VIIISkylark Course book

L-4The Earthworm’s Monologue

Summary

• The Earthworm’s Monologue is basically a monologue written by Elizabeth Jennings. The poem is about an Earthworm talking about it’s life. So the speaker is Earthworm itself speaking with a person who is presumably present in the garden.

The poem begins with the earthworm candidly

Stating that it is food for birds and fish continuing with the food imagery it describes its body as a sausage. Then regrets how it had nothing beautiful like snake. It feel dull and colourless when compared to the snake. The poem seems to be sinking into a depressive state when earthworm talks about being absurd and then all of a sudden tries to redeem it’s existence by mentioning how spring depends on it for readying the soil.

The earthworm feel miserable for it accepts the fact that it is often mocked at continuing with the high and the low tide like the movement of the poem. It boasts of being able to come together again when it is cut in half. Seeking to establish a rapport with the reader, the earthworm earnestly asks if the reader hasn’t ever felt miserable about his/her physical appearance. The unsaid answer is yes. This makes the earthworm and the reader friends, for both have felt same emotions and hence have common background.

The earthworm would have liked to sympathize with the reader, cannot do so, because it is too busy tilting the soil. It asks the person to bend over it. Also the person is not yet tall, indicating that the earthworm is talking to a child or with a man of little height. It is an attempt to make people realise that they are not alone in feeling the way they do and also to sensitise them to the fact that even if a person or a creature looks fine on the outside, he maybe deppressed

The only way to keep the negative thoughts away is by being proud of what one has. Ironically , the earthworm has trouble doing the same. It feels wrecked and then discovers a reason to be proud of itself, but the ups and down continues till the poem finally ends. Everyone has felt worthless at the some point in lives but does not gives one excuse to give up.

Understanding the Text Ex. BAnswer the following Questions.

1) What are the strengths of an Earthworm?

Ans:- The Earthworm makes a way for the blooming flowers and assists in a way for the inception of spring.

2) What one quality of the Earthworm is unique?

Ans:- If you cut the Earthworm it comes back together.

3) Whom did the Earthworm address in the first stanza?

Ans:- The Earthworm is addressing to the individual with small bodies.

4) Write a Para on the message that poem conveys.

Ans:- The poem conveys the message of self confidence and belief in self regardless shape and size.

Think and answer

• Have you ever felt like a fool hated your shape, and wanted to hide? Share your feelings with your partner.

Ans:- I feel like fool and sometimes less confidence when I see people looking better than me.

Read and appreciate the poem.

• What according to you is the poet trying to convey when he says ‘ And be proud of all you contain in a body….’

Ans:- The poet is trying to convey that even the smallest of God’s creation is full of potential, talents and merits.

Playing with words.Ex. B

• Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases.

1) You have to learn to back up your friend. (back out of/ back up)

2) The soldiers never back out when the country needs them. (back out/ back up)

3) They have to fall back on their reserves to sustain themselves.(fall back/ fall out)

4) If you will fall out of line you will be penalised. (fall back on/ fall out)

5) I look forward to meet you in your next visit.

( Look forward to/ look up t

6) I look up to the new Prime Minister for his revolutionary policies. ( Look forward to/ look up to)

Learning the language Ex. A

• complete these sentences with is or are.

1) The children aren't going to Darjeeling for spring break because thousand rupees is all they have with them.

2) There are a dozen tourist attractions in this area.

3) One third of this article is taken up with statistical analysis.

4) All of the workers are receiving their bonus.

5) Four years is a long time to spend away from your family and friends.

6) Some members of the faculty are present.

7) digging holes in the throw cushions isNoodles, Molly’s new corgi puppy.

8) Here is the pair of tweezers you need for projects.

9) My friend, philosopher and guide is my mother.

10) Here are the mail and the newspapers that I picked up for you while you were away on vacation.

11) The members of the choir are very happy with their performance.

12) Milk and sugar is a nourishing food.

13) Mathematics is not an easy subject for some people.

14) Fifteen minutes is the amount of time it takes me to get home from work.

15) Neither the boys nor the girls are dressed in formals.

Skylark Work book Lesson 4

• Learning the language Ex. A

• Tick the correct options in the following sentences

1) She ask/ asks me the time every day.

2)They spends/ spend the night in a garage.

3) China have/ has a huge population.

4) His answer appear/ appears in print.

5) Either Chitra or her sister is / are walking down.

6) Five boys was/ were expelled due to bad behaviour.

7) He love/ loves to walk in the woods.

8) His relatives do not invite/ invites him home.

9) They work/ works all through the night.

10) She worry / worries to much.

11) Neeta and Rani has/ have two dogs each.

Ex. B Fill in the blanks with present form of the verb given in the bracket.

1) Bheem hates skipping.( hate)

2) Animals eat all day long. (eat)

3) Mansi works in Delhi. (work)

4) Where do you study? (do)

5) My sister usually bakes cakes on Sunday. (bake)

6) Sally watches the trains go by as she sits at her window. (watch)

7) Lions hunt for their prey all day ling. (hunt)

8) They visit the doctor weekly. (visit)

9) Farhad wishes he could fly. (wish)