Ant and Cricket, English Poem- / CBSE/ CLASS - 8
Ant and Cricket
A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing
Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,
Began to complain when he found that, at home,
His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.
Not a crumb to be found
On the snow-covered ground;
Not a flower could he see,
Not a leaf on a tree.
“Oh! what will become," says the cricket, “of me?"
At last by starvation and famine made bold,
All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
Away he set off to a miserly ant,
To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant
Him shelter from rain,
And a mouthful of grain.
He wished only to borrow;
He’d repay it tomorrow;
If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow.
Says the ant to the cricket,
“I’m your servant and friend,
But we ants never
borrow; we ants never lend.
But tell me, dear cricket,
did you lay nothing by
When the weather was
warm?" Quoth the cricket,
“Not I!
My heart was so light
That I sang day and night,
For all nature looked gay."
“You sang, Sir, you say?
Go then," says the ant, “and dance the winter away."
Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,
And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.
Folks call this a fable. I’ll warrant it true:
Some crickets have four legs,
and some have two.
1.Write the substance of the above poem.
Ans: The poem "The Ant
and the Cricket" is about a silly young cricket who spent his time singing
during the warm summer and spring months instead of preparing for the winter
season. When winter arrives, he finds himself starving and without shelter. He
decides to seek help from a miserly ant, asking for shelter and a mouthful of
grain. The ant, however, refuses to lend the cricket anything, as ants never
borrow or lend. The ant asks the cricket if he saved anything for the winter
when he was singing all summer, to which the cricket replies no. The ant then
advises the cricket to dance the winter away, and the poem ends with the ant
sending the cricket away from his door. The poem serves as a fable warning
against the consequences of neglecting one's responsibilities and not being
prepared for the future.
2. What is the central Idea of the poem
Ans: The central idea of
the poem "The Ant and the Cricket" is the importance of hard work,
responsibility, and preparation for the future. The poem presents the cricket
as a foolish character who spends his time singing and enjoying the present
without thinking about the future. In contrast, the ant is portrayed as
hardworking, responsible, and prepared, having saved enough food for the
winter. The poem highlights the consequences of the cricket's neglect, as he
finds himself starving and without shelter during the winter season. Overall,
the poem conveys the message that one should work hard, save for the future,
and be prepared for unexpected circumstances to avoid the negative consequences
of neglect and irresponsibility.
3. What is the message the poem is delivering to the readers.
Ans: The message that the
poem "The Ant and the Cricket" is delivering to the readers is the
importance of preparation, responsibility, and hard work. The poem warns
against the consequences of neglecting one's responsibilities and not being
prepared for the future. It advises readers to work hard, save for the future,
and be responsible in order to avoid the negative consequences of
irresponsibility and neglect. Additionally, the poem suggests that it is better
to be like the ant, who is prepared and responsible, rather than like the
cricket, who is foolish and neglectful. Overall, the poem conveys a moral
lesson that can be applied to various aspects of life, encouraging readers to
take responsibility for their actions and to plan for the future.
4. Write questions and answers carrying 1 mark from the above poem.
Ans: What did the cricket
do during the warm summer and spring months?
The cricket sang during
the warm summer and spring months.
What did the cricket
complain about when winter came?
The cricket complained
that his cupboard was empty and that he had nothing to eat during winter.
5. Why did the cricket
go to the ant?
Ans: The cricket went to
the ant to ask for shelter and a mouthful of grain.
6. What did the ant say
when the cricket asked for help?
Ans: The ant refused to
lend anything to the cricket, saying that ants never borrow or lend.
7. Did the cricket save
anything for the winter?
Ans: No, the cricket did
not save anything for the winter.
8. What advice did the
ant give to the cricket?
Ans: The ant advised the
cricket to dance the winter away.
9. What is the central
idea of the poem?
Ans: The central idea of
the poem is the importance of hard work, responsibility, and preparation for
the future.
10. What message does
the poem deliver to the readers?
Ans: The message that the
poem delivers to the readers is the importance of preparation, responsibility,
and hard work.
11. What did the
cricket suffer from during the winter season?
Ans: The cricket suffered
from starvation and lack of shelter during the winter season.
12. Did the ant help
the cricket when he came to ask for help?
Ans: No, the ant did not
help the cricket when he came to ask for help.
13. Why did the ant
refuse to lend anything to the cricket?
Ans: The ant refused to
lend anything to the cricket because ants never borrow or lend.
14. What does the ant
advise the cricket to do?
Ans: The ant advises the
cricket to dance the winter away.
15. What lesson can we
learn from the poem?
Ans: The lesson we can
learn from the poem is that it is important to work hard, be responsible, and
prepare for the future to avoid negative consequences.
16. What is the moral
of the story?
Ans: The moral of the story
is that preparation and hard work are important in life and neglecting them can
lead to negative consequences.
17. How did the cricket
feel when he found his cupboard empty during winter?
Ans: The cricket felt sad
and complained when he found his cupboard empty during winter.
18. Did the cricket
regret not preparing for winter?
Ans: The poem does not
mention whether the cricket regretted not preparing for winter, but the
consequences of his actions suggest that he should have.
19. What does the
cricket ask the ant for?
Ans: The cricket asks the
ant for shelter from the rain and a mouthful of grain.
20. What season did the
cricket sing during?
Ans: The cricket sang
during the warm summer and spring months.
21. Did the ant feel
sorry for the cricket?
Ans: No, the ant didn’t
feel sorry for the cricket.
22. Why did the cricket
suffer during the winter season?
Ans: The cricket suffered during
the winter season because he did not prepare for it and had no food or shelter.
23. What does the ant
say to the cricket when he asks for help?
Ans: The ant says that ants
never borrow or lend, and refuses to help the cricket.
24. What does the
cricket do when he finds out that he has no food for winter?
Ans: The cricket complains
and worries about his situation.
25. What is the
consequence of the cricket's negligence?
Ans: The consequence of the
cricket's negligence is that he suffers from starvation and lack of shelter
during the winter season.
26. What is the moral
lesson that the reader can learn from the poem "The Ant and the
Cricket"?
Ans: The reader can learn
that it is important to work hard, be responsible, and plan ahead for the
future. Neglecting these things can lead to negative consequences, such as the
suffering experienced by the cricket in the poem.
27. What does the ant
symbolize in the poem?
Ans: The ant symbolizes
hard work, responsibility, and preparation. Unlike the cricket, the ant has
worked hard during the summer and has saved up food and shelter for the winter.
28. What does the
cricket symbolize in the poem?
Ans: The cricket symbolizes
laziness, lack of responsibility, and neglect. The cricket did not work hard
during the summer, and as a result, he did not have enough food or shelter for
the winter.
29. How does the ant's
response to the cricket's request for help reflect the ant's character?
Ans: The ant's response to
the cricket's request for help reflects the ant's character as being
responsible and firm in his principles. Although he is the cricket's friend and
servant, the ant refuses to lend him anything, explaining that ants never
borrow or lend.
30. Why does the
cricket suffer during the winter season?
Ans: The cricket suffers
during the winter season because he did not prepare for it. He did not save any
food or build a shelter, unlike the ant who worked hard during the summer and
made provisions for the winter.
31. What is the
significance of the ant advising the cricket to dance the winter away?
Ans: The ant's advice to
the cricket to dance the winter away is significant because it highlights the
importance of enjoying life and being positive, even in difficult situations.
At the same time, it also suggests that the cricket should take responsibility
for his own situation and work to improve it.
32. What is the irony
in the poem "The Ant and the Cricket"?
Ans: The irony in the poem
is that the cricket, who sang and enjoyed himself during the summer and did not
prepare for the winter, suffers during the winter while the ant, who worked
hard and saved up for the winter, is comfortable and well-fed.
33. How does the tone
of the poem change from the beginning to the end?
Ans: The tone of the poem
changes from one of complaint and desperation at the beginning to one of
resignation and acceptance at the end. The cricket starts off complaining about
his situation, but by the end of the poem, he accepts the ant's refusal to help
him and leaves to face the consequences of his own actions.
34. How does the poem
use personification to create meaning?
Ans: The poem uses
personification to create meaning by giving human qualities to the animals. The
ant is portrayed as hardworking and responsible, while the cricket is portrayed
as lazy and neglectful. This allows the reader to better understand and relate
to the animals, and to draw meaning from their actions.
35. What is the
significance of the fact that the poem is a fable?
Ans: The fact that the poem
is a fable is significant because it suggests that it is meant to teach a moral
lesson. Fables are a type of story that typically use animals as characters to
illustrate a moral or ethical principle, and "The Ant and the
Cricket" is no exception.
36. How does the poem
illustrate the concept of cause and effect?
Ans: The poem illustrates
the concept of cause and effect by showing how the cricket's neglect during the
summer led to his suffering during the winter. His failure to plan and prepare
had a direct effect on his ability to survive in the winter, while the ant's
hard work and preparation had the opposite effect.
37. How does the poem
use imagery to convey the winter setting?
Ans: The poem uses imagery
to convey the winter setting by describing the snow-covered ground, the lack of
flowers and leaves, and the cold and wet conditions. These vivid details help
the reader to visualize the harshness of winter and the cricket's difficult situation.
38. What is the
significance of the cricket's singing in the poem?
Ans: The cricket's singing
in the poem serves as a metaphor for his carefree attitude and lack of
responsibility. His focus on singing and enjoying himself during the summer
instead of preparing for the winter leads to his desperate situation in the
poem.
39. How does the poem
use dialogue to convey the ant's character?
Ans: The poem uses dialogue
to convey the ant's character by having him speak in a direct and practical
manner. His refusal to lend to the cricket is not a personal attack, but rather
a reflection of his practical and responsible nature. This dialogue helps to
create a clear contrast between the ant and the cricket.
40. How does the poem
use repetition to emphasize the cricket's desperation?
Ans: The poem uses
repetition to emphasize the cricket's desperation by repeating the phrase
"Not a crumb to be found" several times. This repetition helps to
create a sense of urgency and reinforces the cricket's dire situation.
41. How does the poem
use symbolism to convey its message?
Ans: The poem uses
symbolism to convey its message by using the ant and cricket as symbols for
hard work and laziness, respectively. The ant represents the benefits of
preparation and responsibility, while the cricket represents the consequences
of neglect and irresponsibility. These symbols help to reinforce the poem's
moral lesson."
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