NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Poorvi Poem – Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay (NCERT 2026–27)
Complete NCERT solutions for the Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 4 (Travel and Adventure) poem Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay. This page gives the central idea, a stanza-wise summary, all hard word meanings, the rhyme scheme and poetic devices, and every exercise — Let us discuss, Let us think and reflect and Let us learn — answered in full, plus extra questions, MCQs, assertion–reason questions, exam tips and FAQs. Questions are reproduced word-for-word from the textbook; the answers are original and exam-ready.
- Poem Overview
- About the Poet
- Central Idea & Stanza Summary
- Word Meanings
- Rhyme Scheme & Poetic Devices
- Complete NCERT Exercise Solutions
- Extra Questions
- MCQs & Answer Key
- Assertion–Reason Questions
- FAQs
Poem Overview
“Travel” is a short, three-stanza lyric in which the speaker expresses an irresistible longing to journey and explore the world. Although the railroad track is “miles away” from where she lives, she can constantly hear a train’s whistle by day and imagine its glowing sparks (cinders) lighting the night sky. The train becomes a symbol of adventure, freedom and endless possibility. In the final stanza the speaker admits that even though she is happy and surrounded by good friends, nothing can hold back her wanderlust — there is no train she would refuse to board, “No matter where it’s going”. The poem celebrates the human desire to travel, discover new places and embrace the unknown, capturing the restless excitement of someone who hears the call of the open road.
About the Poet – Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) was a famous American poet and playwright, born in Rockland, Maine, in the United States. She became one of the most popular poets of her time, admired for her musical, deeply felt lyric poetry about love, nature, freedom and the joys and sorrows of life. In 1923 she won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, becoming one of the first women to receive that honour. Her verse is known for its clear, song-like rhythm and strong emotion, qualities seen clearly in “Travel”, a poem that captures a young person’s burning wish to journey out into the wide world.
Central Idea & Stanza Summary
Central idea: The poem expresses the speaker’s powerful longing for travel and adventure. Even though the train is far away and she is content with her friends, the sights and sounds of the train fill her imagination day and night. The train stands for freedom and the thrill of exploring the unknown, and the poem shows that the desire to travel can be so strong that the speaker would take any train, wherever it might be heading.
Stanza 1 (Daytime): The railroad track is miles away from the speaker, and her days are filled with busy human voices and noise. Yet not a single train passes during the day without her hearing its whistle “shrieking”. This shows how alert she is to the train and how fascinated she is by it, even from a great distance.
Stanza 2 (Night-time): At night, when everything is quiet and made for “sleep and dreaming”, no train passes either — and yet she imagines it vividly. She “sees” the red cinders (glowing sparks) thrown up against the dark sky and “hears” the engine steaming. The train haunts her thoughts both day and night.
Stanza 3 (The longing): The speaker says her heart is warm with the good friends she has made, and she could not wish for better friends. Even so, her love of travel is greater: there isn’t a single train she would not take, no matter where it is going. Her wanderlust outweighs even the comfort of friendship.
Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)
| Word | English Meaning | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| railroad track | the rails on which a train runs | रेल की पटरी |
| miles away | at a great distance | मीलों दूर, बहुत दूर |
| loud | full of noise and sound | शोरगुल भरा, तेज़ आवाज़ वाला |
| voices | sounds of people speaking | लोगों की आवाज़ें |
| whistle | the sharp sound made by a train | रेल की सीटी |
| shrieking | making a loud, sharp, piercing sound | तीखी चीख निकालना |
| still | quiet and motionless | शांत, स्थिर |
| dreaming | imagining things while asleep | स्वप्न देखना |
| cinders | tiny pieces of burning or burnt coal; sparks | अंगारे, चिंगारियाँ |
| red on the sky | glowing red against the sky | आकाश में लाल चमकता हुआ |
| engine | the machine that pulls the train | रेल का इंजन |
| steaming | giving off steam; running on steam power | भाप छोड़ता हुआ चलना |
| heart is warm | full of love and affection | हृदय स्नेह से भरा होना |
| knowing | (here) having or finding | पाना, जानना |
| no matter where | regardless of the place | चाहे कहीं भी हो |
Rhyme Scheme & Poetic Devices in the Poem
| Device | Explanation / Example from the poem |
|---|---|
| Rhyme scheme | ABAB in each stanza — e.g. away–day (a), speaking–shrieking (b). |
| Personification | The whistle is said to be “shrieking”, a human-like cry, giving the train a living quality. |
| Imagery | “the day is loud with voices speaking”, “cinders red on the sky”, “engine steaming” create vivid pictures of sound and sight. |
| Symbolism | The train symbolises adventure, freedom and the chance to explore the unknown. |
| Repetition / Refrain | “there isn’t a train goes by” recurs in all three stanzas, stressing the speaker’s constant awareness of the train. |
| Contrast | The busy, noisy day is contrasted with the quiet, still night — yet in both the speaker senses the train. |
| Alliteration | “sleep and dreaming” and the soft repeated sounds give the lines a musical flow. |
| Hyperbole | “there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, / No matter where it’s going” exaggerates the speaker’s boundless love of travel. |
Complete NCERT Exercise Solutions
Let us discuss
I. The main ideas of each stanza of the poem are given below. Write the number of the stanza against the matching main idea. 1. At night, the speaker imagines the train and hears its engine in the quiet. 2. The speaker feels a strong desire to take any train, no matter where it goes. 3. The speaker hears the train whistle during the day, even though the train is far away.
II. Read the poem and underline the rhyming words in each stanza. Write the rhyming words from each stanza. An example has been done for you. 1. Stanza (i): away-day; 2. Stanza (ii): 3. Stanza (iii):
III. Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem from the options given below. 1. AABB 2. ABCA 3. ABAB 4. ABBC
IV. Identify the word in the poem that personifies the whistle of the train.
V. Tone refers to the attitude the poet has about the poem. Which of these words can be used to describe the poet’s tone in this poem? (serious / excited / enthusiastic / worried / thoughtful / content / curious / critical / joyful)
VI. Select the words that tell us what the train symbolises for the poet. 1. education 2. adventure 3. comfort 4. opportunities
VII. Complete the following by choosing the correct option from those given in brackets. The poet repeats the line, ‘…there isn’t a train goes by,’ in all three stanzas to _______. (highlight the speaker’s fascination with the train / suggest that the area has many trains passing through)
VIII. The poem contrasts the busy day with the stillness of the night. What is the common factor in these?
IX. Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language to create mental pictures and appeal to the reader’s senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch). It makes the descriptions more relatable. Select the phrases from the poem that are examples of imagery. One example is given: day is loud.
Let us think and reflect
I.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. “My heart is warm with the friends I make, / And better friends I’ll not be knowing…”
(i) Choose the suitable option to complete the following. The line ‘My heart is warm’ refers to a heart that is ___. A. filled with worries B. full of love C. feeling upset D. experiencing anger
(ii) What does the speaker say about her current friends?
(iii) What does the line ‘better friends I’ll not be knowing’ suggest about the speaker’s feelings toward their current friends?
(iv) Complete the following suitably. The tone of the speaker in these lines is ______. (grateful/content)
II. Answer the following questions.
It tells us that the train is a steam engine that throws up glowing red sparks (cinders) from its burning coal. These sparks light up the dark night sky with a red glow, helping the speaker imagine the train even though she cannot actually see it pass. 2. What is the significance of the repeated references to the train’s whistle?
The repeated references to the whistle show how strongly the train occupies the speaker’s mind. Even from miles away she “hears” the whistle by day; the sound stands for the constant call of travel and adventure, emphasising her deep fascination and longing to journey somewhere. 3. What does the line ‘no matter where it’s going’ reveal about the speaker’s attitude towards travel?
It reveals that the speaker loves travel for its own sake. The destination does not matter to her at all — she simply wants the experience of journeying. Her wanderlust is so strong that she would happily board any train, wherever it might take her. 4. Do you think the poet actually sees and hears the train? Why or why not?
No, the poet does not actually see or hear a real train, because the track is “miles away” and “there isn’t a train goes by”. She only imagines the whistle, the cinders and the steaming engine. This shows the power of her imagination and how deeply her longing for travel fills her thoughts both day and night.
Let us learn
I. Read the expressions from the poem given in Column 1 and match them with what they indicate in Column 2.
| Column 1 (Expression) | Column 2 (Indicates) |
|---|---|
| 1. miles away | (v) The distance of the train from the speaker |
| 2. cinders red | (iv) The glow of the train’s sparks lighting up the night sky |
| 3. heart is warm | (i) The speaker’s affection for their friends |
| 4. day is loud | (iii) The busy and noisy atmosphere during the day |
| 5. engine steaming | (ii) The fast and powerful movement of the train |
II. The poet uses the word ‘shrieking’ to tell us about the sound of the train’s whistle. There are other words that tell us about different types of related sounds. Read the meanings of such words in Column 1 and match them with the words in Column 2.
| Column 1 (Meaning) | Column 2 (Word) |
|---|---|
| 1. shouting loudly, often in anger or excitement | (iv) yelling |
| 2. crying out in fear or excitement | (vii) screaming |
| 3. crying loudly with grief or sorrow | (i) wailing |
| 4. making a high-pitched, piercing sound | (iii) screeching |
| 5. calling out loudly, often in a casual or informal way | (ii) hollering |
| 6. crying softly in a low, broken voice | (v) whimpering |
| 7. crying loudly and uncontrollably | (vi) bawling |
Note: The pre-reading “Let us do these activities before we read” word web and discussion, and the “Let us listen” (the National Science Centre announcement), “Let us speak” (hard/soft ‘c’ pronunciation practice), “Let us write” (the diamante poem and character description) and “Let us explore” (Mountain Railways of India, Vande Bharat Express, underwater tunnels) tasks are oral, listening or project activities meant to be done in class with your teacher; the reading-comprehension and language exercises above are the assessable written exercises for the poem.
Extra Questions with Answers
Short Answer Questions (30–40 words)
The track is “miles away” from the speaker. This is important because it shows that she cannot really hear or see a train; she only imagines it, which proves how powerful and constant her longing for travel is. Q2. What does the speaker hear during the day?
During the day, even though her surroundings are loud with people’s voices and no train actually passes, the speaker hears the train’s whistle “shrieking” in her imagination. The sound of the train is always present in her mind. Q3. What does the speaker see and hear at night?
At night, in the quiet meant for sleep and dreaming, the speaker imagines the train’s red cinders glowing against the dark sky and hears the sound of its engine steaming, even though no train really goes by. Q4. What does the speaker feel about her friends?
The speaker feels that her heart is warm and happy because of the friends she has made. She believes she could never know or find better friends than these, showing her deep love and contentment. Q5. Why does the speaker want to take any train, no matter where it is going?
Because she loves travel and adventure for their own sake. The destination does not matter to her; the joy lies in the journey itself. Her strong wanderlust makes her eager to board any train at all.
Long Answer Questions (100–120 words)
The whole poem is built around the speaker’s deep desire to travel. Although the railroad track is “miles away” and no train actually passes, she hears its whistle by day and imagines its red cinders and steaming engine by night. The train fills her thoughts at every hour, becoming a symbol of freedom and adventure. The repeated line “there isn’t a train goes by” stresses how constantly she dreams of journeys. In the last stanza she admits that even her warm, loving friendships cannot hold her back: she would take any train, “No matter where it’s going”. This restless excitement and readiness to explore the unknown show the strength of her longing for adventure. Q2. How does the poet contrast day and night in the poem, and what effect does this create?
The poet sets up a clear contrast between day and night. The day is “loud with voices speaking” — busy, noisy and full of human activity — while the night is “still for sleep and dreaming” — quiet and peaceful. Yet in both, the speaker is aware of the train: by day she hears its shrieking whistle, and by night she sees its red cinders and hears its steaming engine. By showing that the train fills her imagination in both the noisy day and the silent night, the contrast highlights that her longing for travel never fades, whatever the time. The effect is to emphasise how completely and constantly the dream of journeying occupies her heart. Q3. What values or feelings does the poem ‘Travel’ inspire in a young reader?
The poem inspires a spirit of curiosity, courage and openness to new experiences. It encourages young readers to dream big, to be excited about exploring the world and to welcome adventure rather than fear the unknown. At the same time, the speaker’s warm gratitude for her friends teaches readers to value relationships and to feel content with what they have. The balance of these feelings — eager wanderlust on one side and loving contentment on the other — shows that one can cherish home and friends while still longing to discover new places. Overall, the poem celebrates hope, imagination and the joy of looking forward to life’s journeys.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who is the poet of ‘Travel’?
(a) Ruskin Bond (b) Edna St. Vincent Millay (c) Rabindranath Tagore (d) Sarojini Naidu
2. How far is the railroad track from the speaker?
(a) just outside her house (b) a few steps away (c) miles away (d) across the street
3. During the day, the speaker hears the train’s —
(a) engine steaming (b) whistle shrieking (c) wheels clattering (d) doors slamming
4. At night the speaker imagines seeing the train’s —
(a) bright headlights (b) red cinders on the sky (c) passengers waving (d) green signal lights
5. The rhyme scheme of the poem is —
(a) AABB (b) ABCA (c) ABAB (d) ABBC
6. The word ‘shrieking’ is an example of —
(a) simile (b) personification (c) metaphor (d) hyperbole
7. For the poet, the train mainly symbolises —
(a) education (b) comfort (c) adventure and opportunities (d) fear
8. ‘My heart is warm’ means the speaker’s heart is —
(a) full of love (b) filled with worry (c) feeling upset (d) full of anger
9. According to the last stanza, the speaker would take a train —
(a) only to a famous city (b) only with her friends (c) no matter where it is going (d) only in the daytime
10. The ‘cinders’ in the poem are —
(a) raindrops (b) glowing sparks from the engine (c) street lamps (d) stars in the sky
Assertion–Reason Questions
For each, choose: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. (b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A. (c) A is true but R is false. (d) A is false but R is true.
1. Assertion (A): The poet does not actually see or hear a real train.
Reason (R): The railroad track is miles away and there isn’t a train that goes by.
Answer: (a) — R correctly explains why the poet only imagines the train.
2. Assertion (A): The train in the poem symbolises adventure and freedom.
Reason (R): The speaker longs to take any train, no matter where it is going.
Answer: (a) — R correctly explains why the train stands for adventure.
3. Assertion (A): The word ‘shrieking’ personifies the train’s whistle.
Reason (R): Shrieking is a sharp cry usually made by a living being.
Answer: (a) — R correctly explains the personification.
4. Assertion (A): The speaker dislikes her current friends.
Reason (R): She says her heart is warm and she will not know better friends.
Answer: (d) — A is false (she loves her friends); R is true.
5. Assertion (A): The poem contrasts the busy day with the still night.
Reason (R): The day is ‘loud with voices speaking’ while the night is ‘still for sleep and dreaming’.
Answer: (a) — R correctly explains the contrast between day and night.
📌 Exam Tips
• Remember the rhyme scheme is ABAB and learn one pair of rhyming words from each stanza (away–day, by–sky, make–take).
• For device questions, link “shrieking” to personification and “cinders red on the sky” / “day is loud” to imagery, and add a one-line reason.
• Note the train is a symbol of adventure and opportunity, and the destination does not matter (“no matter where it’s going”).
• Quote short phrases — “miles away”, “cinders red on the sky”, “My heart is warm” — to support your answers and earn extra marks.
⚠ Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Do not say the poet really sees or hears a passing train — the track is miles away and “there isn’t a train goes by”; she only imagines it.
• ‘Cinders’ are glowing sparks of burnt coal, not raindrops or stars.
• Do not call “shrieking” a simile — there is no ‘like’ or ‘as’; it is personification.
• The train symbolises adventure and opportunity, not education or comfort.
• Spell the poet’s name correctly: Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who wrote the poem ‘Travel’ in Class 7 Poorvi?
The poem ‘Travel’ was written by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950), a famous American poet and Pulitzer Prize winner known for her musical, deeply felt lyric poetry.
What is the central idea of the poem ‘Travel’?
The poem expresses the speaker’s powerful longing for travel and adventure. The train, heard by day and imagined by night, becomes a symbol of freedom, and the speaker says she would take any train, no matter where it is going.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem ‘Travel’?
The rhyme scheme of each stanza is ABAB — the first and third lines rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme (for example, away–day and speaking–shrieking in the first stanza).