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Question
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
“Life is hard; be steel; be a rock.”
- How should one face life?
- Identify the figure of speech in the above line.
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Solution
- One should face life-like steel.
- Metaphor
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RELATED QUESTIONS
What was the ‘shameful act’?
Read the poem again and complete the summary using the words given in box.
Stanzas 1–3
‘The Castle’ by Edwin Muir is a moving poem on the (1)______ of a well guarded (2)______ The soldiers of the castle were totally stress-free and relaxed. They were (3)______ of their castle’s physical strength. Through the turrets they were able to watch the mowers and no enemy was found up to the distance of (4)______ and so they seemed no threat to the castle. They had (5)______ of weapons to protect them and a large quantity of (6)______ in stock to take care of the well-being of the soldiers inside the castle. The soldiers stood one above the other on the towering battlements (7)______ to shoot the enemy at sight. They believed that the castle was absolutely safe because their captain was (8)______ and the soldiers were loyal.
| half-a-mile | watching |
| castle | brave |
| ration | capture |
| plenty | confident |
Stanzas 4–6
Even by a trick no one but the birds could enter. The enemy could not use a (9)______ for their entry inside the castle. But there was a wicket gate guarded by a (10) ______ He (11)______ in the enemies inside the famous citadel that had been known for its secret gallery and intricate path. The strong castle became(12)______ and thin because of the greedy disloyal warder. The (13)______ was captured by the enemies for (14)______ The narrator (15)______ over the (16)______ of the useless warder and also decided not to disclose this (17)______ story to anyone. He was (18)______ and wondered how he would keep this truth to himself. He regretted not finding any (19)______ to fight with the (20)______ called ‘gold’.
| lamented | shameful |
| wicked guard | bait |
| let | gold |
| weapon | citadel |
| weak | disloyalty |
| helpless | enemy |
How safe was the castle? How was it conquered?
Read the given line and answer the question that follow in a line or two.
| Oh then our maze of tunneled stone Grew thin and treacherous as air. The castle was lost without a groan, The famous citadel overthrown, |
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- What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanza?
Our gates were strong, our walls were thick,
Our captain was brave and we were true
How can this shameful tale be told?
Identify the figure of speech used in the following line.
A little wicked wicket gate.
Identify the figure of speech used in the following line.
Our only enemy was gold,
Why is the casuarina tree dear to poet’s heart?
Explain the following line with reference to the context.
It is the tree’s lament, an eerie speech,…
Which stage of man’s life is associated with the ‘shrunk shank’?
Why is the last stage called second childhood?
Read the given line and answer the question that follow.
Then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
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- Which stage of life is being referred to here by the poet?
- What are the characteristics of this stage?
- How does the boy go to school?
- Which figure of speech has been employed in the second line?
What does he think of the people of his kingdom?
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Identify the figure of speech employed in the following line.
There lies the port the vessel puffs her sail
Read the set of line from the poem and answer the question that follow.
Little remains: but every hour is saved
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Read the set of line from the poem and answer the question that follow.
That ever with a frolic welcome took
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List the roles and responsibilities Ulysses assigns to his son Telemachus, while he is away.
What has twisted good men into thwarted worms?
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
“Life is a soft loam; be gentle; go easy.” And this too might serve him.
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- Identify the figure of speech in the above line.
Read the line given below and answer the question that follow.
..........Free imaginations
Bringing changes into a world resenting change.
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Who took the city of Ratisbon by storm?
Why was the rider in a hurry?
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‘I’m killed, Sire!’ And, his Chief beside, Smiling, the boy fell dead.
