3.3 Truth By Barrie Wade Questions & Answers

3.3 Truth

– By Barrie Wade

Introduction

In this poem Truth’ the writer wants to emphasize that physical pain is temporary. A wound heals after some time. However, words that hurt the brain, insulting words leave a permanent scar upon the mind. They can never be forgotten. Words affect us permanently.

New Words and Phrases

haunt – trouble, worry again and again
slant – lean or slope to one side
pierce – stab or puncture
mortify – make one feel ashamed or embarrassed
scar – a mark left by a wound
bruises – injuries, cuts on the skin
bricks – baked blocks of mud used for construction
healed – injury becoming normal

Warming Up!

Chit-Chat

(a) Do we speak the truth all the time?

Ans. No, we do not speak the truth all the time

(b) Why do we tell lies?

Ans: We tell lies when we do something wrong or when we do not want others to know the truth.

(c) How can words hurt someone?

Ans. Words can hurt someone permanently.

(d) Why should we take care of using proper words while speaking?

Ans. We should take care of using proper words while speaking because words once spoken cannot be taken back or cancelled.

(e) How do we break relationships?

Ans. We break relationships on account of hurting words, insulting or humiliating others.

(A) Write down five things that make you very happy.

For example: Our team wins the match.

(1) _______

(3) _______

(2) _______

(4) _______

(5) _______

Ans: Our team wins the match.

(1) I get good marks in the exam.

(2) I get a new dress.

(3) We go for a picnic.

(4) I hear some good news.

(5) I get a prize.

(B) Write down five things that are hard to forget, because they had upset you greatly.

For example My best friend quarrelled with me.

(1) _______

(3) _______

(2) _______

(4) _______

(5) _______

Ans:

My best friend quarrelled with me.

(1) I did not get good marks in the exam.

(2) We lost a match.

(3) My father scolded me.

(4) My teacher punished me.

(5) I lost my favourite pen.

English Workshop

Read the poem aloud and recite it in proper rhythm.

Ans: To be done by student

(2) Find from the poem 2 lines, each that contain the following Figures of Speech.

(a) Alliteration

(i) ——— (ii) ———–

(b) Repetition

(i) ——— (ii) ————

Ans.

(a)) Alliteration:

(i) Stones and sticks break only skin.

(ii) Bats and bricks may ache through bones.

(b) Repetition: No repetition in the poem.

(3)

(A) Pick out from the poem the Synonyms.

Ans.

(1) injury: hurt

(2) delicate: tender

(3) ache: pain

(4) embarrass: mortify

(5) cured: healed

(B) Pick out from the poem the Antonyms of.

Ans.

(1) forget x remember

(2) flat/straight x curved /slant

(3) make x break

(4) rise x fall

(5) outside x inside

(4) Answer in your own words with the help of the poem. Write them in your notebook.

(a) What objects can cause injury to your body?

Ans. Stones, sticks, bricks and swords can cause injury to your body.

(b) How do harsh and bitter words hurt the poet?

Ans. Harsh and bitter words mortify the poet and haunt him.

(c) What can heal faster – body or the mind and heart (emotions)? Explain your choice.

Ans. The body can heal faster. When the mind hurt, the pain haunts us often. Sometimes, we never forget it.

(d) Why are harsh words called ‘ghosts?

Ans. Harsh words are called ghosts because they keep coming to our mind again and again, like a haunting ghost.

(e) What does the poet want you to keep in mind, when you speak?

Ans. The poet wants us to use words carefully when we speak.

(5) Find the rhyme scheme of the stanza no. 2 and 3.

Stanza: 1: abcb

Stanza: 2

Stanza: 3

Ans:

Stanza 1: abcb

Stanza 2: abcb

Stanza 3: abcb

(6) Just as ‘words’ can hurt and leave a scar on the mind and heart, words can also heal, a person in distress.

Write in your notebook an experience of your own which proves that kind words relieve distress.

Ans. My friend’s mother was serious in the hospital. She was in the ICU for two weeks. My friend did not have a father. He lived with his mother and younger sister. There was no one to help them. They were facing financial problems. It was a very trying period for my friend. I went to meet him. I just spoke to him kindly. I told him not to worry and to trust God. Bad times come and go. I told him that this was a temporary phase and soon, everything would be fine. He felt much better when I spoke to him. There was new hope in his eyes. I could not do much to solve | his problems but my kind words seemed to relieve him of much distress. Words are magical.

(7) Complete the following:

The title of the poem: Truth

The poet of the poem: Barrie Wade

Theme of the poem: Unpleasant, insulting Words affect us

permanently. Physical pain Can be healed but mental pain cannot.

No. of stanzas:3

Rhyme scheme: abcb

Figure of Speech: Alliteration, simile, metaphor.

The line I liked: It’s words that I remember.

(8) Summarise the poem in short in your own words.

Consider these points to summarise the poem.

Identify who the speaker is and who the poem is addressed to.

Identify the main points in every stanza.

Express them in short simple sentences in your own words.

Explain implied meaning.

Retain the order of points.

Write down the points making short paragraph for each stanza.

Conclude the summary with the overall theme and meaning of the poem.

Ans.

One friend addresses the poem to another friend. Just as sticks and stones hurt, words can hurt. Physical pain is short-lived but hurting words cannot be easily forgotten. Words can be insulting. Physical wounds heal but the scar left on the mind and heart cannot be forgotten.

The poem implies that we should speak carefully. We should not insult or hurt anyone by speaking harsh words. Physical wounds are temporary and get healed but harsh words spoil relationships. Friends must take care and maintain relationships by being polite. life-long

Intext Questions

(1) Where do painful words leave their scar?

Ans: Painful words leave their scars on the tender mind and heart.

(2) What are words compared to in the first two stanzas?

Ans: Words are compared to ghosts and swords in the first two stanzas respectively.

Comprehension

Extract 1- Read the following extract and do the activities.

A1. Simple Factual Questions

(1) Match the columns.

Column ‘A	Column B
(1) word – swords	(a) I remember
(2) bats and bricks	(b) slant and curved
(3) cuts and bruises	(c) ache through bones
(4) Words	(d) have healed

Ans. (1) -(b), (2) – (c), (3) – (d), (4) – (a).

(2) Name the following.

(a) They mortify

(b) They pierce and stick inside

(d) They have healed now

Ans.

(a) words

(b) word-swords

(c) scar

(d) bruises

Sticks and stones may break my bones,

But words can also hurt me.

Stones and sticks break only skin,

While words are ghosts that haunt me.

Slant and curved the fall word-swords

To pierce and stick inside me.

Bats and bricks may ache through bones.

But words can mortify me.

Pain from words has left its scar

On mind and heart that’s tender

Cuts and bruises now have healed;

It’s words that I remember.

-Barrie Wade

(Textbook Page No. 66)

A2. Complex Factual Question

What does the poet mean by ‘slant and curved’ words? What are they compared to? Why?

Ans. ‘Slant and curved’ words implies words that are not straight. Straight words are harmless though they may not be sweet Straight words do not hurt anyone. They are true. ‘Slant and curved’ words indicate twisted truth. They are hurting. They hurt the mind. They are compared to swords, just like sharp swords that hurt the body,

sharp twisted words hurt the mind.

A3. Poetic Devices

(1) What is the rhyme scheme of the stanzas?

Ans. abcb.

(2) Name and explain the figures of speech in the following lines.

(a) Bats and bricks may ache through bones.

Ans. Alliteration – The sound of the letter ‘b’ is repeated.

(b) Slant and curved they fall word swords.

Ans. Metaphor – Sharp words are indirectly compared to swords.

Critical appreciation of the poem:

Title: Truth

Poet: Barrie Wade

Theme: Untruthful, biting words hurt mind the tender| and heart and leave a permanent wound which cannot be healed. Physical wound is also painful but temporary and skin-deep.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of each stanza is abcb.

Figures of Speech: Alliteration, metaphor. Special features: Original and apt comparisons. sincere tone.

Favourite lines:

(1) It’s words that I remember

(2) But words can mortify me.

Why I like the poem: It is absolute truth that the poet has stated in the poem. The language 1s Simple and appealing. ‘The tone is honest and Sincere.

Translation:

(1) Translate the following sentences into your medium of instruction.

(a) While words are ghosts that haunt me.

Ans. शब्द हे भूत आहेत जे मला त्रास देतात.

(b) Sticks and stones may break my bones.

Ans. लाठ्या आणि दगड माझी हाडे मोडू शकतात.

(c) Pain from words has left its scar.

Ans. शब्दांतून होणार्‍या वेदनांनी त्याची डाग उरली आहे.

(2) Translate the following sentences into English.

a. On mind and heart that’s tender.

Ans. मन आणि हृदयावर ते कोमल आहे.

b. Words can also hurt me.