THE FROG AND THE NIGHTINGALE
WORKSHEET
Theme: The poem highlights the plight of those gullible people whose simplicity and credulous nature makes them complete misfit in the world of manipulation. The go-getters elbow their way to the forefront pushing the deserving to the background. The shy and the timid fail to put their foot down and the dominating and the domineering go about exploiting them without any sense of remorse or guilt.
Title: The story of ‘The Frog and the Nightingale’ is based on two main characters- the Nightingale and the Frog. Hence the poet has rightly included both of them in the title of the poem. However though the Nightingale is the pivotal character, the poet has chosen to call the poem ‘The Frog and The Nightingale’ rather than ‘The Nightingale and the frog’. Hence he cleverly hints the dominating nature of the frog. Hence, the poem has a well chosen and well worded title.
Message: In order to survive in the manipulative world today, it is important to have worldly wisdom. It is only one’s individuality and reasoning that can save one from getting duped and exploited. One must know one’s limitations and capabilities to be able to decide the course of one’s life.
Read the Following Extracts and Answer the Questions that Follow
1. a) Neither stones nor prayers nor sticks,
Insults or complaints or bricks
Stilled the frog’s determination
To display his hearts elation.
1. How do the inmates of the bog try to silence the frog?
2. What idea do you get about the frog from the above lines?
3. The inmates of the bog tried all possible methods to silence the frog. What does it show?
2. a) Ladies with tiaras glittering
In the interval sat twittering-
And the frog observed them glitter
With a joy both sweet and bitter.
1. ‘Ladies with tiaras’ refers to?
2. Why did the ladies twitter during the interval?
3. Why did the frog observed ‘them’ with a joy both ‘sweet and bitter’?
3. a) Trembling, terrified to fail,
Blind with tears, the nightingale
Heard him out in silence, tried,
Puffed up, burst a vein and died.
1. Why was the nightingale terrified?
2. How did the nightingale die?
3. What is the figure of speech in the first line?
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)
1. What surprise did the bog creatures get one fine day?
2. Who was the solitary loon? How did he behave differently from the others?
3. How did the frog introduce himself to the nightingale? What trait of the frog’s personality does the introduction brings out?
4. What subdued the nightingale and how was her throat revived at night?
5. In what way did the frog become the unrivalled king of the bog once again?
Long Answer Questions
1. It was more of nightingale’s gullibility, than the frog’s scheming that led to her downfall and death. Comment.
2. How did the role of the audience affect the fate of the nightingale?
Please click on below link to download CBSE Class 10 English The Frog And The Nightingale Worksheet Set A
