Travel — Class 7 English (CBSE)
From the current NCERT Poorvi Grade 7 book, Unit 4: Travel and Adventure, Chapter 11. A short, stirring poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay about the deep longing to travel.
1. About the poem
- Text type: A lyrical poem.
- Poet: Edna St. Vincent Millay (an American poet).
- Main theme: Wanderlust — a strong longing to travel and have adventures.
2. Summary
In "Travel", the speaker feels a powerful longing to travel. She says that even though the railway track is miles away, and even though the day is full of voices and the night is quiet, she can always hear the whistle of a train. The sound of the train is constantly in her mind, by day and by night. She declares that there is no train she would not take, no matter where it is going — the journey itself, and the adventure of going somewhere new, is what excites her. The poem beautifully expresses the human feeling of wanderlust — the restless wish to explore the world.
3. Theme and poetic devices
- Theme: Wanderlust; the irresistible call of travel and adventure.
- Imagery / sound: the train whistle "shrieking" by day and night.
- Repetition: the idea of always hearing the train repeats for effect.
- Tone: eager, restless, and excited.
4. New words and meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| wanderlust | a strong desire to travel |
| whistle | the sharp sound a train makes |
| shrieking | making a loud, sharp cry or sound |
| railroad / railway track | the rails on which a train runs |
| friends | here, the company one already has |
5. Let Us Think (comprehension)
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What sound is always in the speaker's mind? The whistle of a train.
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Is the railway track near or far? It is miles away.
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When can she hear the train — by day, by night, or both? Both — when the day is loud and when the night is quiet.
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Which train would she be willing to take? Any train, no matter where it is going.
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What feeling does the poem express? Wanderlust — a strong longing to travel.
6. Language and poetry
Sound words
"Whistle" and "shrieking" appeal to our sense of hearing. Find one more and use it.
Express a longing
Write one line beginning "There isn't a … I wouldn't …" about something you long to do.
7. Writing and speaking
- Writing: Write 5–6 lines about a place you long to travel to and why.
- Speaking: Recite the poem with an eager, longing tone.
8. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking the track is nearby. Fix: It is miles away, yet she still hears the train.
- Mistake: Saying she wants a particular destination. Fix: She would take any train, anywhere.
- Mistake: Reading the poem flatly. Fix: Read it with eager, restless feeling.
9. Practice set
- What does the speaker hear all day and night?
- How far is the railway track?
- What does "wanderlust" mean?
- Which train would the speaker take?
- What is the mood of the poem?
10. Answer key
- The whistle of a train.
- It is miles away.
- A strong desire to travel.
- Any train, no matter where it is going.
- Eager, restless and longing.
11. Quick revision
- Unit 4: Travel and Adventure · Chapter 11 · poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay.
- The track is miles away, yet she always hears the train whistle.
- She hears it by day (loud) and by night (quiet).
- She would take any train, anywhere.
- Theme: wanderlust — the longing to travel.
Unit 4: Travel and Adventure
This chapter is part of Unit 4: Travel and Adventure. The three chapters in this unit are:
- Chapter 10: The Tunnel — a story by Ruskin Bond
- Chapter 11: Travel — a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
- Chapter 12: Conquering the Summit — the story of Arunima Sinha
