Read the poem and answer the questions given below it.
The Kite on the Wire
Munna’s kite was the best on our roof that day,
green paper, with a tail of yellow thread,
till a sharper string came cutting through the sky,
and it fell, and caught on the wires overhead.
Now it hangs above the lane by the tea stall,
between two poles, too high for any hand.
Munna threw stones at it all evening long.
The shopkeeper laughed. The kite would not land.
Each morning the wind stops by to coax it,
tugs at its tail and whispers, “Fly.”
The kite shivers, lifts one paper corner,
and stays where it is, against the sky.
The rains have washed its green to grey.
Its tail is now a knot of string.
Munna has two new kites this year,
but he still looks up when the wires sing.
Someday a storm will take it, or the rain,
and the lane will forget it was ever there.
But for now it holds on, a scrap of green,
still flying, in its fashion, in the air.
Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Tender and gently sad
The speaker watches the lost kite with soft feeling and a quiet sadness.
- The kite is treated kindly, almost like a living thing. It “shivers” and “holds on”. This is a tender (gentle and caring) way of looking at it.
- Its colour fades “green to grey”, and one day “the lane will forget it was ever there”. These lines carry a gentle sadness, not grief or anger.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Angry and bitter — Incorrect. Only partly true: Bitter means angry and hurt for a long time. Munna throws stones on the first evening. But the speaker blames no one, and the poem ends softly. Example: He was still bitter about losing the match.
Option 3: Mocking and amused — Incorrect. Wrong focus: Mocking means laughing at someone or something. Only the shopkeeper laughs. The speaker does not laugh at the kite or at Munna. Example: The older boys gave a mocking cheer when he slipped.
Option 4: Fearful and anxious — Incorrect. Not mentioned: Anxious means worried about what may happen. The kite is caught on electric wires, but the poem shows no fear of danger. Example: Riya was anxious before her first interview.