Poem : Once Upon A Time 2.

Well, ego it might be pleased enough

Poet : Gabriel Okara But zealous athletes play so rough…
Explanation : In this poem Gabriel Okara tells about the fake like a) What pleases the ego?
of the modern people. Replace positions with the winners.
i. ‘But now they only laugh with their teeth, b) Why are athletes often so rough during play?
While their ice-block-cold eyes…’ Athletes play rough to win.
a) Who are ‘they’? 3. When officialdom demands
Modern people. Is there a doctor in the stands?
b) Explain: ice-block-cold eyes
a) Why are doctors called from stands by the sponsors?
Eyes lacking a feeling of warmth or endearing expression.
Or To treat the injured athletes.
Ice-block-cold eyes --- Fake eyes. b) Why does the poet make such an observation?
c) Identify the figure of speech used here. He wants to be a spectator only.
Metaphor. 4. When snaps the knee and cracks the wrist-
ii. ‘Most of all, I want to relearn a) Identify the figure of speech.
How to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror Onomatopoeia.
Shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!’
a) Why does the poet want to relearn how to laugh?
Because he laughs like a snake’s bare fangs. Poem: Lines Written in Early Spring
b) Whom does the poet want to relearn from? Poet : William Wordsworth
From his son. Explanation: In this poem William Wordsworth says that nature
c) Mention the figure of speech used here. is the great source of joy for human beings.
Simile.
Poem : Confessions of a Born Spectator 1. And it is my faith that every flower
Poet : Ogden Nash Enjoys the air it breathes.
Explanation: In this poem the poet Ogden Nash admires athletes a) What is the poet’s faith?
but he always wishes to be a spectator only. Every flower enjoys the air it breathes.
1. With all my heart I do admire b) What trait of nature do we see here?
Athletes who sweat for fun or hire Nature makes all happy.
a) Whom does the poet admire? c) Is nature or man more powerful?
The poet admires the athletes. Nature is more powerful than man.
b) For what reason do the athletes sweat? d) Identify the figure of speech?
The athletes sweat for fun or hire. Olfactory Imagery.
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 b) Why does the flying squad feel disappointed?
2. And I must think, do all I can, The flying squad failed to catch Macavity. (Or)
That that there was pleasure there When they reach the scene of crime – Macavity is not there.
a) What did the poet notice about the twigs? 3. He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake;
The twigs try to catch the breezy air. And when you think he’s half asleep, he’s always wide awake.
b) What was the poet’s thought about then? a) Explain the comparison made here.
Nature makes all happy. The cat sways his head from side to side, with movements like a
3. It this belief from heaven be sent, snake.
If such be Nature’s holy plan. b) What does he pretend to do?
a) What does ‘heaven’ refer to? He pretends to be half asleep.
Heaven refers to God. c) Who is he?
b) Why does the poet call it ‘holy’? He is Macavity.
Nature gives joy. It is God’s plan. d) Mention the figure of speech.
Simile.
Poem : Macavity – The Mystery Cat
Poet : T.S. Eliot 4. For he’s a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity
Explanation: The poet T.S. Eliot amusingly lists out the mischief a) How is the cat described in this line?
of a cat. The cat is a fiend in feline shape.
b) Explain the phrase ‘monster of depravity’.
1. Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw Macavity has all evil qualitities.
a) Does the poet talk about a real cat?
No, the poet does not talk about a real cat. 5. And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard’s
b) Why is he called the Hidden Paw? a) What seems to be a challenge for the Scotland Yard?
Because he is a master criminal. To arrest Macavity with evidence.
or b) Why do they need his footprints?
Because he leaves no crime evidence. To arrest Macavity with evidence.
c) Whose footprints do the police need and why?
2. He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair: Foot prints of Macavity. To arrest Macavity with evidence.
For when they reach the scene of crime — Macavity’s not there!
a) What is ‘Scotland Yard’? d) Pick out the words in alliteration.
The Headquarters of London Metropolitan Police Service. Footprints-found – file
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6) ‘It must have been Macavity!’ but he’s a mile away. 3. We are proud of the position we
a) What is Macavity blamed for? Hold; humble as we are,
Stealing important documents from Foreign office. a) What is the speaker proud of?
b) Where is he? The position he holds.
He is a mile away. b) How is the speaker both humble and proud?
7. There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity. Proud of his position being humble.
a) Which cat is being talked of here? c) Pick out the alliteration words.
Macavity. We – we, proud – position, hold – humble.
b) How is he different from the rest?
He leaves no crime evidence. (or) 4. He, who does not stoop, is a king we adore,
With deceitfulness and suavity. We bow before competence and merit;
a) Who is adored as a king?
Poem : Everest is not the Only Peak A man does not stoop for benefits.
Poet : Kulothungan b) What is valued and respected?
Explanation: The poet Kulothungan advises all to be best in Competence and merit of a person.
whatever they do. c) What is the figure of speech used in the first line?
Metaphor.
1. Our nature it is that whatever we try
We do with devotion deep and true. 5. Honour is property, common to all;
In dignity and pride no one need to be poor.
a) Who does ‘we’ refer to?
We refers to moral people. a) Who are considered rich?
b) How should we carry out our duties? One with dignity and pride.
With devotion deep and true. b) What is their asset?
Honour is their assest.
2. Defeat we repel, courage out fort; c) What are the two things mentioned here as their strength?
a) How do we react to defeat? Dignity and pride.
We repel (hate) defeat. d) Is the tone of the line positive or negative?
b) Which is considered our stronghold? Positive.
Our stronghold is courage.
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Poem : The Hollow Crown 3. And nothing can we call our own but death;
Poet : William Shakespeare And that small model of the barren earth
Which serves as paste and cover to our bones.
Explanation : William Shakespeare says that human life is mortal.
Death is immortal and powerful. a) What does the ‘small model of the barren earth’ refer to?
The mud that covers the dead bodies.
1. Let’s talk of graves of worms and epitaphs
Make dust our paper, and with rainy eyes b) Why can’t we call nothing our own?
Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth. Death takes away human life.

a) Define the term ‘epitaph’. c) Is the king Richard II happy in speaking these words?
Writings on tombstone. No, he is not happy.
b) Mention the figure of speech used here.
Metaphor. d) What is the figure of speech used here?
c) What does the speaker want to write? Metaphor / Imagery.
The sorrow of life.
d) Explain – Rainy Eyes. e) Pick out the rhyming words in these lines.
Eyes with tears. (or) Sorrowful (Sad) eyes. Death – Earth.

2. And yet not so – for what can we bequeath, 4. All murdered – for within the hollow crown
Save our deposed bodies to the ground. That rounds the mortal temples of a king
Keeps Death his court; and there the antic sits.
a. What is the meaning of bequeath?
Give / Leave. a) What does antic mean?
Antic means a court jester (joker).
b) Who is the speaker?
King Richard II. b) Identify the figure of speech used in this line.
Personification.
c) What is the only thing we bequeath to our descendants?
Our dead bodies.