Consolidate: Read and Answer
A1. Choose the correct options to answer these questions. Put a tick (✓) mark.
- Whose pillars is the poet talking about?
b. nation’s [✓] - What has the blood turned the stones to?
a. rust [✓] - The empires’ glory has ______.
c. sunk into the sand [✓] - What has God turned nation’s lustre to?
d. ashes [✓]
A2. Answer these questions.
- What are the things that, according to the poet, do not make a nation strong?
According to the poet, material wealth, pride in a nation’s past glory, and military power gained through war do not make a nation strong.
- What do a nation’s foes do?
A nation’s foes can rob it of its material treasures and wealth. - What can happen to a nation’s pride?
A nation’s pride can be diminished and can ultimately “sink into the sand,” meaning it can be forgotten and lost over time. - What are the qualities that make a nation strong?
The qualities that make a nation strong are the character, integrity, and virtuous actions of its people. These are the “pillars” built deep with “souls” of men who are “brave,” “true,” and “dare” to do what is right. - State the rhyme scheme used in the poem.
The poem uses a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme in each of its stanzas.
A3. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
1. The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.
a. Whose blood does the line refer to?
The line refers to the blood shed by people in wars fought for the sake of wealth and empire-building.
b. What does the phrase ‘turned their stones to rust’ refer to?
The phrase is a metaphor suggesting that the violence and bloodshed (war) have caused the physical foundations of the nation (its grand buildings and monuments) to corrode and decay, much like metal turns to rust.
c. Whose ‘glory’ has diminished?
The glory of empires and kingdoms that were built on wealth and military power has diminished.
2. They build a nation’s pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.
a. Who is ‘they’ in these lines?
“They” refers to the good, honest, and courageous citizens of a nation—the men who possess strong character and virtue.
b. How are a nation’s pillars built ‘deep’?
A nation’s pillars are built “deep” through a strong, unwavering moral foundation based on the truth, bravery, and righteous actions of its people.
c. How are a nation’s pillars lifted to the ‘sky’?
The pillars are lifted to the “sky” as a metaphor for achieving lasting greatness, honor, and a lofty, unshakable status that is recognized by all.
A4. Think and answer. (Critical Thinking)
- Who are the real enemies of a nation? According to you, where do these enemies reside—inside a country or outside?
The real enemies of a nation are not necessarily foreign armies but internal failings such as corruption, greed, a lack of patriotism, social injustice, and poor moral character among its citizens and leaders. These enemies primarily reside inside a country. A nation that is morally weak and divided from within becomes vulnerable to any external threat.
- Why are wealth, pride and war not enough to make a country strong?
Wealth can be stolen, pride based on past achievements is fleeting and can lead to arrogance, and war leads to destruction and loss of life. These are all external and temporary factors. True, lasting strength comes from the internal, intangible qualities of its people—their unity, honesty, courage, and justice. These virtues create a stable and resilient society that cannot be easily broken.