THE NOBLE NATURE
Let’s understand the poem
Read the poem silently and try to find out the answer to the following. Discuss the answers with your partner.
1. What is noteworthy in an oak?
Ans: An oak tree is tall tree with rough and hard wood. It is a large European tree that lives for hundreds of years. The longevity of an oak tree is noteworthy.
2. Who is fairer: an oak or a lily? How?
Ans: Lily is fairer than an oak. It gives beauty and light to the surrounding so it is fair.
3. What ultimately happens to an oak?
Ans: An oak tree lives for many years so it becomes bald and dry.
4. Is a man blessed with a long life and material prosperity?
Ans: No, man is not blessed with a long life and material prosperity. A man does not live for long as compared to an oak tree.
5. What are your impressions about the lily? (Clue: Ref. To L7 & 8.)
Ans: The lily blooms in the day and dies in the night but in that short period of time it gives beauty. It is a flower of light.
6. Can a short life be perfect? Which lines suggest this and how?
Ans: Yes a short life can be perfect. The following lines suggest that short life can be perfect-
"In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be"
Even in the short period of life one can lead a meaningful life with possessing noble thoughts and being a good human being.
7. Choose the best possible meaning of ‘Just’ in line of from the following : (a) Only a short time ago (b) really (c) morally fair.
Ans: (b) really
Let’s appreciate the poem
(a) Comprehension questions :
1. Why is a lily far fairer than an Oak?
Ans: A lily lives for a short period of time but gives light and beauty to one who sees it. On the other hand an oak is long and tall and lives for many years but as it ages, it becomes useless. In this way a lily is fairer than an oak.
2. Which qualities make a man noble?
Ans: Helping people, understanding others, giving happiness to others, speaking truth, humble attitude, are the qualities that make a man noble.
3. Is long life a yardstick to judge the worth of a human being?
Ans: No, long life is not a yardstick to judge the worth of ahuman being. A man’s worth should be judged by how he has lived his life and not for how many years he has lived his life.
4. Do you agree with the idea that in short measures life may perfect be?
Ans: Yes, life can be perfect in short measures. If we live life happily and help others, we can surely lead a short but meaningful life just like lily.
5. Of a day, that night, smell, short- what do these suggest?
Ans: The above words suggest that life even though lived for short period of time, should be lived with perfect just like lily.
(b) Read the last four lines of the poem and answer the following by choosing the most appropriate option given for each.
1. We see beauty in lily because.
(i) it is short lived
(ii) it is the flower of light
(iii) small is beautiful
(iv) it is not like an oak
Ans: (ii) It is the flower of light
2. The poet’s philosophy of life is that
(i) one must enjoy life to the fullest extent
(ii) one must make others happy
(iii) small things can make life beautiful
(iv) longevity should be the good of our life.
Ans: (iii) small things can make life beautiful
3. In a phrase of the poem the poet suggests that ‘short life’ is
(i) tie that night.
(ii) flower of light
(iii) small proportions
(iv) short measures
Ans: (iv) short measures
4. If you were asked to describe lily in a few words, how would you do it in the context of the poem?
(i) a flower bearing plant
(ii) beautiful but short lived
(iii) a water plant
(iv) sweet smelling flower
Ans : (ii) beautiful but short lived
Let’s do the activities
(b) Do you want to be a noble human being? Discuss it in groups.
Ans: Yes, I would love to be a noble human being. I want to possess the qualities that make a man noble. I would like to live life like lily. In my life I want to help people as much as I can and want to give them happiness. I want to lead a meaningful life and make others life good too.
(c) Have you read the Odia poem, Sefali Prati by Kuntala Kumari Sabat? If not, read the poem and find out the similarities.
Ans: Yes,I have read the Odia poem, Sefali Prati. Both poems have similarities that show how short lives can be perfectand meaningful. Sefaliis a just like lily, which blooms in a day and dies in a night. But in that short period of time it spreads it charm and beauty and make others happy. It is a beautiful white flower that gives light to others.