English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

In the story "A Letter to God," the raindrops are compared to new coins by Lencho. He exclaims, "These aren't raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives."

This is a metaphor — a quality of one thing is transferred to another. Lencho compares the rain to coins because, as a farmer, rain meant prosperity and a good harvest. Just as coins bring wealth, the rain would ensure a good crop, making it as valuable as money to him.

Source: A Letter to God, Chapter 1

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• The examiner expects you to: (1) name what raindrops are compared to, (2) quote from the text, and (3) explain why — i.e., the significance/reason behind the comparison.
• Note this is also classified under Metaphors in the Language Study section (Section V), so using the word "metaphor" and explaining the quality being compared adds marks.
• Don't just quote; always explain the reason — that's where most students lose marks.