NCERT Textbook Questions: Poem - The Last Bargain Notes | Study English Class 8 - Class 8

Working with the Poem (Page 75) 

Q1. Who is the speaker in the poem?
 Ans. A man looking for his employer is the speaker.

Q2. “The king, sword in hand” suggests
 (i) wealth (ii) power (iii) more power than wealth
 Mark the appropriate item in the context of stanza 1.
 Ans. (ii) power

Q3. The old man offered the speaker a lot of money. Why did he turn down the offer?
 Ans. The man didn't need money. He valued his freedom more than becoming a slave for gold.

Q4. Find in the poem, lines that match the following. Read both one after another. 

(i) I have nothing to give you
 Ans. except goodwill & cheer.

(ii) “I hire you with nothing”
 Her happiness was no more than sorrow in disguise.
 Ans. “Her smile paled and melted into tears”.

(iii) The king’s might was not worth much.
Ans. “But his power counted for naught”

Q5. How did the speaker feel after talking to the child on the beach?

Ans. The speaker felt after meeting the child that he would get satisfaction, joy and freedom.