9th The Stick-together Families

 

Lesson 2.2> The Stick-together Families

Glossary

• conventions (n) – a large formal meeting of people who have a similar interest
• shatter (v) – to break suddenly into very small pieces
• astray (adv.) – away from the correct path or correct way of doing something
• mirth (n) – laughter, humour or happiness
• comrade (n) – a friend

A. Based on your understanding of the poem, answer the questions in a sentence or two.

1. The gladdest people living are the wholesome folks who make
A circle at the fireside that no power but death can break.

a) Who are the gladdest people living ?

The gladdest people are the children from joint family.

b) Where do they gather?

They gather at the fireside.

c) What can break their unity?

Death only can break their unity.

2. And the finest of conventions ever held beneath the sun
Are the little family gatherings when the busy day is done.

a) When do they have their family gatherings?

They have their family gatherings during holidays.

b) Where do they have their family conventions?

They have their family conventions under the sun.

c) What does the poet mean by ‘finest conventions’?

“Finest conventions” means a large formal meeting of people to share their fun.

3. There are rich folk, there are poor folk, who imagine they are wise,
And they’re very quick to shatter all the little family ties.

a) What do the rich and poor folk imagine themselves to be?

The rich and poor folk imagine themselves to be wise.

b) What do they do to their families?

They shatter their families’ ties.

c) Whom does ‘they’ refer to?

‘They’ refers to the rich and poor folk.

4. There are some who seem to fancy that for gladness they must roam,
That for smiles that are the brightest they must wander far from home

a) Why do they roam?

They roam to find happiness in their selected way.

b) According to them, when do they get bright smiles?

They think that they get bright smiles when they wander far away from home.

5. But the gladdest sort of people, when the busy day is done,
Are the brothers and the sisters who together share their fun.

a) Who are the gladdest people?

The children from joint family are the gladdest people.

b) When do they share their fun?

They share their fun when the busy day is over.

c) What does ‘who’ refer to?

‘Who’ refers to the brothers and sisters of stick together families.

6. It’s the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth,
That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth;

a) Who wins the joys of the earth?

The stick-together family wins the joys of the earth.

b) How do they find their joy?

They find their joy hearing the sweetest music.

c) What does the poet mean by ‘stick-together family’?

Stick-together family means the families of brothers and sisters should be loyal to one another. Then only they lead a happy life.

B. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences:

brothers and sisters	bitterness	joint family s	share their fun
rich and the poor folk	shatter their family	charm of life	separate ways
he joy of earth		stick-together families

The poet brings out the difference in the attitudes of children living in joint family and nuclear family. The stick-together families are the happiest of all. Where as the brothers and sisters of nuclear families take separate ways. The gladdest people are the children from joint family who circle near the fireside. No power other than death can break them. The rich and the poor folk imagine themselves to be wise and in the process they shatter their family ties. Each of them goes searching for pleasure in their own selected way. They harvest only bitterness and find empty joy. But the wisest among them are the children of the stick-together families. When the busy day is done, they together share their fun. The stick-together family wins the joy of earth. The old house shelters all the charm of life . The poet invites wandering brothers to come and join the stick together families in their fireside and have fun.

Paragraph for slow learners

• The stick-together families are the happiest of all.
• All the family members are gathered at the fire-side.
• They share their fun.
• They win the joy of earth.
• Family get-together brings harmony.
• The thread of love binds everyone.
• It strengthens the unity among them.
• Nothing can break their unity except death.

D. Answer the following

1. There are rich folk, there are poor folk, who imagine they are wise,…

a) Pick out the words in alliteration.

There-they, folk-folk

b) Mention the rhyme scheme of the poem.

aa-bb-cc

E. Listen to the passage and fi ll in the blanks with appropriate answer

1. A person is valued based on his _______________.

Ans : family and upbringing

2. _______________ does not happen overnight.

Ans : Bonding

3. A close family bond is like a _______________.

Ans : safe harbour

4. A strong foundation for any individual comes from being with a __________.

Ans : supportive family

5. A gift not only with _______________, but _______________ who care and love us beyond themselves.

Ans : lovable parents,  siblings