Compassionate Soul, My English Reader, Class VIII, DAV Board, The Best Solutions – Section – B

Section – B

B.1. What would be your state of mind if you found yourself in the following situations? (a) Flat Tyre on a Busy Road

(a) Your car has a flat tyre on a busy road. You are blocking the free movement of the traffic. Everyone stops and glares at you but no one comes to your help.
State of Mind:
You might feel anxious, embarrassed, helpless, and frustrated. The stares and honks from others may intensify your stress. You may also feel disappointed that nobody is offering help, even though you’re clearly struggling.

(b) You see an old handicapped beggar pleading for food but everyone ignores him and moves on. Even you, for some reason, are unable to help him.

State of Mind:
You would likely feel guilty, sad, powerless, and emotionally torn. The desire to help is there, but being unable to act may leave you feeling ashamed or regretful. The scene might stay with you for a long time.

(c) In a newspaper, you see the pictures of the blood-stained bodies of the victims of a bomb-blast in your city. You cast aside the newspaper and continue doing your work.

State of Mind:
You may feel numb, shocked, or disturbed, but also perhaps indifferent or detached — not because you don’t care, but because constant exposure to such news can desensitize us. You might also feel uneasy about your own reaction.

Which human qualities, do you think, are absent in the above situations? Hold a brief class discussion on why there has been a decline of these qualities.

Missing Human Qualities:

Class Discussion Prompt:

Why is there a decline in these qualities?

Some points to consider:

• Urban life: Fast-paced, competitive lifestyles leave little time for others.
• Technology: Excessive screen time may reduce real human connection.
• Self-centered mindset: People are often focused only on personal success.
• Desensitization: Constant exposure to violence in news and media reduces emotional responses.
• Lack of moral education: Schools may focus more on marks than on values.

B.2. Summary in English: The Divine Image

The poem emphasizes that Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love are not just human virtues, but divine qualities that reflect the nature of God. People in pain pray to these virtues, and in turn, they feel thankful when these virtues comfort them. Blake says that these qualities exist within both God and Man, showing that humans are created in God’s image. No matter which religion or culture people belong to — be it Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or others — the presence of these virtues is evidence that God is present. Ultimately, the message is: To love others is to love God.

हिंदी में सारांश :

इस कविता में कवि कहता है कि दया (Mercy), करुणा (Pity), शांति (Peace) और प्रेम (Love) केवल मानवीय गुण नहीं, बल्कि ईश्वर के दिव्य रूप हैं। जब लोग दुखी होते हैं, तो वे इन्हीं गुणों की प्रार्थना करते हैं और जब उन्हें इनका अनुभव होता है, तो वे धन्यवाद करते हैं। ये गुण न केवल भगवान में बल्कि हर इंसान में भी होते हैं। चाहे इंसान किसी भी देश, धर्म या जाति का हो — अगर उसमें ये गुण हैं, तो उसमें ईश्वर का वास है। कवि का संदेश है: अगर हम दूसरों से प्रेम करते हैं, तो हम ईश्वर से प्रेम करते हैं।

Word Meanings (with Hindi)

MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

1. Who do people pray to in their distress?
   a) Angels
   b) Nature
   c) Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
   d) Kings
   Answer: c) Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
2. What does Blake compare ‘Love’ to?
   a) A flower
   b) A human form divine
   c) A temple
   d) A book
   Answer: b) A human form divine
3. According to the poem, where does God dwell?
   a) In heaven
   b) In temples
   c) Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell
   d) In nature
   Answer: c) Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell
4. What is the main message of the poem?
   a) Only certain religions are divine
   b) Humans are sinners
   c) God exists in every loving heart
   d) Society needs order
   Answer: c) God exists in every loving heart

Short Questions and Answers

1. Q: What are the four divine qualities mentioned in the poem?
   A: Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love.
2. Q: What does the poet mean by “Mercy has a human heart”?
   A: It means that humans are capable of showing mercy, and this quality is part of their divine nature.
3. Q: How does Blake relate God and Man in the poem?
   A: He says God and Man both possess the virtues of mercy, pity, peace, and love, showing a divine connection.
4. Q: What does Blake say about people from different religions?
   A: He says that wherever there is love, mercy, and pity — whether in a heathen, Turk, or Jew — God is present.
5. Q: What is the core idea of the poem?
   A: That the presence of divine virtues in humans reflects God’s image and makes us all equal and divine in nature.

B.3 – On the basis of your understanding of the poem, complete the given summary by filling the blanks with one word only.

The poet believes that Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love are divine qualities. In fact, according to the poet, they are God Himself. So everybody in distress prays to these qualities and feels relieved when the moment of distress has passed. Since God created man in His own image, Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love are human qualities as well.
The poet elaborates this point by saying that Mercy has a human heart, Pity a human face, Love is the human form divine and Peace the human dress. The poet wants us to respect the human form irrespective of caste, colour, race or religion. A heathen, a turk or a Jew must be treated with the same deep feelings and care. The poet firmly believes that wherever these qualities exist, God is sure to dwell there.

B.4 – Read the following extracts from the poem and answer the questions that follow.

(a) “To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love / All pray in their distress.”

(i) Name the poet.
Answer – William Blake

(ii) Why do all the people pray to Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love in their distress?
Answer – Because these are divine qualities and offer relief, comfort, and hope in times of suffering.

(iii) What is the difference between Mercy and Pity?
Answer – Mercy is the act of forgiving or being kind, while Pity is the feeling of sorrow for someone else’s suffering.

(b) “And all must love the human form / In heathen, turk or jew;”

(i) From which poem have these lines been taken?
Answer – “The Divine Image” by William Blake

(ii) What does the word ‘heathen’ mean?
Answer – A person without religion or one not following Christianity.

(iii) What argument does the poet give to persuade us to love all human beings?
Answer – The poet says God dwells in all humans through Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love, so we must love every human regardless of religion or background.

B.5 – Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) Why does the poet begin the words ‘Mercy’, ‘Pity’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Love’ with capital letters?
Answer – The poet uses capital letters to personify these virtues and emphasize their divine significance as qualities of God.

(b) Why are ‘Mercy’, ‘Pity’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Love’ called virtues of delight?
Answer – Because they bring happiness, harmony, and a sense of goodness to both the one who gives and the one who receives.

(c) What does the expression ‘his child and care’ suggest?
Answer – It suggests that human beings are created by God and are under His care and protection.

B.6 – Justify the appropriateness of the title ‘The Divine Image’.

The title “The Divine Image” is appropriate because the poem conveys that divine virtues—Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love—are not only qualities of God but also reflected in human beings. The poet suggests that these qualities are the essence of God and that when humans display them, they mirror the image of the Divine. Thus, the human form becomes sacred and godly, justifying the title.

B.7 – Divide the class into two groups, A and B. Ask Group A to collect articles/ news items related to violence, jealousy and indifference towards one another. Group B will collect articles/news items about compassion, love and concern for mankind. Now compare and discuss which kind of incidents have become more prevalent in the present society. What could be the reasons for this scenario?

Group Activity: Compare Present-Day Society

Sample Analysis:

• Group A (Negative incidents): News of violence, hatred, intolerance, wars, caste and religious conflicts.
• Group B (Positive incidents): Stories of charity, rescue missions, communal harmony, acts of forgiveness.

Discussion Point: Unfortunately, negative incidents often outnumber the positive ones in today’s fast-paced, self-centered world. Materialism, ego, and fear of vulnerability are major reasons. However, the goodness in humans still exists—it needs encouragement and nurturing.

B.8 – Values

‘Mercy’, ‘Pity’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Love’ have been perceived by the poet as divine qualities. For any one of the qualities mentioned above, write in brief an incident from your life where you displayed that quality.

Quality: Mercy

Once, I saw a boy at school being scolded harshly for not doing his homework. I later found out that he had been caring for his sick mother. Instead of blaming him, I helped him complete his work and spoke to the teacher to show some leniency. That moment made me realize how small acts of mercy can make a big difference in someone’s life.

B.9 Refer to a dictionary to find the meaning of the following idiomatic expressions and write them in the space provided.

B.10 – ‘An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.’ Do you agree with this statement? Hold a debate in the class.

Statement: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

Agree: Revenge only leads to more pain and destruction. Forgiveness, as taught by great leaders like Gandhi and the Buddha, is the key to peace and progress.

Disagree: Some believe that justice requires equal punishment to deter further wrongdoing, but it risks continuing cycles of hatred.

B.11 – Further Reading

Get a copy of Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake from your school library. Read in particular the poems included in the Songs of Innocence.

Refer to “Songs of Innocence” by William Blake. Suggested poems to explore:

• The Lamb
• The Chimney Sweeper
• Holy Thursday

These poems echo Blake’s belief in innocence, compassion, and moral values in human life.