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Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

All Summer in a Day Summary by Ray Bradbury

All Summer in a Day Summary About the Author

Ray Bradbury (22 August 1920 – 5 June 2012), was an American science fiction writer who works were translated in more than 4L languages. His works created a world of new technical and intellectual ideas. He is best known for his dystopian novel ‘Fahrenheit 451’ (1953) and short story collections ‘The Martian Chronicles’, and ‘The Illustrated Man’. ‘All Summer in a Da/ a short story, was first published in 1954 in the magazine of fantasy and science fiction.

All Summer in a Day Summary

The concept of the story ‘All Summer in a Day’, is built on Venus – a planet where it rains continuously, all the time. The people live in underground tunnels to escape the cold hard rain. The story begins with school children crowding around a window in their classroom, waiting for the heavy rain to stop and for a rare occurrence i.e., the sun, to come out for an hour after seven years of non-stop rain, as per prediction. They had seen the sun only when they were two years old.

Margot is a nine year old girl whose family moved from Earth to Venus when she was four. Only she remembers the warmth of the sun and how beautiful the sunshine can be. She explains to other children that sun is round like a penny and hot like fire but they consider her a liar, despise her and mock at her. She has been in a state of depression ever since she arrived on Venus and her parents were planning to take her back on Earth.

As Margot stands alone waiting for the rain to subside and the long awaited sun to appear, the other children plan a terrible trick on her. They forcefully carry her to the closet and lock her inside. Wickedly pleased with themselves, they return and move along with the teacher to experience the event they were waiting for.

When the Venus rain finally stops and sun comes out, a bronze flame spreads throughout the forests of Venus. The children exit the tunnels and run around excitedly. But soon the rain clouds move in. The sun hides and heavy showers replace it. All the children reflect on the wonderful experience they had with the sun and then re-enter the tunnels. Suddenly, one of the children remembers that they had locked Margot inside the closet. Slowly she is taken out, but its too late for her, she will have to wait yet another seven years to see the sun which she had been so earnestly waiting for.

All Summer in a Day Summary Word Meanings :

1. Intermixed : Mixed together
2. Peering : Looking narrowly or curiously
3. Compounded : Combined
4. Concussions : Impact, agitation
5. Stunned : Shocked, surprised
6. Slackening : Becoming slower or lesser
7. Feverish : Agitated, heated
8. Frail : Weak
9. Shove : A strong, forceful push
10. Drenched : Completely wet
11. Clutched : Held onto tightly
12. Savagely : Fiercely, rudely
13. Muffled : Suppressed
14. Repercussions : Reverberations
15. Tumultuously : Loudly & excitedly
16. Squeak : Short, high-pitched cry
17. Resilient : Flexible, bouncy
18. Squinted : Looked with eyes partly closed
19. Savoured : Tasted and smelled
20. Avalanche : A great amount
21. Stakes : Pointed sticks or posts
22. Solemn : Sad and serious

All Summer in a Day Summary Questions and Answer

Question 1.
Who seems to be the antagonist in the story ‘All Summer In a Day’, and Why?
Answer:
William, one of Margot’s classmates, is the antagonist in the story, because he often bullies her. Perhaps, due to a sense of jealously and the inability to understand Margot, he speaks harshly to her and shoves her. This encourages other children too to trap Margot in a hostile manner. As Margot was in a depressed state for being away from the feel of sun, she does not mix up with other children.

She does not play with them and it was heard that she would leave for earth soon. So the other children disliked her and treated her differently. They are unable to comprehend her feeling. William leads the others. On the day when the sun was predicted to rise on Venus, William, with the support of other children, grabs Margot and locks her in a closet and deprives her from the greatest joy she had been waiting for so anxiously, so William is the main bully.

Question 2.
What effect does the absence and presence of sun have on the children on planet Venus?
Answer:
In Ray Bradbury’s story ‘All summer in summer’, Children living on planet Venus, eagerly await the cessation of rain and appearance of the sun, an event that only occurs once every seven years. The overwhelming rain on Venus has created a harsh, inhospitable environment, suggesting a sense of displacement from the natural world on Earth. They are all the victims of depression created on Venus due to lack of sunlight for continuous seven years. They have been traumatized by the constant rain. When there is no sun, they seem dull and lethargic. Their anxiety to see the sun leads to a chaos. The children’s teasing of Margot quickly escalates to violent bullying. They grab Margot and push her into the closet.

Finally, the sun comes out in the sudden roaring silence and stillness, flooding the sky and jungle with radiant light. The children rush outside and throw off their jackets, reveling in the warmth of the sun. It is far better than they even imagined it would be. They run, laugh and yell, staring at the sun, and try to capture every joyful moment. The idyllic hour passes all too quickly, the clouds sweep in, and the rain starts pelting.

In a dull and sad mood, the children return back to the underground classroom as the sky darkness and the torrential rain recommences. It seems somehow louder and more painful to the children. Somber feelings take over them. They glance at each other, with guilt and shame as they suddenly remember Margot. Slowly and shamefully they move to the closet to free her. The experience of nature brings a sudden sense of peace. The sun has an extremely pleasurable effect, and it seems to physically and mentally revive the children. Absence of sunlight had turned Venus into a tangled and inhospitable wasteland. Similarly, the children too had become cruel and unruly, when outside in the sun, they felt joyful and energied, highlighting the power of sun.

All Summer in a Day Summary Extract Based Questions

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“He gave her a shove. But she did not move, rather she let herself be moved only by him and nothing else. They edged away from her; they would not look at her. She felt them go away.”

(i) Who is ‘she’? Describe her.
(ii) Where is this story set? Mention any two ways in which the way of life on their planet differs from life on earth.
(iii) To what does Margot compare the sun? What does this tell us about her?
(iv) Why did the other children not come to Margot’s aid when William shoved her?
(v) How does Margot’s behaviour set her apart from the others? Why do you suppose the other children treat her the way they do?
Answer:
(i) ‘She’ is Margot. She is a weak lifeless girl who had lost the lustre from her eyes, the blush from her face, and the yellow from her hair. She looked like an old photograph dusted from an album, whitened away. Margot is nine years old and resides on planet Venus. She lived on Earth, in ‘Ohio’ until she was four. Now she studies together with the children of those who have come to civilize the planet, Venus.

(ii) The story is set on planet Venus, where the sun shines for only two hours once every seven years. The two ways in which the life on their planet differs from life on earth are :

• Firstly, unlike Earth, the rain fell incessantly with storms on planet Venus. Thousands of forests had been crushed under if and regrounded to be crushed again.
• Secondly, the lack of sunlight had washed away the colour of the skin of the people living on Venus. The people there lived in underground colonies.

(iii) Margot tells the others that sun is round like a ‘penny’ and not like a ‘fire in the store’. Her description of the sun tells that she is able to accurately recall the sun and the way it looked and felt as it shone on her when she was back in Ohio, on the planet earth, five years ago.

(iv) Margot struggles to fit into her life on Venus, but in vain. She does not get along with the other children there. They resent her for her past experiences on Earth with the sun, and they are also angry and jealous that she has the opportunity to travel back to Earth, regardless of the financial costs. They do not help her when William, one of her classmates, shoves her, as they supported him in his dislike for Margot.

(v) Margot has many memories of the sun and she misses it a lot. She refuses to participate in any classroom activity that doesn’t include the sun. She hated the Venusian rain so much that she detests the running showers in the schools shower rooms. The children treat her this way as they despise her and are painfully jealous because Margot has seen the sun and they have not.

They never remember a time when there wasn’t a rain. They especially hate her when they learn that her parents, fearful of the strong distress that Venusians life is causing their daughter, are planning to take her back to Earth.

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“Margot stood apart from them, from these children who could ever remember a time when there wasn ‘t rain and rain and rain.”
(i) Who is Margot? Where is she? Who are ‘these children’?
(ii) What are the children getting ‘ready’ for? What is unique about the life on Venus?
(iii) What did the children dream of?
(iv) Why is Margot different from other children?
(v) Why do they dislike her?
Answer:
(i) Margot is a thin pale, nine years old girl. She is on the planet Venus. She lived on Earth earlier. These children are the children of the rocket men and women who had come to planet Venus to set up their civilization. They had established underground settlements full of long tunnels.

(ii) The children are getting ‘ready’ to witness the momentous occasion when the sun will come out for an hour after seven years.
Unfortunately, it rains constantly on Venus. It falls without a break, day in and day out, in massive showers. However, for one day, once every seven years, the rain does cease and the sun is briefly visible.

(iii) Sometimes during the night, Margot heard the children stir, as if recollecting a memory and she understood that they were dreaming of gold or a yellow crayon or a coin large enough to buy the world with. They remembered a warmth, like a blushing in the face, in the body, arms legs and trembling hands.

(iv) Margot lived on Earth, in Ohio, until she was four years old. She has many memories of the sun unlike others, because they were far too young when the sun shone last. When Margot tells them that the sun is round like a penny and hot like fire, they accuse her of lying. She distances herself from others.

(v) She does not participate in their games and activities except those that included the sun and the summer. She misses the sun immensely. She remembers the beauty and warmth of the sun. Ever since she came on Venus she had been in depression. She had become pale. She refused to shower in the school shower room as the water reminded her of the Venusians rain. There is a talk circulating that her parents are considering to take her back to Earth, though it would mean a loss of thousands of dollars. Thus, the other school children despise her and are jealous of her. They bully her constantly.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“They all blinked at him and then, understanding laughed and shook their heads.”
(i) Whom do ‘they’ blink at? Why? What preparation had the children done before witnessing the special occurrence of the sun?
(ii) How do the children take revenge on Margot?
(iii) What is the significance of two hours? What do the children do during these two hours?
(iv) How did they react when the rain drops came back again?
(v) Why do the children unlock the closet door silently? What was their silence behind the closet?
Answer:
(i) Margot looks out of the window, waiting silently for the rain to stop and the sun to come out. One of the boys, jokes with her and tells that nothing such was going to happen and to confirm it, he asks from others to join him in teasing and fooling Margot. They blink at him signifying their support to the boy’s lie. They tell her . that the scientists were wrong in their predictions about the sun. The children had constantly read and discussed about the sun. They had completed their classroom activities and written poems about the sun.

(ii) When Margot begins to panic on hearing that the sun is not going to appear, the boy who seemed to be particularly hostile towards her, conceives of the idea to lock Margot in the cupboard while the teacher is gone. Margot tries to resist but they overpower her and lock her in the faraway closet. The children are darkly pleased with themselves after punishing Margot, who is left crying and beating against the closet.

(iii) As per the prediction of the scientists, the sun would appear only for two hours, so the children had the opportunity to enjoy the sunlight for only this time. And when the sun appears, the rain stops, the children rush out into the sunshine. They run through the rapidly growing foliage and enjoy the warmth of the sun on their skin.

They play hide and seek, and they push and slip. They looked squintingly at the sun till tears ran down their eyes, they breathed fresh air and listened to the silence. They ran around like wild animals. They completely drenched themselves in the beauty and warmth of the sun.

(iv) The children lose track of time in their enjoyment when the sporadic rain drops begin to fall again. As the first drop fell on the hands of a girl she trembled with fear and disappointment and began to cry. The others also stopped playing immediately and they sadly begin returning to their school. The last rays of sunlight are replaced by thunder and rain.

(v) The children realize that they had played a very mean prank on Margot. They had deprived her of the glimpse of the sun for another seven years. She had been so keenly waiting for this experience. They were enjoying the bright sunlight while Margot was locked inside. The realization of the gravity of their guilt made them slow and silent.

Margot had given up the efforts to free herself from the closet. She had lost the opportunity to witness the sun, after such a long wait. This made her completely distressed and gloomy and she stops banging against the closet realizing it is of no use now.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary by Maya Angelou

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary About the Poet

Maya Angelou (4 April, 1928 – 28 May, 2014) was an American poet, story teller, actress and an important figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. Her memoir, ‘I know Why the Caged Bird Sings’, made a literary history as the first non-fiction best-seller by an African-American woman. Her volume of poetry, ‘Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water’ fore I Die’ (1971), was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. She had gone through a lot of roughness and disparity in her life, which is reflected in her writings.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary

Angelou, with the metaphor of a caged bird, represents the social differences of her time, between the African- American community and the White-Americans. She illustrates truthfully, both, the feeling of freedom and of captivity through a bird that is free and a bird struggling to fight against adverse surroundings. The free bird is referred to the free White people and the caged bird whose wings are cut off and feet entangled, refers to the Black community.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1. A free bird leaps
On the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

Explanation: The opening lines of the poem describe the actions of a free bird. He takes a jump and hovers himself over the wind and travels along with the current, relishing in the sea of orange sunlight and proclaiming its freedom. Here, the ‘free bird’ refers t < the people who enjoy the right to take their decision in life independently and enjoy the bliss of freedom.

Word Meanings:

1. Leap – Jump
2 Downstream – In the direction on the flow
3. Dares – Show sufficient courage
4. Claim – Require

Stanza 2. “But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing. ”

Explanation: The second stanza highlights the plight of the caged bird for whom freedom is a mere dream. He the lost hope of flying freely in the sky with his wings wide open because his wings are clipped and feet are tied. He is forced to live in a confined space and peep between the bars to have a glimpse of the Outside world. He is deprived of the joy of freedom. The only thing he can do is open his mouth and sing. Here, Maya Angelou shares her frustration of being restricted to enjoy the freedom which should have been her right as a human being.

Word Meanings:

1. Stalks – Keep a continuous watch by moving slowly and quietly
2. Seldom – Rarely
3. Rage – Anger

Stanza 3. “The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom.”
Explanation

The caged bird lacks confidence and enthusiasm. Although he sings, his voice is full of pain, anger and fear. He sings about the unknown surroundings; about his liberty. He dreams of a better life; dreams which cannot be fulfilled. His voice is heard far and wide, but none comes to his rescue. This stanza reflects Maya’s frustration and helplessness.

Word Meanings:

1. Trill – A quick high sound that is repeated
2. Longed for – Desired

Stanza 4. “The free bird think’s of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.”

Explanation: The focus of the poem again shifts to the free bird which is cherishing his ride in the sky. The lovely breeze caress his body and he longs for yet another breeze, which make the trees sigh while passing through them. The free bird has ample food to feed on, the big fat worms in the lawn which they can prey on any time.

Here, the poet again emphasis that the free people have the entire world to claim as their own and wander about.

Word Meaning :

1. Sighing – To utter a mourning sound

Stanza 5. “But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.”

Explanation: On the inverse side, the caged bird, who is a captive, knows that his desire of flying free is futile. His dreams culminate into a nightmare. He feels that the agony he’s going through will make his shadow also scream. This reveals that the poet had her own dreams which got crushed due to lack of freedom to achieve them. The poet restates the idea that the bird opens its mouth to sing, to voice his desire for freedom and expression.

Word Meanings :

1. Nightmare – A frightening dream
2. Scream – A sudden laud cry

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
A free bird leaps
On the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

(i) Describe the actions of the bird that is free.
(ii) How does the poet contrast the life of a captured bird to that of a free bird?
(iii) Explain the line- ‘can seldom ………… bars of rage’.
(iv) What do the ‘bars of rage’ signify?
(v) What does the word ‘clipped’ mean with a special reference to the poem?
Answer:
(i) A free bird enjoys its freedom completely. He glides freely through the air, climbing on the stream of wind and floating downwards upto the end of the current through the sky that illuminates with bright sunlight.

(ii) The free bird has the liberty to capture the sky with its flight, while on the other hand, a captured or caged bird moves around uncomfortably in his narrow cage. His wings are clipped, making him unable to fly and feet are tied, making his movement restricted. It is deprived of the free open sky, rather made a slave. He can only use its mouth to sing. Thus, he is held in a very sad position.

(iii) The caged bird is filled with anger and frustration due to his situation. He desires whole heartedly to escape from his miserable condition. But he can do nothing beyond looking through the bars of the cage.

(iv) The ‘bars of rage’ are symbolic of the bird’s confinement. The line, ‘his bars of rage’, suggests that the cage is the bird’s own creation. Bars are a metaphor for anger that trap the bird and keep it away from being free. Whatever outside force may be acting upon the bird to curb its freedom, the bars around it are of the birds own making.

(v) In a general sense, ‘clipping’ involves trimming a bird wing’s feathers so that they cannot fly. They can just glide for a short distance. In Angelou’s poem, the word ‘clipped, refers to being ‘clipped’ in society on the basis of race or some other discrimination. The black Americans were prevented from exploiting their capability for progress. They were prevented from schooling. They were differentiated in jobs. Thus, ‘clipped’ from attempting to achieve success in life.

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

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting cm a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

(i) What does the caged bird sing about?
(ii) On the contrary, what does the free bird think about?
(iii) Where is the song of the caged bird being heard? What does it signify?
(iv) What is meant by ‘fearful trill’?
(v) Describe the world of the free bird.
Answer:
(i) To sing, is the only freedom available to the caged bird. Though his heart is fearful unmet, the bird continues to sing of liberty, something he does not have. The caged bird’s song is not of sadness but of inspiration and hope.

(ii) The free bird revels in his freedom. He has dreams and can imagine freely of other things. He can feel the soothing breeze through his body and also the trade winds that pass through the trees producing sound. He not only enjoys the ride in the sky but has ample food like, the fat worms, waiting in the lawn. Thus, the free bird has different things to think and imagine about.

(iii) The caged bird’s cries are heard far and wide. His songs were more of a scream in a dreaded tune. This was a way to rebel and protest against its enslavement. This is paralleled to the struggle of the African Americans in Maya Angelou’s time. She states that the black Americans wrote and sang, danced and cried out for the liberty they deserved, but they were only heard as a distant voice.

(iv) ‘Trill’ refers to a quavering or vibratory sound which means that note on which the bird sings is not definite or certain. This uncertainly could be a result of his thoughts that it can never achieve the freedom which it yearns for; the freedom of flight. Maya Angelou refers to the freedom on all levels, physical, mental and spiritual, for the Black Americans.

This fear becomes a part of his song.

(v) At an instance, the free bird is up in the sky and at the next he’s floating effortlessly along with the current of the wind. With another breeze he is ready to take off and bathe himself with the warmth of the sun. The whole world seems to belong to him. He flies unrestrictedly. He hears the ‘singing trees’ and whenever he is hungry, he can feed on the fat worms waiting in the lawn.

Thus, the world of the tree birds consists of boundless sky, rivers and streams and the whole earth.

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

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

(i) How does a caged bird stand on a ‘grave of dreams’?
(ii) Why does ‘his shadow shout on a nightmare scream’?
(iii) What does the refrain in the last stanza highlight? What does the poet wish to convey?
(iv) What is imagery? Give example of imagery used in the poem.
(v) Who and what does the five bird symbolise?
Answer:
(i) ‘Grave’ symbolizes death. The bird is in a way losing its hopes and feels as if his dream of freedom is going to be buried in the grave since it seems it will never be accomplished. He knows that he can never fly freely in the sky. His wings are clipped and feet are tied. Thus, his dream to fly is futile. Though he has never experienced freedom, but somewhere deep down he knows that it was his right to fly, he was created to fly.

(ii) The caged bird’s condition is quite pitiable. Instead of happy and optimistic dreams, the bird undergoes nightmares making it to scream. The bird is so shaken with his crumbling hopes that he feels as if his shadow will also scream out of agony and the suffering he is going through.

(iii) The refrain in the last stanza highlights that in the midst of hopelessness and gloominess, the bird is still determined to keep pursuing his dream of freedom. He chooses to continue singing and exert the only right it has.

This states the poet’s message to raise our voice against injustice; to express ourselves even if our opponent keeps subduing us. Never should one give up under any circumstance rather, make use of whatever right one has.

(iv) Imagery is used for the sensory words by the poet, to create a mental picture in the readers’ mind. It consists words or phrases that evoke the five senses namely, touch, sight, taste, sound and smell. Imagery helps in a better understanding of the concept portrayed by the poet.

In the poem, the poet uses the following imagery ‘free bird … leaping on the back of the wind’, ‘bird floating downstream’ and ‘dipping its wings in the orange sun rays.’ As for the caged bird, ‘his wings are clipped and his feet are tied’.

(v) In Maya Angelous’s poem, the free bird stands for the people in this world who are free from any type of racial, socioeconomic or psychological. They are free to make their own decisions and choices. They relish life as an enjoyable adventure and they are away from the struggles of survival.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

The Patriot Summary by Robert Browning

The Patriot Summary About the Poet

Robert Browning (7 May, 1812 – 12 Dec., 1889), an eminent Victorian era poet and playwright, was considered to be the master of dramatic monologues. Browning’s masterpieces include, ‘Porphyria’s Lover1, ‘Andrea del Sarto’, My Last Duchess’, ‘The Last Right Togethef etc. Preoccupation with the inward, psychological drama of his characters is what makes Browning famous for his characterization as a poet as well as a playwright. He was married to poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

The Patriot Summary

This poem is about a man, a political leader, who was once regarded and glorified as a hero by the people but later misunderstood and killed by the same people considering him a criminal. But the poet also shows the man’s deep hope and faith in God. He believes that, though the people considered him wrong, God will surely give appropriate judgement and he shall be much safer in heaven.

The Patriot Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1. “It was roses, roses, all the way,
With myrtle mixed in my path like mad:
The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway,
The church-spires flamed, such flags they had,
A year ago on this very day.”

Explanation: In the first stanza, the poet says that just a year ago when he had entered the city, people welcomed him joyfully and decorated his path with roses and myrtles. They crowded on their roof-tops to have his glimpse. The minarets and domes of the churches shone with fiery coloured flags. The political leader thus, received a grand public welcome when he came into power a year ago.

Word Meanings:

1. Myrtle – Shrub with sweet smelling white or pink flowers
2. Heave – To swell or rise
3. Sway – Move back and forth
4: Church-spires – Church tower

Stanza 2. “The air broke into a mist with bells,
The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries.
Had I said, “Good folk, mere noise repels.
But give me your sun from younger skies!”
They had answered, “And afterward, what else?”

Explanation: The poet further describes the festive environment. The air was filled with the resounding of the bells and the old walls swayed due to the loud cries of the people who had gathered to watch their great leader who had brought laurels to their nation. The patriot tells the people that instead of the noise that seems to be repelling and also temporary, if they loved him, they should get the sun from the skies for him, which was the symbol of permanence and power. At that time, the crowd that was extremely zealous, asks him what else would he require, other than the sun. They were ready to fulfill any of his demand.

Word Meanings:

l. Mist – Light fog
2. Rocked – Shook
3. Repels – Repulse, discourage
4. Yonder – Over there

Stanza 3. “Alack, it was I who leaped at the sun
To give it my loving friends to keep!
Nought ‘man could do, have I left undone:
And you see my harvest, what I reap
This very day, now a year is run.”

Explanation: This stanza illustrates a sudden transition of the man from a leader to a traitor in the eyes of the same ‘ people. He realizes that he had been over-ambitious and over-confident as he tried to get the sun to gift to his loving people. He tried to accomplish the impossible for them. But he is disappointed and regretful to see the result presently just after a lapse of one year.

Word Meanings :

1. Alack – Used to express sorrow or regret
2. Leaped – To jump over, to move quickly
3. Nought – None

Stanza 4. “This very day, now a year is run.
There’s nobody on the house-tops now
Just a palsied few at the windows set;
For the best of the sight is, all allow,
At the Shambles’ Gate., or, better yet,
By the very scaffold’s foot, I trow.”

Explanation: Here the poet remarks that the same patriot who was once welcomed with open hearts and hands, is branded as a traitor by the same people and is being taken for execution. The house-tops which were once over-crowded with overwhelming excitement to watch him, are now empty. Only a few paralysed ones are standing at the windows watching him march towards death. The rest are assembled at the slaughter¬house, for the best sight will be there, where this man will be hanged to death.

Word Meanings :

1. Palsied – Paralysed
2. Shambles gate – Slaughter house
3. Scaffold – A platform on which criminals are killed by being hanged or beheaded.

Stanza 5. “I go in the rain, more than needs,
A rope cuts both my wrists behind;
And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds,
For they fling, whoever has a mind,
Stones at me for my year’s misdeeds.”

Explanation: Here the poet draws the imagery of the patriot, now a convict, walking in the rain towards the scaffold. His hands are tied at the back, the tight rope making wounds in his wrists. He suffers injuries as the people hit him with stones. He can feel the blood dripping down his forehead Tt is highly ironical that the hands which welcomed him once with roses are now pelting stones at him. And more interestingly he says that, these were people with brains, who judged him for his year’s misdeeds.

Word Meanings :

1. Fling – To throw or push forcefully.
2. Misdeeds – A morally wrong or illegal act.

Stanza 6. “Thus I entered, and thus I go!
In triumphs, people have dropped down dead.
Paid by the world, what dost thou owe
“Me?”—God might question; now instead,
‘Tis God shall repay: I am safer so.”

Explanation: The concluding stanza ends on an optimistic note. The leader says that he traveled the same path when he entered the town and when he is leaving the town as well as the world. A public hero, once upheld w-ith great pomp and shows, now suffers utter humiliation and his life approaches an unexpected climax. The speaker discusses his religious belief, his meeting with God after death. He says that he will tell God that he did the best possible for his people, yet they misunderstood him and treated him shamefully.

He believes in God’s justice. God will understand that he has already been punished on the earth for his misdeeds, and he will give the man the best reward in his world for his services. Thus, he will completely surrender to God and feel content and safe with Him ever after.

Word Meaning :

1. Triumphs – A great success or achievement

The Patriot Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
It was roses, roses, all the way,
With myrtle mixed in my path like mad:
The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway,
The church-spires flamed, such flags they had,
A year ago on this very day.
The air broke into a mist with bells,
The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries.
Had I said, “Good folk, mere noise repels.
But give me your sun from younger skies!”
They had answered, “And afterward, what else?”

(i) What kind of reception does the patriot receive one year ago?
(ii) Describe the atmosphere of joy and triumph.
(iii) How does the patriot prove that the people’s love for him was beyond limit?
(iv) Explain the meaning of- (a) heave and sway (b) air broke into a mist
(v) Why do you think the patriot is thinking of asking for the sun?
Answer:
(i) One year ago the patriot received a grand reception. His walking path was paved with numerous rose petals with myrtle flowers mixed with it. The housetops were crowded with people and they were moving and swinging like mad people. The minarets and domes of churches were shining with light. They were decorated with colourful flags.

(ii) The people welcomed the patriot with so much happiness and excitement, that their voices mingled with one another and produced a sort of music. The air became misty and saturated because of the loud slogans and the ringing bells. The walls of the road-side houses trembled due to such a loud noise.

(iii) The patriot tells that the people held him in such high esteem that had he asked them for anything, may be the sun, on which their life depended, they would have readily agreed and asked him what else they could do for him.

(iv) (a) So many people had crowded over the roofs of houses that the roofs seem to be swinging due to the load, (b) The air seemed misty with the sounds of the bell that were ringing everywhere.

(v) The patriot says that he tells the people he doesn’t want cheers and applause as the extravagant celebrations will fade away with time. He wants power and glory like the sun, he wants to st.ay immortal in the heart of his people so he thinks of asking for the sun, which is the symbol of ultimate power and eminence.

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

Alack, it was I who leaped at the sun
To give it my loving friends to keep!
Nought man could do, have I left undone:
And you see my harvest, what I reap
This very day, now a year is run.
There’s nobody on the house-tops now
Just a palsied few at the windows set;
For the best of the sight is, all allow,
At the Shambles’ Gate., or, better yet,
By the very scaffold’s foot, I trow.

(i) How does the patriot reciprocate the love of his people?
What does the word ‘Alack’ signify?
(ii) What is the difference between what happened one year ago and the present day? Why?
(iii) Where does he expect the people to be? Why?
(iv) Give meaning of –
(a) Palsied (b) Shambles gate
(v) What kind of impression of the people is formed here?
Answer:
(i) The people loved and trusted the patriot so much that they were instantly ready to fetch the sun for him. But he loved his people so much that it was he who leaped for it and presented it to them, i.e., he did the impossible, what no man could do.

The word ‘Alack’ shows a tone of regret. He says with great sorrow that only one year has lapsed and what reward is he getting for his great accomplishments and deeds.

(ii) It has been just one year, the Patriot is being lead on the same path, but unlike then, the roof-tops are empty, no cheering, no rejoicing and only a few paralysed ones are gazing from the windows.

The reason is that, a year ago, he was welcomed as a hero, a Patriot, and now he has been branded as a traitor by the people of his nation.

(iii) The people would have gathered at the Shamble’s Gate; the gate of the slaughter house or at the foot of the scaffold.

The reason was that the speaker who was once held as a Patriot has now been convicted for his supposed misdeeds and is being taken to the gallows to be punished. The people have assembled there to see him die.

(iv) (a) Paralysed due to a disease called palsy and marked by uncontrollable tremor of the body or any part.
(b) A place where people assemble to witness public hangings.

(v) As per the speaker, the people’s fickle mindedness is highlighted here. The same people, just a year ago were filled with exuberance for the same person. He says he had left no stone unturned for them but they misunderstood him and now they are waiting for the best of the sight i.e., his hanging. It is all the reward of his good deeds, which have been misunderstood.

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

I go in the rain, more than needs,
A rope its both my wrists behind;
And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds,
For fling, whoever has a mind,
Stones at me for my year’s misdeeds.
Thus I entered, and thus I go!
In triumphs, people have dropped down dead.
Paid by the world, what dost thou owe
“Me?”—God might question; now instead,
‘Tis God shall repay: I am safer so.

(i) Explain the humiliation the patriot is made to undergo.
(ii) Why does the poet say, “whoever has a mind?”
(iii) What does the speaker say about his entry and exit? Explain ‘In triumphs, people have dropped down dead.’
(iv) Give the meaning of-
(a) Misdeeds (b) Triumphs
(v) Why does the speaker say he will feel safer in God’s hands? What does this reflect about the speaker’s character?
Answer:
(i) The speaker highlights his sad condition. He says that people are carrying him to the gallows in the rain. They have unnecessarily tied his hands behind his back with a tight rope, which is, cutting his both hands at wrists. The supposed culprit i.e., the speaker feels his forehead is bleeding because people are petting stones at him.

(ii) The speaker says that those who had mind were throwing stones at him, which means that probably they were those with some sort of understanding, whether right or wrong, or some passion. The others were merely idle and ignorant ones and had collected there as dormant spectators.

(iii) In the concluding stanza the speaker speaks about his entry and exit from the life of power and glory. He says he is leaving the same way as he entered. He walks down towards his death through the same streets on which he had entered the town and was hailed as a hero.

This line means that, some people die from doing good things. He is victorious even in his defeat. Here we find an optimistic view of the speaker. He says, sometimes great heroes fall from their climax and die. The most highly held, the most loved, also lose their charm and glory in the eyes of people and suffer such an end.

(iv) (a) Wrong deed, offense
(b) Great success or achievement

(v) The speaker shows his complete trust in God. He believes that, after enduring so much insult from the people on Earth, he will be received by God lovingly for the services he has given to his nation. He feels safe in Heaven because he knows morally he has done right and God will reward him for his deeds, as God is just. This reflects that the speaker is an optimistic man with a religious bent. He has complete faith in God’s love and justice.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

Abou Ben Adhem Summary by Leigh Hunt

Abou Ben Adhem Summary About the Poet

Leigh Hunt (19 October, 1784 – 28 August, 1859) was a religious man who was educated in a Christian hospital. His first poems were published in 1801 under the title of “Juvenilia”, and introduced him into a literary and theatrical society. In 1808, he became the editor of ‘The Examiner’, a newspaper founded by his brother. He was a friend and critic to other famous writers like, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron. He is known today for only a handful of delightful, short lyrics and poems like, The Story of Remine (1816), Foliage (1819, a collection of poem) etc.

Abou Ben Adhem Summary

‘Abu Ben Adheim’ describes the spiritual experience of a religious man ‘Abu’. Through this poem, the poet wishes to express to the readers the importance of kindness and love that we need to show towards our fellow beings.

Abou Ben Adhem Explanation of the Poem

“Abu Ben Adheim (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a-deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like in lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold.”

Explanation: Abu was a gentle and caring man. He did good to everyone. One night he was enjoying a sound and peaceful sleep in his room. Suddenly he woke up and saw his room flooded with moonlight. The room was brightened by the presence of an angel, who looked like a lily in full bloom. The angel was writing something in a golden book.

Word Meanings :

1. Dream of peace – Peaceful dream
2. Rich – Brightened

“Exceeding peace had made Ben Adheim bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
“What wriest thou?- The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.”
“And is mine one?” said Abu. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the angel. Abu spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”

Explanation: The extremely peaceful atmosphere of the room made Abu bold enough to ask the angel what was it writing. The angel rose its head and looked at him sweetly. Then it told him that it was making the list of all those who loved the Lord. Abu curiously enquired if his name too was mentioned in it. The angel denied in a subdued yet cheerful voice. Abu requested the angel to add his name among those who loved other fellow beings.

Word Meanings :

1. Exceeding – Increasing
2. Presence – (here) Angel
3. Vision – (here) Angel
4. Sweet accord – Harmony

“The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adheim’s name led all the rest.”

Explanation: The angel granted his request, wrote his name and vanished. The next night the angel came again into his room and showed him the names of those who were lucky enough to be blessed by God’s love. And to Abu’s joy, his name was at the top of the list.

Word Meanings :

1. Vanished – Disappeared
2. Blest – Blessed

Explanation: Thus, Abu was nearer to God because he loved his fellowmen. This poem propagates the idea that we should love humanity and this is the best worship.

Abou Ben Adhem Summary Questions and Answers

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

Abu Ben Adheim (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like in lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:-
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adheim bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
“What wriest thou?- The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.”

(i) Who was Abu Ben Adheim? What did he see one night in the room when he was awakened from his deep sleep?
(ii) Why does the poet compare the moonlight to ‘a lily in bloom’? Name the figure of speech used here.
(iii) What does the poet, Leigh Hunt, mean by ‘deep dream of peace’? How could Abu have peace?
(iv) What encouraged Abu to question the Angel? What did he ask?
(v) How does the Angel respond? What terms does the poet use to refer to the Angel ?
Answer:
(i) Abu was a pious man and belonged to the tribe of good people. He was loving and gentle.
When one night he awoke from deep sleep, he saw an Angel writing something in the Book of Gold. There was moonlight and peace in his room.

(ii) The moonlight which is silvery bright, resembles a white budding lily full of beauty and freshness. Thus, this comparison is made.
The figure of speech used here is ‘Simile’.

(iii) ‘A deep dream of peace’ refers to a peaceful sleep. A restful mind sleeps soundly.
Abu could sleep in peace because he was a simple, innocent, God loving man, who cared for his fellow beings so his life was devoid of any mental stress or unhappiness.

(iv) The extremely peaceful atmosphere in the room made Abu bold enough to question the Angel what it was writing in the Book of Gold.

(v) The Angel looked up sweetly and affectionately and answered Abu’s question. It said that it was writing the names of those who loved the Lord.
The terms used to refer to the angel are ‘presence’ and ‘vision’.

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

“And is mine one?” said Abu. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the angel. Abu spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adheim’s name led all the rest.

(i) Why does Abu lower his tone when the angel replied to his question?
(ii) Does Abu get disheartened by the reply? What request does he make to the angel?
(iii) Does the angel comply to the request of Abu? Does it stay there for long?
(iv) What does it show Abu? What came as a pleasant surprise to him?
(v) What does the poet wish to tell the readers through this poem?
Answer:
(i) Abu lowered his tone because, when he asked the angel if his name was there among those who loved uuu, the Angel replied that his name was not on the list. Thisdepressed Abu slightly.

(ii) No, the Angel’s reply does not dishearten him for long, he cheerfully makes a request to the angel that, if his name is not on the list of those who love the Lord, then his name should be written as the one who loves his fellowmen.

(iii) Yes, the Angel accepted his request and included him in the list of those who loved their fellowmen. After, this it vanished.

Yes, the angel re-visited Abu the following night. It came with a bright light that awakened Abu from his sleep.

(iv) On its second visit, the Angel showed Abu Ben Adheim the names of those whom God had blessed with his love. And Abu’s name was on the top of the list because God loves those who love their fellow men.

(v) The message that the poet gives to his readers through this poem is that, devotion to God is directly proportional to one’s love for one’s fellow being. God resides in the heart of every human being. So to love God one needs to love other human beings.

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

Nine Gold Medals Summary by David Roth

Nine Gold Medals Summary About the Poet

David Roth (10 October, 1954 – Present) is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author and former radio personality. He is an artist who conveys a wealth of stories, anecdotes and scenes with a physically felt intensity. He is best known as the lead singer of the Southern California based hard rock band, ‘Van Halen’.

Nine Gold Medals Summary

The poem deals with an incident which happened at a special Olympic race. ‘Nine Gold Medals’ is a beautiful poem that illustrates that sports is not only about competing, and about winning awards and medals, but also a complete institution that teaches you values like, sportsmanship, compassion and empathy. In this poem we see that how racers help a young injured competitor, to finish the race without caring about the competition. They all were rewarded with a gold medal for their outstanding display of co-operation and human kindness.

Nine Gold Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1. “The athletes had come from so many countries
To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months in training
All building up to the games.”

Explanation: Olympics are held after every four years. Participating in Olympics and wining an award is a deeply cherished dream of every athlete. This poem describes the scene at Special Olympics where special sportsmen, i.e., who have some problem in a particular part of their body, had gathered to participate in one hundred metres race.

They had come from different countries with the dream to win gold, silver or bronze medal. They had spent hours of vigorous training. Their hopes were quite high.

Word Meanings :

1. Athletes – Sportsmen
2. Building up – Developing strength and stamina

Stanza 2. “All round the field spectators were gathered
Cheering on all the young women and men
Then the final event of the day was approaching
The last race about to being.”

Explanation: The spectators had gathered around and were cheering the contestants of all the events. They had been encouraging them all throughout. It was now time for the last event to begin. All were anxious about it.

Word Meanings:

1. Spectators – Onlookers, audience
2. Cheering – Shouting encouragement

Stanza 3. “The loudspeakers called out the names of the runners
The one hundred metres the race to be run
And nine young athletes stood there determined
And poised for the sound of the gun.”

Explanation: The next and the final event is the hundred metres race. The names of the participants are announced. The nine young athletes come and take their positions behind the starting point. They are fully determined and ready, and wait for the pistol to be fired in order to begin the race.

Word Meanings :

1. Exploded – Fired
2. Poised – Ready or prepared for something

Stanza 4. “The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners on hearing the sound
But the youngest among them stumbled and staggered
And he fell on his knees to the ground.”

Explanation: The signal came indicated by the pistol shot, the runners began the race immediately but, unfortunately, the youngest of the athlete stumbled and lost his balance and fell with his knees on the ground.

Word Meanings :

1. Sumbled – Tripped
2. Staggered – To move unsteadily

Stanza 5. “He gave out a cry of frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts clashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling the story
Now it’s a strange one, but here’s what occurred.”

Explanation: After hours of training and hard efforts, all the dreams and hopes of the differently abled man seemed to turn to dust. He cries with pain and helplessness. He had trained hard but missed the opportunity to show his talent. But the speaker says that, something unusual yet true, happened following his fall.

Word Meanings:

1. Anguish – Extreme suffering, grief or pain
2. Dashed – Broke or destroyed

Stanza 6. “The eight other athletes stopped in their tracks
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they turned round and came back to help him
And lifted the lad to his feet.”

Explanation: The other eight athletes who had already begun their race, stopped in their tracks. To everyone’s surprise, one by one, turning around, they returned to help the fallen boy and lifted him up. This sudden change of mind was quite unexpected. After all they had been preparing for this day from a long time.

Word Meanings :

1. Tracks – Paths, trails
2. Lad – Young boy

Stanza 7. “Then all nine runners joined hands and continued
The one hundred metres reduced to a walk
And the banner above that said “Special Olympics”
Could not have been nearer the mark.”

Explanation: All the eight runners then held each other’s hand and resumed the competition, but this turned out to be a special one because all the participants were now walking together and the hundred metre race changed into a walk. Thus, the title on the banner matched with their act and could not have been a better one.

Word Meaning :

1. Joined hands – Held each other’s hands.

Stanza 8. “That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And the banner above and nine smiling faces
Said more than these words ever will
Said more than these words ever will.”

Explanation: The nine athletes reached the finishing line together hand in hand. They stood beneath the banner with smiling faces. No words would suffice to praise this act. Their act of co-operation towards their competitor actually won them nine gold medals. The poet repeats the last line to emphasize on their greatness.

Word Meaning :

1. Banner – A large strip of cloth with a design, picture or writing on it

Nine Gold Medals Summary Questions and Answers

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

The athletes had come from so many countries
To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months in training
All building up to the games.
All round the field spectators were gathered
Cheering on all the young women and men
Then the final event of the day was approaching
The last race about to being.
The loudspeakers called out the names of the runners
The one hundred metres the race to be run
And nine young athletes stood there determined
And poised for the sound of the gun.
The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners on hearing the sound
But the youngest among them stumbled and staggered
And he fell on his knees to the ground.

(i) From where had the athletes come and for what purpose?
(ii) Were the contestants well prepared for the event? Pick the line that illustrates this.
(iii) Describe the scene at the Olympics.
(iv) For whom was the call made? Who turned up and what signal did they need to wait for?
(v) What does the phrase ‘so did the runners’ mean? During the race who had bad luck? What happened to him?
Answer:
(i) The athletes had come from different countries of the world to participate in various events to be held at the Olympics and win prizes. It was the ‘Special Olympic Games’, in which the differently abled athletes competed with each other.

(ii) Yes, the contestants were trained and prepared, which is proved by the lines – “Many weeks and months in training all building up to the games.”

(iii) The ground was filled with a large audience, cheering the participants of the event. The athletes who had come to participate after a strenuous training for months, were well prepared, and the people were eagerly waiting for the final event of the day i.e., the race, to begin.

(iv) The names of the participants for one hundred metres race were called out over the loudspeaker.
Nine young athletes assembled, taking their position at the starting point. They waited for the sound of gun to begin the race.

(v) As soon as the pistol sounded, signalling the start of the race, the runners too charged ahead along their respective track, with firm determination. Thus, the runners charged like the gun shot towards their target. The youngest athlete among the runners had bad luck. Unfortunately, he tripped and unsteadily fell on his knees to the ground.

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

He gave out a cry of frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts clashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling the story
Now it’s a strange one, but here’s what occurred
The eight other athletes stopped in their tracks
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they turned round and came back to help him
And lifted the lad to his feet.
Then all nine runners joined hands and continued
The one hundred metres reduced to a walk
And the banner above that said “Special Olympics”
Could not have been nearer the mark.
That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And the banner above and nine smiling faces
Said more than these words ever will
Said more than these words ever will

(i) Who is ‘he’ referred to here? How did his efforts dash in the dirt? What was his reaction?
(ii) In David Roth’s poem ‘Nine Gold Medals’, something strange was witnessed. Illustrate.
(iii) Did the race actually take place? How? What words were printed on the banner above ?
(iv) Could the ‘Special Olympics’ have a better name? Give reason.
(v) How did the race end? Name the poet.
Answer:
(i) ‘He’ refers to the differently abled young athlete of the one hundred metre race, who unexpectedly fell down as soon as the race began.

The long awaited dream and aspiration of the runner, to participate in and win the prestigious Olympic race, came crashing down – all the more, the serious efforts he may have put in the preparation went unfruitful / useless. He felt everything coming dashing in the dirt. The athlete cried out in dismay and disappointment because he does not, get the opportunity to show his talent.

(ii) When the young athlete fell and cried out in frustration, the other runners who had started running, suddenly stopped, turned around and very surprisingly, came back one by one and helped the fallen racer to stand on his feet.

(iii) The race did take place but this was a special one. All the nine runners walked hand-in-hand to the finish line. The banner above read, ‘Special Olympics’.

(iv) No, the ‘Special Olympics’ is the most appropriate title for this event as it witnessed something really special. All the athletes had dreamt about winning the medal. However, on seeing their fellow runner in problem, they forgot their dreams and came forward to help him and completed the race together hand-in-hand. This is an exemplary example of empathy. Thus, this event could not have had a better title.

(v) The nine athletes reached the finish line together. There were now nine winners, instead of one, and each was awarded a gold medal as a reward for the display of empathy, helpful nature and humanity.

The poet is ‘David Roth’.