Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
And children coming home from school
Look in the open door.
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar.
- Why do children look into the open door of the smithy?
i.to escape the noise of the bellows ii to catch the flaming sparks. iii to admire the blacksmith’s hair. Iv to hear the village bell ringing.
: (Choose the correct option)
Answer: ii. To catch the flaming sparks.
b. Complete the sentence appropriately
The blacksmith’s appearance reflects ——-
Answer: The blacksmith’s appearance reflects strength and hard work.
c.State whether the following statement is true or false :
The children in the poem are afraid of the bellow’s roar. _______
Answer: True or False: The children in the poem are afraid of the bellow’s roar.
d.Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.
Sparkling: fireworks: buring:_____
Answer: Sparkling: fireworks:: buring : forge
e. In the given stanza, what is the atmosphere created by the flaming forge and the bellows’roar?
- a comforting and peaceful ambiance
- an intimidating and scary environment.
- a joyful and exciting atmosphere
- a gloomy and sorrowful setting
Answer: iii. A joyful and exciting atmosphere
Q2. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each.
- What are the things that children love about the blacksmith?
Answer: The children admire the blacksmith’s strength and his skill in his work. They enjoy watching the flaming forge and hearing the loud sounds from the bellows. They look up to him because he is hardworking, and they are fascinated by his powerful appearance and the sparks flying around as he works.
- Where does the village blacksmith go on Sunday? What makes his heart rejoice?
Answer: The blacksmith goes to church on Sundays. Hearing his daughter sing in the choir makes him feel happy and proud. Her singing brings him joy and moves him deeply, reminding him of his late wife. This family moment fills his heart with both happiness and a bittersweet sense of love.
- What brings tears to the eyes of the blacksmith?
Answer: The blacksmith feels emotional and tears up when he hears his daughter singing in the church choir. Her voice reminds him of his late wife and fills him with pride. This reminder of his family’s love and the memory of his wife bring tears to his eyes as he listens to his daughter sing.
- What lesson has the writer learnt from the blacksmith?
Answer: The writer learns the importance of hard work, honesty, and resilience from the blacksmith. The blacksmith’s dedication to his craft, despite life’s hardships, teaches the writer to face challenges with strength. The blacksmith’s simple, honest life shows that hard work and integrity bring true fulfilment
Q3. Answer the following questions in 80-100 words each.
a. Why has the chestnut tree been used as a symbol for the blacksmith?
Answer: The chestnut tree symbolizes strength, stability, and endurance, just like the blacksmith. The tree is solid and deeply rooted, representing the blacksmith’s unshakable nature and resilience. Just as the chestnut tree stands firmly in one place and provides shelter, the blacksmith stands as a dependable figure in the community, admired for his strength and hard work. The tree’s branches and shade are like the blacksmith’s protective nature over his family. Furthermore, the chestnut tree endures various seasons and challenges, much like the blacksmith who faces life’s hardships with courage and patience. This symbolism connects the blacksmith to qualities of nature that are enduring and noble.
- Which details in the poem tell you that the blacksmith is an honest, hardworking
Answer: The poem describes the blacksmith as having “large and sinewy hands” and “muscles of his brawny arms…strong as iron bands,” which show his physical strength from years of hard work. He earns his living by working diligently at his forge every day. Additionally, he faces the world confidently, “looking the whole world in the face,” because he owes no one anything, indicating his honesty and self-reliance. His daily routine, his care for his family, and his respect for church and tradition show his commitment to hard work and integrity. The poem paints him as a role model, a man who fulfills his responsibilities without complaint and remains honest to his values, which reflects his noble character.
Q4. Figures of speech
Figures of speech are words or groups of words bring out the idea of the poem.
Alliteration: The use the repetition of consonant sounds.
Example: You can hear the bellows blow (the sound of ‘b’ is repeated)
Identify one more example of alliteration from the poem.
Answer: Alliteration Example: “Week in, week out.”
Metaphor: A comparison between two things that are otherwise unrelated. The period of youth is compared to a flaming forge.
Example: Thus, at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Answer: Metaphor Example: “At the flaming forge of life,” where life’s challenges are compared to the forge.
Onomatopoeia: A word imitates a sound it describes. In this poem, the words represent the loud, powerful noise produced by the bellows in the blacksmith’s forge.
Example: And hear the bellows roar.
Answer: Onomatopoeia Example: “And hear the bellows roar,” which mimics the loud sound of the bellows.
Simile: A comparison is made between two unlike things and introduced by ‘like’ or’ as’)
Example: And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.
Identify two more examples of similes from the poem
Answer: Simile Examples:
- “And the muscles of his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.”
- “His heart that is like a fire burning bright
Q5.Read the following lines.
And looks the whole word in the face,
For he owes not any man.
The highlighted word ‘for’ joins two grammatically equal sentences ‘And looks the Whole word in the face’ and ‘For he owes not any man ‘together. It is an example of a coordinating conjunction. It connects two main clauses in the sentence.
Answer:In these lines, “for” is a coordinating conjunction connecting two main clauses: “And looks the whole world in the face” and “For he owes not any man.”
Independent/Main Clause – It is a group of words which has a subject and a predicate and can stand on its own.
Dependent Clause – It contains both subject and verb but cannot stand alone as a sentence; it does not make complete sense without the support of the main clause.
Q7. Complete the following sentences with words from the box.
Chaff, bellows, sexton, wrought, smithy, sledge
- The blacksmith used _____ to blow air into the forge and make the fire hotter.
Answer: a. The blacksmith used bellows to blow air into the forge and make the fire hotter
- The ______ rang the church bell to signal the start of Sunday service.
Answer: The sextonrang the church bell to signal the start of Sunday service.
c.The farmer used a pitchfork to throw the ____ into the air and separate it from the grains of wheat.
Answer. The farmer used a pitchfork to throw the chaff into the air and separate it from the grains of wheat.
d.The workers used a ____ to hammer the metal into shape on the anvil.
Answer. The workers used a sledge to hammer the metal into shape on the anvil.
e.The skilled blacksmith _______ the metal into a beautiful piece of artwork
Answer. The skilled blacksmith wrought the metal into a beautiful piece of artwork.
f.The blacksmith used a heavy hammer and anvil in his _____ to shape the metal.
Answer.The blacksmith used a heavy hammer and anvil in his smithy to shape the metal.
Q8. Write a story in not more than 100 – 120 words using the outline given below.
Aged farmer-resides in a village- peaceful life- notices drop in crop yield -worries about livelihood -sends a child to agricultural cooperative – learns contemporary methods -chooses better seeds -seeks financial support – returns and incorporates changes crop – helps other farmers
Answer: An aged farmer lived a peaceful life in a small village, depending on his crops for income. One season, he noticed a sharp drop in yield, which worried him about his future livelihood. Unsure of what to do, he sent his son to the agricultural cooperative to learn new techniques. His son returned with knowledge of modern farming methods, including better seeds and advanced cultivation practices. The farmer applied these methods, sought financial support, and gradually saw his crops flourish. Grateful for this success, he shared his newfound knowledge with other farmers in the village, helping them improve their yields as well. Through teamwork and innovation, the village thrived once more.