the poet likes the rainbow most?
The word 'prettier far' is used to show the poet likes the rainbow the most.
What does the word 'bow' mean in the poem 'The Rainbow'? [1 mark]
Look at stanza two where 'bow' is used. It is the arch-shaped bridge that connects earth and sky.
Which things are compared in the first stanza? Fill in the blanks: __________, __________, and __________ are all pretty, but __________ are prettier far. [2 marks]
First stanza mentions boats, ships, clouds. The word 'these' at the end refers to boats and ships. Clouds are prettier.
Explain why the poet thinks the rainbow is prettier than bridges. Give one reason from the poem with supporting words. [3 marks]
The rainbow 'overtops the trees' and 'builds a road from earth to sky.' It goes higher than regular bridges and connects heaven to earth, making it more special.
Describe the poet's love for nature as shown in the poem 'The Rainbow'. Support your answer with at least two examples from the poem and explain what these examples tell us about the poet's feelings toward beautiful natural things. [5 marks]
The poet compares boats, ships, clouds, and bridges. The repeated use of 'prettier far' shows deep admiration. The rainbow connecting earth and sky shows wonder. These examples show the poet finds nature beautiful and magical.
True or False: Ships sail on rivers. Give one sentence reason. [2 marks]
The poem says boats sail on rivers and ships sail on seas. These are two different water bodies. Ships are too big for rivers.
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