Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Q.1.”Human beings are called the most civilised species in the entire world. But sometimes they lack the values which are better exhibited by the animals.” Elucidate the statement with reference to the poem, ‘Animals’.
Ans. Human beings are called the most civilised species in the entire world. But sometimes, they lack the values which are better exhibited by the animals. Human beings lack the qualities of being respectable, happy, contented and peace-loving which is still reflected in animals. Animals do not grumble about their lives, lie awake at night, cry over their sins or discuss their duty towards God as humans do. Animals do not have a mania for “owning things”, nor do they kneel before others like humans. Moreover, the tokens of goodness, love, respect and happiness have been dropped by human beings.

Q.2. The poem, `Animals’ tells us that civilisation has made humans false to their own true nature. Which values will help you revive your basic nature?
Ans. In the race of human civilisation, humans have lost their own nature. The men have Dist their innate goodness over the years. They have become selfish, jealous, restless, unhappy, cribbing and grumbling creatures. They grumble about their lives, lie awake at night, cry over their sins and discuss their duty towards God. In a race to earn more luxuries and comfort. they have lost their sound sleep. They have become unhappy and most of the time unable to enjoy even small joys and happiness in life. On the contrary, animals are peaceful, self-contained, thankful and happy creatures. They are not unhappy and indeed bring out tokens of man’s good nature lost long ago, when he possessed qualities like love, respect, contentment and happiness.

Q.3. How is the poem, ‘Annuals’, a contrast between humans and animals?
Ans. Humans can be described as selfish, jealous, restless, unhappy, cribbing, and grumbling creatures. In contrast, animals are peaceful, self-contained, thankful and happy creatures. They do not grumble about their lives, lie awake at night, cry over their sins or discuss their duty towards God as humans do. Also, they don’t have a mania for “owning things”; nor do they kneel before others. Animals, on the whole, are not unhappy and indeed bring out tokens of man’s good nature lost long ago, when he possessed qualities like love, respect, contentment and happiness.

Q.4.“ The more I know of humans the more I love my pet.” With reference to the poem, ‘Animals’, elaborate the statement.
Ans. Whenever the poet thinks about animals, he has a feeling of being one among them. The lost human qualities of being respectable, happy, contented, and peace-loving could still be found reflected in animals. They don’t whine about their condition; nor do they cry for their sins. They don’t make others sick by discussing their duty to God, are not dissatisfied nor have the craze to own things. They may not be respectable, but they definitely do not kneel before others or be unhappy as a whole. For the poet, they bring the tokens of human qualities like love, respect, contentment and happiness, which they themselves exhibit plainly. He thinks that perhaps the animals possessed these qualities naturally. The poet also wonders whether these tokens could have been negligently dropped by humans long ago. Whatever the case may be, while thinking about the overwhelming negativity of human beings, anyone may start loving his pet all the more

Q.5. Why is the poet so much impressed with animals that he wants to change sides and wishes to live with them?
Ans. The poet feels that humans have degraded themselves beyond redemption. Nothing great has been left with human beings. He is fed up with their behaviour and wants to escape from the world of humans. No doubt, humans were not so bad at one time. They shared ‘tokens’ of love, sympathy, contentment and innocence with animals. However, the spirit of greed, overambition, and arrogance overpowered them. They gave up the path of virtue and the ‘tokens’ of love and sympathy. They are confused. The burden of their sins and misdeeds lies heavy on their hearts and souls. On the other hand, animals still maintain the old virtues left by man long ago. They are contented, self-sufficient, simple and free from confusions and the burden of sins and misdeeds. So, the poet wants to change sides and wants to be a part of the animal world.

Q.6. What are those ‘tokens’ and how animals have maintained them while humans have left them long ago?
Ans. The poet says that animals bring to him the ‘tokens’ of himself. Actually, these tokens stand for all that is good in behaviour and mutual relationships. These are the ‘tokens’ of love, sympathy, contentment, honesty and innocence. There was a time when both animals, as well as humans, possessed those tokens of noble virtues. But then humans degraded themselves. While animals continued walking on the road leading to those tokens of noble virtues. Humans have led astray and followed the wrong path of life. They gave up contentment, innocence, simplicity and love. Dissatisfaction, unrest, the burden of sins and misdeeds, greed, overambition and arrogance overpowered humans. Sadly enough, humans have left the virtuous path of life. On the other hand, animals have not corrupted and degraded themselves to that extent. Their ‘tokens’ of virtuous living reminds the poet that he must arouse those lost values again. For this, he will have to change sides and join the world of animals.