MAK LABS — Std 10 English 3.4 The Will to Win

1 AIn order to achieve success the poet wants us to —

(a) go out and fight for it.
(b) work day and night for it.
(c) give up our time, peace, and sleep for it.

1 BWrite as many phrases as you can using 'enough' and use them in your sentences.

Smart enough: She is smart enough to solve the complex puzzle on her own.
Brave enough: Only a few soldiers were brave enough to cross the enemy line.
Strong enough: He exercised daily until he was strong enough to lift the heavy weights.
Rich enough: They are rich enough to buy a mansion in the city.
Fast enough: You must run fast enough to catch the departing train.

1 CWhat does the word 'Scheme' mean here?

The correct alternative is (d) Plan of action.

1 DDo you think the line 'Give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it' means that one should be 'desperate or restless' to achieve one's goal. Explain your opinion.

Yes, the line suggests that achieving a significant goal requires profound dedication, bordering on restlessness and desperation. It implies that true success does not come easily or comfortably; it demands stepping out of one's comfort zone, sacrificing leisure, rest, and peace of mind to put in relentless, focused hard work toward the desired objective.

1 EFind appropriate meanings of the following lines.

(a) To go out and fight for it: To make an active, forceful effort and face challenges boldly to achieve your goal.
(b) If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it: To happily work extremely hard, worry about it, and make careful plans to attain it.
(c) Lose all your terror of opposition for it: To become completely fearless of any obstacles, enemies, or challenges blocking your path.
(d) With all your capacity, strength and sagacity: Using all your physical power, mental abilities, wisdom, and good judgment.

1 FComplete the web showing all those things that can turn one away from one's efforts towards a goal.

Things that can turn you away from goals (as mentioned in the poem):

Cold
Poverty
Sickness
Pain of body and brain
Famished (hunger)
Gaunt (extreme weakness)
Terror of opposition

1 GFind the lines from the poem which mean-

(a) become crazy for the goal: "If all that you dream and scheme is about it"
(b) toil hard happily: "If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it"
(c) get rid of all fears: "lose all your terror of the opposition for it."
(d) make efforts continuously: "If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it"
(e) extremely poor condition: "If neither cold or poverty, famished or gaunt"

2Make a list of all the hurdles mentioned in the poem that keep us away from achieving our goal.

Sickness
Cold
Poverty
Pain of body and brain
Terror of opposition
Famished (starvation) and gaunt (extreme weakness)

3Make a list of all the words and phrases showing Strengths in table A and Weaknesses in table B.

A (Strengths)	B (Weaknesses)
• Work day and night • Capacity • Strength • Sagacity (wisdom) • Faith • Hope • Confidence • Stern pertinacity • Dogged and grim	• Sickness • Cold • Poverty • Famished (extreme hunger) • Gaunt (weakness) • Pain of body and brain • Terror

4State whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements.

(a) If you want a thing you should not give up your sleep.
False. Correct: If you want a thing, you should give up your time, peace, and your sleep for it.
(b) You should be afraid of your opposition.
False. Correct: You should lose all your terror of the opposition for it.
(c) Cold or poverty cannot keep you away from achieving your goal.
True.
(d) You can achieve your goal with the help of God.
True.
(e) Life will not seem useless and worthless without achieving your goal.
False. Correct: Life seems useless and worthless without achieving your goal.

5Complete the web with suitable responses. Tell the class what all things the poet wants us to do to win.

The poet wants us to:

give up our sleep
go out and fight for it
work day and night for it
gladly sweat, fret, and plan for it
dogged and grim besiege and beset it

6Match the phrases in table A with lines of the poem given in table B.

Phrases	Lines
(1) Toil hard	(c) To work day and night for it.
(2) Get rid of all fears	(d) Lose all your terror of the opposition for it.
(3) Extremely poor condition	(b) If neither cold or poverty, famished or gaunt...
(4) Need desperately	(a) If you want a thing bad enough...

7Every stanza begins with word 'if'. How does it add to the effectiveness of the poem?

The repetition of the word 'If' at the beginning of successive clauses (a figure of speech called Anaphora) acts as a powerful motivational tool. It lays down a continuous, intense rhythm of conditions that must be fulfilled to reach success. It builds suspense and determination, driving the reader toward the ultimate, uplifting conclusion: "with the help of GOD you'll get it!".

8 APick out two examples of 'Climax' from the poem.

(1) "work day and night for it, / give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it" (sacrifices are arranged in an ascending order of severity).
(2) "with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity, / faith, hope and confidence and stern pertinacity."

8 BPick out two examples of 'Tautology' from the poem.

(1) "...and life seems useless and worthless without it" (Both words express a similar meaning of having no value).
(2) "If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it," (Both words mean to aggressively surround or press upon something from all sides).

8 CPick out one example of the following Figures of Speech.

(1) Antithesis: "work day and night for it" (Two opposite words are used together for emphasis).
(2) Alliteration: "of body and brain" (Repetition of the consonant sound 'b' for poetic effect).
(3) Repetition: The phrase "for it" is repeated multiple times throughout the poem for emphasis.

9, 10 & 11Speech, Appreciation, and Project

10. Appreciation of the poem 'The Will to Win'

The poem 'The Will to Win' is an intensely motivational piece written by the American poet Berton Braley. The central theme of the poem revolves around the absolute necessity of relentless determination, hard work, and sacrifice required to achieve one's ultimate goal or success in life.

The poem is written in Free verse, so it does not have a strict, uniform rhyme scheme or metre, allowing the poet to express his passionate advice freely. The poet has utilized several striking figures of speech to enhance the intensity of the message. Climax is beautifully used to show ascending levels of effort: "capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence...". Tautology in words like "useless and worthless" and "besiege and beset" effectively reinforces the core ideas. The continuous use of Anaphora—starting almost every line with "If"—builds a rhythmic momentum.

A special feature of the poem is its incredibly straightforward and aggressive, yet inspiring tone. It does not romanticize success but brutally lists the physical and mental toll it takes. My favourite line is the conclusion: "with the help of GOD you'll get it!" because, after demanding every ounce of human effort, it beautifully acknowledges the necessity of divine grace. I like this poem very much because it is a realistic, energetic, and highly practical guide to achieving success.

Note: Preparing a speech on "How to Achieve Success" (Q9) and collecting Berton Braley's poems (Q11) are independent classroom activities to be done by the students.

3.4 The Will to Win

English Workshop