Author name: Prasanna

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers Nine Gold Medals

Nine Gold Medals Questions and Answers

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

1. The athletes had come from all over the country
To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months of training
All coming down to these games.

Question 1.
Where did the athletes ‘come from all over the country’? Why?
Answer:
The athletes came ‘from all over the country’ to the venue of the Special Olympics. The name of the venue for the concluding event, alluded to in the poem, is ‘old field’. The athletes reached there to win medals for their brilliant performance.

Question 2.
What do the words ‘gold’, ‘silver’ and ‘bronze’ stand for in the extract? Do you think the contestants were prepared well for the event? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
The words ‘gold’, ‘silver’ and ‘bronze’ stand for gold medal, silver medal and bronze medal, respectively. These are the top three honours of any high- level sports competition. The contestants were certainly prepared well for the event. As the poet says, they had undergone months of rigorous training before the game started.

Question 3.
What event is referred to here by the poet? What kind of athletes were they? What was their aim?
Answer:
The event referred to here by the poet is 100 metre-race in a Special Olympics. This is the most important of all events. Due to this, a large number people watch this event. The athletes described in the poem were participants who had been selected for the 100 metre-race. This event is regarded as the most important sports event. Their aim was to win the gold, silver and bronze medals in the Special Olympics. These medals are tokens of top honours that are conferred on best performing athletes.

Question 4.
How had they prepared themselves for the special event?
Answer:
All the athletes had prepared rigorously for the special event. They had been trained by their coaches for several months. This training had boosted the level of their self-confidence so much that each of them wanted achieve the best and reach the zenith of glory by winning the top honour of the game.

Question 5.
What does this stanza tell you about the nature and level of the sports event referred to here?
Answer:
The first line states that athletes have ‘come from all over the country’. In the second line, we are informed that they have come to participate in a sports event where the best performers will receive awards that are usually given away at world’s premier sports competitions such as Olympic Games and Paralympics. Then, the next line tells us that the participating athletes have undergone long and consistent training before reaching the game’s site. This again suggests that the sports event referred to is a high-level multi-sport event.

2. The spectators gathered around the old field
To cheer on all the young women and men
The final event of the day was approaching
Excitement grew high to begin.

Question 1.
What sport event is referred to earlier in the context?
Answer:
The sport event referred to earlier in the context is 100 metre-race. This is the most popular of all events and is organised as the last or concluding one in any sports competition.

Question 2.
What does the poet’s reference to the spectators, who have gathered to watch the event, imply?
Answer:
The spectators were in a very cheerful and encouraging mood. They were passionate and curious to see their favourite contestants touching the finish line. They have been simply referred to as ‘young women and men’. This suggests that at least the visible majority of them are young. This also suggests that 100-metre race is very popular among youngsters in general.

Question 3.
Which event was about to begin?
Answer:
The event that was about to begin was the 100 metre-race. There was a huge and enthusiastic crowd of spectators waiting eagerly for the contestants to start running. The air was filled with excitement as everyone was keenly looking forward to welcoming the most outstanding sprinters claiming the top three medals.

Question 4.
Which phrase has been used by the poet to describe the venue or the place where the event is going to take place? What does this imply?
Answer:
The phrase used by the poet to describe the venue is ‘the old field’. It implies that this field is the preferred venue for the most important of all athletic events. It’s also possible that any other field, which could have been referred to as ‘the new field’, might not be fully prepared to organize this event.

Question 5.
What does this stanza tell -you about the temperament of the spectators?
Answer:
According to the poet, the spectators who have assembled are passionate and ardent lovers of the game. They are very excited and are eagerly looking forward to watching the proceedings of the event and the performance of athletes participating in it.

3. The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners all charging ahead
But the smallest among them, he stumbled and staggered
And fell to the asphalt instead.

Question 1.
During the race, who had the bad luck? What happened to him? What were his feelings then?
Answer:
During the race, one of the runners had the back luck. While running for the medal in the 100 metre-race, he suddenly fell down. He was extremely sad and dejected after this.

Question 2.
What strange thing happened?
Answer:
When the nine athletes started running, one of them suddenly stumbled and fell down. Such incidents may happen sometimes and people forget them, as the focus is always on the athlete who touches the finish line before others. It’s on the basis of their performance that the quickest of them gets the top honour, i.e. gold medal. But as the poet says, that did not happen in the Special Olympics described here. When one of the athletes fell on the ground, the other athletes stopped running and turned around to help the one who had fallen. Then, they all joined hands and started walking rather than running to the finish line.

Question 3.
Which phrase has been used to indicate that the race has started? Which is the only word that describes the physical feature of the athlete who falls? Why were the runners charging ahead?
Answer:
The phrase ‘the pistol exploded’ indicates that the race has started. The superlative degree adjective ‘smallest’ used here describes his physical feature. The runners described here are athletes participating in a 100-metre race. They are charging ahead to reach the target within a specific timeframe, already fixed for the race.

Question 4.
Do you think that the sight of an athlete falling during the course of a race is unusual? What does this result in?
Answer:
Yes, this is something unusual but not impossible. After all, athletes too are human beings and so, despite all their preparation, they may be disturbed or distracted by something. As per the rules, if an athlete falls during the course of the race, he is normally given no second chance to rectify his mistake.

Question 5.
How did the shortest of the athletes reacted to what happened to him later?
Answer:
The shortest of the athletes participating in the race fell down while running for top honours. He knows that the chances of his success have been spoilt due to his sudden fall. This would amount to end of his long-cherished and the effort he has made to realize it. Thinking all this, he is unable to restrain himself and gives out a cry. His crying indicated his deep frustration and sense of failure.

4. He gave out a cry in frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts all dashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling this story
The same goes for what next occurred.
The eight other runners pulled up on their heels
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they all turned around and went back to help him
And brought the young boy to his feet.

Question 1.
What were his dreams? What were his frustrations?
Answer:
Like every athlete, he wanted to win the 100 m-race. In order to prepare for this race, he had devoted a lot of time and energy. Naturally, when he fell down during the course of the event, he lost his heart. He was so frustrated that he began to cry.

Question 2.
What does the poet mean by the line: *The same goes for what next occurred’ ?
Answer:
Usually, the fall of an athlete during a race means his disqualification. This implies that he is out of the race and there is no possibility for him to join it again. At the same time, it also means that the race will continue for other participants. Here, the poet says that the situation is not going to be so easily predictable. In fact, these lines suggest that something unusual or unconven¬tional is going to follow, though the poet avoids giving any more description.

Question 3.
State in your own words what the eight other runners did. What did their action reflect on their attitude?
Answer:
When the shortest of the eight runners fell, the eight others immediately noticed this. They stopped running, turned back and helped the athlete, who had fallen, to stand up. Their action clearly showed that they attached primacy to human values and were more concerned about helping their rival in distress than only winning for individual glory and honour.

Question 4.
How do these lines bring out the main theme of the poem?
One by one they all turned around and went back to help him And brought the young boy to his feet
Answer:
These lines suggest the significance of true sportsmanship. When one of the nine athletes contesting for 100m-race slipped and fell on the ground, the other eight contestants could have continued to run towards the finish line. However, instead of doing so, they preferred to stop and approach the fallen contestant to help him. This great gesture of sensitivity, benevolence and self¬sacrifice shown by the eight athletes sets a very benchmark of morale and motivation for all sportspersons. It brings into focus the great significance of human values in the highly competitive arena of sports where each participant of any game fights for glory and accolade, treating others as rivals. The main theme of this poem is to highlight this aspect only.

Question 5.
Narrate what happened after the young boy was brought to his feet?
Answer:
When the young boy was brought to his feet, all the nine runners joined hands. They decided that they won’t continue the race as rivals competing with one another. Instead, they all joined hands like comrades and started walking together to the line of finish.

Question 6.
Why did the eight contestants give up their competitive spirit?
Answer:
The eight contestants attached more significance to humanitarian values under lying the spirit of sportsmanship rather than their competitive spirit that would earn them individual glory and honour. By their unique act, they proved thus, that competitive was important, but far more important was the spirit of the game.

Question 7.
How does the reaction of the eight athletes imply the spirit of sportsmanship?
Answer:
The spirit of sportsmanship motivates a sportsperson to play a game without being insensitive to basic human values. It basically means that though sportspersons participating in the same event compete for success and glory with the same intensity and anxiety, they must not treat one another as ‘enemies’. Here, the athletes have shown a high degree of sportsmanship by sacrificing their own dream, to help another athlete who was competing with them as a rival.

5. Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued
The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk
And a banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.

Question 1.
What does the first line mean?
Answer:
This line means that the nine athletes competing in the 100-metre race have ceased to be rivals. Instead they are friends now, and so they have no hurry now to leave one another behind in order to reach the target.

Question 2.
Why did the nine athletes join hands? What did their action of joining hands show? Why was the race reduced to a walk?
Answer:
They joined hands to show that they were not competitors in the game, but companions who could not see one another in distress. Their action of joining hands showed the highest level of sportsmanship. Once all the contestants joined hands, the race had lost its competitive significance. Thus, the act of running for individual honour or glory had ceased to be important. That is why the race was reduced to a walk.

Question 3.
What does the poet mean when he says, ‘The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk’?
Answer:
Here, the poet clarifies that the act of ‘running fast’, which is the core of 100-metre event, is not important now, as eight athletes have together decided not to continue it. Their purpose to help the ninth athlete is far more important than the dream of winning medals. That is why the typical ‘dash’ has been reduced to ‘walk’.

Question 4.
Who won the race in the end, as described later in the poem?
Answer:
As the poem describes, none of them emerged as the winner individually. This implies that the high level of sportsmanship shown by them made all the athletes winners. The organisers recognised this and decided to give gold medals to all of them.

Question 5.
How did the last event turned out to be special?
Answer:
The last event turned out to be special because of something that had never happened before. It did not reflect their skill, talent or quantum of training they had received as sportsmen. Instead, it showed their absolutely humanitarian approach to game setting a great standard of sportsmanship.

Question 6.
Give the meaning and significance of :
And the banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.
Answer:
In these lines, the poet categorically refers to the name of the sports tournament for the first time, i.e., Special Olympics. Such tournaments are organised throughout the world to encourage sportspersons and showcase their talent. Usually, such games do not gain media coverage and attention to the extent to which Summer and Winter Olympic Games do. By clearly mentioning the name of the tournament, the poet here tries to say that occasionally, less known tournaments witnessed historic incidents that set great standards for the entire world of sports.

6. That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And a standing ovation and nine beaming faces
Said more than these words ever will.

Question 1.
How did the race end? In what way was the ending appropriate?
Answer:
The race ended with all the nine athletes winning gold medals. The ending could not have been more appropriate. Due to their unique show of sportsmanship, they were applauded by the crowd and the event assumed historic significance. The organisers of the game aptly felt that all of them deserved gold medals.

Question 2.
How does this stanza capture the reaction of the spectators?
Answer:
We are informed that the nine athletes are accorded grand ovation for the great spirit shown by them. The spectacle is amazing and the spectators are also sensitive enough to understand the glory of the moment.

Question 3.
How did the contestants feel when they crossed the finish line together? Which words in the extract indicate their mood? How did the spectators react?
Answer:
They were extremely delighted when they crossed the finish line together. The ‘beaming faces’ of the contestants indicated their mood. The spectators gave them a standing ovation recognising their great gesture.

Question 4.
Why were all participants in the race awarded with gold medals?
Answer:
The organisers aptly felt that none of them was the sole winner of the game’s top honour. As a matter of fact, all of them equally deserved the honour by collectively contributing towards raising the standard of sportsmanship. That was the reason why all nine participants received gold medals.

Question 5.
How did the race in the Special Olympics become very special indeed?
Answer:
Each of the athletes participating in the Special Olympics was fired with the longing, zeal and passion to achieve the top honour. However, when one of them stumbled during the decisive course of the most important event, other contestants showed a great gesture of sportsmanship, unmindful of their individual claims to glory. To them, helping their rival was the most important motive. It was because of them that the Special Olympics became so special.

Question 6.
How does the poem show the value of true sportsmanship?
Answer:
True sportsmanship is not about winning medals by showing exce¬llence in terms of skill and competence. Basically, it’s about a sportsperson’s commitment to fundamental human values that he/she expresses while maintaining the competitive spirit of a game. In this poem, the athletes participating in a Special Olympics event show the highest degree of such commitment, just at the time when they are competing with one another for top honours. During the course of the event, when each of them is trying to move ahead of others, one of them falls down. This brings the eight other participants to a sudden halt as they immediately stop and turn back to help him stand on his feet. While doing so, they do not care for their own prospects of winning the competition.

Question 7.
What is the theme of the poem? How is it conveyed?
Answer:
The theme of the poem is the spirit of sportsmanship based on human values and humanitarian approach to sports. It is conveyed by the response of eight 100 metre-race contestants to the ninth contestant of the race who falls at the most critical moment. The eight athletes immediately rush towards the fallen athlete and help him. Thereafter, they no longer remain rivals competing for the top honour of the game. Instead, they establish camaraderie, thereby suggesting the precedence of the spirit of sportsmanship over competitive spirit.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

Chief Seattle’s Speech Summary by Chief Seattle

Chief Seattle’s Speech Summary About the Author

Chief Seattle (1780 – 7 June, 1866), a famous 19th century American Indian Chief of Duwamish and Suquamish tribe. He was a prominent leader of his time, much respected for his Native American wisdom and commitment towards maintaining the ecological balance of the ancestral lands that fell under his tribes’ ownership. He was a brave and courageous warrior chief. Seattle’s speech gave him wide popularity. The speech favoured ecological responsibility of Native Americans. However, the actual content of the speech is uncertain and much has been lost through translation and rewriting.

Chief Seattle’s Speech Summary

Chief Seattle was an important figure in the early American History. He was the chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes/fighting for the rights of his native people in the face of American Colonists. This famous speech was given by him when the American Colonists aggressively offered to buy the native land of his tribe and in return offered them the right to live there. His speech has been described as one of the most beautiful and moralistic words on the environment’s value.

In his speech, he stresses upon the importance of Nature and the need to respect it. He makes use of satire while describing the offer from the Great Chief of Washington. He says, that it is the benevolence of the Great Chief to offer their friendship, as the Americans are much powerful than the Red Indians who were once great, but now reduced to a handful. He reminds that the wars are destructive and they harm both, humans and nature. So they should be avoided. He also mentions that the God of the Whites is partial and He only protects them and not the Red Indians. He also points out at the difference of origin of both the races.

Seattle very emotionally emphasizes on the holiness of the ashes of their ancestors, thus their land is very precious to them. Therefore, accepting the proposal of acquisition of land from the Governor of Washington, he makes a request to grant them permission to visit the land which contains the ashes of their forefathers. Concluding his speech he says that, the Red Indians have such a strong attachment with their land that even after the death of the Red Indians, their spirits will never leave the land and thus, makes an appeal to the Whites to treat their land sympathetically as the dead people have the power to change the world.

Chief Seattle’s Speech Summary Word Meanings:

1. Yonder : Over there
2. Compassion : Sympathy
3. Prairies : Large grasslands of North America
4. Ruffled : Disturbed
5. Reproach : Disgrace
6. Relentless : Strict
7. Bristling : Brimming
8. Forsaken : Given up or left (someone or something) entirely
9. Prosperity : Success
10. Teeming multitude : A great number of people
11. Verdant : Green with growing plants
12. Sequestered : Withdrawn; secluded
13. Remnant : The left over part
14. Stolidly : Unemotionally
15. Proposition : Proposal
16. Swelter : To be very hot and uncomfortable
17. Sombre : Dull or dark
18. Solitude : Lonely places

Chief Seattle’s Speech Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
How does Chief Seattle compare the religion of the White man and the Red man in his speech?
Answer:
Chief Seattle in his speech says that the God of the White people is different from that of the Red man, because the White man’s God only thinks of the welfare of his people and ignores the Red men. In that case, their God cannot be a reality as God never differentiates between people and stands equal for all. He also mentions that the religion of the White man was ‘written upon tablets of stone by the iron finger of God, so that they many remember it. It is not felt by heart. Whereas, the Red man’s religion is ‘the traditions of our ancestors – they are dreams of their old men, given to them in solemn hours of night by the Great Spirit. Thus, the religion of the White man is artificial and mechanical which consists of some hard and fast rules that the native people cannot understand well.

Question 2.
‘The world views of White men and the Red Indians has marked differences’. Throw a light on this statement based on the speech by Chief Seattle.
Answer:
As a response to an offer made by the President of United States to buy their land, Chief Seattle, a Native American leader, delivers this inspiring speech. It remains the most beautiful and profound statement on the environment and related issues. Chief Seattle in his speech feels and argues that, it is impossible to buy or sell natural resources like, air, water and land, because we do not own them. They are a gift. He says that every part of the earth is sacred to him and his people; they are a part of the earth and the earth is a part of them.

Even the souls of the Native Americans do not leave their land. Instead, they make it their permanent residence. In short, the earth is not an inanimate tract of land, but a living presence to be treated with love, care, respect and fear. But the worldview of White men is entirely different. For them it is an object to be tamed, conquered and exploited to the full, until it ceases to be useful.

Though the President has promised to take care of them like their father, and provide them a special area to live and continue with all their customs and rituals, but it would not be easy to sell their dear and sacred land. The leader of the Red Indians, Chief Seattle, knew very well that they were handful so could not oppose the takeover, hence, he suggests some condition, for the transaction. He says that their land is sacred and inviolable and so they should also teach their children the same. He wants the White men to treat rivers and beasts as their own brothers because they had seen White men pollute rivers and shoot animals for the same of fun. He believes that every object in the Nature is connected with each other. Whatever happens to animals and land will happen to us sooner or later. None can escape this fate.

For his people, simple pleasure of Nature are more precious and more important than anything else. They treat rain, wind and land as living organisms, just like humans. He also expounds the holistic vision of his people according to which, there is only one God and he does not discriminate between people, White or Red, human beings hold equal position in his eyes. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on the creator.

Chief Seattle’s Speech Summary Extract Based Questions

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold, and which to us appears  changeless and eternal, may change.”
(i) Who speaks these lines? Provide a context.
(ii) What does he mean when he says, “Tomorrow it may be overcast with clouds.?”
(iii) What terms does Chief Seattle use to refer to the White chief? Why?
(iv) How does Chief Seattle in his speech describe the population of the White people and his?
(v) Why does Chief Seattle refer the ‘Red Indians’ as orphans?
Answer:
(i) The above lines form a part of the speech delivered by Chief Seattle, a leader of the Suquamish tribe of the Red Indians, who lived in the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1854, the United States Government aggressively offered to buy 2 million acres of land occupied by native people in the Northwest. This speech is a translation of excerpts from Chief Seattle’s reply to the Governor of Washington, in December of that year. His speech has been described as one of the most beautiful and prophetic statements on the environment ever made.

(ii) Chief Seattle in his speech says that, though things seemed to be favourable for them presently but future . may bring quite drastic changes as the Great Chief of Washington was planning to acquire their lands behind
a mask of friendship.

(iii) Chief Seattle ironically calls the White chief ‘kind’ as in spite of being so powerful he had sent the Red Indians greetings of friendship and goodwill, though they were quite scarce in number as compared to the White people.He calls him ‘good’, ‘great’ and ‘generous’ as he had offered to buy their land and in exchange allowed them just enough to live comfortably, which he says is quite wise as they did not need such a vast land to live on.

(iv) Chief Seattle says that, earlier his people were large in number and they covered the land as the waves of disturbed sea covering its shell-paved floor. But now they were just a handful, resembling the scattering trees on a plain swept by a,storm whereas, the people of the White chief were numerous, like the dense grass covering the vast prairies.

(v) Chief Seattle mentions that the God of the White cannot be their God because their God is partial towards them. He lovingly protects the White men as a father protects his son, but he has forsaken Seattle and his people. On the other hand, ‘The Great Spirit’ which is the God of the natives, has also forgotten his people because his tribe is almost on the verge of extinction. Thus, ‘they seem to be orphans who can look nowhere for help.’

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“But let us hope that the hostilities between us may never return. We would have everything to lose and nothing to gain.”
(i) What advice does the chief give to the youth?
(ii) Who is referred as ‘Our Father in Washington’? What protection has he offered to the natives?
(iii) How does Chief Seattle differentiate between the religion of the White men and the natives? How are the dead of the natives more loving than those of the White?
(iv) Inspite of all the differences, why does Chief Seattle say “we may be brothers after all?”
(v) What condition of surrender does the chief propose? Why does he say that White men will never be alone?
Answer:
(i) He says that the young people are impulsive and their anger towards real and imaginary wrongs makes them brutal and uncontrolled. He advices the youth to control their feeling of hostility in any circumstance because its their family that is left to suffer after their glorious sacrifice in the war. Thus, he discourages the youth from any war feeling.

(ii) Seattle refers to ‘George Washington’ as ‘our father’, as he would be soon taking control over them and their land. He has promised to protect the Native Americans from their foreign enemy tribes like ‘Haidas’ and ‘Tsimshians’, if they surrender or sell their land to the White colonists.

(iii) Chief Seattle in his speech says that the religion of the White men i.e., Christianity, was written by their God with an ‘Iron Finger’ which bound them with strict adherence to rules and principles. But the religion of the Red Indians has been passed on by their ancestors in the form of traditions and dreams given to them in sacred hours of night by the Great Spirit and their religion is the vision of their great leaders which has been inscribed on their hearts.

He also says that the dead of the White men cease to love their people and their land and wander away beyond the stars. Whereas, the dead of the Red Indians have a strong affinity towards their land, they never forget their beautiful world with lush green valleys, flowing rivers, majestic mountains and often wander affectionately around their sad and lonely people to provide them comfort and guidance.

(iv) The Chief realizes that soon their mighty tribe will face extinction, but there is no reason to mourn over it as this is the law of nature. He is relaxed at the thought that the White men, though much more powerful than them, will face the same ‘Common Destiny’. They too will decay sooner or later and their God will also not be able to protect them. Thus, the ‘Common Destiny’ will bind them as brothers and this will develop empathy in them.

(v) The condition of surrender that he presents to the White men is that, the Red Indians should be allowed to visit the graves of their dead without any prohibition. He also requests them to treat their land sympathetically because according to him, the dead were not powerless and the people who die merely change the world. The Chief says that the White men will never be alone because even if the Natives vanish, their spirits will always occupy their native land.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

The Heart of a Tree Summary by Henry Cuyler Bunner

The Heart of a Tree Summary About the Poet

Henry Cuyler Bunner (born August 3, 1855, New York-died May 11, 1896, New Jersey) was a poet, novelist and editor. His verse and stories provided vivid descriptions of the place where he lived and the people that he observed around him. He was a prolific writer. In 1893, he had a book published called “Made in France”: “French Tales Retold” with a United States Twist’. Earlier titles included- “The Midge (1886)” and “The Story of a New York House” which came out the following year.

Bunner produced a number of poetry collection including ‘Airs from a ready and Elsewhere’ (1884), Rowen (1892) and Poems (1896).

One of his short storifes “The Tower of Babel” was staged in 1883. Another one, ‘Zenobia’s Infidelity’ was made into a Hollywood movie.

The Heart of a Tree Summary

Man has been causing an immense destruction to nature by cutting down trees for his greed for agricultural land, timber and fuel, which is causing a big threat to our environment. ‘The Heart of a Tree’ is based on the universal concern and it discusses the various advantages we gain by planting a tree. The poet has praised the act showing that, it not only helps life on earth but also plays a major role in the nation’s growth.

The refrain of the poem before every stanza, ‘What does he plant who plants a tree?’ is a rhetorical question which is answered by the poet himself, explaining the worthiness and significance of planting a tree.

He has highlighted the achievement of the planter in three different stanzas, every stanza shedding light on various reasons as to, why the planter’s work should be considered divine and noble.

The Heart of a Tree Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1. “What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
The shaft of beauty, towering high;
He plants a home to heaven anigh;
For son and mother-croon of bird
In hushed and happy twilight heard
The treble of heaven’s harmony
These things he plants who plants a tree.”

Explanation: In the first stanza, the poet explains the value of planting a tree by telling that, the one who plants a tree is planting a friend of sun and sky. A plant grows upwards as if aiming to touch the sky and the sun and they all become friends. The tree requires sunlight from the sun and carbon-dioxide from air to survive. Thus, it absorbs the sun’s heat and saves the earth from the scorching sun and releases oxygen, making the air pure. Then, the poet compares the leafy branches to a flag which flutter with the cool and free wind. While the trunk of the tree acts as the pole of the flag standing high, it also redefines beauty.

The tree, which one plants, becomes the shelter for many mellifluous mother birds which sing to their little ones. She sings a gentle tone during twilight which creates an atmosphere of serenity and bliss. Her song (with a rising pitch) mingles with the melody of heaven, in perfect harmony.

Thus, who plants a tree, indirectly plants all these things.

Word Meanings

1. Flag of breezes — Flag that flutters freely in the mild wind.
2. Shaft — Pole, bar
3. High — Near
4. Croon — To sing in a low soft voice, (a lullaby)
5. Hushed — Calm, peaceful
6. Treble — The highest range of sounds used in music, high pitched tone or sound.

Stanza 2. “What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
The shaft of beauty, towering high;
He plants a home to heaven anigh;
For son and mother-croon of bird
In hushed and happy twilight heard
The treble of heaven’s harmony
These things he plants who plants a tree.”

Explanation: In the second stanza, the poet further discusses by repeating the question and trying to answer it himself. The tree provides shade to man and animals. It binds the soil by retaining moisture. It is proved that trees help in bringing rain. Plants transpire, which leads to formation of clouds due to condensation, leading to rains.

Now, the poet talks about the benefit that the future generation will reap from the trees that one plants now. The tree contains the ‘seed and bud’, which would years later, bloom into new trees and forests, after the present one withers away. Thus, planting a tree now will bear fruits for the next generation, who would be joyous to receive this blessing and heritage. Trees are responsible for the ‘fade & flush’ of years

i. e. the seasonal cycle. The trees make the otherwise very dull plains, beautiful.

Thus, a person who plants a tree now, is making way for provision of many gifts for generations to come in the form of food, timber, rain, shade and natural beauty, consequently paving way for the prosperity of human race.

Word Meanings

1. Cool shade – Shelter from the blazing heat of the sun.
2. Seed and bud of days to be – Seeds and buds that will bloom into flowers and trees in future.
3. Years that fade and flush again – Refers to seasonal cycle
4. Glory of the plain – Greenery
5. Heritage – Legacy
6. Harvest – Yield; productive result
7. Unborn eyes – Future generation

Stanza 3. “What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
The shaft of beauty, towering high;
He plants a home to heaven anigh;
For son and mother-croon of bird
In hushed and happy twilight heard
The treble of heaven’s harmony
These things he plants who plants a tree.”

Explanation: In the third stanza, the poet says that a man who plants a tree which is made of ‘sap’, leaf and wood,’ tends to show his love and sense of duty towards the society he lives in. He is full of obligation towards his neighbours and, in fact, the entire humanity. ‘His’ in capital gives a divine place to the planter of the tree because he is at a higher position of ‘giving’ his blessing to the society, which is a Godlike action. He carries the sapling to be planted in his folded hands, in the same manner as God carries the power to elate mankind in his benevolent hands.

This generous act from the one who plants a tree could lead to the progress of a rtation from sea to sea, i.e., it would lead to the econqpiic growth of a country through import and export within the countries.

Thus, we can see that the poet has made an attempt throughout the entire poem, to highlight the greatness of the man who plants a tree. Firstly, he aids in maintaining the ecological balance. Secondly, he passes on the beautiful heritage to his future generation to live a happy life. And thirdly, he shows “man’s contribution towards his fellow beings as well as his nation. Altogether, a tree is a boom for mankind.

Word Meanings

1. Sap – The fluid part of a plant
2. Civic good – Benefit of society, public welfare
3. Neighbourhood – Fellow being

The Heart of a Tree Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :

Stanza 1.
“What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
The shaft of beauty, towering high;
He plants a home to heaven anight;
For son and mother – croom of bird
In hushed and happy twilight heard
The treble of heaven’s harmony
These things he plants who a tree
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
(ii) Why does the poet begin the poem with the refrain, ‘What does he plant who plants a tree?’
(iii) How does a tree become a friend of sun and sky?
(iv) How does a man ‘plant the flag of breezes free’? Why is the plant referred as the shaft of beauty?
Answer:
(i) The poem is, ‘The Heart of the Tree1 and the poet is ‘Henry Cuyler Bunner’.

(ii) The poet begins the poem with this refrain because he wants to highlight the thought that, how beneficial it is to plant a tree and the one who plants, does a marvellous job towards mankind.

(iii) The tree grows upward and gains sunlight for photosynthesis. It protects the earth from the scorching heat of the sun. It also purifies the air by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. Thus, it is considered as a friend of sun and sky.

(iv) The poet here compares the leafy branches of the tree to a flag. The breeze flutters the branches like it flutters a flag.
The trunk of the tree is compared to the beautiful pole shaft of the flag that holds the tall aerial part firmly to the ground.

(v) ‘Home to heaven anigh’, means a ‘home similar to heaven’.
The tree becomes an abode to birds, where the mother bird sings melodiously to its baby in the serene twilight, and her song blends with the melody of the heavenly music.

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Stanza 2.
What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants cool shade and tender rain,
And seed and bud of days to be,
And years that fade and flush again;
He plants the glory of the plain;
He plants the forest’s heritage;
The harvest of a coming age;
The joy that unborn eyes shall see
These things he plants who plants a tree

What does the poet mean when he says, “seed and buds of the days to be”?
(ii) Discuss some advantages the plants provide to the humans and the environment?
(iii) What does the poet mean by ‘unborn eyes’? What joy will the ‘unborn eyes’ see?
(iv) Give the meaning of
(a) cool shade (b) fade and flush again
(v) Explain ‘the forest’s heritage, and ‘harvest of the coming age.’
Answer:
(i) The poet here wants to emphasize the importance of trees for the future generation.
It produces seeds that will grow and buds that will bloom for our children in future.
(ii) The trees provide shelter to the people from the sweltering heat of the sun. They help in the seasonal cycle. They invite the beautiful tender rain. They give a scenic beauty to the plains. Thus, the trees not only beautify the environment, but also provide the humans with pure air, food, wood and medicines.
(iii) The ‘unborn eyes’ are the eyes of the children yet to be bom i.e., the future generation.
The ‘unborn eyes’ will be lucky enough to reap the benefits of the trees that are planted now. They will see the plants grown up into big trees, that will provide them with shelter against sun and abundant gifts of nature like the rain, fruits, timber, pure air, etc.
(iv) (a) cooling shelter (b) refers to the seasonal cycle
(v) The poet wants to explain that the one who plants a tree, paves a way for many more seeds and buds that will grow into numerous new trees contributing to the forest wealth of the nation. The future generation will then have ample harvest to enjoy in the days to come.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :

Stanza 3.
I What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants, in sap and leaf and wood,
In love of home and loyalty
And far-cast thought of civic good
His blessings on the neighbourhood,
Who in the hollow of His hand
Holds all the growth of all our land
A nation’s growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.
(i) What is the tree made of? What feeling does the planter highlight?
(ii) How does the planter bless his neighbourhood?
(iii) Whom does capital ‘His’ refer to? What does he carry in the hollow of his hand? What is the significance of the’hollow’?
(iv) In what way does a Nation’s growth depends upon planting trees?
(v) What stirs in the heart of the planter?
Answer:
(i) The tree is made of the juicy sap, leaf and wood. The planter shows his love and loyalty for his home i.e., the earth; his sense of duty towards his civilization and forwards his blessings to his neighbourhood.

(ii) The man who plants a tree blesses his fellow beings with food which is provided by the sap and leaves of the plants. Besides, they can get timber for their professional and domestic use.

(iii) The capitalization of ‘His’ signifies the power and importance of the man who carries the sapling in the hollow of his hand to plant it, because by planting a sapling he is helping in creating the destiny of the nation. The ‘hollow’ shows that he is giving something to his people. He is a benevolent giver. He holds in his hands the progress of humanity and the growth of universe.

(iv) According to the poet, a planter does a generous job by planting a tree which leads to other subsequent goods, which reflects growth and progress. Forests provide useful resources like wood, honey, rubber, medicine, etc., thus strengthening the nation financially. Trees control pollution, global warming and climatic disbalance.

(v) A country’s economic progress relies to a great extent on its import and export with other countries. The trees provide products which are used to trade within other nations. Thus, the one who plants a tree works for larger benefits, leading to the enrichment of the economy of a country.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

Old Man at the Bridge Summary by Earnest Hemmingway

Old Man at the Bridge Summary About the Author

Ernest Hemingway( 21 July 1899 – 2 July 1961), started his career as a journalist at the age of seventeen. During the First World War, he joined a volunteer ambulance unit in the Italian army. After being wounded and spending much time in hospitals, he returned back, and devoted himself to fiction writing. His first important work being ‘The Sun Also Rises’ (1926). Then equally successful was, ‘A Farewell to Arms’ (1929).

We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding. in this article, we are covered Old Man At The Bridge Summary

His other famous novels being ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ (1940) and ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ (1952). He received the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for the latter. In this work, Hemingway usually portrays people like soldiers, hunters etc. whose courage and honesty are set against the hardships of the modem society. His fiction mostly contains gloominess and pessimism .

Old Man at the Bridge Summary

The plot of the story is set at a pontoon bridge near the Ebro Delta, on an Easter Sunday, during the Spanish Civil War. The enemy attack is anticipated. The area is being evacuated. All civilians are crossing the bridge to save themselves. The narrator, who was a young army officer, had the duty to watch the advancement of the enemy, notices an old man, the protagonist of the story, sitting by the side of the road. He wore steel framed spectacles and very dusty clothes.

The officer is constantly keeping a watch across the bridge. He observes that the people and the cart on the bridge were reducing. He finally approaches the old man and questions him. The old man tells him that he had just travelled two kilometers from his village of San Carlos and cannot walk further as he is extremely tired. He adds that he was the last man to leave the village. There his duty was to take care of his animals which consisted of a cat, two goats and four pairs of pigeons. They were his family and he was very anxious about them. He says that the cat will be fine because cats can look after themselves, but he doesn’t know what will happen to the other animals.

The narrator who was nervously awaiting the advent of the enemy is concerned about the old man’s safety and tells him to walk up the road and catch a ride on a truck to Barcelona. But the old man states that he is seventy six years old, had already travelled much and will not be able to go any further. All the more, the safety of his animals was disturbing him.

But the narrator assures him that his animals will be fine. The pigeons will fly away, but the old man still worries about the goats. The narrator consoles him saying it is better not to think about it. The old man takes an effort to get up and walk but he is too exhausted and is unable to proceed. The story ends with the narrator thinking that the old man’s only luck is that the cats can look after themselves and that the day is overcast so the fascists aren’t able to launch the planes

Old Man at the Bridge Summary Word Meanings:

1. Steel rimmed : Steel framed
2. Pontoon bridge : Bridge made of flat bottomed boats
3. Staggered : Moved unsteadily
4. Plodded : Walked slowly and usually heavily
5. Shepherd : A person who tends sheep
6. Artillery : A part of an army that uses large guns
7. Politics : Political view
8. Forks : A place where something (like a road or river) divides into two.
9. Urged : Persuaded
10. Swayed : To swing slowly
11. Easter Sunday : The Sunday on which the Christians celebrate the return of Jesus Christ to life following his death
12. Fascists : BeLievers of fascism which is an ideology that supports dictatorship.
13. Overcast : Darkened by clouds

Old Man at the Bridge Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Answer the following question with reference to Ernest Hemmingway’s short story, ‘The Old Man at the Bridge’.Explain why the narrator takes so much time to converse with the old man. Use details from the story to support your answer.
Answer:
In the story, the two main characters, i.e., the old man and the narrator, are faced with the reality in which they find themselves powerless. The old man is not only physically weak to save his life by escaping from the approaching army but also emotionally drained to continue on at the cost of leaving his hometown and his family which constituted of few animals. He is 76 years old, has already come 12 kms and can go no further. He sits in the dust on the side of the road while rest of the people go right past him.

The officer is constantly looking across the bridge. The vacation is almost complete. Therefore, the old man cannot be allowed to stay any longer. It is his duty to make everyone clear the area and reach a safer place. So, he tries to convince the old man about the safety of his animals. The officer too must be worried about his own safety. He consoles the old man saying, “Why, they’ll probably come through it all right.” But when the old man is still scared about his pigeons he tells him, “Yes, certainly they’ll fly. But the others, it’s better not to think about the others.”

Question 2.
Answer the following question with reference to Ernest Hemmingway’s short story, ‘The Old Man at the Bridge’. What statements from the story suggest that the old man is about to give up on life? Quote specific statement to support your answer.
Answer:
The old man mentioned in the story, is sitting by the side of the dusty road. The lines which show this are, “But the old man sat there without moving. He was too tired to go any farther.”

He watched the people crossing the bridge with soldiers helping them, but he does not even ask for any help. When the narrator asks him about his politics, he said he was without politics, but he also mentions, ‘I am seventy – six years old. I have come twelve kilometers now and I think now I can go no further.”

These lines show that he was giving up his efforts to carry on and save himself from the enemy attack. When the narrator tells him that he could go to Barcelona. He says, “I know no one in that direction”, which again highlights that he had no interest in starting life afresh in a new surrounding. “I was only taking care of animals”, confirm his helplessness and failure.

Question 3.
Answer the following question with reference to Ernest Hemmingway’s short story, ‘The Old Man at the Bridge’. How does Hemingway show that war disrupts the lives of ordinary people? Is this portrayal realistic? Explain why you think so.
Answer:
The short story, ‘Old Man at the Bridge’, is about a conversation between a soldier and an old man who had to leave his hometown during the Spanish Civil War. The story conveys the subsequent problems of helpless victims especially old people. The story is based upon an Easter Sunday stopover at the Ebro River. The old man was a reflection of a war victim. We are informed that the old man’s family consisted of only animals and he was 76 years old. He travelled twelve kilometers and could not travel further.

The war has affected his mind and living. He had to leave his native place where he lived comfortably and harmlessly with his animals. He further says, that he was without politics ‘yet his life gets destroyed due to politics and the war’.

The poet mentions that it was Easter Sunday, which portrays an iconic contrast as the day of the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus will be the day another innocent victim who will be crucified and would be sacrificed to the monster of war.The prominent reason the narrator seems to be talking to the old man at such length is that, he is concerned about his safety, but he wants to build some extent of mutual trust and understanding before advising him to flee. Undoubtedly, the racist soldiers would shoot him if he stayed there.

Thus in this story, Hemmingway shows that though there are wars, they are presented as a glorious and majestic. The basic fact is hidden. So many people who do not even participate in the war become the worst victims. No one speaks about them, the tragedy they face. They become homeless and foodless. The old man is a symbol of such victims. A 76 years old man, has to escape and suffer for no reason during the war.

After the war people will talk about heroism and victory, this old man will find no place in their memory or talks. Hemmingway finds this a disturbing fact and has tried to portray the uglier side of war, the destruction and distress caused by it. Whichever party wins, the common man is the guaranteed loser.

Old Man at the Bridge Summary Extract Based Questions

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“There were not so many carts now and very few people on foot, but the old man was still there.”
(i) Who is the speaker in the above extract? Where is he? What is his job?
(ii) Where are the carts and people going? Why? Where was the old man?
(iii) Why doesn’t the old man move? What was he wearing?
(iv) What made of the old man smile?
(v) Describe the scene at the pontoon bridge?
Answer:
(i) The narrator, who is an army officer, is the speaker. He is on a pontoon bridge in an African looking country of the Ebro Delta. His duty is to cross the bridge and check how far the enemy had advanced.

(ii) The carts and the people are crossing the bridge to get to a safer place from the advancing enemy force. The old man sat by the side of the road, near the bridge.

(iii) The old man doesn’t move because he is very tired to go any further as he had already walked twelve kilometres. He was wearing steel rimmed spectacles, and very dusty clothes.

(iv) On being asked by the narrator, where did he come from, the old man replied, “San Carlos”. The mention of gave him pleasure and made him smile.

(v) The narrator describes that several trucks, carts, men, women and children were crossing the pontoon bridge. The soldiers helped by pushing against the spokes of the wheels of the staggering mule-carts. The trucks headed while the peasants followed on foot in the ankle deep dust. A solitary old man sat by the side of the road. The narrator kept a check on the advancement of the enemy.

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“Yes” he said, “I stayed you see, taking care of animals.”
(i) Who is ‘he’ referred here? Where did he stay? Which animals is he talking about?
(ii) Why did he leave his animals? Why was he worried now?
(iii) Which animal was he less worried? Why? What was his age? How did the doves have a chance to survive?
(iv) What did the narrator find strange when the old man tells what he did in San Carlos?
(v) Which signals is the narrator waiting for?
Answer:
(i) ‘He’ is referred to the old man. He stayed at his home town ‘San Carlos’. He is talking about the animals he took care of i.e., two goats, a cat and four pairs of pigeons.

(ii) He was forced to leave his town and animals due to heavy firing from the enemy. It was not safe to stay there. The old man had no other family except his animals. He loved and cared for them. He was worried to leave them behind in danger.

(iii) The old man was less worried about his cat because according to him, a cat could look out for itself. He was seventy six years of age. The doves had a chance to survive because the old man had left their cage open and they could fly off.

(iv) The narrator finds it strange to know that the old man was taking care of his animals in San Carlos as the old man did not at all look like a shepherd or a herdsman.

(v) The narrator is waiting for the signals that would be given when there would be a ‘contact1 by the enemy. So, he was attentive to the first noises that would be heard on the arrival of the enemy.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“This is not a good place to stop.”
(i) What advice does the speaker give to the old man? Why?
(ii) Does he accept the advice? Is he able to follow it?
(iii) What good luck does the old man have?
(iv) What conflict does the story depict?
(v) What irony does the day highlight?
Answer:
(i) The speaker advised the old man not to stop there as the enemy could reach any time. He suggested him to walk, up to the trucks up the road where it forked for Tortosa.

(ii) Yes, he says he would wait for sometime and then go, but when he got up on his feet, he swayed unsteadily and sat down backwards in the dust.

(iii) The good luck that the old man had, was firstly, that his cats knew how to look after themselves and secondly, the sky was overcast so the enemy planes could not fly up.

(iv) The story ‘Old Man at the bridge’, does not talk about any conflict between the principal characters but it throws a light on the dispute between bigger forces and how it affects the peaceful life of the ordinary people. On one side is the army of the loyalists, while on the other side is the fascists. The old man’s only concern is his animals which he had to leave behind when he fled the advancing fascists.

(v) The action of the story is set on an Easter Sunday, the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after he was crucified. It is also known as the resurrection of Jesus. Thus, Easer is celebrated to welcome the rebirth of Jesus. But ironically for the old man, this day would be a welcome of his inevitable death and destruction of all his belongings.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

The Cold Within Summary by James Patrick Kinney

The Cold Within Summary About the Poet

James Patrick Kinney (16 March 1923 – 29 May 1974) was an Irish American poet. He dropped out in High School due to the financial problem in his family. He received recognition posthumously. He is best known for his inspiring poem, ‘The Cold Within’. He was a man of integrity and created poems that spoke his heart. Initially, he was rejected for being controversial, but soon gained popularity.

The Cold Within Summary

The poem highlights the rigidity of spirit based on discrimination of race, religion and caste, portrayed by the six individuals who became their own agents of death. Their reluctance to help each other made their hands stiff, refusing to share their log of wood, which was a sufficient proof of sin committed by humans. Thus, it was not the cold outside, but the cold ‘within’ – the coldness of feelings, the lack of the spark of humanity – that froze them all to death.

The Cold Within Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1 & 2.

“Six humans trapped by happenstance
In bleak and bitter cold.
Each one possessed a stick of wood
Or so the story’s told.
Their dying fire in need of logs,
But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces round the fire,
She noticed one was black.”

Explanation: The narrator tells us that the six people are ‘trapped’ in a very cold and dark place, as a coincidence, and each person is holding a stick of wood. These people are gathered around a fire but this fire is about to die. It would continue only if some wood is added to it.

The first woman looks around the group and decides to keep back her stick as she finds a black man around the fire. She finds it unacceptable to help a black person, which highlights the ‘colour’ prejudice • in human societies. Thus, her discriminatory attitude prevents her from saving herself and others from cold.

Word Meanings:

1. Happenstance – Accident, co-incidence
2. Bleak and bitter – Chilling, extreme (here)
3. Possessed – Had or owned
4. Logs – Pieces of wood

Stanza 3 & 4.
“The next man looking ‘cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes.
He gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log he put to use
To warm the idle rich?”

Explanation: The next man held his feelings for people of other religious faith, different from his. He finds that none around the fire belonged to his church and decides not to spend his stick to warm others. Thus, he propagates ‘religious intolerance’ – that he did not wish to support one from another religion.

The third one was a poor man, which was evident from his old and torn clothes. He shook his coat to make himself comfortable, but it was not adequate enough to keep him warm. According to him, the rich were a Lazy Lot, so it was not worth sharing his log of wood to save them. His attitude lays emphasis on the prejudice based on ‘social status’.

Word Meanings:
1. Birch – A type of hardwood tree, whose outer bark can be pulled off easily
2. Tattered – Old and torn
3. Idle – Lazy

Stanza 5 & 6.

“The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man’s face bespoke revenge ,
As the fire passed from his sight.
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.”

Explanation: The next in line was the wealthy man who goes blind with the thought to save his riches, putting his own life at stake. He wishes to keep away his stick than to put it in fire, as that would mean helping the poor . who according to him, were useless and aimless. This reflects his biased attitude of class.

Then, there was the black man, who was filled with anguish and revengeful feelings for the white men, which was the result of the scornful attitude of the white towards the black; so he took it as an opportunity to avenge himself against the white, although he could have behaved rationally otherwise.

Word Meanings :
1. In store — In his possession
2. Shiftless — Aimless; lacking ambition and energy
3. Bespoke — Produced
4. Spite — A desire to harm or defeat another person because you have Been wrongly treated

Stanza 7 & 8.

“The last man of this forlorn group
Did naught except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game?
Their logs held tight in death’s still hands
Was proof of human sin?
They did not die from the cold without
They died from the cold within.”

Explanation: The last man belonging to this hopeless group, though not prejudiced, was an opportunist and a selfish person. He did not favour anyone without gaining anything in exchange.

The last stanza summarizes the result of narrow – mindedness, biased attitude and selfishness of humans. All of the six people froze to death with the log of wood in their hands. Thus, it was not the cold weather which was responsible for their death, as they could have easily fought against it together, but it was the absence of warmth in their hearts that brought their doom.

Word Meanings :
1. Forlorn – Desolate, hopeless
2. Nought – Nothing

The Cold Within Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“Their logs held tight in death’s still hands
Was proof of human sin?
They did not die from the cold without They died from the cold within..”
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
(ii) Who was trapped and under what circumstances? Which words highlight a sense of emergency? Name the figure of speech used here.
(iii) What was the need of the moment? Why?
(iv) What made the first one hold back her stick?
(v) What is meant by ‘home to heaven anigh’? How does a plant help a bird? What does it do in twilight ?
Answer:
(i) It was ‘bleak and bitter cold’ i.e. it was severe cold and life was not possible without the warmth of fire. It was so cold that a person would freeze to death even in the absence of fire. It was a chill winter night.

(ii) The third man in the gathering was a poor man, which was evident by his tom and tottered clothes. Though he is in a miserable state and gives a hitch to his coat to make himself more comfortable, he is reluctant to give his piece of wood to save the dying fire as he does not wish to help the rich whom he calls ‘idle’, despite the rich who torture the poor and enjoy a relaxing life themselves. Thus, the poet showed the discrimination based on the economic standard of different individuals.

The figure of speech used here is ‘alliteration’ viz., repetition of ‘b’ in bleak & bitter.

(iii) ‘The black man’s face bespoke revenge”, which means that the face of the black man depicted the emotions of hatred and revenge that arises from the discrimination shown to him, once a victim now turns to an abuser, when he gets a chance.

The poem too contains a reference that highlights the discriminatory attitude of the White when the White woman in the same group held her stick back when she noticed a black man.

“But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces round the fire,
she noticed one was black.”
Thus the feeling of the black man are truly justified.

(iv) The sixth and the last man in the gathering was an opportunist. As stated by the poet-
“The last man of the forlorn group
Did naught except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave was how he played the game.”

Thus, it is apparent that this man will not spend his resources without making sure that he has gained something in return. Though he carries no malice towards anyone, yet he will not give up the opportunity to make some profit in doing something which may benefit others.

(v) James Patrick Kinney’s poem, ‘The Cold within’ is all about discrimination based on prejudices and its unpleasant consequences. The six people gathered around the fire in a chilling winter night, possessed a stick of wood each. They could have easily survived the cold if they had kindled the dying fire with their sticks. But they rejected to share their logs to keep the fire burning. Five of them were prejudiced against one another upon petty things like, colour, race, religion, social class, etc; while the sixth one was an opportunist.

Eventually, they were seen frozen to death, each holding on grimly to a log of wood, and this obviously due to their prejudiced attitude even in the time of need. Thus, the poet attributes their death to the cold in their hearts, not to the cold atmosphere outside.

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Six humans trapped by happenstance
In bleak and bitter cold.
Each one possessed a stick of wood
Or so the story’s told.
Their dying fire in need of logs,
But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces round the fire,
She noticed one was black.

(i) What is the name of the poem and by whom is the poem written?
(ii) What were the circumstances and who was trapped under them? Highlight the words which sense emergency? Name the figure of speech used here.
(iii) What was the need of the moment? Why?
(iv) What made the first human/person hold back her stick?
(v) Give the meaning of
(a) happenstance
(b) dying fire
Answer:
(i) The name of the poem is, ‘The Cold Within’ and the poet is ‘James Patrick Kinney’.

(ii) Six humans were trapped accidentally. It was severe cold. The words ‘bleak and better’ symbolize the extreme situations of life.

The figure of speech used here is, ‘alliteration’ – ,viz. repetition of ‘b’ in bleak & bitter.

(iii) It was extremely cold and life was impossible without the warmth of fire. Each of the six humans possessed a stick, which they were suppose to contribute to keep the fire going, else, they would freeze to death once the fire dies out.

(iv) The first one holds back her stick, because she sees a black man in the group and because of her racist attitude she is not able to save him by adding her log to the fire, no matter even if she herself too suffers.

(v) (a) coincidence
(b) the fire which was about to get extinguished.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
The next man looking ‘cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes.
He gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log he put to use
To warm the idle rich?

(i) What character trait does the next man portray? Why?
(ii) What does ‘tattered clothes’ mean and what do they symbolize?
(iii) What is meant by ‘a hitch’? Why does the third one give a hitch to his coat?
(iv) What was the reason for the third one to not part away with his log of wood?
(v) Give the meaning of- 4
(a) could not bring himself to
(b) a hitch
Answer:
(i) The next man is prejudiced, who, on seeing a man not belonging to his church, decides to hold back his stick to rekindle the fire.
(ii) ‘Tattered clothes’ mean, ‘old and tom clothes’. It means that the third man was a poor man who did not have enough money to cover himself with proper clothes.
(iii) ‘Hitch’ means’ ‘to move with a jerk or tug’.
The man gave a hitch to his coat to make it more comfortable and bring warmth to himself.
(iv) This man seems to be a victim of discrimination based on the economic standard of different individuals. He is envious of the rich man and considers nil a an ‘idle.’ Thus, he does not put his log to fire.
(v) (a) to not be able to force himself to do something
(b) a shake or a jerk

Question 4.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man’s face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight.
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.

(i) What was the rich man thinking about?
(ii) From whom did he fear a threat to his wealth?
(iii) What kind of expression did the black man’s face depict/show ?
(iv) Give the meaning of
(a) in store
(b) shiftless
(c) bespoke
(v) What did the black man see in his stick ?
Answer:
(i) The rich man, oblivious to reality, lay back thinking how to safeguard the wealth he possessed.

(ii) He wants to keep his wealth safe from the poor who he considers as lazy and aimless, because he can’t let go of his possessions which he has earned through his sheer hard work.

(iii) The black man’s face depicted the emotions of hatred and revenge which were the outcome of the discrimination he had undergone due to the white people. He is a victim of racism.

(iv) (a) in possession
(b) lacking ambition and energy
(c) represented

(v) Keeping back his stick, seemed to him an opportunity to avenge himself against the rich. Instead of making use of the opportunity to save his life, he wasted it in fulfilling his revengeful feelings.

Question 5.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The last man of this forlorn group
Did naught except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game?
Their logs held tight in death’s still hands
Was proof of human sin ?
They did not die from the cold without
They died from the cold within.
(i) What game does the poet refer to? Who plays the game? How?
(ii) Why does the poet refer the group as a ‘forlorn group’? Name the figure of speech used here.
(iii) What proof do they provide regarding the human sin?
(iv) Give the meaning of –
(a) in store
(b) shiftless
(c) bespoke
(v) According to the poet, what is the reason behind their death?
Answer:
(i) The poet refers to the game of ‘give and take’. This game is played by the last man of the group who seemed to be a selfish businessman. He would not use his resources till he gained something in return.

(ii) ‘Forlorn’ means, ‘sad, lonely and hopeless.’ The figure of speech used here is ‘Oxymoron’ in which, opposite ideas are placed together. Though there are six people sitting together in a group, yet each one was sad and lonely.

(iii) The men showed rigidity of spirits. They committed a sin of discrimination against one another, which consequently led to their own doom.

(iv) (a) in possession
(b) lacking ambition and energy
(c) represented

(v) According to the poet, the men could have saved themselves and the others by doing away with their sticks, but they chose to keep them back due to their biased attitude. Thus, it was the coldness of their hearts, lack of humanity and treatment of discrimination, that killed them.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

The Bangle Sellers Summary by Sarojini Naidu

The Bangle Sellers Summary About the Poet

Sarojini Naidu (13 February 1879 – 2 March 1949), a child prodigy, is also known by the sobriquet, ‘The Nightingale of India.’ She was a prominent Indian poet and a politician. She was a gifted artist, proficient in many languages. She was also the first woman governor of ‘Free India’.

Her poetry presents a Kaleidoscope of Indian feelings, music and imagery. She has basically written on the life of Indian people, beauty of nature, women empowerment and patriotism. Her language is crystal clear.

Sarojini Naidu’s famous works are—The Golden Threshold (1905), The Bird of Time (1912), The Broken Wing . (1917), The Sceptred Flute : Songs of India (1937). The Feather of the Dawn (1961), was published posthumously.

The Bangle Sellers Summary

‘The Bangle Sellers’ was published in her collection, ‘The Bird of Time’. It describes a group of bangle sellers who wander from town to town selling their inventory. The narrator of the poem is a bangle seller, talking about the various kinds of bangles he carries, and about the women of different age groups who buy them. He has beautifully presented the Indian culture, through different shades of the bangles.

The Bangle Sellers Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1. “Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair…
Who will buy these delicate, bright?
Rainbow-tinted circles of light?
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,
For happy daughters and happy wives.”

Explanation: The first stanza simply states that, a group of bangle sellers are on their way to a temple fair where they expect to get sufficient number of/enough customers for their bangles. They invite the people to buy their ‘shining loads’ i.e., the bangles, which they describe as delicate, bright and multicoloured. They also refer to them as symbols of delight for happy daughters and happy wives. The deep rooted Indian traditions are highlighted through an insight, into the spiritual and symbolic importance of the bangles they carry.

Word Meanings :

1. Shining loads — (Here) bangles
2. Fair — An event where people gather to sell their products
3. Rainbow tinted — Multicoloured
4. Lustrous — Bright and shining
5. Radiant — Delightful, happy

Stanza 2. “Some are meet for a maiden’s writs.
Silver and blue as the mountain mist,
Some are flushed like the buds that dream
On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream,
Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves.”

Explanation: In the second stanza, the bangle seller gives a vivid picture of the colours of the bangles which will suit a maiden. He describes the beauty of the bangles through the imagery of lush greenery and blooming ‘ flowers.

He compares the mist in the mountains with the blue and silver bangles. Some colours are like the rosy buds growing on top of a plant along a stream in a forest. Some bangles shine like the clear dew drops on the baby leaves.

Word Meanings:

1. Mist — Thin fog
2. Flushed — (Here) pink or light red colour
3. Tranquil — Quiet; calm; peaceful
4. Brow — Slope
5. Woodland — A small forest
6. Aglow — Shining
7. Cleaves — Sticks; to adhere firmly
8. Limpid — Clear and transparent
9. Glory — Quality of being beautiful

Stanza 3. “Some are like fields of sunlit corn,
Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,
Or, rich with the hue of her heart’s desire,
Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.”

Explanation: Next, the poet explains that, some of the bangles he is selling are, yellow in colour, like the corn fields brightened by sunlight. These are fit to be worn by a bride on her wedding morning. Some bangles are orangish-red in colour, the shade of the wedding holy fire. The others are deep red in colour, expressing the passion of her heart. They tinkle along when the bride moves.

The bride laughs happily as she is getting married and entering into a life of her dreams, but weeps as she is going to leave her parental abode. Here, the poet talks about the emotional feelings of a bride and a transition of life, from a maiden to a wife.

Word Meanings :

1. Sunlit — Lighted with sunrays
2. Bridal morn — Wedding morning
3. Flame of her of marriage fire — Orangish red colour
4. Hue — A particular shade of a colour
5. Tinkling — Ringing sound
6. Luminous — Bright
7. Tender — Fragile, delicate

Stanza 4. “Some are purple and gold flecked grey
For she who has journeyed through life midway,
Whose hands have cherished, whose love has blest?
And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
And serves her household in fruitful pride,
And worships the gods at her husband’s side.”

Explanation: The last stanza talks about that phase of a woman’s life, when, she as a maiden turned bride, becomes a proud mother and a responsible wife, full of experience and wisdom. These are the middle-aged women who have successfully reached the mid-way of their lives and are now reaping the rewards of their efforts. The bangles of these women are purple and grey, dotted with golden colour, which symbolize maturity. They have reared up their children with utmost love and care and fulfilled all their house-hold duties, and with honour have sit beside their husbands during the religious ceremonies. They have always remained faithful and devoted to their husbands and families.

Word Meanings:

1. Flecked — Dotted
2. Cherish — Care tenderly
3. Cradle — To hold somebody gently

The Bangle Sellers Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair…
Who will buy these delicate, bright?
Rainbow-tinted circles of light?
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,
For happy daughters and happy wives.

(i) What does the ‘bangle seller” tell about his lot?
(ii) Who are the prospective buyers of the bangles?
(iii) Give the words or phrases used to describe the bangles in the first stanza.
(iv) Explain the meaning of-
(a) shining load (b) rainbow tinted circles of light
(v) Explain the line, ‘Lustrous tokens of radiant lives.
Answer:
(i) The bangle seller says that he, along with the other bangle sellers, is going to the temple fair with his shining load i.e., the lustrous bangles.

(ii) Women of all age group, whether daughters or wives, buy bangles on happy occasions.

(iii) In the first stanza the bangles are described as –
‘shining loads’, ‘delicate, bright’ ‘Rainbow-tinted circles of light’ and ‘Lustrous tokens of radiant lives.’

(iv) (a) Shining load means, the bangles which are sparkling in sunlight.
(b) It refers to the round shaped, multicoloured bangles that glow in sunlight.

(v) The bangles are referred as ‘Lustrous tokens of radiant lives’, which mean ‘bright symbols of shining lives.’ The bangles symbolize the joy and happiness in a girl’s life. Thus, bangles are directly related to the well-being of a family and the cultural tradition of a typical Indian society.

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Some are meet for a maiden’s writs.
Silver and blue as the mountain mist,
Some are flushed like the buds that dream
On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream,
Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves.

(i) Give two examples of the simile in the stanza.
(ii) Which coloured bangles do the maidens wear? Describe the comparison.
(iii) On what do the buds dream? What do they dream about?
(iv) Give the meaning of –
(a) flushed
(b) tranquil
(c) woodland
(v) Explain the meaning of ‘Some are aglow ……….. new born leaves.’Name the poet
Answer:
(i) The examples of simile are –
(a) ‘silver and blue as the mountain mist’
(b) ‘flushed like the buds that dream.’

(ii) The maidens wear silver and blue coloured bangles. Here, the silver and blue colour is compared to the mist of the mountains, as it symbolizes the freshness and beauty of the maidens.

(iii) The buds dream on the calm and quiet bank of a river that flows through the woods. They dream of growing up and blossoming into beautiful flowers.

(iv) (a) (here) pink or light red colour
(b) calm
(c) forest

(v) The poet says that, some of the bangles which are suitable for the maiden’s wrist which are green, and glowing like the transparent beauty of the light green baby leaves. The poet is Sarojini Naidu.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Some are like fields of sunlit corn,
Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,
Or, rich with the hue of her heart’s desire,
Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.

(i) To what is the colour of the bangles worn by a bride on her bridal morning compared? What does it symbolize?
(ii) Which other colours of the bangles are associated with the marriage of a girl?
(iii) Explain the meaning of ‘bridal laughter’ and ‘bridal tear’.
(iv) Give the meaning of
(a) rich with the hue
(b) tinkling
(c) tender
(v) How are the qualities of the bangles similar to the bride’s feelings?
Answer:
(i) On wedding morning, the bride wears golden yellow coloured bangles of the colour of the corn fields, which are brightened by sunlight. The symbolism used here is that of fertility. Mother Nature’s fertility is symbolic of the fertility of a young girl getting married.

(ii) The reddish yellow colour of the bangles is compared to the colour of the wedding’s flame.
The bright red coloured bangles reflect the deep desires in the heart of the bride.

(iii) Marriage is the transition of a girl into a woman through which her mind and heart is filled with multiple emotions.

On one hand, she is happy and passionate about the new relation shown through her smile and laughter. While on the other hand, she carries tears in her eyes as she is sad to leave her parental abode. Thus, she undergoes mixed emotions, which make her to, both, laugh and cry.

(iv) (a) filled with the colour of
(b) ringing sound
(c) fragile, delicate

(v) Both the bangles and the feelings of the bride are ‘Tinkling, luminous, tender and clear’ i.e., both make soft sounds, are glowing, delicate and transparent.

Question 4.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Some are purple and gold flecked grey
For she who has journeyed through life midway,
Whose hands have cherished, whose love has blest?
And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
And serves her household in fruitful pride,
And worships the gods at her husband’s side.

(i) According to the poet, for whom are the ‘purple and gold flecked grey bangles?’
(ii) Describe how these women spend their lives.
(iii) Discuss the importance of these hands in the progress of human race.
(iv) Give the meaning of-
(a) flecked (b) blest (c) cherished
(v) What is the significance of the woman’s presence by her husband’s side during worship?
Answer:
(i) The purple and golden dotted grey bangles are suitable for the middle-aged women who have gained wisdom and maturity in life.

(ii) The women who have journeyed midway through their lives rearing their children with love and care, now proudly serve their households and work for the welfare of their families.

(iii) These hands have brought up those faithful sons who serve the nation with sincerity and devotion.

(iv) (a) dotted (b) blessed (c) nurtured

(v) Indian society is a society of religious beliefs and traditions. Many prayers require husband-wife to worship together sitting side by side, for the welfare of the family and to yield the desired result. It signifies her respect for the cultural traditions of the society.