It Couldn’t Be Done / (Poet Edgar Albert Guest)

 

It Couldn’t Be Done

Edgar Albert Guest.

 

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done

But he with a chuckle replied

That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one

Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

So, he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried, he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

 

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;

At least no one ever has done it;”

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat

And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,

Without any doubting or quiddit,

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

 

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,

There are thousands to prophesy failure,

There are thousands to point out to you one by one,

The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,

Just take off your coat and go to it;

Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing

That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

 

This poem is about doing the things that have never been done before and the things that people say you could not do. It’s a motivational poem that encourages the reader not to give up easily. The title of this poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” is a roundabout reference to “How it can be done” or what are

Write the summary of the poem

The poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest is a motivational piece that encourages resilience and determination. It tells the story of a person who is told by others that a certain task “couldn’t be done”. Despite the sceptic, this person decides to try anyway, tackling the task with a positive attitude and a grin. The person succeeds in accomplishing the task, proving the naysayers wrong.

The poem emphasizes the power of self-belief and perseverance. It suggests that many tasks deemed impossible can indeed be achieved when approached with determination and a positive mindset. The repeated phrase “he started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done, and he did it” underscores the theme of triumph over adversity through optimism and hard work. The poem inspires readers to face challenges head-on and not to be deterred by others’ doubts or negativity. It’s a reminder that “impossible” is often just a state of mind.

 

paragraph wise summary of the poem

The first paragraph introduces a person who is told by others that a certain task “couldn’t be done”. Instead of accepting this, the person decides to try anyway, tackling the task with a positive attitude and a grin. The person succeeds in accomplishing the task, proving the naysayers wrong.

The second paragraph continues the narrative, with the person being scoffed at for attempting a task that “no one ever has done”. Undeterred, the person begins the task with determination and optimism, eventually succeeding in the task that was deemed impossible.

The final paragraph speaks to the reader directly, acknowledging that there will always be people who predict failure and point out the dangers that lie ahead. However, the poem encourages the reader to face these challenges head-on, with a grin and without any doubt. It suggests that by doing so, the reader can tackle the thing that “cannot be done,” and indeed do it.

This poem is a motivational piece that emphasizes the power of self-belief, perseverance, and a positive mindset in overcoming challenges and achieving what others deem impossible. It serves as a reminder that “impossible” is often just a state of mind.

 

Questions and answers of the poem carrying 1 mark.

Question: Who is the author of the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done”?

Answer: The author of the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” is Edgar Albert Guest.

 

Question: What is the main theme of the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done”?

Answer: The main theme of the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” is the power of self-belief, perseverance, and a positive mindset in overcoming challenges.

 

Question: How does the person in the poem react when told a task “Couldn’t be done”?

Answer: When told a task “Couldn’t be done”, the person in the poem decides to try anyway, tackling the task with a positive attitude and a grin.

 

Question: What does the repeated phrase “he started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done, and he did it” signify in the poem?

Answer: The repeated phrase “he started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done, and he did it” underscores the theme of triumph over adversity through optimism and hard work.

 

Question: What message does the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” convey to its readers?

 Answer: The poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” conveys the message that many tasks deemed impossible can indeed be achieved when approached with determination and a positive mindset. It inspires readers to face challenges head-on and not to be deterred by others’ doubts or negativity.

 

 

 

Question: What is the attitude of the person towards the task that “couldn’t be done”?

Answer: The person has a positive and determined attitude towards the task that “couldn’t be done”.

 

Question: How does the person prove the naysayers wrong in the poem?

Answer: The person proves the naysayers wrong by successfully accomplishing the task that was deemed impossible.

 

Question: What does the person in the poem start to do as he tackles the task?

Answer: As he tackles the task, the person in the poem starts to sing, indicating his positive and optimistic approach.

 

Question: What does the poem suggest about tasks deemed impossible?

 Answer: The poem suggests that tasks deemed impossible can indeed be achieved when approached with determination, self-belief, and a positive mindset.

 

Question: What does the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” inspire its readers to do?

 Answer: The poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” inspires its readers to face challenges head-on, not to be deterred by others’ doubts or negativity, and to believe in their ability to achieve what others deem impossible.

 

What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?

The rhyme scheme of the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest is ABABCDCD. This scheme, also known as the alternative rhyme scheme, is followed throughout the poem. However, there are a few instances where readers can find imperfect rhymes. For example, in the first stanza, “grin” imperfectly rhymes with "thing".

 

Questions and answers of the poem carrying 3 marks.

Question: Discuss the theme of the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done”. How does the poet convey this theme through the poem?

Answer: The main theme of the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” is the power of self-belief, perseverance, and a positive mindset in overcoming challenges and achieving what others deem impossible. The poet conveys this theme through the narrative of a person who is told by others that a certain task “couldn’t be done”. Instead of accepting this, the person decides to try anyway, tackling the task with a positive attitude and a grin. The person succeeds in accomplishing the task, proving the naysayers wrong. The repeated phrase “he started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done, and he did it” underscores the theme of triumph over adversity through optimism and hard work.

 

Question: Analyze the character of the person in the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done”. What qualities does this person possess and how do these qualities contribute to his success?

Answer: The person in the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” is characterized as determined, optimistic, and resilient. These qualities are evident in the person’s decision to attempt a task that others deem impossible, and in his positive and unwavering approach to the task. The person’s determination is shown in his decision to try the task despite others’ sceptic, his optimism is reflected in his positive attitude and grin, and his resilience is demonstrated in his success in accomplishing the task. These qualities contribute to his success by enabling him to overcome the challenges and negativity he faces, and by driving him to persist until he achieves his goal.

 

Question: What message does the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” convey to its readers? How does this message relate to real-life situations?

Answer: The poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” conveys the message that many tasks deemed impossible can indeed be achieved when approached with determination, self-belief, and a positive mindset. It inspires readers to face challenges head-on, not to be deterred by others’ doubts or negativity, and to believe in their ability to achieve what others deem impossible. This message relates to real-life situations in that people often face challenges or tasks that seem daunting or impossible. However, with the right mindset and approach, these challenges can be overcome. The poem serves as a reminder that “impossible” is often just a state of mind, and that success often lies on the other side of perseverance and self-belief.

 

"So, he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried, he hid it." - Who was he? What was he getting ready for? Why did he have a trace of a grin? What was he probably worried about?

 

In the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest, “he” refers to the main character of the poem, an unnamed individual who is determined to tackle a task that others have deemed impossible.

He is getting ready to undertake this challenging task. Despite others telling him that it “couldn’t be done”, he decides to try anyway, demonstrating his determination and resilience.

The “trace of a grin” on his face signifies his positive attitude and optimism. Despite the daunting task ahead, he approaches it with a sense of humour and a positive mindset, choosing to smile instead of showing worry or fear.

As for what he was probably worried about, the poem doesn’t explicitly state this. However, given the context, it’s likely that he was aware of the challenges and difficulties he might face in attempting the task. The fact that he “hid” his worry again underscores his determination and positive approach, choosing to focus on the task at hand rather than dwelling on potential difficulties. This serves as a reminder to the reader to approach challenges with a positive mindset and not to be deterred by fear or doubt.

 

"Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;

At least no one ever has done it;”- Who were being referred to as somebody and you here? What was being referred to as 'it' here? why had no one ever done it? What did the person refer to as you do immediately after?

 

“Somebody” refers to the sceptic or naysayers who doubt the ability of the main character to accomplish the task at hand.

“You” refers to the main character of the poem, the individual who is determined to tackle a task that others have deemed impossible.

“It” refers to the challenging task that the main character is attempting to undertake. The specifics of the task are not detailed in the poem, allowing the reader to interpret “it” as any daunting or seemingly impossible task.

The reason “no one ever has done it” is not explicitly stated in the poem. However, it suggests that the task is considered extremely difficult or unprecedented, hence why it has not been attempted or accomplished before.

Immediately after being told, he’ll never do “it”, the main character “took off his coat and he took off his hat”, symbolizing his readiness to begin the task. He starts the task with determination and optimism, eventually succeeding in the task that was deemed impossible. This action underscores the theme of the poem, which is about the power of self-belief, perseverance, and a positive mindset in overcoming challenges and achieving what others deem impossible.

 

What did he reply when somebody said that the task could not be done?

When somebody said that the task couldn’t be done, the main character in the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest replied with a chuckle, saying “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one who wouldn’t say so until he’d tried. This response reflects his determination and positive attitude towards the task, choosing to give it a try despite others’ sceptic. It underscores the theme of the poem, which is about the power of self-belief, perseverance, and a positive mindset in overcoming challenges and achieving what others deem impossible.

 

Which line indicate the positive and the cheerful attitude of the person undertaking the task?

The line “So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin on his face. If he worried, he hid it.” from the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest indicates the positive and cheerful attitude of the person undertaking the task. This line shows that the person approaches the task with a grin, a sign of positivity and cheerfulness, despite any worries he might have. This underscores his optimistic outlook and determination to tackle the task at hand.

 

Pick the line from the poem that suggest that there will be obstructions in the way.

The line “There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, there are thousands to prophesy failure” from the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest suggests that there will be obstructions in the way. This line indicates that the person undertaking the task will face sceptic and negativity from others, which can be seen as obstacles or obstructions on the path to achieving the task. It underscores the theme of the poem, which is about overcoming such challenges through self-belief, perseverance, and a positive mindset.

Do you agree with the title of the poem? Give reasons. Work with your partner and write how you motivate yourself to do a difficult task?

As an AI, I don’t have personal feelings or opinions. However, I can tell you that the title of the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest is quite fitting. It captures the essence of the poem, which is about undertaking a task that others deem impossible. The title sets up an expectation of impossibility, which is then challenged and ultimately overturned by the poem’s narrative. This creates a powerful contrast that underscores the poem’s theme of self-belief, perseverance, and positivity in overcoming challenges.

As for motivation, while I don’t have personal experiences, I can share some strategies that people often use to motivate themselves when facing a difficult task:

Setting Clear Goals: Having a clear, achievable goal can provide a sense of direction and purpose, making the task seem more manageable.

Breaking Down the Task: Large tasks can be overwhelming. Breaking them down into smaller, manageable parts can make the task seem less daunting and more achievable.

Positive Affirmations: Reminding oneself of past successes and personal strengths can boost confidence and motivation.

Visualizing Success: Imagining the end result and the feeling of accomplishment can provide a strong motivation to start and continue with the task.

Rewarding Progress: Setting up rewards for reaching certain milestones can provide an incentive to keep going.

 

Write the characteristics of the main character in the poem. Give reasons for choosing the characteristics.

The main character in the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest exhibits several notable characteristics:

Determined: The character is described as someone who doesn’t back down from a challenge. Even when others say that the task “couldn’t be done”, he decides to try anyway. This shows his determination to overcome obstacles and achieve his goal.

Optimistic: The character approaches the task with a “trace of a grin” on his face, indicating a positive and optimistic attitude. Despite the daunting task ahead, he chooses to remain cheerful and hopeful.

Resilient: The character is not deterred by others’ sceptic or negativity. He hides any worries he might have and tackles the task head-on. This resilience enables him to persevere and ultimately succeed in accomplishing the task.

Confident: The character’s decision to attempt the task, despite others’ doubts, shows his confidence in his own abilities. He believes in himself and his ability to achieve what others deem impossible.

These characteristics are inferred from the character’s actions and attitudes as described in the poem. The character’s determination, optimism, resilience, and confidence are all key factors that contribute to his success in accomplishing the task that “couldn’t be done”. These traits make him an inspiring figure, embodying the poem’s theme of self-belief, perseverance, and positivity in overcoming challenges.