Worksheet Solutions: Poem - The School Boy | English Class 8 PDF Download

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1: What does the schoolboy enjoy in the summer morning?
(a) Studying at school
(b) Sleeping late
(c) Listening to bird songs
(d) Playing video games
Ans: (c)
The schoolboy enjoys rising in the morning when birds are singing on the trees.

Q2: Who entertains the schoolboy in the summer morning?
(a) His teacher
(b) A hunter
(c) His classmates
(d) His parents
Ans: (b)
The hunter's clarion and the skylark's lullabies entertain the schoolboy in the morning.

Q3: What does the schoolboy dislike in the poem?
(a) Summer mornings
(b) Going to school
(c) Birds singing
(d) Clarion blowing
Ans: (b)
The poem emphasizes the dislike of the schoolboy towards the act of going to school.

Q4: According to the poem, where would the child rather be than at school?
(a) In the garden
(b) In the classroom
(c) In the library
(d) In the kitchen
Ans: (a)
The child would rather be in the garden, enjoying nature, than spending tense hours at school.

Q5: What analogy does the poet use to convey the impact of fear and tension on a child?
(a) Caged bird
(b) Blooming flower
(c) Running river
(d) Flying eagle
Ans: (a)
The poet uses the analogy of a caged bird to convey the impact of fear and tension on a child, hindering their natural instincts.

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: The schoolboy loves to rise in a summer morning when _______________ are singing on the trees.
Ans: The schoolboy loves to rise in a summer morning when birds are singing on the trees.

Q2: Instead of enjoying the pleasures of summer, the child has to spend tense hours in _______________.
Ans: Instead of enjoying the pleasures of summer, the child has to spend tense hours in school.

Q3: According to the poem, a child, if remained under the umbrella of fear and tension, cannot enjoy the natural instincts of _______________.
Ans: According to the poem, a child, if remained under the umbrella of fear and tension, cannot enjoy the natural instincts of joy and playfulness.

Q4: The schoolboy tries to make his parents understand that if a budding child is picked and swept off early in life, he cannot _______________.
Ans: The schoolboy tries to make his parents understand that if a budding child is picked and swept off early in life, he cannot grow into a mature plant.

Q5: The poet compares a child under the supervision of a strict teacher to a bird that cannot sing a sweet song when _______________.
Ans: The poet compares a child under the supervision of a strict teacher to a bird that cannot sing a sweet song when caged.

Extract Based Questions

Q1: Read the passage 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 sighing and dismay.
(i) What is the joy of a summer morning?
Ans: The joy of a summer morning is to watch the birds and the trees from close quarters.
(ii) What is it that he hates to do in a summer morning?
Ans: The child hates to go to school in a summer morning.
(iii) Whose eye is being referred to?
Ans: The ‘cruel eye’ of the unfeeling teacher is being referred to here.
(iv) Who shies and where?
Ans: The child shies at school.

Q2: Read the passage 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) What is natural for a bird?
Ans: It is natural for a bird to sing joyfully.
(ii) Who is being compared to a caged bird?
Ans: A child in school is being compared to a caged bird.
(iii) What does the phrase ‘tender wing’ refer to?
Ans: The phrase ‘tender wing’ refers to the simple and playful nature of childhood.
(iv) Find the phrase which means ‘childhood days of joy’.
Ans: The phrase ‘youthful spring’ refers to the ‘childhood days of joy’.

Q3: Read the passage and answer the following questions.
How shall the summer arise in joy,
Or the summer fruits appear?
(i) Who is the author of the poem?
Ans: William Blake is the name of the poet.
(ii) What is the summer a symbol of?
Ans: The summer is the symbol of youth.
(iii) What is meant by ‘summer fruits’?
Ans: The phrase ‘summer fruits’ means the ‘beautiful deeds done by the youth’.
(iv) Find the word in the passage which means, ‘emerge’.
Ans:  ‘arise’.

Q4: Read the passage 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 ‘dropping5?
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.

Answer the following Questions

Q1: Why child hates going to school?
Ans: Child hates school because he is under strict control of his teacher. He feels like a caged bird.

Q2: How child happiness turn into sorrowness?
Ans: The child rise in the fresh and delightful summer morning. He is very happy but his parents force him to go to the school where he spends his time in sorrowfulness.

Q3: Find three or four words/phrases in stanza 1 that reflect the child’s happiness and joy.
Ans: The phrases that reflect the child’s joy and happiness are ‘love to rise in a summer mom’, birds sing on every tree,’ ‘the skylark sings with me’, and ‘sweet company’.

Q4: According to the poem, where does the child wish to be instead of at school?
Ans: According to the poem, the child wishes to be in the garden instead of at school, where he can learn many things in interesting ways with nature.

Q5: What analogy does the poet use to convey the consequences of a child being under the influence of fear and tension?
Ans: The poet uses the analogy of a caged bird to convey the consequences of a child being under the influence of fear and tension, suggesting that the child cannot enjoy the natural instincts of joy and playfulness in such conditions.