Extract Based Questions: Poem - The School Boy | English Class 8 PDF Download

Q1: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions. 
O! Father and Mother, if buds are nip’d,
And blossoms blown away,
And if the tender plants are strip’d
Of their joy in the springing day,
By sorrow and cares dismay,
How shall the summer arise in joy,
Or the summer fruits appear?

(i) Whom is the poet addressing to?
Ans: The poet is addressing to the parent.

(ii) What is his advice to them?
Ans: He advised the parents to allow their children to blossom like flowers.

(iii) What worries the poet the most?
Ans: The poet is worried about the fate of the growing children who needs to grow in a happy surrounding

(iv) How important is ‘their joy’ to the poet?
Ans: The poet pleads the parents to supportive and considerate. He wants them to nurture their growing kids. Otherwise they will not turn out to be confident young men.

(v) How successful has the poet convey his idea?
Ans: The poet takes an example of nature. Be it season or plants. The delicate plants need extra care in spring season so are a child in his childhood. Because as in summers the flower bear fruits, they too become fully matured individual to cascade what they bore inside then.

(vi) What is the figure of speed used in the above lines?
Ans: Alliteration -‘blossom blown.

Q2: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions. 
Ah! then at times I drooping sit,
And spend many an anxious hour.
Nor in my book can I take delight
Nor sit in learning’s bower,
Worn thro’ with the dreary shower.

(i) Why does he sit ‘dropping?
Ans: He sits with lack of interest and tiredness.

(ii) How does he spend his school hours?
Ans: The school hours fill him with boredom.

(iii) Why couldn’t he ‘take delight’ in his book?
Ans: He couldn’t take delight because it does not excite him to learn.

(iv) Explain ‘worn thro’ with the dreary shower.
Ans: The child dislike schooling because he couldn’t find anything delightful. He was scared and exhausted.

Q3: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions. 
I love to rise in a summer morn,
When the birds sing on every tree;
The distant huntsman winds his horn,
And the skylark sings with me.
0! what swept company.

(i) What does the child love about summer morning?
Ans: The child loves to rise in the morning about the birds singing on every tree.

(ii) What does child speaks about huntman?
Ans: The child speaks about huntman that they blow their horn or clarion.

(iii) Do you agree with the statement ‘skylark’ sing with me’?
Ans: No, I don’t think the skylark were singing with him.

(iv) Explain ‘what sweet company’.
Ans: The child feel relaxed in summer morning where birds are singing and nature is in its bounties. He was delighted by the surroundings.

(v) What is the rhyming scheme followed in the poem?
Ans: ababb.

Q4: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions. 
How can the bird that is born for joy,
Sit in a cage and sing
How can a child when fears annoy,
But droop his tender wing,
And forget his youthful spring.

(i) With whom is the child compared to?
Ans: The child is compared to a caged bird.

(ii) How does a child get angry?
Ans: A child who is afraid and suppressed became defiant and rebellious.

(iii) Why does a child stoop his wings?
Ans: A child stoops his wings he becomes hopeless. When things don’t meet to his expectations, he becomes lifeless.

(iv) What are the characteristics of youth?
Ans: A youth is full of energy and enthusiasm.

Q5: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions. 
But to go to school in a summer morn,
O! it drives all joy away;
Under a cruel eye outworn,
The little ones spend the day,
In signing and dismay.

(i) What does he dislike about school?
Ans: The child seems to dislike going to school as it takes away the joy and happiness.

(ii) Explain ‘under a cruel eye outwork’?
Ans: The child hates to be under scrutiny. He dislikes the fact that he had to spend his day in the supervision of an inconsiderate person.

(iii) How does the child spend his day?
Ans: The child spends his day in utter discomfort and sadness overtook him.

(iv) What changes does the child aspire for?
Ans: The child feels happy by being close to the nature but the school atmosphere suppresses him to utter disappointment.