Posts
Poem - 3
The Bridge Builder
(New) Word-Meanings
|
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
1. |
lone |
single/ alone |
|
2. |
highway |
main road |
|
3. |
gray |
grey/ old |
|
4. |
tide |
stream/ current |
|
5. |
sullen |
sorrowful |
|
6. |
twilight |
the soft glowing light from the sky when the
sun is below the horizon, caused by the reflection of the sun's rays from the
atmosphere. |
|
7. |
stream |
a small narrow river |
|
8. |
pilgrim |
traveller |
|
9. |
followeth |
to follow |
|
10. |
chasm |
a very big gap |
Question & answers-
A. Answer these questions.
1. Describe the stream which the old man
crossed.
Ans- The stream which the old man crossed was
sullen, vast, deep and wide. He noticed that the stream can create problems for
the people coming after him. So, he decided to make a bridge on it.
2. Why did the fellow pilgrim try to stop the
old man?
Ans- The fellow pilgrim
tried to stop the old man from building the bridge because he thought the old
man had already crossed the dangerous chasm and there was no need for him to go
back to the other side. Going back would mean further difficulty and danger at
his age, it would be very difficult for him to cross it back again.
3. “This
chasm that has been as naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a
pitfall be;”
Why does the speaker say that the chasm might be a pitfall for the
fair-haired youth? What does the old man do after this? Why does he do that?
Ans- The speaker, the
old man says that the chasm might be pitfall for the fair haired youth because
unlike the old man who is experienced and knows the ways of the turbulent
stream, a young traveller would not know the way to cross the stream and chasm
might prove dangerous for him. The old man therefore decides to build a bridge
spanning the tide. He does that to help the future generations of people to
cross the stream safely without any difficulty.
4. Find two instances in the poem which tell
you about the unselfish nature of the old man.
Ans- Two instances in
the poem which tell you about the unselfish nature of the old man are-
The old man, while crossing the swift-moving
stream, saw a tide that could create trouble for the people coming after him.
After crossing the river, he decided to construct the bridge to save travellers
from danger as a kind gesture for those who are on their way to get across the
water.
Being
experienced, he has easily passed the chasm, unharmed, but the inexperienced
young generations may fail to do so. Therefore, he wanted to show his
generosity and concern for the future generation.
B. Think and answer.
2. How would you justify the
title of the poem?
Ans- It is a
suitable title. The word bridge denotes a connection between a person and a
goal that is difficult to achieve. Bridge builders like the old man work for
the society and make changes so that a large number of people can achieve a
common goal.
