Pre-reading Task
- Did a friend ever point out some fault of yours? How did you react? Share your feelings with your partner.
Answer – Once, a friend pointed out that I was often late for group study sessions, which frustrated others. Initially, I felt defensive and embarrassed, but I appreciated their honesty. After reflecting, I worked on being punctual, which improved our group’s dynamic. Sharing this with my partner, I realized true friends, like in the poem, help you grow by being honest.
- If a friend is looking improperly dressed up for a particular occasion, and your other friends are praising him/her, will you keep quiet and approve of what others are saying or react differently? Share your views with your friends.
Answer – I would react differently and gently tell my friend they might want to adjust their outfit to suit the occasion, offering constructive advice. Unlike the flatterers in the poem who praise insincerely, I believe a true friend provides honest feedback to help, not harm. Sharing this view with friends, I’d emphasize that sincerity strengthens trust, even if it’s uncomfortable.
Word Meaning
Word | Meaning (English–English) | Meaning (English–Hindi) |
Flatter | To praise insincerely to gain favor | खुशामद करना |
Misery | A state of great suffering or unhappiness | दुख / परेशानी |
Faithful | Loyal and trustworthy | वफादार / ईमानदार |
Store | Supply or amount of something kept | भंडार / संग्रह |
Crowns | Old term for money | पुराने समय की मुद्रा / पैसे |
Scant | Very little; insufficient | बहुत कम / अपर्याप्त |
Want | Need or necessity | ज़रूरत / आवश्यकता |
Prodigal | Spending money wastefully or extravagantly | फिजूलखर्च |
Bountiful | Generous or plentiful | उदार / भरपूर |
Flattering | Giving excessive or insincere praise | चापलूसी / खुशामद |
Frown | To show displeasure or disapproval | नाराज़गी दिखाना / त्योरी चढ़ाना |
Renown | Fame or reputation | प्रसिद्धि / ख्याति |
Fawn | To seek favor by flattery | चापलूसी करना / खुशामद करना |
Indeed | Truly or certainly | वास्तव में |
Weep | To cry | रोना |
Wake | To be awake or stay awake | जागना |
Grief | Deep sorrow or sadness | गहरा दुख |
Bear a part | To share in something (especially suffering) | भागीदारी करना / साथ देना |
Certain | Sure; definite | निश्चित / पक्का |
Foe | An enemy or opponent | दुश्मन / विरोधी |
Explanation in English and Hindi
Summary in English:
The poem emphasizes the difference between true friends and flatterers. It conveys that many people will pretend to be your friend when you are rich or successful, but they will leave you in times of need or misery. A flatterer praises you falsely to gain personal benefit, while a real friend stands by you in joy and sorrow. A true friend shares your pain, weeps with you in sadness, and stays awake when you are troubled. The poet concludes by saying that only a faithful friend will support you through thick and thin, unlike the flattering foe who disappears in hard times.
Summary in Hindi (हिंदी में सारांश):
यह कविता सच्चे मित्र और चापलूस लोगों के बीच के अंतर को दर्शाती है। कवि कहता है कि जब तक आपके पास धन या संसाधन हैं, तब तक सभी लोग आपके मित्र बनते हैं। लेकिन जैसे ही विपत्ति आती है, वे सब आपको छोड़ देते हैं। एक चापलूस केवल अपने स्वार्थ के लिए झूठी प्रशंसा करता है। इसके विपरीत, एक सच्चा मित्र दुख और सुख में साथ देता है, आपकी तकलीफ में दुखी होता है और आपकी चिंता में जागता रहता है। अंत में, कवि बताते हैं कि सच्चा मित्र ही कठिन समय में आपके साथ होता है, जबकि चापलूस लोग केवल दिखावे के मित्र होते हैं।
Understanding the Story
A. Given below are some words from the poem in Column A and their meanings in Column B. Match the words with their correct meanings.
Answer –
Column A | Correct Match from Column B |
(a) flatterer | 3. one who says nice things about someone without having sincere feelings for the person |
(b) scant | 1. very little, not as much as there should be |
(c) prodigal | 7. one who wastes money without giving any thought to the future |
(d) grief | 4. a feeling of great sadness |
(e) foe | 2. enemy |
(f) bountiful | 5. generous, one who gives away large amounts of money |
(g) fawn | 6. to try to please someone with lavish praise |
B. A few expressions from the poem are given along with their possible meanings. Tick (✅) the meaning that you consider to be the most appropriate ones.
(a) words are easy
(I) they speak easy words
(II) they don’t really mean what they say
(III) they don’t know difficult words
Answer – (II) they don’t really mean what they say
(b) wherewith to spend
(i) the place where you go and spend money
(ii) with whom you spend money
(iii) surplus money to spend
Answer – (iii) surplus money to spend
(c) fortunes once do frown
(i) one loses the money one has
(ii) someone keeps frowning
(iii) someone is fortunate
Answer – (i) one loses the money one has
(d) crowns be scant
(i) one loses one’s crown
(ii) one doesn’t become a king
(iii) one becomes poor
Answer – (iii) one becomes poor
C. Identify four pairs of rhyming words from the poem and find out the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Answer – Rhyming Pairs:
thee – misery
wind – find
spend – friend
weep – sleep
Rhyme Scheme:
The poem follows a regular couplet rhyme scheme (AABB).
HOTS
In the third stanza, the poet says, ‘Pity but he were a king.’
If a person is a king, why is he to be pitied?
Answer – The line is spoken sarcastically. The flatterers praise a rich person so much that they say “Pity he isn’t a king,” but it is only false praise. He is to be pitied because these people don’t truly care for him—they flatter only as long as he has wealth. Their loyalty is fake.
life Skills
Given below are some traits of sincere friends and flattering foes. Write them in proper columns given on the next page.
- points out your weaknesses in a fearless but decent manner
- praises you even for those qualities which you do not have
- cannot feel comfortable if you are in trouble
- shares with you the pain of your grief
- treats you as a king as long as you have money
- leaves you when your fortunes are low
Sincere Friend
Answer – Points out your weaknesses in a fearless but decent manner
Cannot feel comfortable if you are in trouble
Shares with you the pain of your grief
Flattering Foe
Answer – Praises you even for those qualities which you do not have.
Treats you as a king as long as you have money.
Leaves you when your fortunes are low.
Values
There is a marked difference between the sincere appreciation of a faithful friend and the artificial flattery of a flattering foe. Discuss. Give examples of your personal experience. Refer to the poem The Spider and the Fly’ also.
Answer – A faithful friend tells you the truth, even when it is hard to hear, and stands by you in good and bad times. A flattering foe, however, praises you only to gain favour or benefit and disappears in tough times. In the poem The Spider and the Fly, the spider flatters the fly with sweet words to trap her. Similarly, false friends trap us with compliments but leave us when we are in need. A real friend values honesty, not flattery.
Writing Skills
Imagine that you picked a quarrel with a classmate and said rather nasty things. One of your friends pointed out to you that the fault was yours and you should feel sorry for it. However, you were furious with your friend also for not taking your side. Later you realised your mistake. Write a letter to your friend saying that you are sorry.
Answer –
Dear Umesh
I hope you’re doing well. I want to sincerely apologise for my rude behaviour the other day. I was upset and ended up saying things I didn’t mean. You were only trying to help me see the truth, and I now realise that you were right. Thank you for being a true friend and not just agreeing with me blindly. I value our friendship a lot and hope you’ll forgive me.
Your friend,
Avinash
Additional Questions and Answers – 01
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- What is the main theme of the poem?
(a) Wealth and power
(b) True friendship vs. flattery ✅
(c) Kingship and fame
(d) Hard work and success
- According to the poet, who remains with you during difficult times?
(a) A wealthy person
(b) A flattering foe
(c) A faithful friend ✅
(d) A stranger
- What does the poet compare easy words to?
(a) Fire
(b) Wind ✅
(c) Rain
(d) Sunshine
- Who will call a wasteful man ‘bountiful’?
(a) His enemies
(b) His relatives
(c) His flatterers ✅
(d) The poor
- When a man’s fortune declines, what do the flatterers do?
(a) Give him support
(b) Offer him money
(c) Leave his company ✅
(d) Call him a king
- What is meant by “He with thee doth bear a part”?
(a) He argues with you
(b) He shares your happiness
(c) He shares your grief ✅
(d) He follows you around
A. Short Questions and Answers
- What is the difference between a faithful friend and a flatterer?
Answer: A faithful friend supports you in bad times, while a flatterer praises you only when you are wealthy. - How does a true friend react when you are sorrowful?
Answer: A true friend weeps with you and shares your sorrow. - Why are ‘words’ compared to wind?
Answer: Because they are easy to say and often lack true meaning, just like the wind that blows without staying. - What happens when a rich person becomes poor, according to the poem?
Answer: Flatterers leave him and stop praising him once he loses his wealth. - What qualities define a faithful friend, according to the poet?
Answer: A faithful friend weeps when you’re sad, stays awake when you’re troubled, and shares your emotional pain.
B. Competency-Based (Reasoning and Assertion) Questions
Assertion (A): A faithful friend is recognized during difficult times.
Reason (R): A true friend will laugh when you cry.
(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.
Assertion (A): Flatterers always stay with you.
Reason (R): They are loyal and honest.
(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) Both A and R are false. ✅
Assertion (A): A prodigal man is praised as ‘bountiful’ by flatterers.
Reason (R): Flatterers only value wealth, not character.
(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.
C. Long Answer Questions (50–60 words)
- Describe the main idea of the poem and the message it conveys.
Answer: The poem contrasts true friends with flatterers. It teaches that a true friend stays with you in sorrow and hardship, while a flatterer disappears when your wealth is gone. The poet warns us to recognize fake friendships and value genuine relationships based on loyalty and empathy. - How does the poet use imagery and contrast to highlight the nature of true friendship?
Answer: The poet uses contrasts like ‘wind’ and ‘faith’ and situations of wealth and poverty to show the fickleness of flatterers and the loyalty of true friends. He creates strong imagery of emotional support and abandonment to help readers understand the depth of genuine friendship. - Explain the significance of the lines “If thou wake, he cannot sleep.”
Answer: This line signifies the emotional bond between true friends. It shows that a sincere friend is so connected to your feelings that your sorrow or restlessness affects their own peace, showing empathy and shared emotional burdens. - Do you agree with the poet’s view of friendship? Why or why not?
Answer: Yes, the poet’s view is realistic. Many people pretend to be friends when you’re successful, but only true friends remain in hard times. Personal experiences often show how rare such friendships are, making the poet’s message valuable and timeless.
Additional Questions and Answers – 02
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- According to the poem, what is a key characteristic of a flatterer?
a) They help in times of need
b) They offer praise only when you are wealthy
c) They share your sorrows
d) They stay loyal during hardship
Answer: b) They offer praise only when you are wealthy - What does the poem compare words of flattery to?
a) A faithful friend
b) The wind
c) A crown
d) A king’s throne
Answer: b) The wind - What happens to flatterers when someone’s fortune declines?
a) They become more supportive
b) They abandon the person
c) They offer financial help
d) They continue to praise
Answer: b) They abandon the person - How does a true friend behave during your sorrow, according to the poem?
a) They avoid you
b) They weep with you
c) They flatter you more
d) They sleep peacefully
Answer: b) They weep with you - What does the poem say about a person who is prodigal?
a) They are criticized by all
b) They are called bountiful and praised
c) They are ignored by friends
d) They are shunned for their wealth
Answer: b) They are called bountiful and praised - What is a sign of a faithful friend, as per the poem?
a) They praise you endlessly
b) They bear a part of your grief
c) They seek your wealth
d) They leave when you are poor
Answer: b) They bear a part of your grief - What does the poem suggest about flatterers’ loyalty?
a) It is unwavering
b) It depends on your wealth
c) It grows stronger in hardship
d) It is based on true affection
Answer: b) It depends on your wealth - What happens to a person’s “great renown” when fortune frowns?
a) It increases
b) It remains unchanged
c) It fades away
d) It attracts more friends
Answer: c) It fades away - What does the poem imply about the availability of faithful friends?
a) They are easy to find
b) They are hard to find
c) They are always wealthy
d) They are always flattering
Answer: b) They are hard to find - How does a true friend react when you cannot sleep due to grief?
a) They sleep soundly
b) They cannot sleep either
c) They offer flattery
d) They leave you alone
Answer: b) They cannot sleep either
Short Questions and Answers
- What does the poem compare flattery to?
Answer: The poem compares flattery to the wind, suggesting it is easy and fleeting. - According to the poem, why do people flatter someone with wealth?
Answer: People flatter someone with wealth because they hope to benefit from their riches. - What happens to flatterers when a person’s wealth runs out?
Answer: Flatterers abandon the person when their wealth runs out. - How does the poem describe a prodigal person?
Answer: The poem describes a prodigal person as being called bountiful and praised by flatterers. - What is one sign of a true friend mentioned in the poem?
Answer: A true friend weeps with you when you are in sorrow. - What does the poem say about a true friend’s support in need?
Answer: A true friend helps you in your time of need. - What happens to a person’s reputation when fortune frowns?
Answer: When fortune frowns, a person’s great renown fades away. - How does the poem describe the behavior of flatterers toward a wealthy person?
Answer: Flatterers praise a wealthy person, saying things like “Pity but he were a king.” - What does a true friend do when you are grieving?
Answer: A true friend bears a part of your grief and shares your sorrow. - What is the poem’s advice for distinguishing a friend from a foe?
Answer: The poem advises looking for signs like helping in need and sharing grief to distinguish a true friend from a flattering foe.
Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion)
- Assertion (A): Flatterers are not true friends, according to the poem.
Reason (R): They only praise you when you have wealth and abandon you in times of hardship.
Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The poem highlights that flatterers are motivated by wealth, offering praise only when you have money and leaving when it’s gone, proving they lack the loyalty of true friends. - Assertion (A): A true friend supports you in times of sorrow.
Reason (R): The poem states that a true friend weeps with you and bears part of your grief.
Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The poem emphasizes that a true friend shares your emotional burdens, such as weeping when you sorrow, demonstrating genuine support unlike the superficial praise of flatterers. - Assertion (A): Flattery is unreliable and fleeting.
Reason (R): The poem compares words of flattery to the wind, which is easy and passes quickly.
Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: By likening flattery to the wind, the poem underscores its transient and insincere nature, highlighting why it cannot be trusted compared to the steadfastness of true friendship. - Assertion (A): A person’s popularity fades when their wealth diminishes.
Reason (R): Flatterers who once praised the person stop associating with them when fortune frowns.
Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The poem explains that flatterers, drawn by wealth, abandon the person when their fortunes decline, causing their “great renown” to fade as their insincere support vanishes. - Assertion (A): True friends are rare and valuable.
Reason (R): The poem states that faithful friends are hard to find and help in times of need.
Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The poem contrasts the scarcity of true friends, who offer genuine help and empathy, with the abundance of flatterers, emphasizing the rare and precious nature of loyal friendship.
Long Questions and Answers (50-60 words)
- How does the poem distinguish between a true friend and a flatterer?
Answer – The poem contrasts true friends, who help in need, weep with you, and share your grief, with flatterers, who praise only when you’re wealthy and abandon you in hardship. True friends offer steadfast support, while flatterers’ words are fleeting like the wind, motivated by self-interest, revealing their insincerity when fortune fades. - What does the poem suggest about the nature of flattery?
Answer – The poem portrays flattery as unreliable and fleeting, comparing it to the wind. Flatterers praise only when you have wealth, calling a prodigal person bountiful, but abandon you when fortune frowns. This insincere praise, driven by self-interest, lacks the depth and loyalty of true friendship, which endures through hardship. - How does the poem describe the behavior of flatterers when a person’s wealth declines?
Answer – When a person’s wealth diminishes, the poem states that flatterers, who once fawned and praised, abandon them. Their insincere admiration, likening the person to a king, vanishes as fortune frowns, and they no longer seek the person’s company. This highlights the superficial, self-serving nature of flatterers compared to loyal friends. - What qualities does the poem attribute to a true friend?
Answer – The poem describes a true friend as one who helps in times of need, weeps when you sorrow, and stays awake when you cannot sleep. They share every grief, bearing a part of your emotional burden. These qualities of loyalty, empathy, and support distinguish true friends from flatterers, who offer only empty praise. - What lesson does the poem teach about choosing friends?
Answer – The poem teaches to choose friends based on their loyalty and support in hardship, not flattery. True friends help in need and share your grief, while flatterers praise only when you’re wealthy and leave when fortune fades. By valuing steadfast friends over fleeting flatterers, you ensure genuine, enduring relationships.