Balbharati Class 8 English Chapter 3.4 Leisure Solutions Maharashtra Board – Download PDF Leisure Chapter 3.4 Questions Answers.
The poem Leisure is written by William Henry Davies and it is in chapter 3.4 of Balbharati English Book Class 8. The solution of the questions answers are given in this page. You can download the questions answers in PDF format from the link given in the article.
(1) Say Where
(a) do the cows and sheep stand?
Answer : Beneath the branches of trees, they stand.
(b) do squirrels store their food?
Answer : They keep their food stored in the grass.
(c) do stars shine in the daytime?
Answer : They gleam in water-filled streams.
(d) does Beauty’s smile begin?
Answer : The smile of Beauty starts in her eyes.
(2) Think and answer in your own words:
(a) What could have inspired the poet to compose this poem? Do you think it relates to our present day life? Defend your choice.
Answer : In the poem, the poet appears troubled and melancholic, lamenting the frenetic pace of life. Despite acknowledging the beauty of nature surrounding us, the poet regrets the lack of time people have to appreciate it. Observing how individuals are consumed by their responsibilities from dawn till dusk, the poet is inspired to pen these verses. The poem resonates deeply with contemporary life, where we are constantly caught up in the pursuit of material wealth, perpetually racing forward without respite. Our schedules have become so tightly packed that we’ve forfeited the opportunity to revel in nature’s wonders. Thus, we find ourselves perpetually engrossed in our tasks, with little time for leisure or contemplation of the world around us.
(b) Which line proves that in our busy lives we do not even have a fraction of a second to enjoy nature’s beauty?
Answer : Such a wretched life, burdened with care, leaves us no time for idle contemplation.
(c) ‘Beauty’ in stanza 5 to 6 can refer to a beautiful maiden as well as nature itself. Explain when and how nature ‘dances’ and also ‘smiles’.
Answer : Nature is in constant motion, swaying with the gentle breeze, as if engaged in a graceful dance. This rhythmic movement is evident in the swaying of tree branches and the fluttering of leaves. Even the celestial bodies, like the sun and the moon, seem to join in this dance, as they traverse across the sky. When the fields are lush with crops, nature’s dance takes on a lively, youthful energy, akin to that of a carefree girl. And when the sky is clear and serene, devoid of storms and dark clouds, the sun’s warm rays bathe the world in light, bringing about a sense of peace and beauty. In these moments, nature appears to smile, radiating happiness and contentment.
(d) Why does the poet call our life ‘poor’?
Answer : In this context, “poor” doesn’t denote financial hardship but rather a scarcity of leisure time. Our lives lack depth and significance because our schedules are constantly packed, leaving us little opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature. Our attachment to various hobbies and activities further diminishes our free time. Instead of savoring moments of leisure, we find ourselves incessantly rushing through work and obligations. This frantic pace reduces our lives to mere semblances of existence, prompting the poet to describe them as impoverished.
(3) You have learned that when u human attribute is given to anything that is not a human being or it is spoken of as a person, the Figure of Speech used is culled as ‘Personification’:
Alliteration, Simile, Metaphor
Alliteration :
Answer : (i) ‘Streams full of stars, like skies at night.’
(ii) ‘We have no time to stand and stare.’
Simile :
Answer : (i) ‘Streams full of stars, like skies at night.’
(ii) ‘And stare as long as sheep or cows.’
Metaphor :
Answer : (i) And watch her feet, how they can dance.
(ii) ‘No time to turn at Beauty’s; glance.’
(4) Say where the images from mature given in the poem exist:
