Try Again Class 7 Notes English Unit 1 Free PDF

Introduction

• The poem, written by Eliza Cook, is a narrative poem that tells the inspiring story of King Bruce of Scotland.
• He aimed to achieve something great to bring joy to his people. Despite his efforts, he faced failure and felt very sad.
• In his despair, he lay down, feeling as miserable as anyone could. After some time, he thought, "I might as well give up."
• At that moment, a spider descended with its fine silk thread, catching the King's attention as he contemplated his situation.
• The spider’s determination encouraged King Bruce to try once more, igniting his resolve.
• The poem conveys a strong message about perseverance and resilience, urging readers to persist despite challenges. The phrase, "All honour to those who try," sums up this idea.

Explanation 

Stanza 1

King Bruce of Scotland flung himself down
In a lonely mood to think;
'Tis true he was monarch, and wore a crown,
But his heart was beginning to sink.

Explanation:
King Bruce of Scotland is feeling lonely and sad.He is lost in his thoughts. Even though he is a king with a crown and great power, he feels upset inside. This stanza sets the scene, showing that even a strong ruler can feel weak when facing problems. The poet uses simple words to describe the king’s sadness, helping readers understand his troubled feelings.

Let's Revise: How does the poet help us understand King Bruce’s mood?

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Ans: The poet uses simple and clear words like “flung himself down” and “his heart was beginning to sink” to show that King Bruce was deeply troubled and lost in thought, helping readers feel sympathy for him.

Stanza 2

For he had been trying to do a great deed,
To make his people glad;
He had tried and tried, but couldn't succeed
And so he became quite sad.

Explanation:
The king’s sadness comes from his repeated failures to do something important that would make his people happy. He has tried many times, but each attempt has failed. This makes him very unhappy, and he feels his efforts are useless. The stanza shows the king’s good intentions and the heavy responsibility he feels as a leader, making his struggle relatable to anyone who has faced challenges.

Let's Revise: What was the reason behind King Bruce’s repeated attempts?

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Ans: King Bruce kept trying because he wanted to do something great that would make his people happy. His goal was to help and serve his kingdom.

Stanza 3

He flung himself down in low despair,
As grieved as man could be;
And after a while he pondered there,
"I'll give it all up," said he.

Explanation:
Feeling hopeless, King Bruce lies down, filled with deep sorrow, as sad as anyone could be. After thinking for a while, he decides to give up completely, saying, “I’ll give it all up.” This moment shows the king at his lowest point, ready to abandon his dreams. The poet builds suspense by emphasising his despair, preparing readers for a change in the story.

Let's Revise: Why did King Bruce decide to give up?

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Ans: After trying and failing many times, King Bruce lost faith in his ability to succeed. His sorrow and disappointment became so intense that he felt there was no point in continuing his efforts.

Stanza 4

Now just at that moment a spider dropped,
With its silken, filmy clue;
And the King, in the midst of his thinking, stopped
To see what the spider would do.
'Twas a long way up to the ceiling dome,
And it hung by a rope so fine;
That how it would get to its cobweb home,
King Bruce could not divine.

Explanation:
While King Bruce is lost in thought, a spider suddenly drops down on a thin, silky thread. The king stops thinking about his problems and watches the spider with curiosity. The spider’s web is high up near the ceiling, and the thread looks very fragile. King Bruce wonders how such a small creature will reach its home. This stanza introduces the spider, shifting the focus from the king’s sadness to the spider’s effort, setting up the lesson to come.

Let's Revise: Why does King Bruce find the spider’s climb so fascinating?

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Ans: King Bruce is intrigued because the spider is attempting to climb a long distance using a thin, fragile thread. Despite being so small, it is determined to reach its web. This makes the king curious about whether it will succeed.

Stanza 5

It soon began to cling and crawl
Straight up with strong endeavour;
But down it came with a slippery sprawl,
As near to the ground as ever.
Up, up it ran, not a second to stay,
To utter the least complaint;
Till it fell still lower, and there it lay,
A little dizzy and faint.

Explanation:
The spider starts climbing the thread, holding on tightly and moving upward with great effort. However, it slips and falls back to the ground, almost to where it started. Without stopping to rest or complain, the spider tries again right away but falls again, feeling dizzy and weak. This stanza shows the spider’s determination and its first failures, which are similar to the king’s own struggles. The poet’s clear description makes the spider’s effort exciting to read about.

Let's Revise: How is the spider’s struggle similar to King Bruce’s situation?

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Ans: Like King Bruce, the spider keeps failing in its efforts but doesn’t give up. Both face difficulties and setbacks while trying to achieve something important. This similarity helps build a connection between the king and the spider.

Stanza 6

Its head grew steady - again it went,
And travelled a half-yard higher;
'Twas a delicate thread it had to tread,
And a road where its feet would tire.
Again it fell and swung below,
But again it quickly mounted;
Till up and down, now fast, now slow,
Nine brave attempts were counted.

Explanation:
After resting, the spider’s head clears, and it climbs again, reaching a bit higher—about half a yard more than before. The thread is very thin, and the climb is tiring for the spider’s small feet. Despite making progress, it falls again and swings below the thread. The spider keeps trying, going up and down, sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly. The poet counts nine brave tries, each ending in a fall. This stanza builds tension, showing the spider’s hard work and the king’s growing interest.

Let's Revise: How does the spider’s repeated effort affect the mood of the poem?

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Ans: The spider’s repeated effort changes the mood from hopelessness to hope. As the spider keeps trying, the mood shifts from sadness to one of admiration and inspiration, showing that even after many failures, success may still be possible.

Stanza 7

"Sure," cried the King, "that foolish thing
Will strive no more to climb;
When it toils so hard to reach and cling,
And tumbles every time."

Explanation:
King Bruce, watching the spider’s repeated failures, speaks out loud. He thinks the spider is foolish and will stop trying because it works so hard, but falls every time. This stanza shows the king’s doubt, which mirrors his own feelings of hopelessness about his failed attempts. The poet uses the king’s words to create drama, making readers wonder if the spider will give up or keep going.

Let's Revise: Why does the poet have the king call the spider “foolish”?

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Ans: The poet uses the word “foolish” to show how the king misunderstands the value of persistence at this point in the poem. It highlights the king’s frustration and creates suspense about whether the spider—and the king—will continue trying or give up.

Stanza 8

But up the insect went once more,
Ah me! 'tis an anxious minute;
He's only a foot from his cobweb door,
Oh say, will he lose or win it?
Steadily, steadily, inch by inch,
Higher and higher he got;
And a bold little run at the very last pinch
Put him into his native cot.

Explanation:
Despite the king’s doubts, the spider tries again, and the poet describes the moment as tense, saying, “Ah me! ’tis an anxious minute.” The spider is now just a foot away from its web, its “cobweb door.” Moving slowly and steadily, inch by inch, it climbs higher. With a final, brave effort, it reaches its web. This stanza is the high point of the spider’s journey, showing its success through hard work. The poet’s words like “steadily” and “inch by inch” highlight the spider’s careful progress.

Let's Revise: What effect does the spider’s “bold little run” have on the king and the story?

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Ans: The spider’s “bold little run” is a turning point. It proves the king’s earlier doubts wrong and shows that success can come with one more try. This moment inspires the king and prepares him to change his attitude and try again in his own life.

Stanza 9

"Bravo, bravo!" the King cried out,
"All honour to those who try;
The spider up there, defied despair;
He conquered, and why shouldn't I?"

Explanation:
King Bruce is thrilled by the spider’s success and shouts, “Bravo, bravo!” He praises the spider for its courage, saying it “defied despair” by not giving up despite many falls. Inspired, he realises that if a tiny spider can succeed, he too can try again. This stanza is a turning point for the king, as the spider’s example gives him new hope and determination to continue his efforts.

Let's Revise: Why does the king say, “He conquered, and why shouldn’t I?”

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Ans: The king realises that if a small creature like the spider can achieve its goal through determination, then he, being a human and a king, should also believe in himself and keep trying. It shows his renewed self-confidence and motivation.

Stanza 10

And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind,
And gossips tell the tale,
That he tried once more as he tried before,
And that time did not fail.

Explanation:
Motivated by the spider, King Bruce makes up his mind to try again. The poet notes that people later tell the story that he made one more attempt and succeeded this time. This final stanza ends the poem on a hopeful note, showing that the king’s hard work, inspired by the spider, leads to success. It reinforces the poem’s message that trying again can bring victory.

Let's Revise: What does the phrase "And that time did not fail" imply about King Bruce’s final attempt?

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Ans: It implies that King Bruce’s last effort was successful, showing that his persistence and renewed determination helped him achieve his goal.

Moral of the Poem

• The poem teaches us that we should never give up, even if we fail many times.
• The spider’s hard work and determination show that success comes from keeping on trying.
• King Bruce’s story shows that failures are like steps that lead to success if we stay strong and believe in ourselves.
• The poem encourages us to find inspiration in small things, like a spider, to achieve our goals.

Difficult Words

Here are the meanings of some words from the poem, explained simply:

• Flung: Threw or dropped himself down quickly.
• Monarch: A king or queen who rules a country.
• Deed: An important action or task.
• Despair: A feeling of sadness and hopelessness.
• Grieved: Felt very sad or upset.
• Pondered: Thought deeply about something.
• Filmy: Very thin and light, like a spider’s thread.
• Divine: To guess or figure out.
• Endeavour: A strong effort to do something.
• Sprawl: To fall or spread out in a clumsy way.
• Dizzy: Feeling unsteady or confused.
• Faint: Weak or tired.
• Toils: Works very hard.
• Mounted: Climbed up.
• Pinch: A small, quick effort or push.
• Cot: The spider’s web or home.
• Braced: Prepared or made himself strong.