NCERT Class 5 English Santoor: Chapter 3 — The Rainbow
This chapter, "The Rainbow," from the NCERT Class 5 English textbook 'Santoor,' features a poem by Christina Rossetti. The poem contrasts the beauty of boats sailing on rivers and ships on seas with the far greater beauty of clouds sailing across the sky. It further compares bridges built on rivers to the magnificent 'bow' that bridges the heavens, overtops trees, and creates a road from earth to sky, deeming it the most beautiful sight. The chapter includes new words like 'overtops,' 'bridges,' and 'bow,' and prompts students to think and discuss the poem's meaning, the poet's preference, and personal experiences with rainbows. It encourages critical thinking about transportation, natural phenomena, and imagination, aligning with CBSE learning objectives for descriptive language and comprehension.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 5 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Santoor |
| Chapter | Chapter 3 — The Rainbow |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 229 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand and appreciate poetry that compares natural phenomena.
- Identify and explain the meaning of new vocabulary words.
- Analyze the poet's perspective and compare different elements of beauty.
- Engage in critical thinking and discussion about personal experiences and imagination related to the poem's theme.
- Distinguish between true and false statements based on textual information.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| overtops | is higher than; rises above |
| bridges | structures built to span a river, road, or other obstacle |
| bow | a curved shape or structure, referring to a rainbow in the poem |
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Practice questions
- What does the poet find prettier than boats and ships? Answer: The poet finds clouds sailing across the sky prettier than boats and ships.
- According to the poem, what builds a road from earth to sky? Answer: The 'bow' (rainbow) that bridges heaven builds a road from earth to sky.
- Which word is used for a structure that spans a river? Answer: The word 'bridges' is used for a structure that spans a river.
- State if the following is True or False: Ships sail on the river. Answer: False
Frequently asked questions
What is the main theme of the poem 'The Rainbow'?
The poem 'The Rainbow' compares the beauty of everyday things like boats and bridges to the extraordinary beauty of clouds and the rainbow.
Who wrote the poem 'The Rainbow'?
The poem 'The Rainbow' is written by Christina Rossetti.
What new words are introduced in Chapter 3 of Santoor?
The new words introduced are 'overtops,' 'bridges,' and 'bow'.
What does the poet consider prettier than bridges on rivers?
The poet considers the 'bow' that bridges heaven and overtops trees, building a road from earth to sky, as prettier than bridges on rivers.
What are the discussion questions in 'Let us Think' section?
The discussion questions cover ways to cross a river, feelings about seeing a rainbow, and where one might go if they could walk on a rainbow.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 5 English — Santoor — Chapter 3 — The Rainbow. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.