27 The Character of A Happy Life [Poem -1]

POEM-1

THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE

SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Q.1. What does the poet mean when he says that a happy man does not serve another's will?
Ans: The poet says that a really happy man is not dependent on others. He does not work according to the will
of others. He is free to do what he thinks is proper. This man is not a slave to anyone. He does not need
any weapon to protect himself. Honesty is his only weapon for him. He believes in the simple truth of
life. This simple truth is his best skill.
Q.2. Explain briefly, how Sir Henry Wotton's happy man is 'having nothing yet hath all.
Ans: Sir Henry Wotton‟s happy man does not need any armour for his defence because he does not give
importance to the material source that needs defence. He has no public fame, desire to go upward and
secret vaults to save something for a rainy day. He has only a heart which is totally free from any guilt
and envy. So, Henry Wotton says that he has nothing but he has everything.
Q.3. What a happy man is taught from his very birth?
Ans: The happy man is taught to be independent in his thinking and action. He is not a slave of other‟s will.
He does not act as other wants him to. He is honest in his conduct. Honesty is the only weapon with
which a happy man protects himself. He is instructed to be truthful and live a happy and honourable life.
Q.4. Write the central idea of the poem 'The Character of a Happy Life.
Ans: The central idea of the poem „The Character of a Happy Life‟ is how to achieve the key to happiness,
peppered with a tinge of warning on what not to do, especially, avoiding envy and desires for praises
and they are the slow poison that destroys the character of a man. It is detailed throughout the poem,
how a man is to lead a simple, honest life being faithful to God in order to attain true happiness.
Q.5. Write the rhyming scheme of the poem.
Ans: „The Character of a Happy Life‟ by Sir Henry Wotton is a six-stanza poem that is divided into sets of
four lines, known as quatrains. These quatrains follow a simple rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD, and so
on, changing end sounds as the poet saw fit. Wotton also makes use of half-rhyme. It is seen through
the repetition of assonance or consonance. For example, “happy” and “he” in line one and “early” and
“feed” and “freed” in stanzas three and four.
Q.6. What are the sources of happiness other than those mentioned in the poem?
Ans: Personal response.
 28 Don’t Quit [Poem -2]

POEM-2

DON'T QUIT
SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Q.1. What is the poet‟s message in the first stanza of the poem?
Ans: In the first stanza of the poem, the poet says that life is a journey and not always easy. Sometimes it is
pleasant while other times things tend to go wrong. Regardless of how meticulously you have planned
everything, some things still go awry. Stop for a while and take a rest but do not give up. When a person
gives up, life becomes meaningless.
Q.2. Which lines of the poem do you like the most and why?
Ans: I like the first three lines of stanza two as in these lines the poet has explained the true essence of the
struggle. The poet emphasizes how complicated life is. It is not going to play out the way that one
expects. The poet gives an example of a “fellow” who turns away from hardship rather than persevering.
This person would have “won” if he had “stuck it out.” The poet uses this very vague example as a way
to inspire readers to persevere, no matter if the issue they are dealing with seems impossible.
Q.3. Write the central idea of the poem.
Ans: Central Idea
The poem, Don’t Quit, is all about perseverance, tenacity, determination and willpower to not give up,
especially, when things are going wrong, and when one is seemingly swimming against the tide. This
poem reminds us that there are seeds of success in every failure, and that's why we must not quit.
Q.4. Find similes, metaphors and alliterations in the poem.
Ans: Alliteration
Alliteration occurs when the poet repeats the same consonant sound at the beginning of multiple lines.
For example, “smile” and “sigh” in line four of the first stanza and “twists” and “turns” in line one of
the second stanza.
Metaphor
“The silver tint of the clouds of doubt”
Similes
“When things go wrong as they sometimes will”
Q.5. Discuss how the poem helps the reader to be optimistic in every situation.
OR
Q.6. What effect does the poem create on the reader?
Ans: The poem rekindles the self-confidence of a reader, which essentially enables him/her to believe in
his/her abilities to achieve the goals that may appear beyond any rationale, common reasoning and
normal logic. This self-confidence is particularly important in life because it empowers the reader to
bring his/her dreams and vision to fruition and be optimistic in every situation of life.
Q.7. What is the message of the poem?
Ans: Message
Humans have a tendency to work within their comfort zone and when a hardship strikes, they tend to
flee or battle with it only for a while before giving up. However, this poem significantly inspires all its
readers to never quit and never give up in the face of calamity. This is life and it is full of surprises.
 29 Don’t Quit [Poem -2]

Think of it as a ride, sometimes high and sometimes low. The one who manages to stick until the end
wins the victory cup. Although the victory seems far, it is close. One must just persevere.
Q.8. Why does the poet term life „queer with twists and turns?
Ans: The poet in this line, emphasizes how complicated life is. It is not going to play out the way that one
expects. The poet gives an example of a “fellow” who turns away from hardship rather than persevering.
This person would’ve “won” if he had “stuck it out.” The poet uses this very vague example as a way to
inspire readers to persevere, no matter if the issue they are dealing with seems impossible.
Q.9. What is the benefit of not quitting as suggested in the poem?
Ans: The poet has mentioned many benefits of not quitting throughout the poem. The poet encourages the
readers not to give up, especially, when things are going wrong, and when one is seemingly swimming
against the tide. This poem reminds us that there are seeds of success in every failure, and that's why we
must not quit.
 30 Ozymandias [Poem -3]

POEM-3

OZYMANDIAS
Explanation:
In the poem "Ozymandias", P.B. Shelley has penned down the tale of the great Egyptian Pharaoh
Ozymandias narrated by a traveller. The traveller gave an account of what he encountered during his journey
through a desert. He says that he saw the statue of the great king Ozymandias lying destroyed on the ground. He
praises the brilliance of the sculptor who was successful in revealing the passions of the king in his sculpture.
The king's proud eyes bear his arrogance. But the irony lies in the fact that the head of the statue was half sunk
on the sand and only half of the king's body was standing erect. Below the pedestal bore the lines by the king.
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings look on my work, ye mighty, and despair." The king considered
himself to be the greatest of all kings and challenged others to exceed his fame. He believed and challenged that
no one could do greater work than he did. But the broken statue revealed just the opposite of what the king
predicted. The pedestal bears the pride of the king while the broken statue justifies the supreme power of time.
None can stand long against the force of time and the same thing happened to the statue of the King. The king
remains the ruler of nothing but the desert which symbolizes decay. The half-sunken head of the King's statue is
ironical to the proud inscription caved on the pedestal. Like the statue of the king, his boast was also mixed with
dust and ridicules his vainglory.

SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

Q.1. What did the traveller see in the desert and whom he told about it?
Ans: The traveller came across King Ozymandias's fragmented statue lying in the vast desert's sands. He saw
two 'trunkless legs' of stone standing in the desert and the shattered visage of the statue partly buried in
the sand and he traveller gave the account of what he encountered to P.B. Shelly.
Q.2. How can you say that the sculptor was a great artist?
Ans: The sculptor was a master because his work was so fine all the expressions on the face of Ozymandias
were reflected brightly and he was perfect in his own job, making all the cuts and ups in the body of the
mightiest king. All the expressions including angriness, greed, pride, and confidence were sculpted
perfectly.
OR
The colossal statue of Ozymandias gives a clear indication that the sculptor was a master artist. He had
very beautifully carved every detail of the king's face. Even when the statue was lying in ruins, one
could easily make out the arrogant expression on it.
Q.3. What was written on the pedestal of the statue of Ozymandias?
Ans: It was written on the pedestal that—
"My name is Ozymandias, King of kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
Q.4. What is the meaning of the phrase in the poem “the heart that fed”?
Ans: The poet's use of the word "hand" refers to the sculptor's hand, the very hand responsible for creating the
sculpture of Ozymandias. The poet's use of the word "heart" refers to Ozymandias's own emotions and
his arrogance that his significance would persist even after death.
Q.5. What is ironic about the fate of Ozymandias?
 31 Ozymandias [Poem -3]

Ans: The condition of the statue and the inscription on the pedestal is ironic. The statue was completely
shattered. Only two legs stood on the pedestal and the head was lying in the sand. Whereas the
inscription said „look upon my work ye Mighty and despair‟ and „king of kings‟. Such a mighty and
powerful king who looked down upon everyone else was destroyed. It conveys that nothing is stable in
this world; everything is subject to change and decay.
Q.6. What is the message of the poem?
Ans: In the poem, the poet wants to convey that the power and pride of a king are not permanent. The statue
of once-powerful king Ozymandias is now lying fragmented in the sands of a vast desert. The might of
the king is no longer evident. Neither the king nor his empire remains. All that remains are the ruins of
the statue that speak of the artist's greatness. Through this poem, the poet conveys to the reader the idea
of human mortality and the permanence of art.
Q.7. How does this poem relate to your life?
Ans: This poem inspired me immensely as it is a true depiction of human morality. Like Ozymandias, I also
have to embark on the eternal journey of my life, hence, this poem serves as a warning for me to avoid
haughtiness, arrogance and greed in life to be always remembered in the good books of my beloved
once.
Q.8. The proud Ozymandias lie forgotten in the desert. Comment.
Ans: The poet wants to convey that the power and pride of a king are not permanent. The statue of once-
powerful king Ozymandias is now lying fragmented in the sands of a vast desert. The might of the king
is no longer evident. Neither the king nor his empire remains. All that remains are the ruins of the statue
that speak of the artist's greatness. Through this poem, the poet conveys to the reader the idea of human
mortality and the permanence of art.
 32 Good Timber [Poem -4]

POEM-4

GOOD TIMBER
SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. What is the significance of the title Good Timber?
Ans: The title ‘Good Timber’ is of great significance because it symbolizes ‘good men’. The poet compares
people with trees that grow and reach their true potential by overcoming difficulties. It is only through
struggle, like a tree fighting through forest growth to reach the sun, that men grow and discover their
true potential.
2. What happens to the people who work hard?
Ans: People who work hard and overcome difficulties can grow and reach their true potential. They not only
struggle in the most difficult situations but also find solutions to the challenges. These are those people
who take guidance from starts. And it is a fact universally acknowledged that to become great one has to
face and overcome the obstacles in life.
3. How can one achieve one’s true potential in life according to the poem?
Ans: A person can grow and reach his/her true potential by overcoming difficulties. It is only through struggle
that a person can discover his/her true potential. A good timber fights through forest growth to reach the
heights and become prominent. Similarly, the leaders, who not only struggle in the most difficult
situations but also find solutions to the challenges. These are those people who take guidance from
starts. This is the law of nature that to become great one has to face and overcome obstacles in life.
4. Why does the poet suggest people to be like good timber?
Ans: The poet has emphasized the significance of hard work and struggle. He states that people, like trees
grow and reach their true potential by facing difficulties and challenges. It is only through struggle, like
a tree fighting through forest growth to reach heights, that we grow and discover our true potential, thus,
the poet stresses that struggle is necessary to live a successful, fruitful, and contended life.
5. What poetic devices are used in the poem?
Ans: This entire poem is an extended metaphor comparing trees to human being. Examples of alliteration can
be seen in stanza three “storm” and “strength” and in stanza four “broken branches”. Moreover, the
word “fight” in the first stanza exemplifies personification. While the transition between lines one and
two of the first stanza and lines three and four of the second stanza is an example of enjambment.
6. Write a central idea of the poem.
Ans: This poem is an extended metaphor. It compares trees to human beings. It states that people, like trees
grow and reach their true potential by facing difficulties and challenges. It is only through struggle, like
a tree fighting through forest growth to reach heights, that we grow and discover our true potential, thus,
the central idea of the poem is that struggle is necessary to live a successful, fruitful, and contended life.
7. How does this poem relate to your life?
Ans: This poem carries a universal theme of struggle and hard work and appeals to every reader’s emotion.
Similarly, I accept the fact by heart and soul that achievement without struggle and challenges is utterly
impossible. In order to achieve a desired result, I must go through the intensity of hard work, overcome
obstacles and face difficulties and challenges of life, akin to good timber.
 33 Lucy Gray [Poem -5]

POEM-5

Lucy Gray
SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. Where did Lucy live and what kind of child she was?
Ans: Lucy lived with her parents in wide green mountainous valley. She was the only child of her parents; she
had no neighborhood. Even though, she has no friend and no companion to play with. Lucy Gray was a
small, innocent and obedient child and only the offspring of her parent.
2. Where did lucy‟s father send her and why?
Ans: Lucy father asked her to go to the town to bring back her mother back because her mother went to the
town because of some work and he is predicting by seeing the moon for the storm so he asked her to
take lantern for the light and go to the town instantly so she could back before the storm. He did so
because he was busy in his work and was expecting that they could come back easily before the storm
would come.
3. What did Lucy mean when she said „yonder is the moon‟?
Ans: Yonder is an archaic word which means ‘far away’. When Lucy’s father commanded her to go to the
town then she said this line. This line means that evening is far away and she would return home from
the town before evening.
4. Why did Lucy take lantern with her?
Ans: Lucy took a lantern with her because there was a prediction of upcoming storm. In story weather there
is darkness everywhere and the moorland was full of ditches. So, she took a lantern so she would come
home with her mother safely.
5. Do you think that the tragedy would have been prevented if Lucy‟s father himself had gone down
the town?
Ans: Yes, the tragedy would have been prevented if Lucy’s father himself had gone down the town but he
was busy in his work, so he persuaded Lucy Gray to go to the town.
6. What happened to lucy when she was going to town?
Ans: Lucy went to bring her mother back from the town but unfortunately, she could not reach there because
the storm came on earlier before its time and Lucy wandered up and down and lost her way but her
mother safely managed to return her home. She lost her way due to storm at night; and went on far away
from the reach of their parents. In fact, she went in the lap of nature and never look back.
7. What efforts did lucy‟s parents make in finding her?
Ans. Lucy’s poor parent searched their child far and wide but they could not any sign of her presence, so they
were disappointed and depresses but suddenly her mother saw her footprints at the edge of the hill which
was at downwards, so they started to follow them that led them to a wooden bridge. Further, they
tracked those footmarks and in the middle of the bridge, they found the bridge broken. Then they got the
reality of their daughter’s terrible death which was caused by drowning.
8. What led the lucy‟s parents to the bridge?
Ans. Lucy’s footprints led her parents to the bridge. Lucy’s poor parent searched their child far and wide but
they could not any sign of her presence, so they were disappointed and depresses but suddenly her
mother saw her footprints at the edge of the hill which was at downwards, so they started to follow them
that led them to a wooden bridge. Further, they tracked those footmarks and in the middle of the bridge,
 34 Lucy Gray [Poem -5]

they found the bridge broken. Then they got the reality of their daughter’s terrible death which was
caused by drowning.
9. What do people still maintain about lucy gray and why?
Ans. People say that she is still alive. Lucy had become immortal because after her death the people began to
believe that she was still a living child who could be seen alone at the break of the day only those who
had the deep concern with natural beauty. She goes on singing solitary song that whistles in the air. She
never looks back. She has been beloved part of nature and all people forever. “To live in hearts we
leave behind is not to die.” Thomas Campbell
 35 The Abbot of Canterbury [Poem -6]

POEM-6

THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY

SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Q1. What questions did the King ask the Abbot?
OR
What were the three questions King John asked whose intelligent answers were given by the poor
shepherd in the poem „The Abbot of Canterbury‟?
Ans: The King asked Abbot three complicated questions because he felt jealous of Abbot’s lifestyle and his
rising followers. He also did a condition that if Abbot failed to give the answers to these questions so his
head would be smitten with his body. The three questions of King John, which were asked to answer the
Abbot in order to save his life, were:
1. What was King John’s worth when he sat on his throne?
2. How soon could he travel around the world?
3. What was the King thinking at that time?
Q2. Why did the shepherd save the life of the Abbot?
OR
What were the intelligent answers given by the poor shepherd to King John in the poem „The
Abbot of Canterbury‟?
Who tried to help the Abbot out, and to what extent was he successful?
OR
What answers did the King get from the Shepherd?
OR
How was Abbot benefitted by his shepherd‟s bold questions?
Ans: He answered the first question that Jesus Christ, our Savoir was sold in thirty pence among the false
Jews so your worth should be less than one penny than to him. Hence your worth was twenty-nine
pence.
He answered the second question: if you got up with the sun and rode with the sun so you could easily
travel the whole world in twenty-four hours. To the third question, he answered that you thought that the
Abbot was answering you but he was his poor shepherd saying this he took off his grab.
Q3. Why did King John summon/call the Abbot to his court/palace?
OR
What were the charges levelled against the Abbot? Why was the Canterbury accused?
OR
Why did King John become jealous/ hostile to the Abbot?
OR
What was the dispute between the King and the Abbot?
Ans: King John being a cruel king ruled over England with main and with might. When he heard about the
lavish living standard and growing rapidly fame of the Abbot of Canterbury, he became anxious and got
fear of treachery, so out of jealousy, he summoned the Abbot to his court and accused him of defiance
for which he decided to punish him.
Q4. What is the theme or central idea of the poem?
OR
 36 The Abbot of Canterbury [Poem -6]

What is the main idea of this ballad?

OR
“Wisdom is a God-gifted thing which could be bestowed upon anyone without education”, support
your answer in the light of the poem, “The Abbot of Canterbury”.
Ans: Wisdom is no doubt a gift of God and can be bestowed upon anyone irrespective of education, caste and
rank. The same happened in the poem “The Abbot of Canterbury” as no doctor, philosopher and
educated man could answer the King’s questions, but an illiterate shepherd answered all the questions
eloquently and not only amazed the King but also saved the life of the Abbot and earned a bulk of
fortune and respect for himself.
Q5. How did the king express his emotions after being answered his all questions?
Ans: The king was so greatly pleased with shepherd’s answers that he decided to appoint him the Abbot of
Canterbury in place of the previous Abbot. But he told the king that he could neither write nor read.
Therefore, the king granted him a life pension of four nobles a week and pardoned the Abbot.
Q6. Why did the shepherd not accept king‟s offer?
Ans: Shepherd was honest and a man of fine character. When the king decided to appoint him the Abbot of
Canterbury in place of the previous Abbot, he told the king that he could neither write nor read. Also, he
did not have desire for any prize, but wanted to save his master from the king’s wrath. Therefore, the
king granted him a life pension of four nobles a week and pardoned the Abbot.
Q7. What efforts did the Abbot make in order to save himself?
Ans: Although, the Abbot was an educated person, he found the questions very difficult. To get the answers,
he roamed many places; visited the Oxford and Cambridge as well but was all in vain as there was no
wise person to devise the answers. Eventually, he met his shepherd who made his permission to answer
King’s questions. He disguised himself as Abbot and presented himself before the King.
 37 Sur Khahori [Poem -7]

POEM-7

SUR KHAHORI
SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Q1. How is Khahori's character depicted by the poet?
OR
Sur Khahori is a narration of Khahori's struggle. Elaborate.
Ans. The poet has mentioned the character of Khahori as the pious thew one who is in the search of
truth. Khahori goes from place to place and faces many hardships to reach at his destination.
They are not misled in fact they lit the fire where not any trace of birds is seen. The writer calls
them true seekers. They are only known to the people who have spiritual realms. Their faces are
dry and they wear torn slippers.
Q2. How do the Khahoris experience sleep?
Ans. In the dream, the Khahoris saw the people who had seen their beloved (Truth). He further
experienced that we should spend nights with such people who lived with God. The recognition
of such people is like a boat in the ocean. They never experience restful sleep. They wander and
are totally absorbed in search, possessing nothing except their steadfastness and determination.
Q3. Where and why does Khahoris spend their days and nights?
Ans. Khahoris usually spend their days and nights in the rocks, jungles and unknown places where
native people are hesitant to go. The purpose of spending time at such places is to search for
truth in order to make their God please.
Q4. What does the poet want to say when he says "Where not a trace of birds seen, fire is lit?
Ans. Khahori goes from place to place and faces many hardships to reach at his destination. They are
not misled in fact they lit the fire where not any trace of birds is seen. The writer calls them true
seekers. They are only known to the people who have spiritual realms.
Q5. What reward does a Khahori get after his hard work?
Ans. After his struggle, a Khahori is rewarded with eternal truth. As he is searching for it by roaming
from place to place. He sees his beloved and spends the night with God. All his efforts bear fruit
and he gets what he wants. His efforts are not in vain. Being resilient, consistent and determined,
Khahori gets what he desires.
Q6: What is the central idea of the poem?
Ans. This melody is written by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. He gives attribution to those people who devote
their lives to their beloved. They leave their materialist world. They live an austere life and do not
care about anything. Their only concern is to find their destination. For this whatever the hardships
come, they don't fall but are always courageous to seek the way of God.
Q7: How do you express your emotions about the struggle of your friend or a family member?
Ans: Personal opinion.