SYMPATHY
1. Read the poem and choose the correct options to complete the sentences
a) The poet was in deep sorrow. A proud man came and helped him by-
i) Offering him kind words.
ii) Ignoring him.
iii) Giving him gold.
iv) giving him pleasant company.
Answer:- giving him gold.
b) When the poet lay in want and grief, the one who helped him was
i) A rich man.
ii) A poor man.
iii) A proud man.
iv) A holy man.
Answer:- a poor man
c) The poor man gave the poet
i) A cold look.
ii) Sympathy.
iii) Gold.
iv) Not a kind word.
Answer:- sympathy
(d) When the poet’s sorrow passed, he went to the proud man and
i) Gave him back the gold.
ii) Ignored him.
iii) Didn’t give back the gold.
iv) Helped him.
Ans:- iii) Didn’t give back the gold.
e) The poet refers to sympathy as ‘heavenly’ because of sympathy.
i) Is a feeling found in proud people.
ii) Is found only in rich people.
iii) Is an ordinary human feeling.
iv) Is a blessing from God.
Ans:- iv) Is a blessing from God.
2) a) Here are some questions to help you find out how much you have understood the poem :
i. How did the proud person help the poet when the poet was unhappy?
Answer:- When the poet was unhappy, the proud person helped him with money.
ii) What did the poor man do when he found the poet lying in pain and sadness?
Answer:- When the poor man found the poet lying in pain and sadness, the poor man didn’t leave his side. He bounded his head and gave him food to eat. The poor man took care of him day and night.
iii). Why does the poet think that he cannot help the man back in the same way?
Answer:- The poet thinks so because kindness is a heavy act that cannot be paid easily.
iv) Why is the poor man’s help greater than gold?
Answer:- Because the poor man’s help is greater than gold. Gold can be returned, but human assistance, empathy and support are invaluable.
v) “Oh, gold is great but greater far is heavenly sympathy.” Why does the poet think so?
Answer:- The poet thinks so because his way of help was a heavenly act where the proud man offered him money, but did not offer any words of sympathy.
b) Find in the poem lines that match the meaning of the
following sentences.
i) I was sad and unhappy- I lay in sorrow, deeply distressed.
ii) I was in need and was sad and hurt – I lay in want and grief, and pain.
iii) He fed me and took care of me. – He bound my head, he gave me bread, He watched me night and day.
iv) Gold is valuable but sympathy and love are far more valuable.- Oh, gold is great but greater far is heavenly sympathy.
c) Make sentences with the following phrases:
i) Look was cold: The rich man helped him with money, but his looks were cold.
ii) night and day: The poor man worked hard night and day.
iii) pay him back: After his recovery, the man was able to pay the rich man back.
3. Below are some lines from the poem with some words underlined. Choose the correct meanings of the words from the options given in brackets.
a) I Lay in sorrow, deeply distressed(tired/unhappy/angry)
Answer: distressed-unhappy
b) He gave me gold(money/jewelry/sheets)
Answer:- Gold- money
c) And blessed his charity(money/kind help/pride)
Answer:- Charity-kind help
d) A poor man passed my way(to move past/stopped me)
Answer: passed- to move past.
e) Is heavenly sympathy(selfishness/godly goodness/pride)
Answer:- Heavenly- godly goodness
f) Greater far is heavenly sympathy( the feeling of being sorry at another’s sadness/ the feeling of pain/ a superior feeling)
Answer:- sympathy- the feeling of being sorry at another’s sadness.
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