Class 08 || English P || Ch. 1 The Ant and the Cricket

Poem 

Ch. 1 The Ant and the Cricket 

A fable is a story, often with animals as characters, that conveys a moral. This poem about an ant and a cricket contains an idea of far-reaching significance, which is as true of a four-legged cricket as of a two-legged one'. Surely, you have seen a cricket that has two legs!

A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring, 

Began to complain when he found that, at home, 

His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.

Not a crumb to be found

On the snow-covered ground;

Not a flower could he see,

Not a leaf on a tree.

"Oh! what will become," says the cricket, "of me?"

At last by starvation and famine made bold, 

All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold, 

Away he set off to a miserly ant,

To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant

Him shelter from rain, 

And a mouthful of grain.

He wished only to borrow;

He'd repay it tomorrow;

If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow.

Says the ant to the cricket. "I'm your servan and friend,

But we ants neve borrow; we ants neve lend.

But tell me, dear cricket did you lay nothing by When the weather wa warm?" Quoth the cricke "Not I!

My heart was so light 

That I sang day and night, 

For all nature looked gay." 

"You sang, Sir, you say? 

Go then," says the ant, "and dance the winter away."

Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket, 

And out of the door turned the poor little cricket. 

Folks call this a fable. I'll warrant it true: 

Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.

adapted from Aesop's Fable

GLOSSARY

accustomed to sing: used to singing; in the habit of singing

famine: scarcity of food; having nothing to eat 

lay nothing by: save nothing 

quoth: (old English) said

WORKING WITH THE POEM (Page 23)

Q. 01. The cricket says, “Oh! What will become of me?” When does he say it, and why?
Ans. The cricket says these words in winter when he finds no food to eat in his home.

Q. 02. (i) Find in the poem the lines that mean the same as “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” (Shakespeare).
Ans. The line is:

But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend.

(ii) What is your opinion of the ant’s principles?
Ans. The ant’s principle is not bad. It teaches us a lesson to plan for the rainy day.

Q. 03. The ant tells the cricket to “dance the winter away.” Do you think the word ‘dance’ is appropriate here? If so, why?

Ans. The word ‘dance’ here means ‘merry making and wasting time.’ It is appropriate here. The irresponsible cricket does not deserve any sympathy.

4. (i)Which lines the poet's comment? Read them aloud.

Ans. Folks call this a fable. I'll prove it as true; some crickets have four legs and some have two.

(ii)Write the comment in your own words.

Ans. Those who live today and think for tomorrow, succeed in life. Enjoy your present but save for your future.