Class 8 Higher English Appreciations



Std 8th Higher English poems 


Std 8th Higher English poem 1.1 A Time To Believe

‘‘To believe is to know that
everyday is a new beginning.
Is to trust that miracles happen,
and dreams really do come true.
To believe is to see angels
dancing among the clouds.
To know the wonder of a stardust sky
and the wisdom of the man in the moon.
To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart,
The innocence of a child’s eyes
and the beauty of an aging hand,
for it is through their teachings, we learn to love.
To believe is to find the strength
and courage that lies within us,
When it is time to pick up
the pieces and begin again.
To believe is to know
we are never alone,
That life is a gift
and this is our time to cherish it.
To believe is to know
that wonderful surprises are just
waiting to happen,
And all our hopes and dreams are within reach.
If only we believe.’’


An Appreciation of the Poem "A Time to Believe"

Title: Title of the poem is "A Time to Believe".

Poet: The poem was written by B.J. Morbitzer.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is written in free verse, which means there is no rhyme scheme or rhythm. 

Figures of Speech: The poem uses several figures of speech to convey its uplifting message.

  • Anaphora (Repetition): The phrase "To believe is to..." is repeated at the beginning of several stanzas.
  • Metaphor:  Two unlike things are directly compared. An example is the line, "That life is a gift".
  • Imagery: The poet uses imagery to create vivid mental pictures for the reader. For example, "To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds".

Theme/Central Idea:

The central theme of the poem is the power and importance of belief in shaping a positive and meaningful life. The poet suggests that belief is necessary for hope and love. It helps us to see every day as a new beginning, to trust in miracles, and to pursue our dreams with confidence. The poem teaches us to believe in our inner strength and to find the courage to act.

Why I like the poem:

The poem is very inspiring. It has an appealing message. It provides comfort and motivation. 


Std 8th Higher English poem 1.2 The Pilgrim

A pilgrim, going a lone high way
Came at evening, cold and gray
To a chasm, deep and vast and wide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim.
The chasm held no fear for him.
But he paused when he reached the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,
“Why waste your time in building here?
Your journey ends with the close of the day
You never again will pass this way.
You have crossed the chasm deep and wide
Why build ye here at even tide ?”
The pilgrim raised his old gray head,
“My friend in the path I’ve come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today
A fair haired youth, who must pass this way.
The chasm which held no fears for me
To the fair haired youth, may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim.
My friend, I am building this bridge for him.”
- Anonymous

An Appreciation of the Poem "The Pilgrim"

Title: The title of the poem is "The Pilgrim".

Poet: The poem is written by an anonymous poet.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the first stanza is AABCCBB. The poem continues with rhyming couplets, which gives it a simple, narrative flow suitable for storytelling.

Figures of Speech: The key figures of speech are:

  • Metaphor: The entire poem is a metaphor. 
    • The journey represents life. 
    • The "chasm" represents challenges or death. 
    • Building the bridge symbolises selfless acts for future generations.
  • Inversion: The poet changes the word order for emphasis, as in "Why build ye here at even tide?".

Theme/Central Idea: The theme is selflessness and responsibility towards the future. The poem conveys the message that one should not only think about their own journey but also make the path easier and safer for those who come after.

Why I like the poem: I appreciate this poem for its profound and timeless message. 


Std 8th Higher English poem 2.1 Vocation 

Vocation

When the gong sounds ten in the morning and

I walk to school by our lane,

Every day I meet the hawker crying, ‘‘Bangles,

crystal bangles!’’

There is nothing to hurry him on, there is no

road he must take, no place he must go to, no

time when he must come home.

I wish I were a hawker, spending my day in

the road, crying, ‘‘Bangles, crystal bangles!’’

When at four in the afternoon I come back from

the school,

I can see through the gate that house the

gardener digging the ground.

He does what he likes with his spade, he soils

his clothes with dust, nobody takes him to

task, if he gets baked in the sun or gets wet.

I wish I were a gardener digging away at the

garden with nobody to stop me from digging.

Just as it gets dark in the evening and my

mother sends me to bed,

I can see through my open window the

watchman walking up and down

The lane is dark and lonely, and the street

lamp stands like a giant with one red eye

in its head.

The watchman swings his lantern and walks

with his shadow at his side, and never once

goes to bed in his life.

I wish I were a watchman walking the street all night,

chasing the shadows with my lantern.

- Rabindranath Tagore

An Appreciation of the Poem "Vocation"

Title: The title of the poem is "Vocation".

Poet:  It is written by "Rabindranath Tagore".

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is written in free verse, which means it does not have any rhyme scheme or rhythm. It has a natural and conversational tone, like a child sharing his thoughts.

Figures of Speech: There are various figures of speech in the poem.

  • Simile: A direct comparison using "like" or "as". An example is "the street lamp stands like a giant with one red eye in its head."
  • Repetition:  The structure "I wish I were a..." is repeated to express his longing for each vocation.
  • Onomatopoeia: The use of the words "When the gong sounds ten in the morning" reminds one of the sounds.
  • Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds, such as in "gardener digging the ground."

Theme/Central Idea:

The poem expresses a child's innocent wish for freedom. The speaker, a young school-going boy, observes the lives of a hawker, a gardener, and a watchman. He thinks that their lives are free from the disciplines he faces. He wants to roam freely like a hawker. He wants he gardener's liberty to get dirty without being scolded and the watchman's ability to stay up all night. The poem suggests that the boy is unaware of the hardships and monotony of these jobs.

Why I like the poem: The poem is very simple. It expresses a child's innocence.  




Std 8th Higher English poem 2.3 The Worm

The Worm

Turn, turn thy hasty foot aside,

Nor crush that helpless worm!

The frame thy scornful looks deride

Required a God to form.

The common Lord of all that move,

From whom thy being flow’d,

A portion of His boundless love

On that poor worm bestow’d.

The sun, the moon, the stars He made

To all His Creatures free :

And spreads o’er earth the grassy blade,

For worms as well as thee.

Let them enjoy their little day,

Their lowly bliss received;

O do not lightly take away

The life thou canst not give !

 - Thomas Gisborne

An Appreciation of the Poem "The Worm"


Title: The title of the poem is "The Worm".

Poet: The poem is written by Thomas Gisborne.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is abab.

Figures of Speech: The poem uses several figures of speech, including Apostrophe,  

  • Apostrophe: "Turn, turn thy hasty foot aside." The poet directly addresses a passerby who is not specified.
  • Inversion: "The sun, the moon, and the stars He made." It is an incorrect prose order. The natural grammatical order would be: "He made the sun, the moon, the stars."
  • The phrase "turn, turn thy" is an excellent example of both repetition and alliteration working together.

    It is repetition because the exact word "turn" is used twice.

    It is alliteration because the initial consonant sound "t" is repeated in adjacent words.

Theme/Central Idea: The central idea of the poem is that all of God's creations are very small or humble. They are valuable and have a right to live. The poet tells us that we should respect every living creature. It reminds us that the same God who created humans also created the worm and bestowed love upon it. The poem conveys a strong message of compassion and argues that since we cannot give life, we have no right to take it away.

Why I like this poem: This poem teaches to love all. 


Std 8th Higher English poem 3.1 The Plate Of Gold


An Appreciation of the Poem "The Plate Of Gold"

Title: The title of the poem is "The Plate of Gold".

Poet: The poem is written by James Henry Leigh Hunt.

Rhyme Scheme: This poem is a narrative poem written in free verse. 

Figures of Speech: The poem uses several literary devices:

  • Simile: A comparison using 'like' or 'as'. For example, "The news ran swift as light".
  • Archaism: The poet uses old-fashioned words like 'loveth' (loves) and 'thine' (yours) to give the story a timeless, fable-like quality.
  • Personification: The abstract idea of Heaven is given the human ability to "refuse" something, as if it were a person making a decision
    • Example: "...trice did Heaven refuse the gift."
  • Inversion (Anastrophe): It is incorrect prose order.
    • Example: "...whereon these words were writ;"
  •  Onomatopoeia : 
    • Example: "...dropt it clanging on the floor." Explanation: The word "clanging" sounds like the noise of metal hitting a hard surface.

Theme/Central Idea: The central idea is that God loves those who show sincere and selfless love for humanity. The poem teaches that true devotion is not found in wealth, power, or grand deeds done for fame, but in simple acts of kindness and compassion shown to the poor and needy without any expectation of a reward.

Why I like the poem: I like this poem because it tells a beautiful story with a powerful moral. 


Std 8th Higher English poem 3.3 Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare ?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows ?
No time to see, when woods we pass
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass ?
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night ?
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance ?
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.


An Appreciation of the Poem "Leisure"

Title: The title of the poem is "Leisure".

Poet: The poem is by William Henry Davies.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is composed of seven rhyming couplets, with the rhyme scheme AABB CCDD EEFF GG. 

Figures of Speech: The poem uses several figures of speech:

  • Simile: A beautiful comparison is made in "Streams full of stars, like skies at night".
  • Personification: Nature and Beauty are personified as a dancer in the lines, "No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance?".
  • Interrogation: The poem begins and ends with a rhetorical question, "What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?"

Theme or Central Idea: The poem is about our busy lives. We are always in a hurry. We have no time to stop and enjoy nature. The poet says this is a poor way to live. The poet says that a life without leisure is a very poor and unhappy one. The poem is very relevant today. 

Why I like the poem: It serves as a beautiful reminder to slow down, be mindful, and appreciate the simple joys that nature offers freely.



Std 8th Higher English poem 4.1 The Vet

To be a successful and competent vet,
Needs knowledge exceedingly wide,
For each of the patients he’s likely to get
Possesses a different inside.
He must know why the cat is refusing her milk,
Why the dog is not eating his bone,
Why the coat of the horse is not shining
like silk,
Why the parrot does nothing but groan;
Why the ducks and the chickens are failing
to lay,
Why so faint the canary bird sings,
And if he is called to the zoo, he must say
An incredible number of things.
If the lion’s caught a cold,
If the zebra’s getting old,
If the centipede has trouble with his feet,
If the hippo’s feeling ill,
If the bison’s got a chill,
If the Arctic fox is suffering from heat,
If some virulent disease
Has attacked the chimpanzees,
If the tortoise hasn’t stirred for several years,
If the bear’s too full of buns,
If the cobra eats her sons,
If the panther has a wife who chews his ears;
If giraffes have had a tiff
And their necks are feeling stiff
If hyenas will not laugh at keepers’ jokes,
If the monkey’s pinched his tail,
If the rhino’s looking pale,
If the elephant eats paper-bags and chokes,
If the camel hurts his hump,
If the kangaroo won’t jump,
If the crocodile turns cannibal and bites,
They run away and get
That omniscient, the vet
And expect him to put everything to rights.
Profoundly I pity the vet, who must learn
Such a very great deal for his pay;
My son, I advise you most strongly to earn
Your living an easier way.
Don’t attempt to attend the zoological crowd;
a far more advisable plan
Is to call yourself ‘Doctor’, and so be allowed
To treat the illnesses of man.

Title: The title is "The Vet," which is a short form of veterinarian.

Poet: The poem is written by Guy Boas.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem has a light, musical rhythm with an AABB rhyme scheme in most stanzas, which adds to its humorous tone.

Figures of Speech: The primary figures of speech are:

  • Hyperbole: The poem uses exaggeration to describe the vast range of illnesses the vet must understand. 
    • Example: "an incredible number of things".
  • Personification: Giving human qualities or actions to animals.
    • Example: "Why the parrot does nothing but groan;" (Groaning is a human way of showing pain).
    • Example: "If hyenas will not laugh at keepers’ jokes," (Giving hyenas a human sense of humour).
  • Simile: A comparison between two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'.
    • Example: "Why the coat of the horse is not shining like silk,"

Theme/Central Idea: The entire poem is built on a humorous tone, listing comical problems of different animals. A vet's job is very hard. They must treat many different animals. Animals cannot talk. They cannot say where they are hurting. So, being a vet takes a lot of skill. The poem amusingly concludes by advising that being a doctor for humans is a much easier path.

Why I like the poem: I like this poem because it is enjoyable because of its clever humour and witty rhymes. 



Std 8th Higher English poem 4.3 The Bees

So work the honey- bees, creatures that by a rule in
nature teach
The art of order to a peopled kingdom,
They have a king and officers of sorts;
Where some, like magistrates, correct at home;
Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad;
Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings;
Make boot upon the summer’s velvet buds;
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent royal of their emperor ;
Who, busied in his magesty, surveys,
The singing masons building roofs of gold,
The civil citizens kneading up the honey,
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrowgate,
The sad eyed Justice, with his surly hum,
Delivering over to executors pale
The lazy yawning drone

Title: The title of the poem is "The Bees".

Poet: This poem is an excerpt from the play Henry V by the greatest playwright, William Shakespeare.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem is written in blank verse, which is unrhymed iambic pentameter. 

Figures of Speech: The dominant figure of speech is:

  • Simile: The organised society of honeybees is compared to an ideal human kingdom.
  • Personification: The bees are given human occupations and roles, such as "magistrates," "merchants," "soldiers," "masons," and an "emperor," to make the comparison clear.
  • Metaphor: The honeycomb is referred to as "roofs of gold".

Theme/Central Idea: The central theme is order, discipline, and cooperation. The poem compares the colony of honey-bees to a well-organized human kingdom. It describes different types of bees like the king, magistrates, merchants, and soldiers. Each bee has a specific role and works hard for the benefit of the hive. The bees teach humans the "art of order" and the value of teamwork. It shows that a society succeeds when everyone performs their duty faithfully.

Why I like the poem: I admire this poem for its intricate and masterful comparison. 

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