Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Perhaps the Earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.

Now I’ll count upto twelve

and you keep quiet and I will go.

(i) What does the Earth teach us? (1)

(ii) What does the poet mean to achieve by counting upto twelve? (1)

(iii) What is the significance of ‘keeping quiet’? (1)

Answer 1

(i) The Earth teaches us that there can be life under apparent stillness.

(ii) By counting upto twelve, the poet means to achieve peace and tranquility through introspection and self-analysis.

(iii) 'Keeping quiet' signifies the importance of silence, self-examination and introspection.