English Literature

2nd Term Lessons – 2020

Grade – 11
Worksheet - 09

Classes: Grade -11- A & B

Thursday, 25th of June, 2020
My dear children,
Before starting the lesson, follow the following guidelines.

1.Study this worksheet on Thursday, 25th of June, 2020 from 9.00a.m. to 12.00 noon.
2.You must write the note and activities in your English Literature book.
3.Then watch the video clip.
4.Finally do the activities on the worksheet.

Lesson – Poem

'The Earthen Goblet' By Harindranath Chattopadhyaya.

Critical Explanation

In the poem ‘The Earthen Goblet’ a goblet speaks out and describes the sorrows
of its life. It answers a question raised by the narrator. It says that it is cruel that it was turned
into a goblet by the potter on his potter’s wheel. It openly stresses that it prefers its earlier life as
a lump of clay. It promotes its closeness to nature in its early life. It hates its unnatural shape
now.
Though goblet is a common item, the poet indirectly talks about the
relationship between man and nature. People change nature the way they want. They are not
concerned about its existence.
The poet also draws his attention to the way of life in rural areas. Usually,
people from rural areas are much attached to a rural life style and become the victims of the
urban life and urbanization.
The incident in the poem begins with the question asked by the narrator.
“How did you feel,
when you were being twirled
upon the potter’s wheel?”
Then the goblet really makes a confession describing the true state of affairs. In next three
stanzas, the goblet makes a clear description about its modern life and how it loved its previous
life.
People use pottery both for cooking meals and adorning their homes. But in this
poem the poet brings a new interpretation for its matter.
The poet has personified the goblet and it is made to speak but, the poet really
wants to convey a deep sense just taking the goblet as the material. He wants to observe whether
man is affectionate to nature. He really exploits the natural resources in an unreasonable way for
his own comfort. To convey this matter, potter has been taken as a symbol.
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Theme

The theme is based on the attitude of the goblet towards the change it had to undergo on the
potter’s wheel. It is a negative approach.

Worksheet – 08

(A) Read the following extracts and name the literary techniques they denote.

No. Extract Literary technique

1. “ little flower ” ……………………………

2. “ with just one flower flaming through my breast ” ……………………………
3. “ vast feeling of sorrow ” ……………………………
4. “ in my bosom buried ” ..……………………….…
5. “ Potter’s wheel ” ……………………………
6. “ head to heal ” ……………………………

(B) Complete the following sentences.

Eg : (i) ‘Goblet’ represents modern life.

(ii) ‘Potters’ wheel’ ………………………………………
(iii) ‘The little flower’ ……………………………………
(iv) ‘a lump of clay’ …………………………………….
(v) ‘Conscious impulse’ ………………………………….

(C) In the poem, ‘The Earthen Goblet’, what’s the attitude of the goblet towards the
change it underwent on the potter’s wheel ? What’s the message the poet wants to
convey ?

Format

➢ Introduction.
➢ How the goblet talks about its past.
➢ How he finds fault with the potter.
➢ Its attitude towards its present look.
➢ Nature-flexible, goblet, rigid.
➢ How the goblet expresses its emotions.
➢ The message the poet wants to convey.
➢ Conclusion.

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