Chapter 2.3: There is Another Sky
Life is an amalgam of happy and sad moments. Think of such moments in your life, pair with your classmate, and share both the aspects of life.
Solution
Discuss with your partner and find proverbs, idioms, or phrases of similar meaning to the one given and fill them in the stars given below:
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| Discuss with your partner and find proverbs, idioms, or phrases of similar meaning to the one given and fill them in the stars given below: |
Solution
All's well that ends well.
He who falls today may rise tomorrow.
Blessing in disguise.
When we look at the sky, we find several objects. They stand for something or the other. Complete the following table by finding the significance of the given objects. One example is given to you.
Solution
Colours mentioned in the hexagons given below are associated with something or the other. Discuss with your partner and fill in the blanks.
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| Colours mentioned in the hexagons given below are associated with something or the other. Discuss with your partner and fill in the blanks. |
Solution
blue – tranquility; gloom
pink – innocence; compassion
yellow – happiness; joy
red – danger; anger
black – power; mystery; darkness.
Imagine your younger sister is not paying attention to her studies and is seen wasting time playing games on her cell-phone. Suggest some ways that will help her to concentrate on her studies and overcome her bad habit.
Solution
Ways to concentrate on studies & Overcome her bad habits:
Put your cell-phone away while studying.
Maintain a schedule with properly sketched out study hours for each subject. Don't re-read as it leads to boredom.
Take short breaks in between after every 3-4 hours of study. It refreshes your mind and helps to concentrate better. Don't extend the break to more than 10 minutes.
Simplify broad concepts into pointers to remember them better.
I shall try my best to be friendly with her and give her company.
I shall gift her a drawing book and encourage her to draw and colour.
I shall take her out for a short time and let her play with the neighbours.
I shall take her to the garden and nourish the plants.
You have noticed that many of your classmates are not interested in outdoor games or participating in co-curricular activities. Discuss some ways in which they will be encouraged to participate in activities.
Solution
Co-curricular activities play a major role in our lives. We should take part in it because:
They help to broaden our minds and keep us occupied.
They help to develop team-building skills.
They help us gain experience.
They help us to hone our skills and showcase our talents.
Discuss with your partner and complete the web, highlighting the sad and gloomy aspects of life mentioned in the first part of the poem.
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| Discuss with your partner and complete the web, highlighting the sad and gloomy aspects of life mentioned in the first part of the poem. |
Solution
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| Discuss with your partner and complete the web, highlighting the sad and gloomy aspects of life mentioned in the first part of the poem. |
The poet encourages her brother in the second part of the poem by telling him about the brighter side of life. Discuss with your partner and make a list of the expressions in the poem that mean encouragement.
Brighter garden
________________
________________
Solution
Brighter garden
not a frost has been
unfading flowers
bright bee hum
The poet has described two different shades of human feelings by using imagery of various forces of Nature in the poem. Pick out the terms or phrases that describe them. Complete the table given below. One is done for you.
Solution
The poem expresses feelings of serenity. Pick out expressions from the above poem that express the same.
Solution
“…another sky, Ever serene and fair.”
“…another sunshine,”
“…a little forest, …leaf is ever green.”
“…brighter garden,”
“…unfading flowers, …the bright bee hum.”
Compare and contrast the two opposing human feelings as expressed by the poet.
Solution
The poet has used expressions of gloominess and happiness in her poem. These contrasting expressions are used to highlight the fact that there are two sides to life. Each one of us has the choice to focus on what we desire. For instance, the poet describes a happy garden and also the silent fields. She tells her brother not to focus on the silent fields. We should think about the ideal nature of life and ignore the sorrow and sadness of this physical world.
‘Never mind faded forests, Austin’. The word ‘faded’ means to become dim or faint. The word describes the forests that have become faint or dim in appearance. Now go through the poem again and complete the table.
Solution
‘I hear the bright bee hum.’ The poet has used the word ‘hum’ that indicates the sound made by the bee. This is an example of Onomatopoeia. The poet has used different figures of speech like alliteration, inversion, and hyperbole in the poem. Identify them and pick out the lines accordingly.
Hyperbole
Solution
"Here is a little forest,
Whose leaf is evergreen;"
Explanation:
Hyperbole - The statement has been exaggerated to make the 'little forest' seem like a place where happiness is ever-lasting.
Alliteration
Solution
"In its unfading flowers
I hear the bright bee hum:"
Explanation:
Alliteration - The sound of the letter 'b' has been repeated for a poetic effect.
Inversion
Solution
"Here is a brighter garden,
Where not a frost has been;"
Explanation:
Inversion - The order of the words has been changed for a poetic effect. The correct order should be “Where (there) has been no frost”.
Imagine your friend is a table tennis champion who has won the semi-final in the inter-collegiate championship. Due to overconfidence, she neither practices nor does she take her opponent seriously. This may result in her losing the final. Suggest some ways to make her aware of the importance of hard work and regular practice.
Solution
Hard work and regular practice are very important to win. It always pays off in the end.
Hard work teaches us not to give up until the end.
The saying – 'Practice makes a man perfect' stands true. It hones your skills.
Hard work helps us stay focused and disciplined.
Regular practice teaches us determination.
Use the following points and write an appreciation of the poem:
About the poem, poet and title
Theme
Poetic style, language, poetic devices used in the poem
Special features
Message/values/morals in the poem
Your opinion about the poem
Solution
Appreciation of the poem 'There Is Another Sky‘
'There is Another Sky' is written by Emily Dickinson, who is an American poet from the 19th century, who is famous for her motivational and philosophical poetry. Her verses of simple and short lines with a short rhyme scheme are unique to her era. This poem is a Petrarchan sonnet, which means that it is a fourteen-line poem divided into two parts, such that the first part of the poem is an octave (a stanza of eight lines) and the second part is a sestet (a stanza of six lines). In this poem, which was written as a part of a letter addressed to her younger brother, she tries to convince him to return home by talking at length about an ideal place; which is just like paradise.
The theme dwells upon nature and human feelings as it describes the infinite The lines are short and the language is simple. The poet has used poetic devices like Alliteration, Antithesis, Ambiguity, Hyperbole, Inversion, Metaphor, Onomatopoeia, Personification, and Repetition to beautify the poem. The first stanza of the poem tells us about this 'other' place (not the physical world) and the second stanza is an invitation to the brother to come to visit this place (their home which is serene like the 'other' place). The poem conveys a sense of happiness that surrounds one's home and the special bond that siblings share.
Overall, the poem seems like a call to one's sibling to return home because they are missed. The comparisons are drawn with paradise highlight the peace and happiness that a home offers.
Write a summary of the poem with the help of the points given below:
Title
Introductory paragraph (about the poem/ type/nature/tone)
Main body (central idea/gist of the poem)
Conclusion/ opinions/views/appeal.
Solution
There is Another Sky
'There is Another Sky' is written by Emily Dickinson.
It is a sonnet consisting of fourteen lines. It is a part of a letter that Emily Dickinson had written to her younger brother, asking him to return home. It can be said that the poem is philosophical in nature. The tone of the poem is encouraging, inspirational, and pleading. It is a call for a loved one to return home – to happiness and peace.
The poem begins with the line – 'There Is Another Sky' wherein the poet is referring to 'heaven', metaphorically referring to their home. She describes the beauty of it by telling us that the sunshine in this place that shines through the darkness, the forests remain green throughout the year and the 'garden' is a cheerful place with the bees humming amidst colourful flowers. The beauty of it all seems surreal and not related to the physical world that we live in. Thus, she tells her brother to ignore the faded forests and silent fields of the real world i.e. sadness and emptiness respectively and to rather come to visit her in this garden that is full of happiness and love. On a higher level, it is understood that through the lines of the poem, the poet is actually referring to their 'home'. Towards the end, she is pleading with her brother to return to this heaven-like place -home.
The poem appeals to the readers as it pulls the emotional strings by evoking the feeling of longing for one's home.
Let’s compose a poem. Two lines are given. Add two of your own.
There is another sky,
Ever serene and fair
Solution
Under which one can lie
Without worry or care.
Like it, there is no other,
It's full of love and care.
Given below is the poem 'Blue Sky' by Mark Hastings. Imagine a poem of a similar kind by replacing the word blue. You can add any colour or object of your choice and write a poem of four lines.
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| Given below is the poem 'Blue Sky' by Mark Hastings. Imagine a poem of a similar kind by replacing the word blue. You can add any colour or object of your choice and write a poem of four lines. |
For example, replace 'blue' with
Starry sky above me _______________
Cloudy sky above me _____________
Solution
Starry sky above me, the starry sky below me,
Stars and stars all around as far as I can see.
I am the universe the Lord made,
And I am never going to fade.
Write a letter to your younger sibling making her aware of various manmade and natural disasters and encourage her to join all the programs, campaigns, drives, etc. in school or in your locality.
Solution
A-303, Suryodaya Society,
Greenfield Road,
Andheri (West),
Mumbai – 400 056
Dear Archana,
I hope you are in the pink of health. I assume that you are aware of the various calamities that the world is facing.
It is sad to know that we humans are the root cause of the poor condition of our planet. It is all our doing that is now costing us dearly. With time, we have realised what we have done and now it is high time that we did something about it.
I request you to do your part as a responsible citizen of this country, more so as a responsible being of this planet. Collect information about the campaigns, drives, and programs that have been undertaken by your school or locality. Become a volunteer for the ones that you are interested in and would like to work for. By doing so, you will make me proud. Also, it will be a small step towards the betterment of mankind.
I hope to see you next week when you return home for the holidays. Take care.
Your loving sister,
Sanjivani
The poem describes the beauty of Nature. Make a list of careers that are related to Nature, the environment, and the forest. One is done for you.
Forest Department - (Forest officer, Ranger, etc.)
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_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Solution
Forest Department - (Forest officer, Ranger, etc.)
Botanist
Geologist
Conservation Scientist
Zoologist.
'The Road Not Taken' (Robert Frost), 'O Captain My Captain' (Walt Whitman), etc. are inspirational poems. Search these poems on the internet and write down your opinion about the poems in your notebook.
Solution
Do it Yourself.
FYJC English Latest Syllabus 2020 - 2021
