question_answer

   Will no one tell me what she sings? Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow For old, unhappy, far-off things, And battles long ago. (i) The poet speaks the first line because The poet conjectures about the song that it may be about.................... (iii) 'Plaintive numbers' means .................... or (i) What do the above lines convey about the poet? (ii) What do you mean by 'plaintive numbers'? (iii) What are the 'plaintive numbers' about?

Answer:

                  (i) the poet is unable to comprehend what the solitary reaper is singing. (ii) an unhappy past, some sad happening or a war fought years ago. (iii) the sad song of the reaper. or (i) The poet though mesmerised by the reaper's song, is unable to understand it. (ii) 'Plaintive numbers' refers to the sad song of the reaper. (iii) The 'plaintive numbers' are about some unhappy happenings of the past.