10TH ENGLISH POEM APPRECIATION QNS & ANS

10TH ENGLISH POEM APPRECIATION QNS & ANS

 1. LIFE – HENRY VAN DYKE

1) Let me but live my life from year to year,

 With forward face and unreluctant soul;

a) Whom does the word „me‟ refer to?

 The word me refers to the poet.

 b) What kind of life does the poet want to lead?

 The poet wants to lead a joyful life with forward face and unreluctant soul.

2) Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;

 Not mourning for the things that disappear

 a) Why do you think the poet is not in a hurry?

 The poet is not in a hurry because he neither wants to hurry nor move away

 from his goal

 b) What should one not mourn for?

 One should not mourn for the things that disappear.

3) In the dim past, nor holding back in fear

 From what the future veils; but with a whole

 And happy heart, that pays its toll

 To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.

 a) What does the poet mean by the phrase „in the dim past‟?

 In the dim past refers to unhappy or unpleasant past Experiences.

 b) Is the poet afraid of future?

No, the poet is not afraid of future.

 C) How can one travel on with cheer?

 One can travel on with cheer by thinking of his/her memories of youth and old age

4) So let the way wind up the hill or down,

 O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:

 Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,

 New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,

 a) How is the way of life?

 The way of life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs. It is sometimes rough

 and sometimes smooth.

 b) How should be the journey of life?

 The journey of life should be joyful and looking ahead.

 c) What did the poet seek as a boy?

 As a boy, the poet sought new friendship, high adventure and a crown.

 5) My heart will keep the courage of the quest,

 And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.

 a) What kind of quest does the poet seek here?

 The poet’s heart will remain courageous and pursue his desires.

 b) What is the poet‟s hope?

 The poet hopes that last turn in his life’s journey will be the best.

6) In the dim past, nor holding back in fear

 From what the future veils; but with a whole

 And happy heart, that pays its toll

 To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.

 a) Identify the rhyme words of the given lines.

 Fear – cheer; whole – Toll

 7) Let me but live my life from year to year,

 With forward face and unreluctant soul;

 Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;

 Not mourning for the things that disappear

 a) Identify the rhyme scheme of the given lines.

 a b b a .

2. THE GRUMBLE FAMILY – LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY

1) There’s a family nobody likes to meet;

 They live, it is said, on Complaining Street

 a) Where does the family live?

 The family lives in Complaining street.

 b) Why do you think the street is named as „Complaining Street‟?

 The street is named as “Complaining street” because nobody is

 satisfied with one‟s circumstances.

2) They growl at that and they growl at this;

 Whatever comes, there is something amiss;

 a) What does the word „growl‟ mean here?

 Growl means „make a low guttural sound in the throat‟.

 b) Why do they find everything amiss?

 Because they are unsatisfied always.

3) Nothing goes right with the folks you meet

 Down on that gloomy Complaining Street.

 a) What is the opinion about the folks you meet down the street?

 In my opinion nothing is right down the street when I met the folks.

 b) What does the word „gloomy‟ mean here?

 „Gloomy‟ means to appear depressing or frightening

4) The worst thing is that if anyone stays

 Among them too long, he will learn their ways;

 a) What is the worst thing that can happen if anyone stays with them?

 If anyone stays with them they will learn their ways of grumbling.

 b) What are the ways of the Grumble family?

 The ways of the grumble family are dissatisfaction, awry, growl, dark and

 dreadful confusion.

5) And so it were wisest to keep our feet

 From wandering into Complaining Street;

 a) What is the wisest thing that the poet suggests?

 The poet suggests to keep away our feet from complaining street is the wisest thing.

 b) What does the phrase „to keep our feet from wandering‟ refer to?

 The phrase „to keep our feet from wandering‟ refers to not to enter the complaining street.

6) Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song,

 No matter if things do sometimes go wrong;

 a) What does the poet expect everyone to learn?

 The poet expects everyone to walk with a smile and a song.

 b) What should we do when things go wrong sometimes?

 We should learn to walk with a smile and a song even the things go wrong

 3. IAM EVERY WOMAN – RAKHI NARIANI SHIRKE

1) The summer of life she’s ready to see in spring.

 She says, “Spring will come again, my dear

 Let me care for the ones who’re near.”

 a) What does the word summer mean here?

 Summer means difficulties in woman‟s life.

 b) How does she take life?

 she takes life optimistically

 c) What does she mean by “spring will come again”?

 It means good times of life will come again.

2) Strong is she in her faith and belief.

 “Persistence is the key to everything,” says she.

 a) What is she strong about?

 She is strong in her faith and belief.

b) How does she deal with the adversities in life?

 She deals the adversities with persistence.

 3) Despite the sighs and groans and moans,

 She’s strong in her faith, firm in her belief!

 a) Is she complaining about the problems of life?

 No, she is not complaining about the problems of life.

 b) Pick out the words that show her grit.

 „Strong‟ and „Firm‟ are the words that show her grit.

4) Don’t ever try to saw her pride, her self-respect.

 She knows how to thaw you, saw you – so beware!

 a) What do the words thaw and saw mean here?

 „Thaw‟ and „saw‟ mean tackle and deal with cruelty.

 b) What is the tone of the author?

 The tone of the poetess is angry.

5) She’s today’s woman. Today’s woman dear.

 Love her, respect her, keep her near…

 a) Describe today’s woman according to the poet.

 Today‟s woman has pride and self respect..

 b) How should a woman be treated?

 Woman should be treated with love and respect.

 4. THE ANT AND THE CRICKET– ADAPTED FROM AESOP‟S FABLES

1) A silly young cricket accustomed to sing

 Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring.

 a) What was the routine of the cricket?

 Singing during the summer and the spring season was the routine of the cricket.

 b) Name the seasons mentioned here.

 Summer and spring are the seasons mentioned here.

2) Began to complain when he found that, at home,

 His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.

 a) Who does he refer to?

 „He‟ refers to the Cricket.

 b) Why was his cupboard empty?

 His cupboard was empty because he had not saved and stored any food for the winter

3) Not a crumb to be found

 On the snow-covered ground;

 a) What couldn‟t he find on the ground?

 He couldn‟t find any trace of food or grains on the ground.

 b) Why was the ground covered with snow?

 The ground was covered with snow because it was winter season.

4) At last by starvation and famine made bold,

 All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,

 a) What made the cricket bold?

 Starvation and famine made the cricket bold.

 b) Why did the cricket drip and tremble?

 Because the weather was wet and cold.

5) Away he set off to a miserly ant,

 To keep if, to keep him alive, he would grant

 Him shelter from rain,

 And a mouthful of grain.

 a) Whom did the cricket want to meet? Why?

 The cricket wanted to meet the miserly ant for food and shelter.

 b) What would keep him alive?

 Shelter from the rain and mouthful of grains would keep him alive.

6) But we ants never borrow;
 We ants never lend.

 a) Why do you think ants neither borrow nor lend?

 The ants work daily to search food and store it for the winter. So they

 neither borrow nor lend.

 b) Who says these lines to whom?

 The ant says these lines to the cricket.

7) „„Not I!

 My heart was so light

 That I sang day and night,

 For all nature looked gay.”

 a) Who does „I‟ refer to?

 „I‟ refers to the Cricket.

 b) What was the nature of the cricket? How do you know?

 The nature of the cricket was to enjoy dancing and singing. We know this

 from its reply to the ant‟s question.

8) Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,

 And out of the door turned the poor little cricket,

 a) The ant refused to help the cricket. Why?

 The ant wanted the cricket to realize its fault and learn to work and save for the future.

 b) Explain the second line.

 The poor little cricket went away sadly without shelter or food.

9) He wished only to borrow;

 He‟d repay it tomorrow;

 a) Pick out the rhyming words in the above lines.

 Borrow, tomorrow

 b) Give more examples of rhyming words from the poem.

 Sing – spring, home – come, found – ground, see – tree, bold – cold, rain – gain, light – night

10) My heart was so light

 that I sang day and night,

 For all nature looked gay.

 “You sang , Sir , you say”?

 a) Mention the rhyme scheme employed in the above lines.

 Rhyme scheme: a a b b.

 5. THE SECRET OF THE MACHINES – RUDYARD KIPLING

 1) Who does „we‟ refer to in first stanza?

 a. Human beings b. Machines

 2) Who are the speakers and listeners of this poem?

 Speakers – Machines. Listeners – Human beings

 3) What metals are obtained from ores and mines? Iron ore

 Metals like Iron, copper, lead, gold and silver are obtained from ores and mines.

 4) Mention a few machines which are hammered to design.

 Machines namely steam engine, the locomotive, mill machine, feed pelletizer machine

 were hammered to design.

 5) Mention the names of a few machines that run on water, coal or oil.

 Machines that run on water, coal, oil, include the Floating grain mill, water

 powered fire alarm, steam engines, modern diesel engines and container ships.

 6) Mention a few machines used for pulling, pushing, lifting, driving, printing,

 ploughing, reading, and writing etc.

 Farm tractor, crane, fork lift, cass, trucks, printer are few machines

 used for pulling, pushing, lifting, driving etc…

 7) Are machines humble to accept the evolution of human brain? Why?

 Yes. Machines accept that they are the children of human brain. They have to work as

 per the instructions of human brain. So they humbly accept it.

 8) What feelings are evoked in us by the machines in this poem?

 We can feel that the machines have no feelings like human beings. They don’t know

 which one is right and wrong. So we should handle them with care.

 9) „And a thousandth of an inch to give us play:‟

 Which of the following do the machines want to prove from this line?

 a. Once Machines are fed with fuel, they take a very long time to start.

 b. Once Machines are fed with fuel, they start quickly.

10) And now, if you will set us to our task,

 We will serve you four and twenty hours a day!

 a. Who does the pronoun „you‟ refer to here?

 The pronoun „you‟ refers to human beings in the above lines

 b. Whose task is referred to as „our task‟ here?

 „Our‟ task is reffered to the task of the machines.

 c. Open conditional clause is used in the given line. Why is

 the future tense „will set‟ and „will serve‟ used both in the

 „if clause‟ and in the „main clause?‟

 The future tense is used both in the „If clause‟ and in the „main clause‟

 because people don‟t make use of the machines in the proper way and

 maintain them correctly. So the poet stresses that if they are set to their

 task properly, they will work continuously.

 d. Do the machines serve us twenty four hours a day?

 Yes, Machines serve us twenty four hours a day.

 e. Rewrite the given lines with the ending „365 days a year.‟

 And now, if you will set us to our task,

 We will serve you, sixty five and three hundred days a year!

 6. NO MEN ARE FOREIGN – JAMES FALCONER KIRKUP.

1) Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes

 Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon

 Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.

 a) What is found beneath all uniforms?

 Human body is found beneath all uniforms.

 b) What is same for every one of us?

 The air we breathe and the land we walk and lie are the same for every one of us.

 c) Where are we all going to lie finally?

 We are all going to lie finally on the same land where we live.

2) They, too, aware of sun and air and water,

 Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war‟s long winter starv‟d.

 a) What is common for all of us?

 The sun, air and water are common for all of us.

 b) How are we fed?

 We are fed by the peaceful harvest that we get from our lands.

 c) Mention the season referred here?

 The winter season is referred here.

3) Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read

 A labour not different from our own.

 a) Who does „their‟ refer to?

 „Their‟ refers to men from different countries

 b) What does the poet mean by „lines we read‟?

 „Lines we read‟ means “we can read and understand the hard work of everyone

 through their palm lines”. They are not different from each other.

 c) What does not differ?

 The work of other countries people does not differ from the poet‟s.

 4) Let us remember, whenever we are told

 To hate our brothers, it is ourselves

That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.

 a) Who tells us to hate our brothers?

 Our leaders tell us to hate our brothers.

 b) What happens when we hate our brothers?

 When we hate our brothers, we hate ourselves

 c) What do we do to ourselves?

 We disposes, betray, condemn ourselves, when we hate our brothers.

5) Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence

 Of air that is everywhere our own,

 Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries strange

 a) What outrages the innocence?

 Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence.

 b) Who are not foreign?

 No man on this earth is not foreign.

 c) What is not strange?

 No countries on this earth are strange.

 7. THE HOUSE ON THE ELM STREET – NADIA BUSH

1) It sat alone.

 What happened there is still today unknown.

 It is a very mysterious place,

 And inside you can tell it has a ton of space,

 But at the same time it is bare to the bone.

 a) What does „It‟ refer to?

 It refers to the house on the Elm street.

 b) Pick out the line that indicates the size of the house?

 “And inside you can tell it has a ton of space,”

2) I drive past the house almost every day.

 The house seems to be a bit brighter.

 On this warm summer day in May.

 It plays with your mind.

 a) To whom does „I‟ refer to?

 „I‟ refers to the poetess Nadia Bush.

 b) Pick out the alliterated words in the 2nd line.

 be – bit – brighter

3) It never grows leaves,

 Not in the winter, spring, summer or fall.

 It just sits there never getting small or ever growing tall

 a) What does „it‟ refer to?

 „It‟ refers to the tree beside the house.

 b) In what way the tree is a mystery?

 The tree never grows leaves. The tree neither grows tall or gets smaller.

 So, the tree is a mystery.

4) Rumors are constantly being made,

 And each day the house just begins to fade.

 What happened inside that house?

 a) Does the house remain the same every day?

 No. The house does not remain the same every day. Its begins to fade each day.

 b) How does the poet consider the house to be a mystery?

 The poet couldn‟t understand the happenings of the house. Thus she

 considers the house to be a mystery.

 5) What happened inside that house?

 I really don‟t know I guess it will always be a mystery

 a) Does the poet know what happened in the house?

 No. The poet does not know what happened in the house.

 b) What is the mystery about the house?

 No one knows and understands what is happening inside the house. Its seems

 to be a mystery.