Fable by Ralph Waldo Emerson | Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analysis | Class 10 (Madhyamik)

📝"Fable" by Ralph Waldo Emerson | Comprehension, Vocabulary

Class: 10 | Subject: English | Poem: Fable
Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Topic: Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analysis

📘 A. Read the poem carefully and answer the following questions:

1. Who are the two main characters in the poem?
    a) The lion and the deer
    b) The mountain and the squirrel
    c) The tree and the cloud
    d) The forest and the river

2. What name does the mountain call the squirrel?
    a) Little thief
    b) Naughty bun
    c) Little Prig
    d) Small creature

3. What is the squirrel’s reply to the mountain’s insult?
    a) “You are too old to speak”
    b) “You may be big but I am quick”
    c) “You are strong but I am wiser”
    d) “I will climb over you”

4. What can the squirrel do that the mountain cannot?
    a) Carry forests
    b) Make rivers
    c) Crack a nut
    d) Stand tall

5. What does the poem teach us?
    a) Size is power
    b) Only big things matter
    c) Every creature is important
    d) Squirrels are better than mountains

✍️ B. Vocabulary: Match the words with their meanings

✍️ B. Vocabulary: Match the words with their meanings 

Word	Meaning
1. Prig	a) To be ashamed
2. Spry	b) Very large landform
3. Disgrace	c) Lively and quick-moving
4. Talents	d) Natural abilities
5. Mountain	e) Someone who acts superior

📖 C. Reference to Context

Read the lines and answer the questions given below:

“Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.”

1. Who is the speaker of these lines?
2. What does the speaker mean by “Talents differ”?
3. What contrast is shown in these lines?

💬 D. Short Answer Type Questions (30–50 words each)

1. What was the quarrel between the mountain and the squirrel about?
2. How does the squirrel defend its importance?
3. Explain the moral of the poem in your own words.
4. What qualities of the squirrel are highlighted in the poem?

✏️ E. Creative Task (Any One)

1. Paragraph Writing:
“Every creature in this world, big or small, has a role to play.”
Write a short paragraph (80–100 words) expressing your thoughts on this idea.

2. Dialogue Writing:
Write a short imaginary dialogue between a tree and a river, where they discuss their usefulness in nature (inspired by Fable).

Answer Keys to the worksheet on "Fable"

for Class 10 (Madhyamik | WBBSE)

✅ Section A: Multiple Choice Questions

1. b) The mountain and the squirrel
2. c) Little Prig
3. b) “You may be big but I am quick”
4. c) Crack a nut
5. c) Every creature is important

✅ Section B: Vocabulary Matching

📜 Section B: Vocabulary Matching 

Word	Correct Meaning
1. Prig	e) Someone who acts superior
2. Spry	c) Lively and quick-moving
3. Disgrace	a) To be ashamed
4. Talents	d) Natural abilities
5. Mountain	b) Very large landform

✅ Section C: Reference to Context (Sample Answers)

“Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.”

1. Who is the speaker of these lines?
   ➤ The squirrel (named Bun) is the speaker.
2. What does the speaker mean by “Talents differ”?
   ➤ The speaker means that different beings have different abilities and each talent is valuable in its own way.
3. What contrast is shown in these lines?
   ➤ The contrast is between the mountain’s strength (carrying forests) and the squirrel’s skill (cracking a nut), showing that both have unique abilities.

✅ Section D: Short Answer Type Questions

1. What was the quarrel between the mountain and the squirrel about?
   ➤ The mountain called the squirrel a "Little Prig," mocking its small size. The squirrel argued that size alone doesn't determine worth or importance.
2. How does the squirrel defend its importance?
   ➤ The squirrel says that even though it is small, it is quick and lively. It can do things the mountain cannot, like cracking nuts or jumping swiftly.
3. Explain the moral of the poem in your own words.
   ➤ The poem teaches that everyone has unique talents and roles. Even small beings are important and should not be underestimated.
4. What qualities of the squirrel are highlighted in the poem?
   ➤ The squirrel is shown to be confident, quick (spry), wise, and proud of its unique abilities. It values self-worth and individuality.

✏️ Section E: Creative Task – Full Model Answers

✅ Option 1: Paragraph Writing

Topic: “Every creature in this world, big or small, has a role to play.”
(80–100 words)

Answer:

Subject: "Every creature in this world, whether big or small, has an important role."

(Easy in 80–100 words in Hindi)

Every living being has its own special task in this world. Some are big, some are small, but everyone is needed. The mountain is large. But the squirrel, despite being small, is fast and smart. It can do the work that cannot do a mountain, such as climbing a tree or breaking a small nut. From this point, we should learn that no one should be considered small or useless. Everyone has their own importance, and everyone together make the world beautiful.

✅ Option 2: Dialogue Writing

Topic: Write a short imaginary dialogue between a tree and a river, where they discuss their usefulness in nature.
(6–8 lines)

Tree: Hello, River! It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? 

River: Indeed, Tree! The sun is shining, and my water is flowing smoothly. 

Tree: You are so important. You water the land and quench thirst. 

River: Thank you! And you give shade, oxygen, and shelter to birds and animals. 

Tree: True! We both help life flourish in our own ways. 

River: That’s right. Big or small, moving or still, everything in nature has a purpose. 

Tree: Just like the squirrel and the mountain in Emerson’s Fable! 

River: Exactly! Respect for all is what keeps the world in harmony.

*****

আরও পড়ুন:

Fable - কবিতার বাংলা অনুবাদ, বিষয়বস্তু ও বিশ্লেষণ