The Snake Trying

The snake trying
to escape the pursuing stick,
with sudden curvings of thin
long body. How beautiful
and graceful are his shapes!
He glides through the water away
from the stroke. O let him go
over the water
into the reeds to hide
without hurt. Small and green
he is harmless even to children.
Along the sand
he lay until observed
and chased away, and now
he vanishes in the ripples
among the green slim reeds.

W.W.E. ROSS

Summary of the Poem: The Snake Trying

The poem The Snake Trying by W.W.E. Ross describes a small, harmless green snake trying to escape from a person who is chasing it with a stick. The poet admires the snake’s graceful, curving movements as it glides through the water. Despite its beauty and harmless nature, the snake is being pursued. The poet expresses a desire for the snake to escape safely and hide among the reeds, unharmed. The poem highlights the beauty of nature and suggests that even creatures often feared, like snakes, deserve to live without harm.

Thinking About the Poem(Q&A)

1. What is the snake trying to escape from?
   The snake is trying to escape from a pursuing stick that someone is using to chase it away.

2. Is it a harmful snake? What is its colour?
   No, it is not a harmful snake. The poem describes it as "harmless even to children" and small and green in colour.

3. The poet finds the snake beautiful. Find the words he uses to convey its beauty.
   The poet uses words like "beautiful" and "graceful" to describe the snake's movements. He mentions the "sudden curvings of thin long body" and how the snake "glides through the water."

4. What does the poet wish for the snake?
   The poet wishes for the snake to escape without being harmed. He expresses this by saying, "O let him go" and hopes the snake can hide "into the reeds...without hurt."

5. Where was the snake before anyone saw it and chased it away? Where does the snake disappear?
   The snake was lying along the sand before it was observed and chased away. It disappears into the ripples among the green, slim reeds in the water.

 

The Bond of Love by Kenneth Anderson - Beehive - Class 9 - Q&A Solved - NCERT Solution

Summary of The Bond of Love by Kenneth Anderson

"The Bond of Love" by Kenneth Anderson tells the heartwarming story of Bruno, a sloth bear adopted by the narrator’s wife. The narrator found Bruno as a baby bear after its mother was accidentally shot. Bruno quickly became a beloved pet, known for his friendly and playful nature, and his fondness for all types of food and drinks, including some he shouldn’t have consumed. However, as Bruno grew larger, he had to be sent to a zoo, much to the sadness of the family. Bruno also fretted in the zoo, missing his family. Finally, the narrator's wife, unable to bear the separation, arranged to bring Bruno back. A special island home was built for him, where he was happily reunited with his family, showcasing the deep bond between animals and humans.

Thinking About the Text (Q&A)

I. Given in the box are some headings. Find the relevant paragraphs in the text to match the headings.
An Orphaned Cub; Bruno’s Food-chart; An Accidental Case of Poisoning; Playful Baba; Pain of Separation; Joy of Reunion; A Request to the Zoo; An Island in the Courtyard

Answer:

1. An Orphaned Cub – Paragraph 3: The baby bear was found after its mother was shot.
2. Bruno’s Food-chart – Paragraph 6: Describes all the food Bruno ate.
3. An Accidental Case of Poisoning – Paragraphs 8-10: Bruno accidentally ate poison and was treated.
4. Playful Baba – Paragraph 12: Bruno, now called Baba, was playful and loved tricks.
5. Pain of Separation – Paragraph 14: The family missed Bruno when he was sent to the zoo.
6. Joy of Reunion – Paragraph 16: Bruno recognized his owner and was overjoyed during their visit.
7. A Request to the Zoo – Paragraph 18: The narrator’s wife asked the zoo to return Bruno.
8. An Island in the Courtyard – Paragraph 21: The family built an island for Bruno to stay after his return.

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II. Answer the following questions.
1. “I got him for her by accident.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Who do ‘him’ and ‘her’ refer to?
(iii) What is the incident referred to here?

Answer:
(i) The narrator says this.
(ii) 'Him' refers to the bear Bruno, and 'her' refers to the narrator’s wife.
(iii) The narrator found a baby bear when its mother was shot, and he brought it home for his wife.

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2. “He stood on his head in delight.”
(i) Who does ‘he’ refer to?
(ii) Why was he delighted?

Answer:
(i) ‘He’ refers to Bruno (Baba), the bear.
(ii) He was delighted because he recognized his owner, the narrator’s wife, during her visit to the zoo.

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3. “We all missed him greatly: but in a sense we were relieved.”
(i) Who does ‘we all’ stand for?
(ii) Who did they miss?
(iii) Why did they nevertheless feel relieved?

Answer:
(i) ‘We all’ refers to the narrator and his family.
(ii) They missed Bruno, their pet bear.
(iii) They were relieved because Bruno had grown too large and difficult to keep at home safely.

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III. Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words each.
1. On two occasions Bruno ate/drank something that should not be eaten/drunk. What happened to him on these occasions?

Answer:
Bruno once ate barium carbonate poison, which caused paralysis, but he was saved by a vet’s injections. Another time, he drank engine oil, but it had no harmful effect on him.

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2. Was Bruno a loving and playful pet? Why, then, did he have to be sent away?

Answer:
Yes, Bruno was very loving and playful, but he grew too big and mischievous, making it hard to manage him at home. That’s why he was sent to the zoo.

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3. How was the problem of what to do with Bruno finally solved?

Answer:
Bruno was brought back from the zoo after the narrator’s wife requested his return. They built a special island in their compound where Bruno could live happily and safely.