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प्रश्न
Discuss the following topic in groups of five and choose a representative to sum up the view and share them with the class.
‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal.’ It is the courage and perseverance that counts.
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उत्तर
India’s cricket team was beaten in the Test series in Africa. In fact, it was routed. The team’s morale was a little down. The team captain Virat Kohli told his team to focus on what they were good at (i.e) sterling performance in One Day Internationals. He believed in the youngest bowlers and told them to play the game, the way they loved to play. He still believed in them. They would have to prove who are the masters of the game. Gathering their broken hopes and courage, the Indian team players, snatched the ODI series from the overconfident South Africans. They went on to win the T20 series too against the hosts. Thus they proved that success is not final and failure never fatal. One may bounce back from failure if one persists long enough.
A king had lost a battle. All his soldiers had been scattered across the country. Heartbroken king Bruce was hiding in a cave. He saw a spider failing a number of times to spin a web. But it made it after about 20 attempts. This bolstered the confidence of the king. He refused to be controlled by failure. He defied defeat. He gathered his soldiers again and won the battle. These incidents throw much light on the truth that perseverance and courage count for success in life.
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
How does the poet compare his face with dresses?
What does the poet mean when he says ‘good bye’?
What pleasantries does the poet use to fake cordiality?
Explain the following lines with reference to the context.
Once upon a time, son They used to laugh with their eyes:
The poet is satisfied just watching the heroic deeds of others. What could be the reason?
The poet does not wish to exchange position with the runners. Why?
Complete the summary of the poem by filling in the blanks with the words given below.
The poet, in a relaxed state of mind, is sitting in a (1) ______. He reflects on how his mood brings (2) ______thoughts, which are inevitably followed by (3)______ones. He feels connected to all of nature, and senses an inherent joy in all (4)______. He has faith in the fact that all the primroses and periwinkles around him (5)______ the air they breathe. He feels that every bird in the grove moves with (6)______. As the twigs catch the breezy air, they do so with the same pleasure (7)______ all life on earth. This joy of nature seems to be heaven-sent. Nature’s holy plan is to offer joy and peace to all forms of life on earth. The poet’s pleasant train of thought slowly leads to the sad reflection of how mankind alone has wrought sorrow and (8)______ upon itself. He firmly believes that man is meant to spend his days blissfully taking part in the vitality and joy surrounding him in (9)______. He therefore concludes rhetorically, emphasizing that he has good reason to (10)______ the distress, man unnecessarily brings upon himself.
| creations | abundance | savour |
| pleasant | suffering | grove |
| lament | pervading | sorrowful |
| ecstasy |
Explain the following line with reference to the context in about four to five sentence each.
Have I not reason to lament
What Man has made of Man?
Read the following line and identify the figure of speech used in each extract.
To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran.
Read the poem once again. Identify the rhyme scheme and pick out the rhyming pairs of words.
The poet finds joy in various objects of Nature. Explain.
What makes the fakir stare in wonder?
Why does the poet say Macavity is ‘outwardly’ respectable?
Mention any two qualities of Macavity.
Why is Macavity called the ‘Napoleon of Crime’?
Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.
‘It must have been Macavity!’ but he’s a mile away.
- What is Macavity blamed for?
- Where is he?
Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
- Which cat is being talked of here?
- How is he different from the rest?
Identify the literary devices used in the following lines:
- He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake.
- They say he cheats at cards.
Give four instances where the poet has used alliteration in the poem.
Identify the following personalities and their fields of achievement.
| Name | Field | |
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- Mention a remarkable achievement of any of these personalities.
- What quality do you admire the most in each of these achievers?
- What are the qualities that you may share with them?
- Name a few more popular personalities who have made our nation proud.
- ______.
- ______.
- ______.
- ______.
Which quality does the speaker wish to nourish? What is his mission?
What does the ladder symbolize?
The historical background:
The poem is an extract from William Shakespeare’s play King Richard the Second. The play is based on true events that occurred towards the end of the 14th century.
Richard II was crowned the King of England in the year 1367. He continued to be the British Monarch until 1399, when he was deposed by his cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke, who crowned himself King Henry the Fourth in the same year. Shakespeare’s play is a dramatic rendition of the last two years of King Richard II’s life. In this brief span of time, he was ousted from his royal position and sent to prison, where he died in captivity.
The following extract is set in the Coast of Wales. King Richard and some of his followers awaited the arrival of the Welsh army [after facing defeat at the hands of his cousin, Bolingbroke], of about 10000 warriors. But to their shock and surprise, they received the message that the army was not coming to their rescue. His followers tried to boost their King’s courage against the news, only in vain. When Richard came face to face with the reality of his terrible fate, he spoke the following verse, famously known as the “Hollow Crown” speech in theatrical circles. In it, King Richard is reminded of the power of Death that overshadows everything else, including the power of rulers, and renders them as powerless as any commoner at a moment’s notice.
What are the various functions and objects given up by a defeated king?
Explain the following line with reference to the context in about 5 to 8 line:
“Our lands, our lives, and all are Bolingbroke’s,
And nothing can we call our own but death;”
Explain the following line with reference to the context in about 5 to 8 line:
“Comes at the last, and with a little pin
Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king!”
Working with your partner, discuss the following adages and share your views with the class. You may need to give your ideas and justify your point of view. Remember to take turns while making your presentation/short speech.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown
Read the poem once again carefully and identify the figure of speech that has been used in each of the following line from the poem:
“How can you say to me, I am a king?”
Based on your reading of King Richard’s speech, answer the following questions in about 100 - 150 words each. You may add your own ideas if required to present and justify your point of view.
Death has been cited in many ways in this monologue. Identify the poetic devices used in those references.








