CYCLE ONE (15-3-21 TO 31-3-21)

LITERATURE: Where the Mind is Without Fear (poem)

WRITING SKILL: NOTICE WRITING

GRAMMAR: ADJECTIVES, DETERMINERS,EDITING/OMISSION

NOVEL: CH. 1

READING: UNSEEN PASSAGE 1

Where the Mind is Without Fear

- Rabindranath Tagore

Quotation: Freedom is the open window through which pour the sunlight of human spirit and human
dignity.

Literary Terms:

Imagery: Imagery means to use figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a
way that it appeals to our physical senses. Usually it is thought that imagery makes use of particular
words that create visual representation of ideas in our minds.

Repetition: Repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a few times to make
an idea clearer and more memorable.

Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea
is used in place of another to suggest a likeness.

I. Difficult Words:-

Fragment

Striving
Dreary

Ever-widening

Knowledge

Stretches

II.Word Meanings-

Fragments-small parts broken off from something

Striving-trying hard

Dreary-dull or lifeless

III.Antonym:-

1. depth x shallowness

2. free x confine, restrain

3. perfection x inaccuracy

4. domestic x non-native, nonindigenous

5. knowledge x ignorance

IV.Summary:

Rabindranath Tagore was saddened by the miserable lives of his countrymen under the British rule and
the state of his country in their struggle for independence. In this poem, he shows his love for his
country and prays to God to help them attain freedom.

The poet envisions India as a country where the people live without any kind of fear or oppression and
hold their head high with pride, dignity and self-reliance. He also says that knowledge should be attained
without any restriction. There should be no discrimination based on caste, creed, race or religion. India
must reach towards its goal of attaining freedom and being an ideal nation. The countrymen must
possess noble thoughts and do away with all the superstitious beliefs that defy logic and reason.

The poet prays to God, seeking his support and guidance for his countrymen to have noble thoughts and
actions. He asks God to awaken them into this heaven like place of an independent nation.

V. Read the following lines and answer the questions.

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

……..

Into that heaven of freedom , my father, let my country awake.

1. What does the poet mean by ‘ever widening thought and action’?

Ans. By “ever widening thought and action” the poet means the expression of thoughts, birth of new
ideas and creations and a relentless pursuit of excellence through hard work.

2. Describe any two traits of character the poet wants to inculcate in his countrymen.

Ans. The poet wants his countrymen to be fearless and confident to pursue their excellence.

3. What does the poet mean by “let my country awake”?

Ans He also wants them to be laborious and put in endless effort to achieve the best in their work.

4. What kind of freedom does Tagore mention in the poem?

Ans 4. The poet talks about his country being awakened to the path of glory where his countrymen
explores knowledge, expresses innovation in thoughts, gives birth to new ideas and directs endless
effort and action towards excellence.

5.Name the poem and the poet.

VI. Answer the question:

1. What is the heaven of freedom? How far has the idea of ‘Heaven of freedom’ been materialized
in the modern world?

Answer :The “heaven of freedom” to the poet is a condition where one can pursue knowledge, and work
towards one vision without the fear of societal pressures and superstitions. In the modern world, the
world has become smaller, connectivity has increased but still there is war, oppression, fanaticism,
racism and discrimination which prevents an individual to pursue ones dream. The heaven of freedom is
still a distant dream even after so many years of independence.

2. Why are habits compared to desert sand?

Answer : Habits that are dead are compared to desert sand because desert is dry and fruitless. It’s not
green and life-giving. Similarly dead habits are not useful for individuals and society. The people must
not turn out to be slave of bad habits that can affect their life as well as the nation’s life. Hence, it is
better to do away with them.

3.Explain the figure of speech used in the line "into the dreary desert sand of dead habit".

Answer. The figure of speech used in this line is alliteration. Here the consonant "D" has been repeated
to emphasis that the countrymen had been laid astray from their goal in a place where outdated
traditions and customs are followed by them.

VII. Long answer question

Do you agree with the poet that our minds should be fearless and free? Give options.

Answer : Yes, I agree that our minds should be fearless and free from the oppressor. It should be free
but in a positive way or attitude. A free mind can be both beautiful and harmless. It is up to us how we
use it and what we make of it. A fearful mind cannot express itself truly. If our mind is free we can hold
our head high and our voice can be heard without any apprehensions.

The poet wants freedom for his country because being free from the shackles of ignorance and narrow-
mindedness would take it to the heights of success and it will create a name for itself in the whole
world. Without freedom the people of his country cannot progress and hence the nation will not
progress. He, thus, requests God to grant such freedom of mind and body to his country.

VIII. Metaphor Pg 13 (To be discussed in the class)

IX. Phrase and Expression:

Broken up into fragments

Narrow domestic walls

The depth of truth

Tireless striving

Clear stream of reason

Led forward by

Ever widening thought

X. Dictation