Textbook: Animals

 Page 1


Animals
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) : A major figure in early 
American poetry. In an age when all poetry was rhymed 
and metrical, Whitman made a break with tradition and 
wrote a revolutionary new kind of poetry in free verse. 
He was a nonconformist in all respects, including his 
social life.
The poet tells us that he feels more at home with 
animals than humans, whom he finds complicated and false.
l placid : not easily
upset
l turn : (here,)
transform
l mania : craze
l demented : mad
l respectable : (here,)
too happy and
satisfied
l make me sick :
disgust me
u What craze do animals
never display ?
u What could have
happened to the
tokens of the poet’s
self ?
I think I could turn and live with animals, they are
so placid and self-contain’d
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with
the mania of owning things.
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that
lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
They bring me tokens of myself, they evince
them plainly in their possession
I wonder where they get those tokens,
Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop 
them?
- Walt Whitman
l self-contain’d : self-
sufficient
l tokens : (here,)
virtues like innocence
simplicity, contentment
etc.
l evince : show
46
Page 2


Animals
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) : A major figure in early 
American poetry. In an age when all poetry was rhymed 
and metrical, Whitman made a break with tradition and 
wrote a revolutionary new kind of poetry in free verse. 
He was a nonconformist in all respects, including his 
social life.
The poet tells us that he feels more at home with 
animals than humans, whom he finds complicated and false.
l placid : not easily
upset
l turn : (here,)
transform
l mania : craze
l demented : mad
l respectable : (here,)
too happy and
satisfied
l make me sick :
disgust me
u What craze do animals
never display ?
u What could have
happened to the
tokens of the poet’s
self ?
I think I could turn and live with animals, they are
so placid and self-contain’d
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with
the mania of owning things.
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that
lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
They bring me tokens of myself, they evince
them plainly in their possession
I wonder where they get those tokens,
Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop 
them?
- Walt Whitman
l self-contain’d : self-
sufficient
l tokens : (here,)
virtues like innocence
simplicity, contentment
etc.
l evince : show
46
1. (A) Match the words given in table A with their meanings in table B.
No A
Words
B
Meaning
(i) whine (a) an offence against religious or moral law
(ii) sin (b) complain in an annoying way
(iii)  evince (c) craze
(iv) mania (d) failing to take proper care
(v) negligent (e) show
(B) Find adjectives from the poem which refer to positive and negative
thinking.
Positive Negative
1. 1. 
2. 2. 
3. 3. 
2. Complete the following.
(a) The poet wishes he could
(b) Animals do not complain about
(c) Animals do not merely discuss
(d) Animals are not crazy about
3. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) Animals are self-reliant.
(b) Animals quarrel for their possessions.
(c) Animals do not worship other animals.
(d) Humans have given up many good qualities.
(e) Animals suffer humiliation.
(f) The poet has retained all his natural virtues.
4. With the help of the poem find the differences between animals and
human beings.
Human beings Animals
l Always complain about their
condition
l Never complain about anything
ENGLISH WORKSHOP 
47
Page 3


Animals
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) : A major figure in early 
American poetry. In an age when all poetry was rhymed 
and metrical, Whitman made a break with tradition and 
wrote a revolutionary new kind of poetry in free verse. 
He was a nonconformist in all respects, including his 
social life.
The poet tells us that he feels more at home with 
animals than humans, whom he finds complicated and false.
l placid : not easily
upset
l turn : (here,)
transform
l mania : craze
l demented : mad
l respectable : (here,)
too happy and
satisfied
l make me sick :
disgust me
u What craze do animals
never display ?
u What could have
happened to the
tokens of the poet’s
self ?
I think I could turn and live with animals, they are
so placid and self-contain’d
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with
the mania of owning things.
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that
lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
They bring me tokens of myself, they evince
them plainly in their possession
I wonder where they get those tokens,
Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop 
them?
- Walt Whitman
l self-contain’d : self-
sufficient
l tokens : (here,)
virtues like innocence
simplicity, contentment
etc.
l evince : show
46
1. (A) Match the words given in table A with their meanings in table B.
No A
Words
B
Meaning
(i) whine (a) an offence against religious or moral law
(ii) sin (b) complain in an annoying way
(iii)  evince (c) craze
(iv) mania (d) failing to take proper care
(v) negligent (e) show
(B) Find adjectives from the poem which refer to positive and negative
thinking.
Positive Negative
1. 1. 
2. 2. 
3. 3. 
2. Complete the following.
(a) The poet wishes he could
(b) Animals do not complain about
(c) Animals do not merely discuss
(d) Animals are not crazy about
3. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) Animals are self-reliant.
(b) Animals quarrel for their possessions.
(c) Animals do not worship other animals.
(d) Humans have given up many good qualities.
(e) Animals suffer humiliation.
(f) The poet has retained all his natural virtues.
4. With the help of the poem find the differences between animals and
human beings.
Human beings Animals
l Always complain about their
condition
l Never complain about anything
ENGLISH WORKSHOP 
47
6. Find out lines from the poem that are examples of following Figures of Speech.
Figures of Speech Lines
l Repetition
l Alliteration
l Hyperbole
7. Identify the Figures of Speech in the following lines.
(a) I stand and look at them long and long.
(b) They do not sweat and whine about their condition.
(c) They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God.
(d) ...... not one is demented with the mania of owning things.
(e) They bring me tokens of myself.
(f) No one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
8. Read the poem again and write an appreciation of the poem in a paragraph
format with the help of given points. (Refer to page no. 5)
Good values
and
Good habits 
that can be learnt 
from animals
They are placid 
and 
self-contained.
5. Read the text again, and complete the web, highlighting the good values/habits which
we can learn from animals.
48
Page 4


Animals
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) : A major figure in early 
American poetry. In an age when all poetry was rhymed 
and metrical, Whitman made a break with tradition and 
wrote a revolutionary new kind of poetry in free verse. 
He was a nonconformist in all respects, including his 
social life.
The poet tells us that he feels more at home with 
animals than humans, whom he finds complicated and false.
l placid : not easily
upset
l turn : (here,)
transform
l mania : craze
l demented : mad
l respectable : (here,)
too happy and
satisfied
l make me sick :
disgust me
u What craze do animals
never display ?
u What could have
happened to the
tokens of the poet’s
self ?
I think I could turn and live with animals, they are
so placid and self-contain’d
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with
the mania of owning things.
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that
lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
They bring me tokens of myself, they evince
them plainly in their possession
I wonder where they get those tokens,
Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop 
them?
- Walt Whitman
l self-contain’d : self-
sufficient
l tokens : (here,)
virtues like innocence
simplicity, contentment
etc.
l evince : show
46
1. (A) Match the words given in table A with their meanings in table B.
No A
Words
B
Meaning
(i) whine (a) an offence against religious or moral law
(ii) sin (b) complain in an annoying way
(iii)  evince (c) craze
(iv) mania (d) failing to take proper care
(v) negligent (e) show
(B) Find adjectives from the poem which refer to positive and negative
thinking.
Positive Negative
1. 1. 
2. 2. 
3. 3. 
2. Complete the following.
(a) The poet wishes he could
(b) Animals do not complain about
(c) Animals do not merely discuss
(d) Animals are not crazy about
3. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) Animals are self-reliant.
(b) Animals quarrel for their possessions.
(c) Animals do not worship other animals.
(d) Humans have given up many good qualities.
(e) Animals suffer humiliation.
(f) The poet has retained all his natural virtues.
4. With the help of the poem find the differences between animals and
human beings.
Human beings Animals
l Always complain about their
condition
l Never complain about anything
ENGLISH WORKSHOP 
47
6. Find out lines from the poem that are examples of following Figures of Speech.
Figures of Speech Lines
l Repetition
l Alliteration
l Hyperbole
7. Identify the Figures of Speech in the following lines.
(a) I stand and look at them long and long.
(b) They do not sweat and whine about their condition.
(c) They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God.
(d) ...... not one is demented with the mania of owning things.
(e) They bring me tokens of myself.
(f) No one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
8. Read the poem again and write an appreciation of the poem in a paragraph
format with the help of given points. (Refer to page no. 5)
Good values
and
Good habits 
that can be learnt 
from animals
They are placid 
and 
self-contained.
5. Read the text again, and complete the web, highlighting the good values/habits which
we can learn from animals.
48
²???²???²???²
Hold a healthy discussion on 
the given topic. Encourage and 
habituate the students to accept  
others’ opinion, with respect.
9. Divide the class into two groups. One group should offer points in favour of 
(views) and the other against (counterviews) the topic ‘Life of an animal is better 
than that of a human being.’
 Later, use the points to express your own views/ counterviews in paragraph 
format in your notebook.
49
Page 5


Animals
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) : A major figure in early 
American poetry. In an age when all poetry was rhymed 
and metrical, Whitman made a break with tradition and 
wrote a revolutionary new kind of poetry in free verse. 
He was a nonconformist in all respects, including his 
social life.
The poet tells us that he feels more at home with 
animals than humans, whom he finds complicated and false.
l placid : not easily
upset
l turn : (here,)
transform
l mania : craze
l demented : mad
l respectable : (here,)
too happy and
satisfied
l make me sick :
disgust me
u What craze do animals
never display ?
u What could have
happened to the
tokens of the poet’s
self ?
I think I could turn and live with animals, they are
so placid and self-contain’d
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with
the mania of owning things.
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that
lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
They bring me tokens of myself, they evince
them plainly in their possession
I wonder where they get those tokens,
Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop 
them?
- Walt Whitman
l self-contain’d : self-
sufficient
l tokens : (here,)
virtues like innocence
simplicity, contentment
etc.
l evince : show
46
1. (A) Match the words given in table A with their meanings in table B.
No A
Words
B
Meaning
(i) whine (a) an offence against religious or moral law
(ii) sin (b) complain in an annoying way
(iii)  evince (c) craze
(iv) mania (d) failing to take proper care
(v) negligent (e) show
(B) Find adjectives from the poem which refer to positive and negative
thinking.
Positive Negative
1. 1. 
2. 2. 
3. 3. 
2. Complete the following.
(a) The poet wishes he could
(b) Animals do not complain about
(c) Animals do not merely discuss
(d) Animals are not crazy about
3. State whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) Animals are self-reliant.
(b) Animals quarrel for their possessions.
(c) Animals do not worship other animals.
(d) Humans have given up many good qualities.
(e) Animals suffer humiliation.
(f) The poet has retained all his natural virtues.
4. With the help of the poem find the differences between animals and
human beings.
Human beings Animals
l Always complain about their
condition
l Never complain about anything
ENGLISH WORKSHOP 
47
6. Find out lines from the poem that are examples of following Figures of Speech.
Figures of Speech Lines
l Repetition
l Alliteration
l Hyperbole
7. Identify the Figures of Speech in the following lines.
(a) I stand and look at them long and long.
(b) They do not sweat and whine about their condition.
(c) They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God.
(d) ...... not one is demented with the mania of owning things.
(e) They bring me tokens of myself.
(f) No one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
8. Read the poem again and write an appreciation of the poem in a paragraph
format with the help of given points. (Refer to page no. 5)
Good values
and
Good habits 
that can be learnt 
from animals
They are placid 
and 
self-contained.
5. Read the text again, and complete the web, highlighting the good values/habits which
we can learn from animals.
48
²???²???²???²
Hold a healthy discussion on 
the given topic. Encourage and 
habituate the students to accept  
others’ opinion, with respect.
9. Divide the class into two groups. One group should offer points in favour of 
(views) and the other against (counterviews) the topic ‘Life of an animal is better 
than that of a human being.’
 Later, use the points to express your own views/ counterviews in paragraph 
format in your notebook.
49
1. Expressions in English classified under different heads.
Pair up with your partner, guess and match the columns. (Use a dictionary.)
A B
(1) Principle (a) a generally accepted, evident, truth
(2) Quotation (b) short striking messages for the public
(3) Moral (c) a short witty remark stating truth 
(4) Idioms (d) a popular, well-known truth
(5) Slogans (e) established expressions which do not convey 
exactly the same as individual words 
(6) One-liners (f) words cited from a speech/text of a famous person 
(7) Maxims (g) a lesson derived from a story or experience 
(8) Proverb (h) a rule to govern one’s behaviour
2. Read the polite requests/suggestions and complete the gaps in the responses.
Make sure they are polite and not repeated.
       Accept (1) 
     Refuse (2) 
      Accept (1) 
     Refuse (2) 
2.2 Three Questions
Could you lend me 
your dictionary ?
Can you please 
pass the salad ?
W arming Up ! 
50