Comprehension -1

Read the poem given below:

SYMPATHY

I lay in sorrow deep distressed; 

My grief a proud man heard; 

His looks were cold, he gave me gold

 But not a kindly word.

 My sorrow passed. I paid him back 

The gold he gave to me; 

Then stood erect and spoke my thanks 

And blessed his charity. 

I lay in want in grief and pain 

A poor man passed my way; 

He bound my head, he gave me bread He watched me night and day, 

How shall I pay him back again, 

For all he did to me?

Oh, gold is great, but greater far 

Is heavenly sympathy

-Charles Mackay

1.1. Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option:

1. A proud man helped the poet by

(a) speaking gentle words

(b) serving him with food.

(c) giving him gold

(d) taking him to hospital

2. The poet lay..

(a) in his bed

(b) in want, grief and pain

(c) in a hospital

(d) in grief and distress

3. A poor man served him with

(a) gold and human service

(b) money

(c) sympathy

(d) sympathy, food and care

4. 'Distress' does not mean

(a) anguish (b) diddle

(c) pain   (d) grief

5. The poet could not pay back

(a) the interest of the money

(b) gold of proud man

(c) money of the poor man

(d) sympathy shown by poor man

6. The poor man was

(a) selfish

(b) kind and gentle

(c) mean

(d) proud

1.2. Answers the following questions:

1. How did the rich man help the poet?

2. In what way did the poet repay the rich man ?

3. What did the poor man do to help the man?

4. Could the poet repay kindness shown by the Man? Why/why not?

5. What does the poet want to convey through this poem?

6. Which poetic device has been used in line 1?

Answer:

1.1. 1. (c) giving him gold

2. (d) in grief and distress

3. (d) sympathy, food and care

4. (b) diddle

5. (d) sympathy shown by the poor man

6. (b) kind and gentle

1.2. 1.2.

1. The rich man helped the poet by giving him money. He did not show any kindness towards him.

2. The poet paid back the money the rich man had given him. He thanked and blessed him for his kindness.

3. The poor man gave him food to eat and looked after him day and night.

4. No, the poet could not repay the poor man's kindness because no wroldly materials could match his kindness.

5. The poet wants to convey that we should be sympathic and kind towards others. Nothing in this world can surpass sympathy.

6. Alliteration deep distressed..

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