PARAGRAPH :-
1. ‘ Some crickets have four legs and some have two’. Elucidate this statement from the poet’s point of view.
[ or ]
If given a chance, who would you want to be- the ant or the cricket? Justify your answer.
Introduction
In this poem, poet tells the importance of hard work and planning that is essential for every creature.
Cricket's attitude
The cricket was young and silly. It spent his days by singing in summer and spring. When winter arrived it started worrying about the future. He had no food. He could not find a leaf or a flower in the snowy season. Cricket cried for his bad situation.
Ant's life
The ant was wise and hardworking. It worked hard and planned for future. It saved food in summer to enjoy the winter.
Cricket's request
The cricket went near the ant and pleaded to help him by giving some grains and shelter. The ant clearly refused and said we ants never borrow or lend from others.
Ant's reply
On hearing this the ant replied I may be your friend and servant . You sing in summer now you suffer in winter. Thus the poor cricket turned away.
Conclusion
Poet indicates that there are some two legged crickets in the world which are human beings. He advices the people to work hard and plan for future.
MORAL : "Hard work never fails"
APPRECIATION QUESTION :-
A. Based on your understanding of the poem, read the following lines and answer the questions given below.
1. A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing
Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring.
Began to complain when he found that, at home.
His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.
a)What was the routine of the cricket?
The cricket enjoyed singing in the warm weather of the spring and summer. This was the7
routine of the cricket.
b) Name the seasons mentioned in line 1 & 2.
Spring and Summer are the seasons mentioned here.
c) Who does he refer to?
"He' refers to the cricket.
d) Why was his cupboard empty?
Because the cricket did not save any food or grains for the winter
e) What is cricket in this poem?
Cricket is a brown or black insect related to the grasshopper but with shorter legs.
f) What is the nature of the cricket?
The cricket is young and silly.
g) How was the summer?
The summer was warm and sunny.
h) What did the cricket complain?
The cricket complained that its cupboard was empty
i) Whose cupboard was empty?
The cricket's cupboard was empty.
j) What is the rhyme scheme of the above line?
Rhyme scheme: a abb
k) Pick out the rhyming words in the above lines.
Rhyming words: sing-spring; home-come
I) Pick out the words that are alliterated in the 1" line.
silly - sing
m) Pick out the words that are alliterated in the 2nd line.
sunny-summer
n) What is the figure of speech mentioned in the 1" line?
Personification.
2) Not a crumb to be found
On the snow-covered ground;
Not a flower could he see,
Not a leaf on a tree.
a) What couldn't he find on the ground?
He couldn't find any trace of food or grains on the ground.
b) Why was the ground covered with snow?
It was winter season.
C) What does crumb mean?
Crumb means a piece of bread.
d) What does the phrase the snow-covered ground' mean?
The phrase the snow-covered ground" means the weather was cold and snowy.
e) How is the winter described here?
The winter is described as a season with snow on ground and no flowers and leaves on the trees
F) Who could not see a flower?
The cricket could not see a flower.
g) Not a leaf on a tree.' What Winter season is mentioned here.
Winter season is mentioned here.
h) What is the rhyme scheme of the above line?
Rhyme scheme: aabb
i) Pick out the rhyming words in the above lines.
Rhyming words: found-ground; see-tree
3)"Oh what will become, "says cricket, "of me?
At last by starvation and famine made bold.
All dripping with wet and all trembling with cold,
Away he set off to a miserly ant.
To see if. to keep him alive, he would grant
a) What made the cricket bold?
Starvation and famine made the cricket bold
b) Why did the cricket drip and tremble?
Because the weather was wet and cold.
c) Whom did the cricket want to meet? Why?
The cricket wanted to meet a miserly ant to borrow food or grains from it.
d) Is the cricket happy decording to the 1" line?
No, the cricket is not happy.
e) What kind of ant is it?
It is a miserly ant
f) What is the rhyme scheme of the above line?
Rhyme scheme abbec
g) Pick out the Rhyming words in the above lines.
Rhyming words: bold-cold; ant-grant
4)Him shelter from rain,
And a mouthful of grain.
He wished only to borrow,
He'd repay it tomorrow
a) What would keep him alive?
Grains and shelter from the ant would keep him alive.
b) Pick out the rhyming words in the 3rd and 4 lines.
Rhyming words: borrow - tomorrow
c) Give more examples of rhyming words from the poem
sing spring.
see - tree,
rain - grain,
friend-lend
home - come,
bold- cold,
found-ground
ant-grant
borrow-tomorrow- sorrow
light- night,
gay -- say
d)What does the cricket want from the ant?
The cricket wants shelter and grains.
e) What is the assurance made by the cricket?
The cricket assured that if the ant granted shelter and food, he would repay it in future.
f) What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?
Rhyme scheme: a a bb
g) Pick out the Rhyming words in the above lines.
Rhyming words: rain-grain; borrow-tomorrow
6)If not, he must die of stan and sorrow.
Says the ant to the
cricket, "I"m your servant
and friend
But we ants never
borrow ;we ants never
lend
But tell me, idea cricket
Did you lay anything by
When the weather was
warm? Quoth the cricket,
"Not I
a) Why do you think ants neither borrow nor lend?
Ants work hard and always plan for the future and so ants neither borrow nor lend.
b) Who says the But we ants never borrow, we ants never lend to whom?
The ant says these lines to the cricket.
c) Who does IT refer to in the last line?
It refers to the cricket.
d) What relationship did the ant maintain with the cricket?
The ant told that he was the cricket's servant and friend
e) What did the ant ask the cricket about his savings?
The ant asked the cricket if the cricket had saved any food when the weather was warm.
f)What does 'lay by' mean?
"Lay by means keep for future use!
g) What does 'quoth' mean?
"Quoth' means 'said". (used before the subject - 1 and 3 person singular)
h) Did the cricket save food for future use?
No, the cricket didn't save food for future use.
i) What will happen to the cricket, if the ant doesn't help it?
If the ant doesn't help, the cricket must die of starvation and sorrow.
j)Pick out the words that are alliterated in the 1" line,
starvation-sorrow
6)My heart was so light
That I sang day and night,
For all nature looked gay
"For all nature looked gay
"You sang, Sir. vou say?".
a) What was the nature of the cricket? How do you know?
The nature of the cricket was to enjoy dancing and singing. We know this from its reply to the ant's questions.
b) Mention the rhyme scheme employed in the above lines.
Rhyme scheme; aabbb
e) What did the cricket do day and night?
The cricket sang day and night
d) Who is addressed to sir'?
"The cricket'. is addressed to sir'.
e) Who said this to whom- For all nature looked gay."?
The cricket said this to the ant
f)Who asked the question "You sang. Sir, you say?" to whom?
The ant asked the question to the cricket
g)Pick out the Rhyming words in the above lines.
Rhyming words: light-night: gay-guy-say
7)Go then", says the ant and dance the winter away"
Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,
And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.
Folks call this a fable. I'll warrant it true:
Some crickets have four legs, and same have two.
a) The ant refused to help the cricket. Why?
Because the ant could not tolerate the laziness of the cricket.
b) Explain the second line. / What did the ant do according to the 2 line?
The ant stopped talking and closed its small gate hurriedly.
c) Did the ant help the cricket? How do you say?
No, the ant did not help the cricket. We can say it because the ant hastily closes its small gate,
d) What did the ant angrily tell the cricket to do?
The ant angrily told the cricket to sing and dance now also
e) What does the poet indicate in this phrase 'some have two"?
"Some have two refers to some human beings who behave like the cricket. The poet indicates them as the two-legged crickets.
f) What is the rhyme scheme of the above line?
Rhyme scheme: abbec
g) Pick out the Rhyming words in the above lines.
Rhyming words: wicket-cricket; true two
h) Pick out the words that are alliterated in the 4 line.
folks-fable
i) What is the figure of speech mentioned in the last line?
Metaphor (some have two - human crickets)