Try Again - Textual Notes

Let us do these activities before we read. (Page 16)

1. Who inspires you to do your best?

My parents inspire me to do my best.

II. Work in pairs, identify what you see in the pictures given below. What can we learn from them? Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.

Image 1 shows a beehive on a tree branch with busy bees. Bees teach us to work hard, never give up, and work together as a team to achieve success.

Image 2 shows a spider in its web. A spider teaches us to be patient and work hard. Even if its web breaks, it builds it again without giving up.

Image 3: Image 3 shows a flock of birds flying together in the sky. They teach us teamwork, unity, and helping one another to reach success.

Image 4: Image 4 shows a bird building its nest. It teaches us patience, hard work, and dedication. Small efforts every day lead to success.

Image 5: Image 5 shows a colony of ants. Ants teach us teamwork, hard work, and sharing responsibilities. Even small efforts together can achieve great things.

Image 6: Image 6 shows an apple tree full of fruits. It teaches us patience and growth. A tree takes time to bear fruit, showing that hard work and proper care bring good results.

Complete the summary of the poem by filling in the blanks with suitable words from the text given in the box below. Share your answers with the teacher.

[tired      mount    despair    attempts    great    conquered    low    strive]

The poem, written in a narrative style, tells the story of King Bruce of Scotland, who was feeling 1. _____________ after failing multiple times to achieve something 2. _____________ for his people. In a moment of 3. _____________, he observed a spider trying to reach its web high above. The spider 4. _____________ every time it fell after getting close to its goal. It made nine 5. _____________ and fially succeeded. The king said that the spider had 6. _____________ and so would he. Inspired by the spider’s determination, King Bruce decided to 7. _____________. When he 8. _____________ this time, he ultimately succeeded.

Answer:

1. low 
2. great 
3. despair 
4. mounted 
5. attempts 
6. conquered
7. strive
8. tried

II. Complete the following sentences suitably.

1. We can say that the poet uses the narrative style because ________.

We can say that the poet uses the narrative style because it tells the story of King Bruce and the spider in order, describing the events clearly from beginning to end.

2. The central idea of the poem is ________.

The central idea of the poem is to never give up. Like the spider, we should keep trying with patience and determination until we achieve success, even after many failures.

III. Pick three examples from the poem for each of the following:

1. lines that describe the spider’s efforts

• “It soon began to cling and crawl, Straight up with strong endeavour.”
• “Again it fell and swung below, But again it quickly mounted.”
• “Steadily, steadily, inch by inch, Higher and higher he got.”

2. alliteration (the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of closely connected words)

• “Fast, now slow” – The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “slow” and T sound in “fast”.
• “Bravo, bravo!” – The repetition of the ‘b’ sound.
• “Foolish thing will strive” – The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “strive” and ‘f sound in “foolish”.

IV. Why does the poet repeat the following words or phrases in the poem?
"tried and tried"; "steadily, steadily"; "up, up".

The poet repeats these words to stress the spider's determination, steady effort, and continuous progress. The repetition makes the message of perseverance and never giving up more powerful.

V. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from within the brackets.

1. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB. (AABB / ABBA / ABAB)

2. ‘Bravo’ is an example of an interjection. (conjunction / interjection / adjective)

3. The poet uses 'twas and 'tis for the sake of rhythm. (rhythm / rhyme / contraction)

VI. Read the following sentences and identify metaphors and similes. Write M for metaphor and S for simile.

(i) He ran as fast as a cheetah. — S
(ii) The world is a stage. — M
(iii) The night was as dark as coal. — S
(iv) He sang like an angel. — S
(v) Her voice was music to his ears. — M
(vi) The classroom was a zoo. — M
(vii) The baby slept like a log. — S
(viii) Her smile was as bright as the sun. — S
(ix) The lake was a mirror, reflecting the sky. — M

2. Read the following sentences and transform the similes to metaphors and metaphors to similes. Two examples have been given.

(iii) The book was a treasure chest, filled with endless adventures.

The book was like a treasure chest full of exciting adventures.

(iv) Her laughter was a melody that brightened the darkest days.

Her laughter was like a sweet melody that made even sad days feel happier.

(v) The mountain stood as a guard, watching over the valley below.

The mountain was a strong guard protecting the valley below.

(vi) The night was like a velvet cloak, wrapping the world in mystery.

The night was a velvet cloak covering the world with mystery.

(vii) Her thoughts were like butterflies in a summer meadow.

Her thoughts were butterflies flying freely in a summer meadow.

Let us think and reflect (Pages 21–22)

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. He flung himself down in low despair,
As grieved as man could be;
And after a while he pondered there,
“I’ll give it all up,” said he.
Now just at that moment a spider dropped,
With its silken, filmy clue;

(i) Select the phrase which shows the physical expression of the King’s emotional state.
Answer:
The phrase “He flung himself down in low despair” shows how the King physically expressed his sadness and disappointment.

(ii) Why does the poet use the word ‘low’ before despair?
Answer:
The poet uses the word ‘low’ to show that King Bruce felt extremely sad, hopeless, and ready to give up after facing many failures.

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
In the line, ‘And after a while he pondered there’, the word ‘pondered’ means ________.

A. paused
B. thought
C. noticed
D. rested

Answer:
B. thought

(iv) Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets.
The phrase ‘silken filmy clue’ creates an image of something that is ________ (long and light/very delicate and soft).

Answer:
Very delicate and soft.

When it toils so hard to reach and cling,

And tumbles every time;

But up the insect went once more,

Ah me! ’tis an anxious minute;

He’s only a foot from his cobweb door,

Oh say, will he lose or win it?

(i) Choose the correct option to complete the analogy.

toil : hard :: ________ : ________.

A. roll : tumble
B. tumble : circle
C. compress : roll
D. jump : tumble

Answer:
A. roll : tumble

II. Answer the following questions.

2. (ii) List any two characteristics of the spider highlighted in the line, ‘But up the insect went once more’.

The spider shows these two qualities:

1. Perseverance – It keeps trying even after falling many times.

2. Determination – It does not stop until it reaches its goal.

(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

The expression ‘Ah me!’ in the extract indicates a sense of ________.

A. happiness
B. stress
C. relief
D. loneliness

Answer: B. stress

(iv) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.

Readers are able to relate to this extract because ____________.

Readers can relate to this extract because everyone faces difficulties in life and learns that success comes through patience and repeated effort.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. How does the first stanza help in setting the mood of the poem?

The first stanza creates a sad and hopeless mood. It shows King Bruce feeling disappointed after many failures and prepares readers for his journey towards success.

2. Describe how King Bruce’s attitude changes from the beginning towards the end of the poem.

At the beginning, King Bruce feels sad, discouraged, and ready to give up after failing many times. When he watches the spider trying again and again until it succeeds, he becomes hopeful and confident. Inspired by the spider, he decides to try once more and finally achieves success.

3. The poet describes every action of the spider in great detail. What does this tell us about his attitude towards the spider?

The poet greatly admires the spider. By describing its every move, he shows respect for its patience, courage, and determination to keep trying until it succeeds.

4. How does the spider inspire us to overcome despair and not give up?

The spider teaches us that failure is only a part of learning. We should stay determined, keep working hard, and never stop trying until we succeed.

5. The poem teaches us that failures are stepping stones to success. Explain.

The poem shows that both King Bruce and the spider fail many times but continue trying. Their success proves that patience, courage, and hard work help us overcome failures.

6. The spider’s journey tells us that anyone can be a source of inspiration in our lives. Elaborate.

The spider teaches us that inspiration can come from anyone, even a tiny creature.

1. King Bruce learns an important lesson by watching a small spider.

2. The spider shows that repeated effort leads to success.

3. Even small living things can teach us valuable life lessons.

4. Its success encourages us to keep trying and never give up.

Let us learn (Pages 22-24)

I. Write the opposites of the following words taken from the poem.

1. up × _____________

2. fast × _____________

3. glad × _____________

4. win × _____________

5. succeed × _____________

Answer:

1. up × down

2. fast × slow

3. glad × sad

4. win × lose

5. succeed × fail

II. Choose the correct meaning of the underlined words in the following sentences from the box given below. Frame sentences of your own for these words.