NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive ( Poem )

Exercise

Question 1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?
Solution : No, a simple jab of a knife cannot kill a tree because it takes many years for a tree to
grow and rise out of the earth. Moreover, only a chop cannot kill it because it will slowly rise
again and grow to its original size.

Question 2. How has the tree grow to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and
activity.
Solution : The unchecked growth of the tree has led it mature to its full size. It has consumed
the earth and rose above it by absorbing years of sunlight, air and water from its crust.
The words suggestive of its life and activity are as follows :
• “Grown”
• “Consuming”
• “Rising”
• “Feeding”
• “Absorbing”
• “Sprouting”
• “Pain”
• “Bleeding”
• “Heal”
• “Expand”

Question 3. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?

Solution : “Bleeding bark” refers to the area on the tree trunk where it has been hit with the
axe. It bleeds because the wood cutter has wounded the tree by cutting and chopping it.

Question 4. The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by
this?
Solution : In the beginning of the third stanza, the poet has said “No” to lay emphasis on the
fact that mere chopping of the tree would not kill it. The tree would grow again and retain its
original size.
Question 5. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?
Solution : “Anchoring earth” refers to the roots of the tree that lie inside the earth and play the
role of an anchor for the tree to grow. They ensure the security of the tree as they nourish it
with water and nutrients. “Earth cave” refers to the ground on which the foundation of the tree
is laid as it holds the roots and keeps the tree standing tall and protects it from adversities such
as heavy rainfall or storm.

Question 6. What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?

Solution : The strength of the tree lies in its roots, which the poet asks to snap out in order to
kill the tree. Thus, the phrase “the strength of the tree exposed” refers to the roots of the tree
being exposed to sunlight and air.

Question 7. What finally kills the tree?

Solution : The tree is finally killed when its roots are uprooted and it scorches and chokes in
sunlight and air. This process leads to the browning, hardening, twisting and thereby, withering
of the roots

BEEHIVE POEM CHAPTER 10-A SLUMBER DID MY

SPIRIT SEAL
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal ( Poem )

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive ( Poem ) Exercise

Question 1.
“A slumber did my spirit seal,” says the poet. That is, a deep sleep ‘closed off’ his soul (or mind).
How does the poet react to his loved one’s death? Does he feel bitter grief? Or does he feel a
great peace?

Solution :
The poet’s reaction to his loved one’s death is not of bitter grief that he could shed out in the
formof tears. On her death, he did not experience any human fears. He just looked at her and
wondered how she looked and what she would experience later. He did not feel any fear.
Therefore, it is difficult to say whether he is experiencing bitter grief or is in a peaceful state of
mind.

Question 2.
The passing of time will no longer affect her, says the poet. Which lines of the poem say this?
Solution :
The lines of the poem that show that the passing of time will no longer affect her are as follows:
“She seemed a thing that could not feel The touch of earthy years.”

Question 3.
How does the poet imagine her to be, after death? Does he think of her as a person living in a
very happy state (a ‘heaven’)? Or does he see her now as a part of nature? In which lines of the
poem do you find your answer?

Solution :
The poet’s imagination does not allow him to think of his dead loved one as a person living in a
very happy state or in heaven. Rather he imagines her to be a part of nature, being buried
under the earth. She rotates with the earth, along with the stones, rocks and trees.
The lines in the poem which show this are as follows:
"Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees."

ENGLISH MOMENTS CHAPTER 3–ISWARAN THE

STORYTELLER
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Iswaran The Storyteller

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Exercise

Think About It
Question 1.
In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?

Solution :
Iswaran cooked for Mahendra, washed his clothes, and chatted with him at night. He would
narrate various stories on varied subjects. He also had an amazing ability to produce vegetables
and cooking ingredients out of nowhere. He would miraculously cook the most delicious dishes
made with fresh vegetables within an hour of arriving at the new workplace. Iswaran was quite
attached to Mahendra and followed him to wherever he was posted. Hence, Iswaran was an
asset to Mahendra in more ways than one.

Question 2.
How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to
create in his listeners?
Solution :
Iswaran describes the uprooted tree on the highway with eyebrows suitably arched and hands
held out in a dramatic way. He would begin by saying that the road was deserted and he was all
alone. Suddenly he spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled
across the road. He was half inclined to turn and go back. But as he came closer he saw that it
was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out.
The effect he wants to create is suspense and a surprise ending to every small incident that he
narrates to his readers.

Question 3.
How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

Solution :
He started the story of the elephant by giving a prologue in which he called elephants ‘huge
well-fed beasts.’ He said that after escaping from the timber yard, the elephant started roaming
about, stamped on bushes and tore up wild creepers. It then came to the main road of the
town and smashed all the stalls selling fruits, mud pots, and clothes. It then entered a school
ground where the children were playing. It pulled out the football goal-post, tore down the
volleyball net, flattened the drum kept for water and uprooted the shrubs. All the teachers and
students were so afraid that they climbed up to the terrace of the school building. According to
Iswaran, he was studying in the junior class at that time. He grabbed a cane from the hands of
one of the teachers and ran into the open. The elephant continued grunting and stamping its
feet. It looked frightening. However, he moved slowly towards it. When the elephant was ready
to rush towards him, he moved forward and whacked its third toe nail. It looked stunned and
then collapsed.
This story does not appear to be plausible.

Question 4.
Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in
Mahendra’s living quarters?

Solution :
The author says so because Iswaran provided a great company to Mahendra. He would chat
with Mahendra at night when he returned from his work. Iswaran would also entertain
Mahendra by telling stories. Thus, with Iswaran around Mahendra never felt bored and never
felt the necessity of having a TV for entertainment.

Question 5.
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-
moon night?
Solution :
One night, Mahendra was woken up from his sleep by a low moan close to the window near his
bed. Initially, he thought it was a cat running after mice. However, the sound was too guttural
for a cat. Mahendra resisted the curiosity of looking outside the window but when the noise
became louder, he could not resist the temptation. When he looked outside, he saw a dark
cloudy form clutching a bundle. He broke into a cold sweat and fell back on the pillow. When he
recovered from this ghastly experience, he concluded that it must have been some trick that his
subconscious mind had played on him. When he got up in the morning, the terrible memory of
the previous night had faded from his memory. However, when Iswaran confirmed the
presence of the female ghost, he immediately resigned from his post and decided to leave the
‘haunted place.’

Question 6.
Can you think of some other ending for the story?

Solution :
Try and come up with an alternative ending for the story, if you can, and discuss it with your
friends and teachers.

ENGLISH MOMENTS CHAPTER 7-THE LAST LEAF

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English The Last Leaf

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Exercise

Think About It
Question 1.
What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?

Solution :
Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. Only the willingness to live could cure her. She had
made up her mind that she was not going to get well. The doctor said that if she did not want to
live, then medicines would not help her.

Question 2.
Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers?

Solution :
Yes, I think the feeling of depression Johnsy is very common among teenagers. Because of the
present lifestyle, teenagers are under constant pressure to outperform in every field. They are
burdened with studies and the anxiety of future. They are also subjected to a lot of parental
and peer pressure. Along with all this, they are also expected to behave in a certain manner as
deemed appropriate by the society. Most of the times, they are unable to bear so much of
stress and end up being depressed.

Question 3.
Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?

Solution :
Behrman was a sixty year old painter. His lifelong dream was to paint a masterpiece. It does
come true when he paints a leaf such that it looks extremely natural. He painted the last leaf
left on a creeper.

Question 4.
What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?

Solution :
Behrman’s masterpiece was the painting of a leaf. It was the last leaf left on the creeper. Sue
told Johnsy that Behrman had died of pneumonia. He was ill for only two days. The first day the
janitor had found him on his bed. His clothes and shoes were wet and he was shivering. He had
been out in that stormy night. They found a ladder and a lantern still lighted lying near his bed.
There were also some brushes and green and yellow paints on the floor near the ladder. Sue
asked Johnsy to look out of the window at the ivy leaf, which was the last remaining leaf on the
creeper. She asked her if she did not wonder why it did not flutter when the wind blew. It was
so because that last leaf was Behrman’s masterpiece. He painted it the night the last leaf fell.
His masterpiece had given the strength to Johnsy to come out of her illness. Behrman’s
masterpiece saved her life but took his own.

ENGLISH MOMENTS CHAPTER 4-IN THE KINGDOM

OF FOOLS
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English In the Kingdom of Fools

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Exercise

Think About It
Question 1.
What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?

Solution :
The two strange things that the guru and his disciple observe in the kingdom of fools are:
▸ Every sleeps during the day and carry out their work at night
▸ The cost to purchase anything from the market was the same, one duddu (one rupee).
Whether it was a measure of rice or a bunch of banana it cost the same

Question 2.
Why does the disciple’s decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?

Solution :
The disciple decided to stay in the Kingdom of Fools because he was delighted that everything
cost a single duddu and everything was very cheap. All that he wanted was good and very
cheap food. According to the Guru, staying there was not a good idea as they were all fools and
so he felt this situation would not last long and was not sure about what they would do in the
future.

Question 3.
Name all the people who are tried in the king’s court, and give the reasons for their trial.

Solution :
Four persons were tried in the king’s court: the owner of the house, the bricklayer, the dancing
girl and the goldsmith.

The owner of the house in which the theft had occurred was the first person to be summoned
to the court. He was pronounced guilty as his wall was weak because of which the thief had
died. The owner of the house cleverly passed the guilt on to the bricklayer by saying that it was
actually the bricklayer who had built the wall in the first place.

When the bricklayer was told about his fault, he passed the blame to the dancing girl. He said
that she kept going up and down the street with her anklets jingling and he could not keep his
eyes off her. As a result, he lost his concentration and built a weak wall.

The king decided to punish the dancing girl and she was summoned to the court next. In her
defence, she said that at that time, she had given some gold to a goldsmith to make some
jewellery for her. Since the goldsmith was extremely lazy, he made several excuses and made
her walk up and down to his house a dozen times and that was when the bricklayer had seen
her.

The king then came to the conclusion that the goldsmith should be punished. When he was
summoned to the court, he claimed that he was very poor and it was because of a rich
merchant, who would not wait for his order to be complete, that he kept delaying and making
excuses to the dancing girl. Incidentally, this merchant was none other than the father of the
owner of the house.
Question 4.
Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape punishment?

Solution :
The real culprit according to the king is the merchant because although his old father was the
real murderer he was dead and someone had to be punishment in his place. He escapes the
punishment because he is too thin to be properly executed on the stake.

Question 5.
What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?’

Solution :
The guru’s words of wisdom were that it was the city of fools. He advised the disciple to leave
the city because he would not know what they would do next. The disciple remembers this
when he was going to be executed.

Question 6.
How does the guru mange to save his disciple’s life?

Solution :
Since the guru had magical powers, he saw in a vision that the disciple was praying to him. As
soon as he arrived to save him, he whispered something to him. He then went to the king and
asked who was greater, the guru or the disciple. The king answered that the guru was greater.
Immediately, the guru asked the king to put him to the stake first and then his disciple. The
disciple understood the guru’s trick and began saying that he was brought there first and
therefore, he should be put to death first.

The guru and disciple got into a fight. The king was puzzled. He knew there was something
mysterious about the fight. So, he promised the guru that he would put him to death first if he
told him what the mystery was. The guru told him that he and his disciple had been all over the
world, but they had never found a city like that or a king like him. The stake was the stake of
the god of justice. It was new and a criminal had never been put on it. Whoever would die on it
first would be reborn as the king of that kingdom and whoever would die next, would be the
future minister. The guru said that they were tired of their ascetic lives. Hence, they wanted to
be reborn as king and minister.

The king started thinking immediately. He did not want to lose his kingdom to someone else in
the next life. He postponed the execution till the next day and talked to his minister and
decided that they would go on the stakes themselves and would be reborn as king and minister.
The king and the minister secretly released the guru and his disciple and took their place and
got executed on the stake. Hence, the guru used his cleverness to save his disciple’s life.