1. Get into pairs and attempt the following :
“The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.”- Mark Twain.
– Discuss with your partner what Mark Twain means from the above quote.
Write in your own words.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The writer Mark Twain expresses his view saying that the more he learns about people, he finds that they are dissatisfied, frustrated, trampling over others and still not happy. As a result, he likes his dog more, by which he means that animals are always happy & satisfied, thus better than human beings. So he likes his dog who is loyal, dutiful, playful and uncomplicated whereas the humans are not.
2. Put the following attributes/ abilities given below in the proper circles.
(a) self-control (b) communicates (c) love and care (d) cooks (e) good manners (f) has 3600 vision (g) shows gratitude (h) lives for more than 150 years (i) swims (j) learns computing (k) worships god (l) sleeps in standing position (m) stands up immediately after birth (n) brings up children (o) belongs to various species.
3. At times, especially when you are frustrated, you wish you were an animal/ a bird/ a fish/ a butterfly and not a human being. Say which of the above you would choose to transform to and give 3 or 4 reasons for your choice.
I wish I could be a …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I wish I could be a bird, want to fly high and high. This would give me an insight into how the earth exists. I would also learn the life of birds attain knowledge of their lives. I would move with them, converse with them while flying in the air, sitting on trees free from the life full of human affairs. Oh! God please grant me this life.
4. We come across many animals in our vicinity. We have also read about different animals in books. Make a list of all animals that fall under various categories. One is given for you.
… FACTUAL QUESTIONS …
What craze do animals never display?
Ans. The animals never display the craze of owning things.
What could have happened to the tokens of the poet’s self ?
Ans. The tokens of the poet’s self could have neglected, forgotten or left behind his true nature.
1. (A) Match the words given in table A with their meanings in table B.
Ans. (i – b) , (ii – a) , (iii – e) , (iv – c) , (v – d)
(B) Find adjectives from the poem which refer to positive and negative thinking.
2. Complete the following.
(a) The poet wishes he could …………………………………………………………
(b) Animals do not complain about …………………………………………………………
(c) Animals do not merely discuss …………………………………………………………
(d) Animals are not crazy about …………………………………………………………
(a) The poet wishes he could turn and live with animals.
(b) Animals do not complain about their conditions.
(c) Animals do not merely discuss their duty to God.
(d) Animals are not crazy about to the mania of owning things.
3. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) Animals are self-reliant ………………………………………
(b) Animals quarrel for their possessions ……………………………………….
(c) Animals do not worship other animals ……………………………………….
(d) Humans have given up many good qualities ……………………………………….
(e) Animals suffer humiliation ……………………………………….
(f) The poet has retained all his natural virtues ……………………………………….
Ans. (a) True (b) False (c) True (d) True (e) False (f) False.
4. With the help of the poem find the differences between animals and human beings.
5. Read the text again, and complete the web, highlighting the good values/habits which we can learn from animals.
6. Find out lines from the poem that are examples of following Figures of Speech.
7. Identify the Figures of Speech in the following lines.
(a) I stand and look at them long and long.
(b) They do not sweat and whine about their condition.
(c) They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God.
(d) …… not one is demented with the mania of owning things.
(e) They bring me tokens of myself.
(f) No one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
(a) I stand and look at them long and long.
Ans. Repetition
(b) They do not sweat and whine about their condition.
Ans. Personification
(c) They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God.
Ans. Alliteration
(d) ……….. not one is demented with the mania of owning things.
Ans. Metaphor
(e) They bring me tokens of myself.
Ans. Alliteration
(f) No one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
Ans. Hyperbole
8. Read the poem again and write an appreciation of the poem in a paragraph format with the help of given points. (Refer to page no. 5)
(1) Title: Animals
(2) Poet: Walt Whitman
(3) Theme/Central Idea: Animals is written by Walt Whitman, who is known for his free verse poems. The poet has depicted the simplicity of the animals and the greediness and complex nature of human beings. He brings out the
difference between the two by expressing his contentment on the placid nature of the animals. Their carefree nature impresses the poet and he wants to emulate them.
(4) Rhyme scheme: abccd, efgh
(5) Figure of speech: They are so placid and self contained. This line is a metaphor as animals are indirectly compared with the possession of qualities like placidity and self contentment.
(6) Personification: I stand and look at them long and long.
(7) Special feature: The special feature of the poem is that it expresses the difference between humans and the animals. The poet appreciates the qualities of animals like calmness, self contentment and satisfaction. They are respectable and the poet desires to live among them and learn from them and shows his dissatisfaction about human beings.
(8) Favourite lines:
(i) I think I could turn and live with animals.
(ii) Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago.
(9) Why I like/don’t like the poem: I like the poem as it inculcates and teaches us the values that the animals possess and the human beings doesn’t.
(10) Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind. ‘Kind’ means type, also it means showing concern or being caring. So this is an example of homonym where two words are spelt alike and also sound alike but have different meanings.