Question

Listen to the poem read by the teacher or to the recorded version and write a synopsis in about 100 words. The teacher can choose any three stanzas.

Lincoln’s Letter to his Son’s Teacher:
He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader...Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,

Steer him away from envy, if you can, teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick…. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books... But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him it is far honorable to fail than to cheat…Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon…Teach him to listen to all men.. .but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him if you can, how to laugh when he is sad…Teach him there is no shame in tears, Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness…Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right. Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage to be impatient.. .let he has the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will have sublime faith in mankind. This is a big order, but see what you can do...He is such a fine little fellow, my son!

Answer 1

Abraham Lincoln
Synopsis of the first three stanzas:
Abraham Lincoln’s letter to his son’s teacher is full of his optimism and the ethical values he believed in. He asks the teacher to teach his son to have faith in humanity and teach him not to be discouraged by scoundrels, selfish politicians, and enemies. For every selfish politician, there is a dedicated hero. He need not condemn all politicians as bad. There may be enemies but there is a friend for every enemy. Thus, the equations in life are wonderful. He must learn the dignity of labor and hard work. He should be taught the necessity of undergoing the pain of failure in order to appreciate success. He requests his son to stay away from envy and to enjoy quiet laughter. He wants him to teach his son that bullies accept defeat quickly. He also urges him to teach his son the wonders of reading books and deep quiet reflection on the beautiful mysteries of nature.

Given below is a well-known quotation.
“Cowards die many times before their death”.
Study the quotations and identify the adverse human qualities that are worse than ‘death’ and discuss the underlying message conveyed.
Greed and the craze to amass wealth through dishonorable methods is like dying years before one actually dies. Cowardliness is equally worse than death. Shakespeare has said, “the valiant die only once in their lifetime.”