MAK LABS — Std 9 English 1.1 Life

1Discuss and write down a few metaphorical lines about 'life'.

Model Answers:

(1) Life is a roller coaster, enjoy the ride.
(2) Life is a puzzle, find the right pieces.
(3) Life is a book, write a good chapter every day.
(4) Life is a garden, you reap what you sow.
(5) Life is an echo, what you send out comes back.

2Prepare as many 'acrostics' using the word LIFE, as you can.

Model Acrostics:

Love, Inspiration, Faith, Enthusiasm
Learn, Investigate, Feel, Evolve
Laugh, Imagine, Forgive, Explore

3Listen carefully and write the word in the appropriate column.

Teacher's List: hopeful, lonely, happy, jealous, surprised, shy, loving, proud, cheerful, anxious, nervous, excited, embarrassed, scared, silly, comfortable, peaceful, depressed, enthusiastic, motivated, inspired, threatened, crushed, angry.

Positive Feelings	Negative Feelings
hopeful, happy, loving, proud, cheerful, excited, comfortable, peaceful, enthusiastic, motivated, inspired, surprised (can be positive)	lonely, jealous, shy, anxious, nervous, embarrassed, scared, silly, depressed, threatened, crushed, angry, surprised (can be negative)

Note: It is possible to feel both kinds of emotions at the same time. For example, on the first day of a new school, you might feel excited (positive) to meet new friends, but also nervous (negative) about the new environment.

◆ What do the sages say?
The sages say that life is a dark dream.

◆ What does the rain often foretell?
A little morning rain often foretells a pleasant and bright day.

◆ What should we do during joyful times in life?
During joyful times, we should enjoy life gratefully and cheerily as the sunny hours fly by.

◆ Who does 'our Best' refer to?
'Our Best' refers to our loved ones, family members, and the best people in our lives who are taken away by death.

◆ Why are the wings of hope 'golden'?
The wings of hope are described as 'golden' because hope is precious, bright, and radiant. It gives us the strength and buoyancy to fly above despair and difficult times.

1Pick out from the poem, two lines each that reflect an optimistic (positive) attitude and pessimistic (negative) attitude.

Optimism:

(1) "Oft a little morning rain / Foretells a pleasant day:"
(2) "Yet Hope again elastic springs, / Unconquered, though she fell,"

Pessimism:

(1) "Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,"
(2) "What though death at times steps in, / And calls our Best away?"

2Give other '-ly' adverbs of similar meaning for the following. Use a thesaurus if needed.

(a) rapidly → swiftly / quickly
(b) merrily → happily / joyfully
(c) gratefully → thankfully / appreciatively
(d) cheerily → cheerfully / brightly
(e) manfully → bravely / boldly
(f) fearlessly → courageously / dauntlessly
(g) gloriously → splendidly / wonderfully
(h) victoriously → triumphantly / successfully

3Interrogation, Metaphor, Personification and Euphemism.

(a) Pick out three examples of interrogation (rhetorical questions) from the poem. Explain in your own words the point that each one makes.

"If the shower will make the roses bloom, / Oh, why lament its fall?"
We should not complain about troubles if they finally bring happy results.
"What though death at times steps in, / And calls our Best away?"
Even if death takes away our loved ones, we must not lose hope.
"What though Sorrow seems to win, / O'er hope a heavy sway?"
Sorrow may seem to defeat hope, but only for a short time. Hope rises again.

(b) Explain the metaphor in the following lines:

(1) Oft a little morning rain / Foretells a pleasant day: Here, 'morning rain' is a metaphor for temporary difficulties or sorrow in life that lead to happiness.
(2) Sometimes there are clouds: 'Clouds' represent the passing troubles, gloom, or problems we face in life.
(3) ... the shower will make the roses bloom: 'Shower' means hardships, and 'roses' mean the beautiful rewards, joys, or good times that follow.
(4) Life's sunny hours flit by: 'Sunny hours' is a metaphor for the happy, joyful, and prosperous times in our lives.

(c) Pick out four examples of personification. Write what is personified in each:

"What though death at times steps in" — Death is personified as a person stepping into our lives.
"And calls our Best away?" — Death is personified as someone calling our loved ones away.
"What though Sorrow seems to win" — Sorrow is personified as a competitor winning a battle.
"Yet Hope again elastic springs, / Unconquered, though she fell," — Hope is personified as a woman who falls but rises again.

(d) 'And calls our Best away' is a gentle way of expressing the unpleasant idea of a loved one dying. It is an example of euphemism. Think and write down 3 or 4 ways in which we can express the idea of 'death' in a tactful and gentle manner.

(1) Passed away
(2) Departed
(3) Gone to a better place
(4) Breathed his/her last

4..... and that's how I realised that courage and hope can help me overcome any major mishap/problem in life. Write an episode/experience from your own life that leads to the above conclusion.

Model Experience:

During my final exams last year, I fell severely ill with dengue fever just a week before the papers began. I was hospitalized for five days. My body was weak, and I had missed my crucial revision time. I felt completely crushed and thought I would fail the year.

However, my parents and teachers constantly motivated me. My mother sat by my side, reading my notes aloud. Instead of giving up, I gathered my courage and decided to focus only on what I could do, rather than worrying about what I had lost. I kept a hopeful attitude and studied as much as my health permitted. When the results were declared, I had not only passed but scored very good marks. ..... and that's how I realised that courage and hope can help me overcome any major mishap/problem in life.

1.1 Life

Warming Up!

Margin Questions

English Workshop