Pre-Reading Task
Prepare a list of the qualities/virtues that you think an individual must possess. Grade these J qualities in terms of importance.
Answer –
Virtue/Quality | Importance Grade (1 = Highest) |
Honesty | 1 |
Responsibility | 2 |
Self-control | 3 |
Kindness | 4 |
Respect for others | 5 |
Patriotism | 6 |
Discipline | 7 |
Courage | 8 |
Empathy | 9 |
Forgiveness | 10 |
- Discuss with your friends and make a list of the duties and responsibilities that you have towards your motherland.
Answer – Duty/Responsibility
To love and respect our country.
To obey and respect the Constitution and laws.
To pay taxes honestly.
To vote and participate in democratic activities.
To protect public property and the environment.
To be kind and helpful to fellow citizens.
To promote peace and unity.
To uphold the values of truth and justice.
To serve the nation through one’s work and honesty.
To respect national symbols like the flag and anthem.
Word Meaning
Word | Meaning (English–English) | Meaning (Hindi) |
Pledge | To make a solemn promise or commitment | वचन देना / प्रतिज्ञा करना |
Toil | Hard and continuous work | कठिन परिश्रम |
Heritage | Something passed from previous generations | विरासत |
Undefiled | Pure, not made dirty or corrupted | अपवित्र न किया गया / शुद्ध |
Yoke | Responsibility or burden | जिम्मेदारी / बोझ |
Steadfastness | Firmness in belief or purpose | अडिगता / दृढ़ता |
Grace | Divine favour or blessing | ईश्वर की कृपा |
Maimed | Injured or disabled | घायल / अपंग |
Sacrifice | Offering something valuable for a cause | बलिदान |
Uncowed | Not frightened or intimidated | निर्भीक / निडर |
Mirth | Joy, amusement, or laughter | हर्ष / खुशी |
Bitter springs | Sources of sorrow or resentment | दुख के कारण |
Forgiveness | The act of pardoning someone | क्षमा |
Comfort | To give relief in distress | सांत्वना देना |
Distress | Great pain or suffering | पीड़ा / संकट |
Summary in English: The Children’s Song
“The Children’s Song” is a patriotic and moral prayer-poem written by Rudyard Kipling. It is a pledge of loyalty and service made by children to their motherland. The children promise to love and work hard for their country as they grow up. They pray to God for strength, honesty, self-control, and the courage to always stand for truth. They seek wisdom to live pure lives, avoid harming the weak, and offer help to those in need. The poem emphasizes simplicity, joy, forgiveness, and universal love. In the end, they pledge their entire being – head, heart, and hand – to the service of their beloved country.
हिंदी में सारांश:
“द चिल्ड्रन’स सॉन्ग” रुडयार्ड किपलिंग द्वारा रचित एक देशभक्ति और नैतिक प्रार्थना-कविता है। यह बच्चों द्वारा अपनी मातृभूमि के प्रति वफादारी और सेवा की प्रतिज्ञा है। बच्चे वादा करते हैं कि वे बड़े होकर अपने देश से प्रेम करेंगे और मेहनत करेंगे। वे ईश्वर से शक्ति, ईमानदारी, आत्म-नियंत्रण और सत्य के पक्ष में खड़े रहने का साहस माँगते हैं। वे प्रार्थना करते हैं कि वे जीवन में सादगी, आनंद, क्षमा और सभी के प्रति प्रेम बनाए रखें। वे दूसरों को कष्ट न पहुँचाएँ और ज़रूरतमंदों की मदद करें। अंत में, वे अपने “मस्तिष्क, हृदय और हाथ” समर्पित करने की प्रतिज्ञा करते हैं।
Understanding the Story
A. The poem is a children’s prayer to God to enable them to serve their country. Complete the table given below by filling in Column A the virtues/qualities that the children pray to God to bless them with and in Column B how these virtues/qualities will help them.in serving their nation.
Column A Column B
stanza 2 Help us whenever we need Your help. We may build a world free of all evils.
stanza 3 Teach us to be focussed, responsible and firm in youth.
stanza 4 We may make a useful sacrifice to bring freedom and dignity to the individual.
stanza 5 Only You should be the judge of our actions.
stanza 6 We may not harm the weak and may provide solace to those in misery.
stanza 7 Teach us to seek happiness in simplicity and nobility and to learn forgiveness.
Answer –
Stanza | Column A (Virtues/Qualities prayed for) | Column B (How they help in serving the nation) |
Stanza 2 | Help us whenever we need Your help. | We may build a world free of all evils. |
Stanza 3 | Teach us to be focussed, responsible, and firm in youth. | We may live truthfully and serve the nation with honesty and discipline. |
Stanza 4 | Teach us self-control and cleanliness in life. | We may make a useful sacrifice to bring freedom and dignity to the individual. |
Stanza 5 | Only You should be the judge of our actions. | We may act with courage and integrity, without being influenced by public opinion. |
Stanza 6 | Teach us to be strong without hurting others. | We may not harm the weak and may provide solace to those in misery. |
Stanza 7 | Teach us to seek happiness in simplicity and nobility and to learn forgiveness. | We may live in peace, spread kindness, and show love to all people. |
B. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow
- Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,
With steadfastness and careful truth;
That, in our time, Thy Grace may give
The Truth whereby the Nations live.
- What yoke is the speaker referring to in the first line?
Answer – The speaker refers to the responsibilities and duties of life that one must learn to accept and carry from a young age.
- What does the speaker mean by ‘careful truth’?
Answer – ‘Careful truth’ means being honest with responsibility, thoughtfulness, and sincerity, without hurting others or causing harm.
- What does the phrase ‘in our time’ in line 3 refer to?
Answer – ‘In our time’ refers to the period when the children grow up and take on the duties of adult life and citizenship.
- Explain: The Truth whereby the Nations live.’
Answer – It means the universal values of honesty, justice, and righteousness that form the foundation of a strong and prosperous nation.
- Land of our Birth, our faith, our pride.
For whose dear sake our fathers died;
Oh, Motherland, we pledge to thee
Head, heart and hand through the years to be!
- Why does the speaker call their motherland ‘Land of…. faith, …pride’?
Answer – The speaker calls the motherland so because it is a place of deep emotional connection, devotion, and a sense of honour, for which the people are proud and faithful.
- How does the speaker wish to serve their motherland?
Answer – The speaker pledges to serve the motherland with their head (wisdom), heart (love), and hand (action) throughout life.
- What do the words ‘head’, ‘heart’ and ‘hand’ in line 4 refer to?
Answer – Head refers to wisdom/intellect,
Heart refers to emotions/love,
Hand refers to physical efforts and actions.
- What purpose is served by the repetition of the word ‘our’ in line 1?
Answer – The repetition of ‘our’ emphasizes a collective sense of belonging, unity, and shared responsibility toward the nation.
C. Explain the following
- …we pledge to thee
Our love and toil in the years to be.
Answer – The children promise to serve their country with love and hard work throughout their lives, showing dedication and patriotism.
- That we may bring, if need arise,
No maimed or worthless sacrifice.
Answer – The poet wishes that if a sacrifice is ever needed, it should be complete, meaningful, and honourable, not weak or insincere.
- That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed
By fear or favour of the crowd.
Answer – It means the children want to grow up to be fearless and independent, not afraid of public opinion or pressure, and act righteously with God’s guidance.
- Mirth that has no bitter springs.
Answer – The poet asks for pure and innocent happiness, not one that comes from hurting others or causes guilt later.
D. The repetition of a sound to create a musical effect in a poem is called alliteration’. Find at least four examples of alliteration in the poem
Answer – Four examples of alliteration in the poem are:
“bear the yoke in youth”
“faith, our pride”
“maimed or worthless”
“head, heart and hand”
(Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words.)
E. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Answer – The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB in each stanza.
HOTS
Why is the poem titled The Children’s Song’?
Answer – The poem is titled “The Children’s Song” because it represents a heartfelt prayer and promise made by children to God and their motherland. It reflects the hopes, aspirations, and values that young citizens wish to cultivate in order to grow into responsible, ethical, and patriotic individuals. Through this ‘song’, children express their commitment to serve their nation with love, truth, and integrity.
Life Skills
A The Children’s Song’ has a definite message for the people of eveiy country in every age. What is that message?
Answer – The poem’s message is that the future of a nation lies in the values instilled in its children. It emphasizes the importance of truth, discipline, self-control, courage, simplicity, compassion, and devotion to one’s country. These universal values are timeless and essential for the progress and harmony of any society.
- How can we comfort a man in distress?
Answer – We can comfort a man in distress by offering emotional support, listening patiently, extending a helping hand, showing empathy, and speaking kind, encouraging words. Small acts of compassion can greatly ease another’s pain.
Why should we have more trust in God than in our friends?
Answer – We should place more trust in God than in our friends because God is impartial, all-knowing, and always present, whereas friends, being human, can be influenced by bias, fear, or self-interest. Trusting God ensures moral guidance and inner strength even when others fail us.
Values
Almost all values find expression in the poem The Children’s Song’—love for the country, shouldering responsibilities, selflessness, compassion, forgiveness, etc. Throw light on the humanitarian aspect of the poem in the light of the above observation.
Answer – The poem promotes a humanitarian spirit by urging children to grow into adults who are kind, just, forgiving, and responsible. It teaches them to stand for truth, help the weak, serve the nation with sincerity, and act without pride or prejudice. The poet’s emphasis on love, compassion, moral strength, and self-control highlights the belief that a better world can only be built by individuals who uphold humanity in their actions.
Writing Skills
Taking hints from the poem, prepare a speech to be delivered in the morning assembly.
Answer – Morning Assembly Speech
Good morning everyone,
Today, I wish to share a few lines inspired by the beautiful poem “The Children’s Song” by Rudyard Kipling. This poem reminds us that we, the children of today, are the future of our nation. It is our duty to learn discipline, truthfulness, kindness, and courage from a young age so that we can grow up to serve our country with pride.
The poet urges us to be strong and responsible, to respect others, and to never misuse our strength. He asks us to love our country, work hard, and be truthful in all that we do. He also tells us to seek joy in simple things and to show forgiveness and compassion.
Let us all take this message to heart and pledge to be honest, kind, and loyal citizens—ready to make our country proud.
Thank you.
Additional Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Answers
- What do the children pledge to their motherland in the poem?
- a) Their wealth and knowledge
- b) Their love and toil
- c) Their time and effort
- d) Their faith and pride
Answer: b) Their love and toil
- Who do the children ask for help in building an undefiled heritage?
- a) Their parents
- b) Their friends
- c) Father in Heaven
- d) Their teachers
Answer: c) Father in Heaven
- What do the children ask to be taught to bear in their youth?
- a) The yoke of responsibility
- b) The burden of knowledge
- c) The weight of leadership
- d) The pain of sacrifice
Answer: a) The yoke of responsibility
- What quality do the children wish to learn to rule themselves?
- a) Courage and strength
- b) Control and cleanliness
- c) Faith and devotion
- d) Pride and honor
Answer: b) Control and cleanliness
- What do the children pray to avoid offering?
- a) A weak promise
- b) A maimed or worthless sacrifice
- c) A broken vow
- d) A selfish act
Answer: b) A maimed or worthless sacrifice
- Who do the children want to rely on as their judge?
- a) Their friends
- b) Their community
- c) God
- d) Their leaders
Answer: c) God
- What kind of strength do the children seek from God?
- a) Strength to lead others
- b) Strength that does not hurt the weak
- c) Strength to fight enemies
- d) Strength to gain wealth
Answer: b) Strength that does not hurt the weak
- What do the children ask to be taught to find delight in?
- a) Simple things
- b) Grand achievements
- c) Material wealth
- d) Power and fame
Answer: a) Simple things
- What kind of mirth do the children desire?
- a) Mirth that brings joy to others
- b) Mirth with no bitter springs
- c) Mirth that is loud and bold
- d) Mirth that lasts forever
Answer: b) Mirth with no bitter springs
- What do the children pledge to their motherland at the poem’s end?
- a) Their head, heart, and hand
- b) Their faith and pride
- c) Their love and devotion
- d) Their toil and sacrifice
Answer: a) Their head, heart, and hand
- What does the term “undefiled heritage” mean in the poem?
- a) A legacy of wealth
- b) A pure and unpolluted legacy
- c) A heritage of power
- d) A heritage of knowledge
Answer: b) A pure and unpolluted legacy
- What do the children ask to be taught to ensure the “Truth whereby the Nations live”?
- a) Steadfastness and careful truth
- b) Courage and bravery
- c) Pride and honor
- d) Faith and loyalty
Answer: a) Steadfastness and careful truth
- What do the children wish to remain uncowed by?
- a) Fear or favour of the crowd
- b) The challenges of life
- c) The judgment of others
- d) The weight of responsibility
Answer: a) Fear or favour of the crowd
- What kind of forgiveness do the children seek?
- a) Forgiveness for their mistakes
- b) Forgiveness free of evil done
- c) Forgiveness from their friends
- d) Forgiveness for their pride
Answer: b) Forgiveness free of evil done
- Who do the children address as “Father in Heaven”?
- a) Their ancestors
- b) Their leaders
- c) God
- d) Their fathers
Answer: c) God
- What do the children pledge for the sake of their motherland?
- a) Their lives
- b) Their future
- c) Their head, heart, and hand
- d) Their wealth
Answer: c) Their head, heart, and hand
- What do the children ask to be taught to comfort?
- a) Man’s distress
- b) Their own fears
- c) The weak’s pain
- d) Their friends’ sorrow
Answer: a) Man’s distress
- What do the children’s fathers die for, according to the poem?
- a) Their faith
- b) Their motherland
- c) Their children
- d) Their pride
Answer: b) Their motherland
- What do the children ask to be taught to avoid hurting?
- a) Their friends
- b) The weak
- c) Their enemies
- d) Their family
Answer: b) The weak
- What is the final line of the poem?
- a) “Head, heart and hand through the years to be!”
- b) “Love to all men ’neath the Sun!”
- c) “Land of our Birth, our faith, our pride,”
- d) “For whose dear sake our fathers died;”
Answer: a) “Head, heart and hand through the years to be!”
Short Questions and Answers
- Question: What do the children pledge to their motherland?
Answer: Their love and toil.
- Question: Who do the children ask for help from?
Answer: Father in Heaven.
- Question: What do the children ask to bear in their youth?
Answer: The yoke of responsibility.
- Question: What quality do the children wish to learn to rule themselves?
Answer: Control and cleanliness.
- Question: What do the children pray to avoid offering?
Answer: A maimed or worthless sacrifice.
- Question: Who do the children want as their judge?
Answer: God.
- Question: What kind of strength do the children seek?
Answer: Strength that does not hurt the weak.
- Question: What do the children ask to find delight in?
Answer: Simple things.
- Question: What kind of mirth do the children desire?
Answer: Mirth with no bitter springs.
- Question: What do the children pledge at the poem’s end?
Answer: Their head, heart, and hand.
- Question: What does “undefiled heritage” mean?
Answer: A pure and unpolluted legacy.
- Question: What do the children ask to ensure the “Truth whereby the Nations live”?
Answer: Steadfastness and careful truth.
- Question: What do the children wish to remain uncowed by?
Answer: Fear or favor of the crowd.
- Question: What kind of forgiveness do the children seek?
Answer: Forgiveness free of evil done.
- Question: Who is “Father in Heaven”?
Answer: God.
- Question: What do the children pledge for their motherland’s sake?
Answer: Their head, heart, and hand.
- Question: What do the children ask to be taught to comfort?
Answer: Man’s distress.
- Question: What did the children’s fathers die for?
Answer: Their motherland.
- Question: What do the children ask to avoid hurting?
Answer: The weak.
- Question: What is the final line of the poem?
Answer: “Head, heart and hand through the years to be!”
Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion) andAnswers
- Question:
Assertion (A): The children pledge their lifelong dedication to their motherland.
Reason (R): They commit their love, toil, and head, heart, and hand to serve the nation.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the children pledge lifelong dedication—“we pledge to thee our love and toil”—as the poem states. The reason explains this by detailing their commitment—“head, heart and hand through the years to be”—as the poem notes, directly showing the extent of their dedication, supporting the assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The children seek divine guidance to build a pure legacy.
Reason (R): They ask God to help them create an undefiled heritage.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the children seek divine guidance—“Father in Heaven who lovest all”—as the poem notes. The reason explains this by stating their request—“help Thy children… build… an undefiled heritage”—as the poem details, directly linking their plea for guidance to the goal of a pure legacy, supporting the assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The children desire to live with integrity and self-control.
Reason (R): They ask to be taught to rule themselves cleanly and avoid hurting the weak.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the children desire integrity—“teach us to rule ourselves alway, controlled and cleanly”—as the poem states. The reason explains this by detailing their requests—“controlled and cleanly” and “strength that cannot… hurt the weak”—as the poem notes, directly showing how these teachings foster integrity and self-control, supporting the assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The children value forgiveness and love in their lives.
Reason (R): They ask for mirth without bitterness and love for all men.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the children value forgiveness—“forgiveness free of evil done”—and love—“love to all men”—as the poem states. The reason is true, mentioning “mirth that has no bitter springs” and “love to all men,” as the poem notes, but mirth does not directly explain forgiveness, though it aligns with a positive outlook, making R not the correct explanation for the full assertion.
- Question:
Assertion (A): The children wish to serve their motherland without fear of judgment.
Reason (R): They ask to remain uncowed by the fear or favor of the crowd.
- a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
- b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- c) A is true, but R is false.
- d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The assertion is true as the children wish to serve without fear—“that we, with Thee, may walk uncowed”—as the poem states. The reason explains this by specifying “uncowed by fear or favour of the crowd,” as the poem notes, directly linking their desire to serve freely to their plea for courage against societal pressure, supporting the assertion.
Long Questions and Answers (80-90 words)
- Question: How does the poem reflect the children’s commitment to their motherland, and what values do they pledge to uphold?
Answer: The poem reflects the children’s commitment through their pledge—“we pledge to thee our love and toil” and “head, heart and hand,” as the poem states, showing lifelong dedication, as their readiness to serve “when we are grown” indicates. They pledge to uphold values like integrity—“steadfastness and careful truth”—self-control—“rule ourselves alway, controlled and cleanly”—and compassion—“strength to comfort man’s distress”—as the poem notes, aiming to build an “undefiled heritage,” as the poem describes, emphasizing their devotion to a pure, honourable legacy for their nation, as Kipling envisions.
- Question: Discuss the role of divine guidance in the poem and how it shapes the children’s aspirations for their future.
Answer: Divine guidance is central, as the children appeal to “Father in Heaven” to “help Thy children,” as the poem states, shaping their aspirations for a noble future, as “build… an undefiled heritage” indicates. They seek God’s grace for truth—“the Truth whereby the Nations live”—and strength—“strength that cannot… hurt the weak”—as the poem notes, ensuring they serve justly, as “look in all our ends on Thee for judge” shows, reflecting their desire for a morally upright life, as Kipling emphasizes, guided by divine principles to benefit their motherland and humanity.
- Question: Analyse the virtues the children pray to be taught, and how these virtues align with the duties towards their motherland.
Answer: The children pray for virtues like steadfastness—“bear the yoke… with steadfastness”—self-control—“rule ourselves always, controlled and cleanly”—and compassion—“comfort man’s distress”—as the poem states, aligning with their duties towards their motherland, as listed earlier. Steadfastness supports civic duty by ensuring responsibility, as “love and toil” implies, while self-control reflects social responsibility through discipline, as “no maimed or worthless sacrifice” shows, and compassion aids in supporting the underprivileged, as “hurt not the weak” indicates, fulfilling their pledge to serve with integrity and care, as the poem envisions, mirroring national responsibilities.
- Question: How does the poem emphasize the importance of moral integrity in serving the motherland, and what lessons does it offer?
Answer: The poem emphasizes moral integrity through the children’s plea for “steadfastness and careful truth” and to “rule ourselves alway, controlled and cleanly,” as the poem states, ensuring they serve with honor, as “no maimed or worthless sacrifice” reflects, avoiding corruption, as “undefiled heritage” suggests. It offers lessons on serving with sincerity—“love to all men”—and fairness—“look… on Thee for judge”—as the poem notes, teaching that true service to the motherland requires ethical conduct, compassion, and accountability, as Kipling advocates, fostering a legacy of purity and justice for future generations.
- Question: Explore the theme of sacrifice in the poem and how it relates to the children’s pledge to their motherland.
Answer: The theme of sacrifice is evident as the children pledge “love and toil” and “head, heart and hand,” as the poem states, reflecting their willingness to dedicate their lives, as “for whose dear sake our fathers died” shows, echoing past sacrifices, as the poem notes. They pray to offer a worthy sacrifice—“no maimed or worthless sacrifice”—as the poem indicates, ensuring their efforts are meaningful, as “build… an undefiled heritage” suggests, relating their pledge to a selfless commitment to their motherland’s honor, as Kipling underscores, emphasizing duty over personal gain.
- Question: Discuss how the poem reflects the children’s desire for a balanced life, and how this contributes to their service to the motherland.
Answer: The children desire a balanced life by seeking “delight in simple things,” “mirth that has no bitter springs,” and “love to all men,” as the poem states, ensuring emotional well-being, as “forgiveness free of evil done” indicates, fostering inner peace, as the poem notes. This balance contributes to their service by equipping them with resilience—“strength to comfort man’s distress”—and clarity—“look… on Thee for judge”—as the poem describes, enabling them to serve their motherland with joy and integrity, as Kipling suggests, creating a harmonious foundation for national contribution.
- Question: How does the poem address the challenges of societal pressure, and what guidance do the children seek to overcome them?
Answer: The poem addresses societal pressure through the children’s plea to “walk uncowed by fear or favour of the crowd,” as the poem states, acknowledging the challenge of external influence, as “not our friends” indicates, seeking independence in judgment, as the poem notes. They seek divine guidance—“look in all our ends on Thee for judge”—and self-control—“rule ourselves alway, controlled and cleanly”—as the poem describes, to overcome these pressures, as Kipling emphasizes, ensuring they serve their motherland with integrity and courage, free from societal bias, as the poem envisions.
- Question: Examine the role of compassion in the poem and how it shapes the children’s vision for their future contributions to society.
Answer: Compassion plays a key role as the children pray for “strength that cannot… hurt the weak” and “man’s strength to comfort man’s distress,” as the poem states, shaping their vision for a caring society, as “love to all men ’neath the Sun” shows, promoting universal kindness, as the poem notes. This compassion ensures their contributions are inclusive—“forgiveness free of evil done”—as the poem indicates, fostering a society where the vulnerable are supported, as Kipling envisions, aligning with their goal of an “undefiled heritage,” as the poem reflects, emphasizing empathy in nation-building.