The Secret of Success

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idioms and phrases used in the text:

In search of , to see eye to eye with each other, far and wide, in front of

Synopsis :

The story begins in this way that there is a king who is in search of the secret of success and has three questions with him to be answered:

what is the most important work to do?

Who is the most important person?

What is the most important time to start some work?

The king goes many places and meets many persons to know the answers of these questions but no body satisfies him. He has also announced the reward of 5000 gold coins to be awarded to the one who answers the questions .One day, he calls many wise and learned men in his court but but no one satisfies him.

The king comes to know that there is a jungle at a distance from the capital and there lives an old wise man but that man doesn’t like the rich.To overcome the difficulty, the king disguises himself as a common man and with his servants, who are instructed to stay behind ,leaves to meet the saint. Reaching there, the king finds the saint digging in front of his hut but is stopping every now and then out of old age. The king without considering his condition asks the questions but the king thoroughly ignores the king then king realising his tiredness and old age requests him to help him in digging that the saint accepts thanking him.

During this the evening falls , the king asks once again the questions but the saint rather answering points to something. The king glances there and finds there a bearded man, having a dagger in his hand. The man was badly injured and as soon as he reaches the hut, falls and faints. The king and the saint both divert their attention toward that injured man and put bandage on his bleeding wounds, soon the man gets relaxed and falls a sleep. By this time, the night falls, the saint invites the king to stay that the king accepts.

The next morning, the injured man calls him as majesty saying that he was there to kill him because he had his brother killed but was caught by the servants of the king but escaped. He thanks the king for his care and vows to be his faithful servant , salutes and leaves. Now the king turns to the saint and asks for the answers .The king says that he has already been answered. The first time the saint was an important person and the digging was an important work and it saved his life otherwise he would have been killed. The second time the wounded man was an important person and the dressing of his wounds was the most important work otherwise he would not have found a faithful servant.

Moral of the lesson

The most important time is the present.The most important work is what you are doing now and the most important person is the one with whom you are with at the moment.

Q/A aren’t in the text book . See the important questions here.

Q1. What were the questions of the king to know the secret of success?

Ans. see synopsis.

Q2.What is the moral of the lesson ?

Ans. See the moral given in the synopsis.

Q3.What did the saint answer after leaving the injured man to the king?

Ans. He answered that he had already been answered as the first time the saint and the digging was important otherwise he would have been killed and the second time the injured man and his dressing were important because it saved the man’s life and the king got a loyal servant. The saint also meant here that patience, focus and steadfastness are also important to be successful.

Q4.why did the king want to know the secret of success?

Ans. The king thought that if he could find out the answers to three questions, he would never fail in life.

End of the chapter

The Guddu Barrage

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Difference between a dam and a barrage

Both are constructed across the river . A barrage has gates having their bottom level touching the river bed level through which water is allowed to pass in a limited quantity. A barrage thoroughly depends on river water for irrigation.

A dam is bigger than a barrage . It has spillway gates ( a passage for surplus water from a dam ) . It stores surplus flood water and distributes it through irrigation tunnels in the dam or through canals from its reservoirs. A dam can generate electricity as well.

However, both barrage and dam are used to store water during the floods and limit the danger of loss and can can irrigate the fields.

See link that how a dam works:

https://youtu.be/PvJHjnELVSM

Synopsis:

Note: Some additional information has also been given that’s not in the text book.

Guddu Barrage is built on the River Indus near Kashmore in the Sind province of Pakistan. Its foundation was laid on 2 February, 1957 and it completed in 1962 at a cost of 47.8 million rupees. Its construction was very time consuming though more than 5000 engineers, technicians and labourers worked day and night to complete it . It was inaugurated by Field Marshall Aruba Khan in 1962.

A barrage is a kind of wall which blocks the flow of water through its gates from which water is allowed to pass in a limited quantity. Its main cause is to control the flow of water during the floods and to control the expected damage of the floods as well as to irrigate the fields through canal system.

It has the capacity to discharge 1.2 million cubic feet water per second. It has 64 bays (broad inlets of the sea where the land curves inwards ) and each 60 feet wide. It controls irrigation supplies up to 2 .9 million acres of agricultural land. The area that lies is of mainly Sukkur and Jacobabad and the rest is of Kalat and Baluchistan province.It is built where the river is 14 km wide. It is 1355 metres in length. Another benefit of the barrage is that it has a 7 metres wide road bridge over the barrage that has reduced the distance between Lahore and Quetta.

Guddu barrage has a system of three main canals two on the right and one on the left . The Begari Sind Feeder and the Desert Pat Feeder on the right and the Ghotki Feeder on the left – they are one of the biggest Feeder canals of the world. Barrages and dams are very important reservoirs of water. Pakistan needs many such barrages as well as dams.

Q/A

Note: Questions aren’t given in the text book – see the important questions here:

Q1. Describe the importance of the rivers?

Ans. Rivers have always been very important as they are the source of water, irrigation, trade, sea food and tourism.

Q2. How is water supplied to the fields from rivers?

And. Water is supplied to the fields from rivers through canal system.

Q3. Why the canal system failed?

And. The canal system failed because on account of the shortage of water during the winter season, the canals would run dry and the fields would remain without sufficient supply of water.

Q4. What were the two problems posed by the rivers?

Ans. The two problems posed by the rivers are how to get water from the rivers throughout the year and how to escape the fury of floods.

Q5. See the first paragraph of the synopsis.

Q6. What is the aim and objective of a barrage?

Ans. A barrage can control the flow of water during the floods. It irrigates the fields through canal system. It halves the distance between two cities.

Q7.Describe Guddu Barrage.

Ans. see synopsis

Q8. Where is it built on the river?

Ans. It is built at a place on the river where the river is 14 km in width.

Q9.How is the barrage designed?

Ans.It is designed to force the water – spread over 14 km to pass through a narrow barrage of about a kilometre.

Q10.What is its length and how is it made?

Ans. Its length is 1355 and it is made in such a way that a flood of about 1.2 million cusecs can pass through it.

Q11.How km long is the river bridge road and what cities distance does it reduce?

Ans. The road bridge over the barrage is 7 metres in width and has reduced the road distance between Lahore and Quetta. The distance between Rahimyar Khan and Kashmore has almost been halved.

Q12. What is the system of the 3 main canals?

Ans. see the last para of the synopsis.

Q13.What area does the barrage irrigate?

Ans. The barrage irrigates the area of 2.7 million acres.

Q14.which area does the barrage irrigate?

Ans. The area that the barrage irrigates is of Sukkur and Jacobabad districts of Sind and the rest is in the Kalat division of Baluchistan province.

Q15.What is the expected rise in the output of this area?

Ans. The expected rise in the output of this area is half a million tons.

End of the chapter

The Neem Tree

Neem is a common tree in Asia. It grows in tropical and semi – tropical regions. It is a fast- growing tree and can reach up to 65 to 131 feet. It is evergreen. Its fruit is bitter and is used in medicines. Neem tree’s every part is used from root to bark to fruit to leaves thus it is impossible to state this tree’s benefits, it is a blessing to mankind.

Mrs.Elsa Kazi

Mrs.Elsa kazi and Allama I I kazi

Something about Mrs. Elsa Kazi

Elsa Kazi (1884- 1967) was a German lady who married to Allah I I Kazi and stayed at Sind. She’s known in Sind as Mother Elsa. She has a myriad facets of her life as she wrote one act plays, wrote history, novels and short stories side by side did poetry and was a painter, composer and a musician too. She spent a big life in Sind so she was highly inspired by its traditions and culture . She translated shah Abdul Latif Poetry in English by the help of her husband. Her poem “The Neem Tree” gives the message of sacrifice and instructs to be as helping as the Neem tree is.

Synopsis :

The poet addresses the Neem tree in a very endearing tone ” My lovely Neem”. She talks about its work that is to intercept the hot sun rays without showers complaining. It removes the traveller’s grief by casting a spell upon him with its soothing shade.

In the second stanza, the poet praises the Neem tree calling him unafraid and saying that it has green leaves in spite of the hot weather. The green leaves indicate that the tree is happy and is not taking his duty as a burden. Furthermore, it is standing under the sun without any shade as the hot rays are directly hitting upon its head.

Lastly, the poet wishes that man could be as bold as the Neem tree is and rise above the earth with its sheltering arms to save the suffering humanity from sorrows, poverty and vice through sacrifice facing every fate and questions “Would it not be the life’s loftiest dream!

theme:

The poem gives the message of sacrifice as the Neem tree gives standing under the sun. It provides shelter to everyone without any discrimination so should be the human beings sacrificing for the sake of others remaining consistent and making others happy.

Q/A ( see page 18 )

1.The Neem tree can prevent the burning heat of the sun from troubling us by intercepting its hot rays. It bears the heat all day without any rainfall and makes the traveller happy removing his grief by casting a spell of its soothing shade upon him.

2.The poetess says that the Neem tree is unafraid because it bears the mid day heat upon its unprotected head even then its leaves are green that means is happy and sacrificing for the sake of others happily and not as a burden.

3.The Neem tree looks like a very brave and strong man who is standing stretching its arms without any rainfall to be comfortable and shade to be protected from the searing heat but in spite of all this , is happily protecting those who come under its shade.

4. The poet compares the Neem tree to man in this way that man should be as bold as the Neem tree is and rise above the earth spreading its arms to save the suffering ones from their miseries being steadfast.

5.The highest aim of life is to sacrifice for the suffering ones protecting them from harm, poverty and vice and being consistent no matter what comes in this way and then it would be the life’s loftiest dream to be achieved.

End of the poem

The Daffodils

Daffodil is a lovely English flower. It grows near watery areas and grows in a large number. It can be found in all the varieties of yellow. It presents a lovely scene and gives one a beautiful memory to keep safe in one’s reminiscence.

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William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth ( 1770 – 1850 ) is a renowned English poet. He is a Romantic poet. He is famous chiefly because of his love for nature. He is a huge admirer of nature, therefore, is called the worshipper of nature. His philosophy of nature is based on pantheism. Wordsworth finds comfort in nature no matter where he goes and in this regard “Lines composed Five Miles above Tintern Abbey” is a popular poem. Wordsworth uses simple rustic language in his poetry and does not believe in difficult phraseology in poetry. His notable works are: Prelude 1& 2, Resolution and Independence, Daffodils and Lucy poems.

Synopsis :

Wordsworth once takes an aimless walk alone in the English countryside. He compares his wandering with a cloud that floats over high valleys and hills and then his eyes catch a glimpse of a host – a host of lovely daffodils that are so beautiful and are swaying in the breeze to and fro beside the lake and beneath the trees and from there have gone till the margin of the bay.

The whole scene is a reflection of sheer beauty, of an unforgettable beauty that remains with you throughout your life and amuses you so happens with Wordsworth, he is caught up in the moment . The poet, mesmerised by that natural scenery, tries to resemble it with the stars on the galaxy that are uncountable, shiny and are stretched in a never – ending line not only this, he also compares it with the waves of the lake – the currents of the waves are coming and going and show their dancing but they are unable to impress the poet who is under the spell of the daffodils.

Coming to an end, the poet says that he gets only the wealth of happiness from the scene of the daffodils and that whenever he rests no matter having a serious thought in his mind or nothing then that natural beauty of the daffodils flashes upon his inward eye and replaces his thought with its charm and fills the heart of the poet full of joy that it starts dancing with the daffodils and it is a bliss of solitude for the poet.

theme :

John Keats, a famous Romantic says in his ” Ode on a Grecian Urn “

Beauty is truth, truth beauty – that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know

The above lines are fit to describe the beauty that is everlasting and is a reality no matter your eyes get attracted to the beauty of an old Urn or a scene of nature , both are the reflection of an absolute beauty. This beauty through your eyes sticks to your memory and makes you happy till your dying day. See how true Keats again says in Endymion’s opening lines: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever :/Its loveliness increases;it will never/Pass into nothingness…”

Q/A ( see questions on pages ( 34 – 35 )

1.The poet was moving aimlessly like a cloud that that floats over high vales and hills.

2. He saw a host of lovely daffodils fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

3. They were beside the lake and beneath the trees and from there had stretched till the margin of the bay.

4.During a walk, the poet gets a glimpse of the beautiful, sparkling daffodils that were fluttering and dancing in the breeze. They were beside the lake and beneath the trees and were flashing their beauty all around that the poet couldn’t move a step ahead from there as he was spell bound.

Stanza 2

1.He compares the daffodils with the shiny stars.

2. He finds the resemblance between the stars on the galaxy and the daffodils on earth that both are sparkling, uncountable, unending and have the power to surprise their admirers by their unsurpassed beauty.

3.The poet saw approximately more than ten thousand flowers at a glance.

4.The flowers were beside the lake and beneath the trees and from there had stretched till the margin of the bay.

Stanza 3

1. The waves danced well but were nothing in front of the outclass performance of the daffodils.

2.The poet got the immense wealth of joy looking at the daffodils.

3.The wealth here means happiness, the wealth of happiness is achieved by the poet as he says: “A poet could not but be gay, /In such a jocund company!”

Stanza 4

1.The beautiful scene of lovely daffodils flashes upon the inward eye of the poet when he lies on his couch that is a bliss of solitude.

2. The two moods of the poet are vacant or pensive.vacant means without any thought and pensive means to have a serious thought.

3.The heart can dance when one ‘s mind has a beautiful memory then heart fills with pleasure and starts dancing.

4. Yes, this has happened to me many a times, whenever any beautiful memory clicks my mind, my heart fills with pleasure and starts dancing . My pleasant memories are my bliss of solitude.

End of the poem

Children

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Note : see the introduction of the poet in the poem “Rain in Summer.”

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Synopsis:

The poem Children has nine stanzas and each describes what the children are to the world and for the poet as well. It commences with a very strong voice of the poet, “Come to me, O ye children! ” He calls the children because he wants to be the part of their world, their brighter world where there is sunshine of their innocence and joy . The poet himself is a pessimist,tired, worried old man whose mind is highly troubled but to get escape from his life, he takes refuge in the world of the children.

The poet uses symbols to describe the love, beauty, innocence and purity of the children. He says they are the one who open the eastern windows from where the sun rises, where there are singing swallows and the brooks , where there is purity of the thoughts and is clarity. He says that children ‘s thoughts are pure, transparent and free .

The poet fears what would happen if there were no children, he finds there would be a complete disaster, darkness and desert with no hope and life . He emphasizes that no matter what inventions, amenities and luxuries humans have are nothing in front of the children’s caresses and gladness of their looks. Children are like the ballads and the poems that were ever said or sung as the poet says:

For ye are living poems

And all the rest are dead

theme:

Children are the source of our happiness and a reason to live – without them all is barren, empty and useless no matter what inventions, amenities or luxuries we have. They are a precious gift and a blessing from Almighty.

Stanza 1

1.Children are playing and having fun in their sunny atmosphere in their own way.

2. No particular reason has been defined in the poem that what disturbs him except that he is afraid of his old age and the problems which are related to this age so trying to get rid of that he takes refuge in the innocent world of the children and admires their carefree life.

3.The question of the problem of the poet’s coming of the old age goes far far away when he hears the children giggling, laughing and having fun in their lovely positive atmosphere without any worries and he fully admires them.

Stanza 2

1. Children are the one who open the eastern windows from where the sun rises, brightens the whole atmosphere and removes the gloom. Children like the sun bring light in our world and light it with their glow.

2. The poet compares the thoughts of the children with the singing swallows and the morning brooks. He uses them in a symbolic way as singing swallows represent freedom, music, innocence and beauty similarly, the brooks show purity and clarity – both are the objects of nature and nature is original so children are true, pure and lovable.

3. He compares the thoughts of the children with the singing swallows and the morning brooks because singing swallows and the morning brooks are natural objects and nature is real so are the children and their thoughts that have the characteristics of beauty, innocence, purity and freedom .

Stanza 3

1.The birds and the sunshine can be in the hearts of the children in this way that children are innocent, young and optimistic; they have nothing negative in them so the poet shows their innocence through birds and the sunshine means brightness that they have on account of their positivity and clear thoughts.

2.The poet says the children are thinking of the books while he is of Autumn. It is symbolic because brooks represents clarity, positivity and vitality while Autumn is the season of leafless trees means depriving, despair and downfall so children are looking forward to new horizons and the poet is starting his journey towards the end.

3. Not purely for the old age but yes, he knows well that his journey toward the end has stated as the couplet says ” But in my mind is the wind of Autumn/And the first fall of the snow”. The first line depicts his state of mind quite well means pessimism and the other gives the idea of his old age.

4.The other words that he uses to show the coming of old age upon him are:

But in my mind is the wind of Autumn

And the first fall of the snow

5.The children are different from the poet in many ways, the poet is pessimistic, worried and tired while the children are young, vibrant, positive and optimistic.

Stanza 4

1. The poet asks the question: Ah! What would the world be to us / If the children were no more?”

2. The desert and dark both are synonymous to nothingness and fear but comparing both desert is worse than the dark because desert is an absolute state of emptiness, on the contrary darkness brings light and hope so darkness is better than desert so without children we have a desert behind us means nothing at all, no hope and deprivation.

Stanza 5 & 6

1. According to Science, trees get food from their leaves through air and sunlight that is called ” Photosynthesis” so if there were no leaves, would be no life and the trees would dry and die so would happen to humans – no children mean no life and end of human beings.

2. We would have the fear of the end of life if there were no children.

Stanza 7

1.The poet asks the children to come to him because he wants to hear mirthful songs of the birds and winds which are being sung in their sunny atmosphere and children, he believes, can listen and understand them on account of their simplicity, innocence and purity of the thoughts.

2. The poet wishes to be whispered the songs of love, beauty, innocence, joy and mirthfulness.

Stanza 8

1.The poet says that the grown ups have inventions and the wisdom of the books while the children have caresses and the gladness of their looks.

Stanza 9

1.The poet compares the children with the ballads that are the folk songs with stories and the poems that entertain.

2. The children can be like the ballads and the poems in this way that like the ballads, they bring music, rhythm and harmony and give us a new joy and happiness and like the poems they keep us lively bringing new stories every other day.

3. The poet says that the children are living and the rest all dead because life is with humans, no new birth means utter barrenness and emptiness so no matter what inventions, amenities or luxurious are in the world are useless without children- they are life, are living poems, bring everyday new stories to amuse us and without them, ” all is dead “.

End of the poem

Rain in Summer

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Something about the poet :

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ( 1807- 1882 ) was a New Englander . He had a multifaceted personality as he was a scholar, teacher, translator, editor, travel writer and poet. He did much valuable work according to Barrett Wendell “transplanting of culture “. He uplifted the value of thought and artistic creation and considered the life devoted to it dignified and useful.

Intelligent and sympathetic reading of Longfellow ‘s poetry can enable the young students to both what is good and what is deficient in their culture. His poetry is simple but has depth, an assurance and serenity not easy to be found elsewhere.Simplicity,charm,thought and depth are the qualities of his poetry.

Synopsis:

The poem has four stanzas and each stanza describes one aspect of the rain. In the first stanza the poem opens with a strong praise of the rain “How beautiful is the rain!”that comes “after the dust and heat” . In the second stanza, the poet describes the scary element of the rain when ” it clatters the roofs like the horse’s hoofs and struggles to gush out from an overflowing spout. In the last stanza, the poet describes the the situation one finds after the torrential pouring where becomes a muddy tide that “roars” like a gutter down the river.

theme:

Rain is synonymous to joy and beauty. It is like a blessing for all who burn in the hot summer day but all at once rain comes like a kind mother and pours them with the freshness and coolness that they forget the hardships of the sun and sing, ” How beautiful is the rain! “

Questions : see page 64

1.I live in Karachi that has a hot weather so when rain comes suddenly , the whole atmosphere becomes so watery and beautiful at the same time muddy but even then rain is rain, all welcome it cheerfully.

2. The lines are :

How beautiful is the rain!/After the dust and heat,/In the broad and fiery street,/In the narrow lane, /How beautiful is the rain!

3.The street is called “fiery”because during the summer, it becomes hot like fire.

Some important questions:

Q1. What charms does the rain bring in the hot summer day?

Ans. Rain in a hot summer day is a great blessing and surprise. It makes the hot and dusty atmosphere so pleasant as well as cools the fiery street and compels all to sing “How beautiful is the rain! ”

Q2. What effect does the rain produce when it clatters along the roofs?

Ans. The rain produces not only a soft and smooth effect but it has a different face as well when it clatters along the roofs like the tramp of hoofs. It means horse hoofs that pound all that comes under their hoofs and make the feeble hearts feel scared.

Q3.What does the tramp of hoofs mean?

Ans. The tramp of hoofs mean the sound of the heavy hoofs of the horses.

Q4. What happens when the rain pours across the window pain?

Ans. It makes a muddy tide and roars like a river down the gutter.

End of the poem

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

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Frost Frost

Something about the poet :

Robert Frost is America’s best loved poet .There is a different style of his writing poetry . His duplicity is his charm of the poetry . The simple, pretty, picturesque scenes are just a deceit, he actually says otherwise behind that nature ‘s depiction . This poem has the same quality. There are many beautiful poems on his credit like the Death of a Hired Man, the Home Burial, Mending Wall, Birches, etc. He has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his poetry.

Synopsis:

The poet stops by the woods and gets absorbed in the lovely scene of nature . He has his little horse that is tired as it is chilly and the darkest evening of the year . The horse shakes his harness bells to make his master aware of his mistake of stopping there, but the master is fully aware of his horse as he says : “My little horse must think it queer/ To stop without a farmhouse near,/ Between the woods and frozen lake/ The darkest evening of the year”. However, the poet leaves the place because he has some promises to keep though the woods are lovely, dark, and deep but he has a long journey ahead of him before he sleeps means dies.

theme:

The whole poem is symbolic. The woods are the world, the poet is representing the humans and the horse is conscious. Like woods our life is temporary but its charm has arrested us that we have forgotten the approaching death though our consciousness like the horse shakes us but we ignore, but soon we come to our senses like the poet and try to accomplish our due responsibilities before we die no matter how much the lovely attractions of the world mesmerise us as the poet did:

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,15 
And miles to go before I sleep

Exercises:

1. Four

2. Four

3.yes, know snow; queer year; shake flake ; deep sleep

4. First and last lines last words are rhymed . See 3.

5. To create rhythm that is necessary for poetry.

Q/A

Stanza # 1

1.He describes the scene of snow falling.

2. It is winter.

3.He stops to enjoy the snowfall and the atmosphere that has become romantic on account of this weather.

4. Two times.

5. He does so to create a familiarity with the scene saying: “Whose woods these are I think I know, “

Stanza # 2

1. The poet is riding on a horse.

2. The horse thinks it strange to stop there because there is no farmhouse nearby, it is a dark and freezing atmosphere, moreover, his master is completely ignoring him.

3. The letter r is repeated in queer,near and year.

Stanza # 3

1. Harness bells are the bells fixed on the horse straps. When the horse shakes its neck, the bells ring.

2.The horse shakes his harness bells to make his master realize his mistake who was absorbed in the natural beauty forgetting his horse and duties.

3. The other sound alone can be heard where the poet is standing is “the sweep of easy wind and downy flake”.

4. He mentions this sound to show the utter quietness in the atmosphere that the sweep of wind and flake can be heard quite easily.

Stanza # 4

1.The poet can’t wait to enjoy the beauty of the woods because he has some promises to keep and for that he has been compelled to leave the woods.

2.He repeats the third line to show the importance of his promises.

3.letter p is repeated in this stanza in the words deep, keep and sleep.

4. They have been repeated to create rhyming sound and harmony.

End of the poem

The Miller of the Dee

River Dee

Something about the poet:

Charles Mackay

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Charles Mackay( 1814 – 1889 ) was a British poet and a journalist. He was born at Perth, Scotland but spent most of his life in France . He is chiefly famous on account of his juvenile songs. In his songs, he has inculcated no vice or immorality but inculcates self reliance, patriotism, and true love,however, his songs are popular and fashionable. They are full of character, courtesies and amenities of life. In Miltonic language they are ” simple, sensuous, and passionate”. His songs some of which, including ” Cheer,Boys,Cheer” became tremendously popular was composed by Russel Henry.

Who is a Miller?

A miller is a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a cereal crop to make flour.

What do you know about River Dee?

The River Dee is a river in the Britain. It flows through parts of both Wales and England, forming part of the border between the two countries.

Short synopsis:

A Miller sings so loud and high like a lark though he is poor but is happy. His burden of the song is ” I envy nobody, no, not I,/And nobody envies me! ” Hearing his song, King Hal of England asks the reason as he himself isn’t happy although is a king. The Miller tells the secret of his contented life that he loves his family, friend, takes no debt and thanks the river Dee for his needs. King Hal becomes impressed, bids farewell and advises him not to say anymore that no one envies him . He considers his mealy cap worth his crown and his mill his “kingdom’s fee ” calling people like the Miller “England’s boast”.

theme:

Happy, simple and contented life is a true wealth. It is a blessing that a king can also envy it even though has power, authorities and all the amenities of the world.

Q/A ( see book page, 86 )

1. The two speakers are : Miller of the Dee and king Hal of England.

2. See above

3. The Miller was singing about his happy and satisfied life . His first line was “I envy no body, no, not I ” but in the second line that was ” And nobody envies me ” he considers himself lower and underestimates himself.

4. The king said that he was absolutely wrong because he, the king, envies his happy life saying : ” For, could my heart be light as thine, / I ‘d gladly change with thee,”.

5. The Miller is the happier of the two. He is a family oriented person, cuts his coat according to his cloth and remains thankful to the Mill from where he gets his bread and butter.

6. In the last stanza of the poem, king Hal said that people like the Miller who are hard working, contented and loyal are “England’s boast”.

End of the poem

Abou Ben Adhem

Abou Ben Adhem, originally Ibrahim Ben Adhem, was a great ruler of Bulkh that is in Afghanistan. The poem is a real incident happened to Ibrahim Ben Adhem. Ibrahim Ben Adhem was a great and pious saint who led a simple life leaving his kingdom and praying Almighty and serving His fellowmen.

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James Henry Leigh Hunt

James Henry Leigh Hunt, an English poet born in1784 was a journalist and an essayist as well. The one of the major characteristics of his poetry is its spirituality.

Synopsis:

One night Abou awakes from his deep sleep on account of a light that is calm and soothing. Abou finds an Angel in the room writing something in the book of gold . Asking , the Angel replies that he writes the names of those who love Lord. Abou asks whether his name is there. The angel answers in negative then he requests the Angel to write his name among those who love Lord’s fellowmen. The Angel writes and disappears. The next night the Angel comes again and shows Abou the names of those whose love was granted by Lord and Abou’s name was top of the list.

theme / central idea / message

God loves those who love His fellowmen. Loving humanity is the only way to love and be loved by Almighty.

Q/A

Note : Please see questions given in the text book page, 98.

1. He was sleeping soundly in his room.

2. See one

3.He saw the moonlight in the room, that was making it rich like a lily in bloom, and within that light, found an Angel.

4.The Angel was writing ” the names of those who love Almighty “in a book of gold.

5. The exceeding peace made Ben Adhem daring enough to ask the question to the presence in the room, “What writes thou?”

6. He asked the Angel the second time if his name was there but got the answer in negative.

7.No, he wasn’t, he was as cheerful as he was before.

8. Abou pleaded the Angel the third time to write him as one that loved His mankind.

8. Coming the second time, the Angel showed Abou the names of those who were “blessed ” by the love of Lord.

10. Abou’s name was top of the list because he loved Lord’s humanity and in return was awarded by His love.

Note : vision and presence both are used for angel in the poem.

End of the poem

Assalam o Alaikum!

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Notice board:

Dear students!

class Ix book for the Karachi Board of Secondary Education ( Metric System ) is complete with all the notes of prose and poetry! Enjoy your studies!

Dear students!

I am introducing to you some very important terms. I am sure you will get benefit from them.

As summer vacations have commenced and you will be enjoying it but remember for good students it is the time to do some extra efforts to bring improvement in their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

Enjoy holidays!