About the poet -
• Edgar Guest (1881 to 1959) was born in England and was brought to the United States when he was ten years old. He began his writing career in 1895 at the age of fourteen. Edgar Guest is known as ‘people’s poet’ for his simple style and optimistic tone of writing. Guest is an American writer of newspaper and magazines.
About The Title -
• The title ' Have you earned your tomorrow' is very introspective. It suggests that everyone should analyse his or her actions whether it is good or bad, useful or not . It also evaluates your act of goodness ,your behaviours with others and what have you done ( good things) to earn your better tomorrow. The title also promotes - do good deeds for better future. So the title is apt.
About the poem -
• This is an inspirational poem. In this poem, the speaker is asking the readers whether they have done anything to improve the life of another human being or not. It is up to you whether you will have a better future or not. Therefore, one should consider one’s actions and deeds carefully and plan accordingly for a better future.
New words -
Passed his way - happened to meet him
• toiling time : time spent in hard physical work
Churlish : rude •
Howdy : an informal friendly greeting
• throng : crowd, a large number
• grateful - thankful
• deed - action
rejoice - great happiness
Scar - mark
• slumber - sleep
• discontent - dissatisfaction
• Sorely - painfully ,bitterly
BRAINSTORMING
(A1) Discuss with your friend how she/he spent the whole day that was beneficial for others.
(a) I helped the old woman to cross the road.
(b) I helped the rikshaw puller to pull the rikshaw on ascending path.
(c) I offered water from my water bottle to a beggar.
(A2) (i) ....'was it well or sorely spent'? Explain the meaning and give illustrations.
Ans: The poet asks the readers whether they made their day well by working for others or they spent it by neglecting others.
(ii) 'As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?'
Elaborate the idea expressed in these lines.
Ans : The poet advises readers that they should work for the others to their lives. If you work to improve the life human being, your life will be improved. If you are selfless, simple and kind to the world, god will offer you one more tomorrow.
(iii) The poet suggests that one should do good to others. Complete the table by giving examples of doing good to following people.
(A3) (i) Pick out the describing words from the poem and add a noun of your own. One is done for you.
(ii) Match the words given in column A with their meaning in column B.
Ans: (1) Cheerful - c) happy
(2) Selfish - (d) concerned with one’s own pleasure
(3) Sorely - (a) with the feeling of disappointment
(4) Discontent - (b) lack of satisfaction
(iii) There are a few examples of homonyms in the poem. For example 'spoke'.
List homonyms from the poem and give their meanings.
Well
Leave
Fast
Over
(iv) Find out expressions / phrases which denote, 'going away', from each stanza. One is given below.
"Vanish in the throng" ; parting with the days ; slipping fast; fading away ; spent
(A4) (i) The poet has used different poetic devices like Alliteration and Interrogation in the poem. Identify them and pick out the lines.
(ii) The rhyme scheme of the first stanza is 'aabb'. Find the rhyme scheme of other stanzas.
Second Stanza : abab Third Stanza : abab Fourth Stanza : abab
No comments:
Post a Comment