Table of Contents
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Poem 2 Geography Lesson
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Poem 2 Geography Lesson
Summary of the poem
The poem describes the view of the city as seen from a jet from ten thousand feet above the ground. From this height, the city appears neatly planned and perfectly proportioned like a geometric design, a stark contrast to its chaotic appearance when experienced on the ground. The poet reflects on the reasons behind the growth of the city and how its geography has influenced its growth.
As the jet reaches ten thousand feet, the poet sees the logic of geography, in which cities built near rivers and valleys are populated. The connection between the people who draw the land and the water becomes clear. At an altitude of six miles, the poet realizes that the earth is round and that there is more sea than land. However, the poet is perplexed by the fact that despite this vast expanse and shared existence, humans still find reasons to hate and harm each other, build walls, and engage in violence.
In simple terms, the poem portrays the city as an orderly and logical construct when viewed from above. It throws light on the influence of geography on human settlements. However, it also questions the senselessness of conflict and division among people when considering the vastness and interconnectedness of the Earth.
Words Meaning
| Word | Meaning |
| inevitable | that cannot be avoided |
| haphazard | without plan or order |
| delineated | shown |
| cause | reason |
| develop | grow or progress |
| attract | to draw or pull something or someone towards oneself |
| sprang | move suddenly and rapidly upwards or forward |
| description | Providing details or characteristics about a particular person, place, thing, or event. |
| neatly planned | Something arranged in an orderly manner. |
WORKING WITH THE POEM (PAGE 35)
Question 1:
Find three or four phrases in stanzas one and two which are likely to occur in a geography lesson.
Answer:
Some of the three or four phrases which are likely to occur in a geography lesson are listed below:
1. scaled six inches to the mile
2. valleys were populated
3. land and water attracted man.
4. the country had cities where the rivers ran.
Question 2:
Seen from the window of an aeroplane, the city appears
(i) as haphazard as on the ground.
(ii) as neat as a map.
(iii) as developed as necessary.
Mark the right answer.
Answer:
(iii) as developed as necessary
Question 3:
Which of the following statements are examples of “the logic of geography”?
(i) There are cities where there are rivers.
(ii) Cities appear as they are not from six miles above the ground.
(iii) It is easy to understand why valleys are populated.
(iv) It is difficult to understand why humans hate and kill one another.
(v) The earth is round, and it has more sea than land.
Answer:
Statements (i), (iii) and (v) are examples of the “logic of geography”.
Question 4:
Mention two things that are
(i) clear from the height.
(ii) not clear from the height.
Answer:
(i) Viewed from a height, it is known that cities and valleys of different countries are situated near the rivers. Also that the earth is round and has more sea than land.
(ii) From this height, it is hard to understand why on earth humans hate each other. And it is difficult to understand why humans want to kill each other.
Extra Questions and Answers
Question 1:
How does the city appear when viewed from ten thousand feet above the ground?
Answer:
Neatly planned and perfectly proportioned like a geometric design.
Question 2:
What is the contrast between the city’s appearance from above and on the ground?
Answer:
From above, it looks orderly, but on the ground, it appears chaotic and unplanned.
Question 3:
What becomes clear when the jet reaches ten thousand feet?
Answer:
The logic of geography becomes evident, with cities near rivers and valleys being populated.
Question 4:
What does the poet observe about the Earth from six miles high?
Answer:
The Earth is round and has more sea than land.
Question 5:
How does the poet feel about the reasons for human conflicts from that height?
Answer:
The poet is puzzled and finds it difficult to understand why people hate each other, build walls across cities, and resort to violence.
Question 6:
Why does the city develop the way it does according to the poet?
Answer:
The poet suggests that the city’s development seems inevitable due to its orderly appearance from above.
Question 7:
What is the significance of land and water for human settlements?
Answer:
The logic of geography suggests that land and water attract people to build cities near them.
Question 8:
At what height does the poet see the Earth as round?
Answer:
The poet sees the Earth as round when the jet reaches six miles high.
Question 9:
How does the poet describe the cities in relation to the rivers?
Answer:
The poet observes that cities are built where the rivers run.
Question 10:
What strikes the poet when viewing the city from above?
Answer:
The poet is struck by the contrast between the planned appearance from above and the haphazard appearance from the ground.