8.06.2021 “Necessity is the mother of invention.

The Bridge Builder

-By Will Allen Dromgoole

Words Meaning

Lone lonely

rapids a part of the river where the current runs very swiftly

even-tide Evening

Twilight The time after the sunset

Pilgrim A person who travels a long way to visit a religious place

Swollen Thicker and wider

SECTION - A

Question 1: Describe the stream which the old man crossed?

Answer: The stream which the old man crossed was sullen. It was extremely dark and
threatening.

Question 2: Why did the fellow pilgrim try to stop the old man?
Answer: The fellow pilgrim tried to stop the old man from building the bridge because he
thought the old man had already crossed the dangerous chasm and there was no need for him to
go back to the other side. Going back would mean further difficulty and danger at his age, it
would be very difficult for him to cross it back again.

Question 3: This chasm has been as naught to me

To that fair- haired youth may a pitfall be;”
Why does the speaker say that the chasm might be a pit fall for the fair-haired youth?
What does the old man do after this? Why does he do that?
Answer: The speaker, the old man says that the chasm might be pitfall for the fair-haired youth
because unlike the old man who is experienced and knows the ways of the turbulent stream, a
young traveler would not know the way to cross the stream and chasm might prove dangerous
for him. The old man therefore decides to build a bridge spanning the tide. He does that to help
the future generations of people to cross the stream safely without any difficulty.

Question 3: Find two instances from the poem which tell you about the unselfish nature of
the old man.

Answer: According to the speaker, the old man was building the bridge to help the future
generations of people to cross the stream safely without any difficulty. He was building a bridge
on a very dangerous river without anyone asking him to do so or without the greed of getting any
money in return.

These instances prove that the old man was having an unselfish nature and a great love for
humanity.

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SECTION – B

Question 1. „Your journey will end with the ending day‟ This line has a deeper meaning.
Can you explain it.

Ans. The old man has crossed many stages of life. Life, in the poem is considered as journey
which lasts an entire day, where a person has to end the journey when the day ends. It is for each
traveler to decide the role he will play while on the journey.

Question 2. How would you justify the title of the poem?

Ans. It is a suitable title. The word bridge denotes a connection between a person and a goal that
is difficult to achieve. Bridge builders like the old man work for the society and make changes so
that a large number of people can achieve a common goal.

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Reference to context.
RTC 1:-

“The old man crossed through the twilight dim;

The rapids held no fear for him.

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.”

Q1. Who was the old man?

Ans 1:- The old man was a lonely traveller who was walking along a lonely highway.

Q2. Where was he?

Ans 2:- He was in the valley through which a river flowed.

Q3. What did he start to build?

Ans 3:- He started to build a bridge across the valley to cross the stream.

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RTC 2:-

„Old man‟, cried a fellow pilgrim near,

You‟re wasting your time in building here.

Your journey will end with the closing day;

You never again will pass this way.

You have crossed the stream deep and wide;

Why build a bridge at even-tide?‟

Q1. Who said these words and to whom?

Ans1:- A fellow traveller said these words to the old man.

Q2. What did the speaker said to the old man?

Ans 2:- The speaker told the old man that since he had already crossed the valley and would not
return that way again; he was foolish in building a bridge across the valley, as it would not help
him in any way.

Q3. How is the speaker different from the old man?

Ans 3:- The speaker is short-sighted and selfish, thinking of only what he sees in the present
moment and the good in it for himself. The old man, however, is far-sighted. He is thinking of
the ones who will come after him.

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