The Snake Trying
- Extra Questions and
Notes
INTRODUCTION
Most
of us think snakes as fearsome symbols of death. But the poet has a different
opinion about it. In his view that snakes are not harmful if they are not
disturbed. They make harm to the human body only when they think him a danger
for their own life. In this poem, the snake itself becomes a victim of human
hardness.
(हम में से
अधिकतर सांपों को मृत्यु के एक भयानक प्रतीक के रूप में लेते हैं । लेकिन इसके बारे में कवि का एक भिन्न मत है
उसके विचार में यदि सांपों को तंग न किया जाए तो वे हानिकारक नहीं होते हैं । वे
मानव को तभी क्षति पहुँचाते है जब उन्हें लगता है कि मानव उनके जीवन के लिए एक
ख़तरा बन गया है । इस कविता में तो स्वयं सांप ही मानव की कठोरता का शिकार बन जाता
है।)
THEME
The poem is based on the theme of prevention
of cruelty towards animals. The poet develops this thought by requesting people
to maintain ecological balance and not to harm any species, in this particular
case – the snakes. Since all snakes are not venomous, they are harmless and
attack human beings only in self-defence. Hence they should be left on their
own. They have a right to existence, too.
TITLE
The
title reveals that the snake is making an effort. This title is repeated in the
opening line to reinforce the ‘trying’ by the snake. It makes the reader
curious and he reads the rest of the poem to learn that the snake is a victim
and is ‘trying’ to save himself from someone who is chasing him in order to
kill him with a stick. Thus, the title is apt as it initiates the
inquisitiveness of the reader and prompts him to find out about the snake’s
efforts.
MESSAGE
The
poem, in very simple and clear words, conveys the message that all creatures of
nature need to be treated in a kind and sympathetic manner. Even snakes must
not be attacked because they do not bite unless they sense a danger to their
life. Moreover, there are certain varieties of snakes that are not poisonous
and are hence harmless.
Summary:
This is a beautiful poem about a snake. One
day a snake was lying on the sandy bank of a pond or a river. Some one observes
it and runs after it with a stick. He wants to kill it. The snake is trying to
escape from the pursuing stick. It runs with sudden curves in its body. It
looks very beautiful and graceful. It glides through the water to save itself
from the stroke. The poet sees all this. He asks the chaser to let the snake go
away without any hurt. He says that it is a small green snake. It can’t make
harm even to a small child. But the chaser does not listen to the poet. He is
after the snake but it disappears in the ripples among the green slim reeds.
SUMMARY IN HINDI
यह सांप के बारे में एक सुंदर कविता हैं । एक
दिन एक तालाब या नदी के किनारे रेत पर एक सांप लेटा हुआ था । कोई व्यक्ति इसे देख
लेता है और डंडा लेकर उसके पीछे लग जाता है । वह उसे मारना चाहता है । सांप पीछे
पड़ी हुई लाठी से बचने का प्रयास कर रहा है । वह अचानक अपने शरीर में घुमावदार मोड़
डालकर भागता है । यह बहुत ही सुन्दर और मनमोहक लगता है । वह अपने आपको लाठी के
प्रहार से बचाने के लिए पानी के ऊपर से सरकता है ।
कवि इस सारे दृश्य को देखता है । वह पीछा कर
रहे उस आदमी से कहता है कि वह सांप को बिना कोई चोट पहुँचाए चले जाने दे । वह कहता
है कि यह एक छोटा-सा हरे रंग का सांप है । यह तो एक छोटे-से बच्चे को भी हानि नहीं
पहुँचा सकता है । लेकिन पीछा करने कवि की बात नहीं सुनता है । वह सांप के पीछे पड़ा
हुआ है लेकिन साँप हरे सरकंडों के बीच लहरों में ओझल हो जाता है
COMPREHENSION OF STANZAS
STANZA 1
The
snake trying
to escape the pursuing stick,
with
sudden carvings of thin
long
body. flow beautiful
and graceful are his shapes!
He glides through the water away
front
the stroke.
हिंदी अनुवाद – सांप अपने पीछे पड़ी हुई छड़ी से बचने
के लिए अचानक अपने लंबे और पतले शरीर में बल खाता हुआ जाता है । उस समय वह देखने
में कितना सुंदर और मनमोहक लगता है । वह लाठी के प्रहार से बचने के लिए पानी के
ऊपर से सरकता हुआ चला जाता है ।
Questions :
(a)
Name the poem and the poet.
(b)
What is the snake trying to escape from?
(c)
Why does he take sudden carvings of his body?
(d)
What looks beautiful and graceful?
(e
)Where does the snake go and why?
Answers :
(a)
The name of the poem is ‘The Snake Trying’ and the name of the. poet is `W.W.E.
Ross’.
(b)
The snake is trying to escape from the pursuing stick.
(c)
He takes sudden curves of his body to escape himself from the stroke of the
stick.
(d)
His shapes of the body while taking curvings look graceful and beautiful.
(e)
The snake goes through the water to save himself.
STANZA 2
0
let him go over the water
into
the reeds to hide
without
hurt Small and green
he
is harmless even to children.
हिंदी अनुवाद – अर े! उसे पानी के ऊपर से जाने दो
ताकि वह बिना किसी चोट के सरकंडों में जाकर छुप जाए । वह छोटा –सा हरे रंग का
सांप बच्चों को भी कोई हानि नहीं पहुँचा सकता है ।
Questions :
(a)
Name the poem and the poet.
(b)
Who does ‘him’ refer to in the first line of the stanza?
(c)
Where is he going?
(d)
Of what size and colour is he?
(e)
What is his nature?
Answers
:
(a)
The name of the poem is ‘The Snake Trying’ and the name of the poet is ‘W.W.E.
Ross’.
(b)
‘Him’ refers to the snake.
(c)
He is going over the water into the reeds.
(d)
He is of small size and green colour.
(e)
He is of good nature.
STANZA 3
Along
the sand
,
e lay until observed
and chased away, and now
he
vanishes in the ripples
among
the green slim reeds.
हिंदी
अनुवाद – वह तब तक रेत
के बीच में लेटा रहा जब तक कि किसी ने उसे देख नहीं लिया और उसका पीछा नहीं किया
और अब वह हरे रंग के पतले सरकंडों के बीच लहरों में ओझल हो गया है ।
Questions
:
(a)
Who does `he’ refer to in this stanza?
(b)
Where was he lying?
(c)When
was he chased?
(d)
Where does he vanish?
(e)
Of what colour are the reeds?
Answers :
(a)
‘He’ refers to the snake.
(b)
He was lying on the sand.
(c)
He was chased when someone observed him.
(d)
He vanishes in the ripples among the reeds.
(e)
The reeds are of green colour.
Very Short Answer Type Important Questions
Additional Very Short
Answer Type Questions
I.
What is the snake trying to escape from?
Ans.
The snake is trying to escape from the pursuing stick.
2.
How is the snake’s body??
Ans.
The snake has a thin long body.
3.
How does the snake go through the water?
Ans.
He glides through the water away.
4.
Where is the snake trying to hide?
Ans.
The snake is trying to hide into the reed4.
5.
What is the colour of the snake?
Ans.
The colour of the snake is green.
6.
What type of snake is it?
Ans.
It is a harmless snake.
7.
What does the poet wish for the snake?
Ans.
The poet wishes that the snake should escape unhurt.
8.
Where was the snake before anyone saw it?
Ans.
The snake was lying on the sand before anyone saw it.
9.
Where does the snake vanish?
Ans.
The snake vanishes in the ripples among the green reeds.
10.
Who is the poet of the poem ‘The Snake Trying’?
Ans.
W.W.E. Ross is the poet of this poem.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1.
What is the snake trying to escape from?
(Textual)
Ans:-The
snake is trying to escape an assault on him. He is being chased by a man with a
stick in his hand. The snake fears that the man wants to kill him by hitting
him with the stick. The snake intends to evade being struck by the stick.
Q2.
Why does the snake suddenly curve his body?
Ans:-
The snake, lying comfortably on the sands on the bank of a pond, suddenly
notices a person trying to kill him with a stick. Naturally, he cannot remain
to lie at rest when face to face with death. He twists and wriggles his body to
avoid being struck by the stick.
Q3.
How does the snake look when he curves his slender body?
Ans:-
While curving his slender body with quick movements to avoid being attacked,
the snake looks quite fascinating and elegant to the poet. The various shapes
formed by the twisting and turning of his body do not at all look frightening
or ugly.
Q4.
Where does the snake start moving to avoid being killed?
Ans:-The
snake starts moving towards the pond to avoid being killed. He glides on the
surface of the pond’s water to reach the bank on the other side which has slim
and green reeds like the snake’s body. Here he can easily camouflage himself
and avoid being detected and killed.
Q5. Does the poet support the person with the
stick?
Ans:-
No, the poet does not at all support or approve of the person who intends to
kill the snake with his stick. He does not find any reason why a harmless,
non-poisonous, beautiful, and graceful snake should be put to death. He wants
the snake to be spared and allowed to live.
Q6.
What is the poet’s request to the person chasing the snake?
Ans:-
The poet’s request to the person chasing the snake with a stick is to let the
snake go free to lead his life. He wants the person to let the snake slither
away through the water to the reeds where he may hide himself to safety.
Q7.
Is it a harmful snake? What is its colour?
(Textual)
Ans:-
The snake is green in colour and is small in size. It is absolutely harmless as
it is non-poisonous. It is harmless even to the children and hence need not be
feared or killed merely because human beings consider snakes as harmful
creatures.
Q8.
The poet finds the snake beautiful. Find the words he uses to convey its
beauty. (Textual)
Ans:-The
poet uses the words ‘beautiful and graceful’ to describe the shapes of the
snake’s body. He uses the words ‘small and green’ to describe the snake’s size
and colour respectively. All these words connote admiration.
Q9.
Why does the poet want the snake to be spared?
Ans:-
The poet wants the snake to be spared because he is non-venomous and hence
harmless. He is so safe that he cannot harm even a young child. Since the snake
is not a threat to any human being, there is no rhyme or reason in killing him.
Q10.
Where was the snake before anyone saw it and chased it away? Where does the
snake disappear?
(Textual)
Ans:-
Before being seen by anyone, the snake was lying comfortably on the sandy banks
of the pond. After getting noticed and chased, he moved swiftly to the pond,
got in the water and reached the other side to disappear in the slim and green
reeds growing over there.
Q11.Where
did the snake hide and how?
Ans:-The
snake hid among the green reeds growing on the other side of the pond. He did
this by merging his slender and green body with the slim and green reeds. This
camouflage helped him deceive the person who was trying to kill him.
Q12.
What idea do you form the poet’s attitude towards all living creatures?
Ans:-
The poet seems to be an environmentalist who has a loving attitude towards all
living beings. He seems to be conscious of the need to preserve the diversity
of creatures to maintain balance in the environment. Moreover, he believes that
most species of snakes are non-poisonous and they do not harm unless attacked.
Q13.
What does the poet wish for the snake?
(Textual)
Ans:-
The poet wishes a safe and free life for the snake. He does not want any human
being to feel threatened by the snake and wants him to be left alone. He
desires a peaceful coexistence for the snake and human beings.
Go
to the NCERT Solution “A slumber did my spirit seal”
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1.
The poem “The Snake Trying” by W.W.E. Ross presents two divergent attitudes
towards the snake. Discuss both attitudes.
Or
How
does the attitude of the poet towards the snake differ absolutely from that of
the man with the stick?
Ans:-
The poem The Snake Trying” by W.W.E. Ross presents two divergent attitudes
towards the snake. The man with the stick shows a cruel and unsympathetic
attitude, He believes that all snakes are poisonous and a threat to human
beings. Therefore, although this particular snake is lying comfortably on the
sandy bank of the pond with no intention of harming anyone, the man gets ready
to kill him the moment he sees him.
The
poet, on the contrary, has a loving and kind attitude towards the snake. He
does not find it to be ugly or terrifying. Instead, he finds beauty and
elegance in his body and displays appreciation for the appealing looks of this
creature.
Moreover,
the poet seems to have a thorough knowledge of the behaviour of the different
varieties of snakes. He informs the man with the stick that the snakes with
thin, green bodies are absolutely harmless and cannot harm even children. He
does not want such a harmless snake to be killed. Instead, he should be
permitted to escape to safety by hiding himself among the reeds.
Q2.
Which values can be noticed about the poet from his attitude towards snakes?
Ans:-
The poet’s concern and caring attitude towards the snakes emphasizes his values
of gentleness, kindness, and sympathy. His thoughtfulness towards all living
beings can also be noticed after reading this poem. We know that his thoughts
are based on sound scientific reasons when he tells that all snakes are not
poisonous. The small and green ones, in particular, are absolutely safe and
cannot harm even children.
We
learn that the poet is an environmentalist and believes in the preservation of
animals when he dissuades the man with the stick from killing the snake.
His
profound sense of love for the innocent snake is also revealed when he requests
the man to let the snake go and hide amidst the slim, green reeds. The poet’s
deep understanding of the behaviour of snakes can be seen when he remarks that
the snake can camouflage and deceive the hostile person by merging itself into
the green reeds.
The
poet, with his great concern for the snake, inspires the readers to develop the
values of love and concern towards all living beings.
Q3.
The poem “The Snake Trying” has a deep moral lesson. Which moral values come
out of it?
Or
How
is the poem “The Snake Trying” an inspirational poem?
Ans:-
The poem has a deep moral lesson as it inspires the readers to cultivate a
sympathetic and loving attitude towards all living creatures. The poet shows
how there is beauty in all creations of God, even in the curling and curving
body of the snake. He wants this beauty to be preserved. The poet’s plea to the
man chasing the snake is, in fact, his request to all to preserve the diversity
of nature.
The
poem inspires in the readers a sense of justice by stressing that killing an
innocent snake without any provocation is unfair. Animals may be killed only
for self-defence, else they must be saved. The poem further motivates the
readers to attain a deep knowledge about the phenomenon of nature. By gaining a
thorough knowledge, one may be able to distinguish between the harmful and the
harmless animals.
Thus,
the poem motivates people to adopt humanistic and friendly feelings towards all
living creatures.
QUICK REVIEW OF THE POEM
1.
What is our opinion about most of the snakes?
(A) fearsome symbols of death (B)
faithful friends
(C) loyal to the human being
(D) not harmful to us
Ans. (A) fearsome symbols of death
2.
In the poet’s views, the snakes are
(A)
harmful to us
(B) not harmful to us
(C)
enemy to us
(D) all of the above
Ans.
(B) not harmful to us
3.
What is the snake trying to escape?
(A) stone
(B) bullet
(C) mud
(D) stick
Ans. (D) stick
4.
The snake has a _____.
(A) thin long body
(B) thick small body
(C) huge body
(D) all of the above
Ans. (A) thin long body
5.
How does the poet describe the shapes of the snake’s body?
(A)
graceful
(B)
beautiful
(C)
ugly
(D) both (A) and (B)
Ans. (D) both (A) and (B)
6.
What does the snake glide through?
(A)
mud
(B)ice
(C)
water
(D) all of the above
Ans. (C) water
7.Of
what colour snake is the poet talking about?
(A)
red
(B) white
(C) green,
(D)
black
Ans. (C ) green
8.
Who is the Snake harmful too?
(A)
men,
(B) Women
(C) children (D)
none of the above
Ans. (D) none of the above
9.
What Is the nature of the green snake who is trying to escape?
(A) harmless
(B)
furious
(C)
harmful
(D) annoyed
Ans. (A) harmless
10.
Where did the snake lie until observed?
(A) in a tree
(B) on the water
(C) on the sand
(D) in the mud
Ans. (C) on the sand
11.
Where does the snake vanish?
(A) in the water
(B) in the reeds
(C) in a house
(D)
none of the above
Ans. (B) in the reeds
12.
Who chased the snake?
(A) man
(B) Mongoose
(C) crocodile
(D) eagle
Ans.
(A) man
13.
What does the poet wish for the snake?
(A) killed
(B) escape unhurt
(C) caught
(D) all of the above
Ans. (B) escape unhurt
14.
Who is the poet of the poem ‘The Snake Trying’?
(A) Edward Lear
(B) W.W.E. Ross
(C) Gieve Patel (D)
William Wordsworth
Ans.
(B) W.W.E. Ross
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