Table of Contents
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Poem 1 The Ant and the Cricket
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Poem 1 The Ant and the Cricket
Words Meaning
| Word | Meaning |
| Silly | foolish |
| cricket | an insect |
| accustomed | habituated |
| gay | happy |
| crumb | broken food |
| snow-covered | covered with snow |
| starvation | death by hunger |
| famine | dearth of food |
| dripping | flowing down |
| trembling | shivering |
| set off | made his way |
| grant | give |
| mouthful | a small quantity |
| repay | payback |
| starvation | death by hunger |
| sorrow | grief, trouble |
| lend | give a loan |
| lay..by | save |
| quoth | said |
| hastily | hurriedly |
| lifted | closed |
| wicket | small door |
| folks | people |
| fable | a small story with a moral |
Working with the Poem (Page 23)
Question 1:
The cricket says, “Oh! What will become of me?” When does he say it, and why?
Answer:
The cricket speaks these words in winter because he does not get food to eat in winter in his house.
Question 2:
(i) Find in the poem the lines that mean the same as “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” (Shakespeare).
Answer:
The lines that mean the same as “Neither a borrower nor a lender is: “But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend”.
(ii) What is your opinion of the ant’s principles?
Answer:
Ant’s theory is not bad. We can teach a lesson by not helping such a person who does not use time properly and is careless. That’s why I agree with this theory of Ants. But we must help the man who is really in need.
Question 3:
The ant tells the cricket to “dance the winter away.” Do you think the word ‘dance’ is appropriate here? If so, why?
Answer:
The word ‘dance’ is appropriate as it suits the recklessness of cricket. This word is said in satire.
Question 4:
(i) Which lines in the poem express the poet’s comment? Read them aloud.
Answer:
The poet’s comment is expressed in the last two lines.
“Folks Folks call this fable. I’ll warrant it true: Some cricket have four legs, and some have two.”
(ii) Write the comment in your own words.
Answer:
This story of cricket and the ant is fictional. But also instructive. Through the two-legged cricket, the poet satirizes the person who is inactive. They don’t work and suffer tomorrow. Those who live today and save for tomorrow are successful in life. Some people live only in the present. They spend what they earn and have fun. But later he regrets his habit.
Question 5:
If you know a fable in your own language narrate it to your classmates.
Answer:
“The Rabbit and the Squirrel”
In a forest green, where creatures roam,
Lived a rabbit swift, and a squirrel called home.
All day, the rabbit raced, not a moment to spare,
The squirrel relaxed, without care.
The squirrel teased, “Why hurry so?
Come, enjoy life, let worries go.”
But winter arrived, the ground turned cold,
The rabbit was left, with nothing to hold.
Regret filled his heart, for his haste and flight,
While the squirrel had food, all snug and tight.
The moral is clear, in this tale so true,
Work today, enjoy tomorrow, it’s wisdom we pursue.
Hindi Translation
“खरगोश और गिलहरी”
एक हरियाली जंगल में, जहां पशु-पक्षी नाचते थे,
बसता था एक तेज़ खरगोश, और एक गिलहरी रहती थी वहां से.
खरगोश दिनभर दौड़ता, देर न करते कभी,
गिलहरी आराम से बिताती, फिक्र नहीं अभी.
गिलहरी चिढ़ाती, “इतनी जल्दी क्यों जाओ?
आओ, खुशियों में जीते हैं, चिंता को भुलाओ।”
लेकिन आया सर्दी का मौसम, जमी धरती ठंडी हो गई,
खरगोश को मिला, खाने को नहीं था पास कुछ भी।
पछतावे में डूबा, उसका मन घबराया,
जबकि गिलहरी के पास, रखा था भोजन, सुकून से सोया।
सबक देता यह कहानी, सबको सिखलाती है यह धारा,
आज मेहनत, कल सुख, जीवन का सच्चा अर्थ यही प्यारा।