Check Your Understanding (Page 222)
I Fill in the
blanks with one word from the poem.
In this poem, the poet reflects that words fail to truly satisfy what the heart wants to convey. Words are compared to summer birds who 1. depart, leaving nothing behind. The heart, is equated to a 2. pilgrim who finds that words are as worthless as 3. weeds when needed. He feels that a few sincere words can bring more 4. joy than many meaningless ones. He adds that a voice that brings happiness to a 5. lonely / sunny place does not say much, but the few words it does, are very precious. Moreover, if words could satisfy us, the 6. world would celebrate but words often fail to do that. The poem ends on the note that empty words may look impressive with lots of flowers, but they cannot produce anything valuable, like a 7. fruit.
II Let us
appreciate the poem.
1. Rhyme Scheme
and Rhyming Words: The rhyme scheme of the poem is abab for each stanza. Four
sets of rhyming words include heart/depart, care/air, earth/worth,
and needs/weeds.
2. Poetic Devices:
(i) Simile ("like summer
birds") - compares fleeting words to migrating birds.
(ii) Metaphor ("heart, a
pilgrim upon earth") - compares the human heart to a traveler on a
spiritual journey.
(iii) Simile ("as little
worth / As just so many weeds") - emphasizes the uselessness of empty
words.
(iv) & (v) Hyperbole /
Metaphor - exaggerates emotional satisfaction and feasts to show words fall
short.
(vi)
& (vii) Metaphor - compares showy speakers to plants that bloom
flowers but bear no fruit.
3. Repetition: Words like
'words', 'heart', 'cheer', and 'satisfy' are repeated to reinforce the central
theme that superficial speech lacks genuine emotional value.
4. Emotions in
Stanzas 4, 5, and 6: The correct option is (ii) 4. frustration, 5. admiration and 6.
disillusionment.
III Complete
the sentences with hyperboles.
1.
I have tonnes of things to do on this weekend.
2.
The player missed the basket by a mile.
3.
My mother is so tired that she can sleep for a decade.
4.
I will be back in two seconds.
Page 224 – 225 Critical Reflection
I Read the following lines and
answer the questions.
1. (i) Why has the poet referred to
the heart as 'a pilgrim'? 
Because life is viewed as a spiritual journey
where the heart travels seeking true emotional connection and peace.
1. (ii) When would a heart 'need'
words? When it seeks comfort, expression, or
emotional support during times of distress or loneliness.
1. (iii) The words are like weeds
because they grow abundantly without value and fail to
provide genuine nourishment or help.
1. (iv) Mention two emotions the
heart might be experiencing when it finds words to be of 'little worth'. Disappointment and loneliness.
1. (v) What do these lines suggest
about the nature of communication? They suggest that empty or excessive speech is
worthless compared to sincere, meaningful expressions.
2. (i) How can words 'satisfy the
chest'? By bringing deep emotional fulfillment and
curing inner heartache.
2. (ii) How can words be 'summoned
to the test'? When they are put into practical situations to
see if they genuinely comfort or help someone.
2. (iii) What does 'the world'
holding 'a feast' imply? It implies an abundance of joyous celebration
and emotional satisfaction.
2. (iv) The poet mentions that words
satisfy the least because superficial speech lacks true sincerity and
fails to provide genuine comfort.
2. (v) Select the word that does not
mean the same as 'oft'. A. always
II Answer the
following questions.
1. What is the
comparison that the poet draws between words and 'empty air'?
The poet compares words to summer birds that fly away and leave behind only empty air, signifying that spoken words quickly vanish and leave no lasting emotional substance behind.
2. According to
the poet meaningful words are more precious than a lot of them. Explain.
A few sincere and heartfelt words touch the soul directly and bring deep joy, whereas a large quantity of empty speech only reaches the head without creating any genuine emotional bond.
3. Do you agree
that the poet presents contrasting ideas related to 'words' in the poem? If
yes, why? If no, why not?
Yes, the poet contrasts superficial, showy, and meaningless words that look impressive like weeds or flowers without fruit with deep, sincere words that offer genuine comfort and touch the heart.
4. The theme of
loneliness hovers over the poem. Support this statement with examples from the
text.
The theme is evident when the poet mentions a "pilgrim upon earth" seeking help, a "lonely home to cheer" with few words, and a heart finding that words offer no care when support is needed most.
5. How does the
poet convey the superficial nature of words? What ought to be done to address
this?
The poet
conveys superficiality through metaphors of showy plants with roots that
produce no fruit. To address this, people should weigh their words carefully,
speak only what they truly mean, and value sincere actions over empty speech.
Page 226 Vocabulary in Context
I Match the
phrases in Column 1 with their correct meanings in Column 2.
1.
satisfy the heart (iv) makes one happy
2.
depart and leave but empty air (iii) there is no outcome
3.
hosts of words (i) many words
4.
never touch the heart (v) does not appeal to our emotions
5.
wins its sunny way (ii) cheers up a person
6.
plants that cannot grow fruit (vi) makes no impact
Page 227 Listen and Respond
I You will
listen to a conversation between a girl and a boy. Mark four statements from
1-6 that are true.
True
Statements: 2, 3, 4, 6 (The boy was doubtful about the topic
suitability; the girl explained people keep personal experiences private; the
boy was unaware of body language roles; and the girl had previously issued the
book from the library).
