Nature, My English Reader, Class VIII, DAV Board, The Best Solutions- A

Section – A

A.1. Recollect memories of your visit.

Complete the given table by listing the specific sights/places/things you associate with each of these cities/states.

A.2. Share with your partner any memorable experience you had or any particular sight/place/incident that left a deep imprint on your mind.

One of the most unforgettable experiences I had was in Haridwar during the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri. As the sun set and darkness fell, hundreds of lamps floated on the river with the sound of bells and chants echoing all around. The sight was magical and spiritual. It left a deep imprint on my mind and made me feel peaceful and connected with something divine. I also remember the cool breeze from the Ganga and the golden reflection of flames on the water. It was a moment of pure serenity I will never forget.

A.3. Summary In English: The Daffodils

In this poem, the poet William Wordsworth describes a beautiful experience he had when he saw a field of golden daffodils beside a lake. They were fluttering and dancing in the breeze, appearing endless like stars in the sky. The sight filled the poet with joy and wonder. Even later, when he lies alone in thought, the memory of the daffodils returns to his mind and fills his heart with happiness. The poem emphasizes the beauty of nature and its lasting impact on our minds.

In Hindi:

इस कविता में कवि विलियम वर्ड्सवर्थ एक सुंदर अनुभव का वर्णन करते हैं, जब उन्होंने झील के किनारे सुनहरे डैफोडिल (एक प्रकार के फूल) को झूमते और नाचते हुए देखा। वे हवा में लहराते हुए तारों की तरह अनगिनत लग रहे थे। यह दृश्य कवि को आनंद से भर देता है। बाद में जब वह अकेले या सोच में डूबे होते हैं, तो यह दृश्य उनकी स्मृति में लौट आता है और उनका मन फिर से खुशी से भर जाता है। यह कविता प्रकृति की सुंदरता और उसकी मनोवैज्ञानिक शक्ति को दर्शाती है।

Word Meanings Table

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What did the poet see beside the lake?
   Roses
   B. Butterflies
   C. Daffodils
   D. Clouds
   ✔ Answer: C. Daffodils
2. The daffodils were compared to:
   Clouds
   B. Stars
   C. Birds
   D. Rain
   ✔ Answer: B. Stars
3. What mood was the poet in when he saw the daffodils?
   Angry
   B. Lonely and wandering
   C. Happy and excited
   D. Sad and crying
   ✔ Answer: B. Lonely and wandering
4. What effect did the memory of daffodils have on the poet later?
   Made him cry
   B. Gave him ideas for another poem
   C. Filled him with joy
   D. Made him forget nature
   ✔ Answer: C. Filled him with joy

4. Short Questions and Answers

Q1. What does the poet compare himself to at the beginning of the poem?
A: The poet compares himself to a lonely cloud floating over hills and valleys.

Q2. Where did the poet see the daffodils?
A: The poet saw the daffodils beside a lake and under trees.

Q3. How does the poet describe the daffodils?
A: He describes them as golden, fluttering, dancing in the breeze, and shining like stars in the sky.

Q4. What effect did the sight have on the poet?
A: It filled him with joy, and later the memory of the scene continued to bring him peace and happiness.

Q5. What is meant by “bliss of solitude”?
A: It means the joy or peace one feels when alone, especially when recalling beautiful memories.

A.4. Complete a brief summary of the poem with suitable words or phrases.

Once the poet was roaming aimlessly when he saw a large number of daffodils. They were golden in colour and fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

The daffodils looked like innumerable stars shining in the Milky Way. At one glance, the poet was able to see a large number of them. They were growing in a never-ending line along the sea-shore. They were waving their heads in a cheerful dance.

The waves too appeared to be happy but they could not match the joy and gaiety of the flowers. The poet felt happy in the presence of such lively company but he could not realise the real worth of the scene at that time.

Later, whenever the poet lay on his couch in a thoughtful mood, the daffodils appeared before his mind’s eye and his heart started dancing. It was then that he realised that a beautiful scene or object is a source of lasting joy.

A.5. Mark the following statements with a (✓) if true and a (×) if false.

A.6. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow.

(a) The waves beside them danced, but they

Outdid the sparkling waves in glee;

(i) Identify the poem and the poet.
Answer – “The Daffodils” by William Wordsworth

(ii) Who are ‘they’ in line 1?
Answer – They are the golden daffodils.

(iii) How did ‘they’ outdo the waves?
Answer – The daffodils danced more joyfully and cheerfully than the sparkling waves.

(b) They flash upon that inward eye

which is the bliss of solitude;

(i) What does the poet mean by ‘inward eye’?
Answer – ‘Inward eye’ refers to the memory or imagination that sees things in the mind.

(ii) How is the inward eye a blessing given to us by solitude?
Answer – Solitude allows deep thinking and helps us recall beautiful memories, giving peace and joy.

(iii) What happens to the poet when ‘they’ flash upon his inward eye?
Answer – His heart fills with pleasure and he feels as if dancing with the daffodils.

A.7. Pick out at least four expressions from the poem that suggest the numerousness of the daffodils. Next, pick out words and phrases which describe the joy and pleasure of the flowers and the poet.

🔹 Expressions showing numerousness of daffodils:

• “a crowd, a host of golden daffodils”
• “Continuous as the stars that shine”
• “They stretched in never-ending line”
• “Ten thousand saw I at a glance”

🔸 Words/phrases showing joy/pleasure:

• “fluttering and dancing in the breeze”
• “sprightly dance”
• “jocund company”
• “my heart with pleasure fills”
• “dances with the daffodils”

A.8. HOTS

The poet was wonderstruck by the beauty of the daffodils which he came across all of a sudden. Had the poet been able to enjoy their beauty to the same extent if it would have been a pre-planned visit? Discuss with your partner.

Discussion Point:
If the poet had planned to visit the daffodils, the joy might have been less spontaneous. The sudden and unexpected beauty took him by surprise, filling him with wonder. Unplanned moments in nature often bring the deepest joy because they are genuine and overwhelming.

Conclusion:
No, a pre-planned visit may not have brought the same surprise or emotional impact. The spontaneous discovery made it magical and memorable.

A.9. Pick any two similes from the poem ‘Daffodils’. Make two sentences with  the similes of your own.

Similes from the poem:

1. “I wandered lonely as a cloud”
2. “Continuous as the stars that shine”

Your own sentences:

1. She moved as gracefully as a swan in the water.
2. The children sparkled like stars on stage during the play.

A.10. Life Skills

Discuss in groups of four how nature can bring comfort to human beings when they are in grief and anxiety. Then prepare a speech to be given in the school assembly emphasising that it is important to get back to nature to destress ourselves and to experience pure joy.

Speech Draft

Topic: Returning to Nature for Peace and Joy

Speech for School Assembly:

Good Morning everyone,

Today I want to talk about something we all need in our busy lives—Nature. In this fast-paced world, where screens and schedules control us, nature offers peace, comfort, and healing. Whether we are sad, anxious, or tired, a walk in the park, the sound of birds, or the sight of flowers can calm us deeply.

Nature is the best stress reliever. It brings us closer to ourselves and gives us time to reflect, breathe, and feel alive. Just like the poet William Wordsworth felt joy by watching daffodils, we too can experience pure happiness if we reconnect with the natural world.

So, let’s make time for nature—every day. Let’s feel the wind, admire a sunset, or sit under a tree. Let nature heal our hearts. Thank you!

A.11. Further Reading

Read the following poems by William Wordsworth.

• To a Butterfly
• Solitary Reaper
• Lucy Gray (Three years she grew in sun and shower…)

• To a Butterfly – a gentle reflection on the fleeting nature of life.
• The Solitary Reaper – about a girl singing alone in a field and the emotional power of her song.
• Lucy Gray (Three Years She Grew…) – a lyrical poem about the life and spiritual growth of a girl close to nature.