RBSE Solutions Class 10 English Poem Chapter 4 An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog

Activity 1: Comprehension

A. Tick the correct alternative:

Question 1. The present poem is extracted from
(a) The Vicar of Wake field
(b) The Good Natured Man
(c) The Deserted Village
(d) She Stoops to Conquer
Answer: (a) The Vicar of Wake field
In simple words: The poem you are reading now is taken from a larger work titled 'The Vicar of Wake Field'. This tells us its original source.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about the source of a poem, remember to recall the literary work or collection it belongs to.

Question 2. What is 'a cur?
(a) a hunting dog
(b) an aggressive dog
(c) a family dog
(d) a young dog
Answer: (b) an aggressive dog
In simple words: A 'cur' is often a dog of mixed breed that is usually seen as mean or aggressive. It is not typically a friendly dog.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding older or specific vocabulary, like 'cur', is important for correctly interpreting poems and their themes.

B. Answer the following questions in about 30 - 40 words each:

Question 1. What is an elegy? शोक-गीत क्या है?
Answer: An elegy is a sad poem written to show grief for someone who has passed away, usually a friend or an important person. Oliver Goldsmith's 'An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog' is a special kind of elegy because it is satirical. It ironically mourns the death of the dog, not the man it bit, highlighting how appearances can be deceiving. शोक-गीत एक दुखद कविता होती है जो किसी प्रियजन या महत्वपूर्ण व्यक्ति की मृत्यु पर दुख व्यक्त करने के लिए लिखी जाती है। यह कविता 'एक पागल कुत्ते की मौत पर शोक-गीत' एक व्यंग्यात्मक कविता है। यह उस व्यक्ति की मृत्यु पर दुख नहीं जताती जिसे कुत्ते ने काटा था, बल्कि उस पागल कुत्ते की मृत्यु पर दुख जताती है जिसने आदमी को काटा था।
In simple words: An elegy is a sad poem for the dead. This poem is a funny elegy because it mourns the dog's death, not the man's.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define "elegy" clearly and then explain how this particular poem fits the definition in a satirical way, focusing on the unexpected twist.

Question 2. What does the poet urge to people? कवि ने लोगों से क्या अनुरोध किया है?
Answer: The poet asks all good people to listen carefully to his story or song. He wants them to pay close attention to what he is about to share. He assures them that his story will not be long and might even seem surprisingly short. कवि सभी लोगों से अपनी कहानी या गीत को ध्यान से सुनने का अनुरोध करता है। वह उनसे कहता है कि वे उसकी बातों पर पूरा ध्यान दें। वह उन्हें विश्वास दिलाता है कि उसकी कहानी लंबी नहीं होगी और शायद उन्हें यह छोटी लगेगी।
In simple words: The poet wants everyone to listen carefully to his story. He promises it will be short.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight the poet's appeal for attentive listening and his assurance regarding the length of his narrative.

Question 3. Where did the poet live for some time? लेखक कुछ समय के लिए कहाँ रुके थे?
Answer: The man in the poem lived in the town of Islington. He was a person with strong principles and good morals. He prayed often and was known to be kind and generous, always ready to help both friends and enemies. कविता में वर्णित व्यक्ति आइजलिंगटन शहर में रहता था। वह उच्च सिद्धांतों और नैतिकता वाला व्यक्ति था। वह नियमित रूप से प्रार्थना करता था, दयालु और उदार था, और हमेशा अपने दोस्तों व दुश्मनों दोनों की मदद करने के लिए तैयार रहता था।
In simple words: The man in the poem lived in Islington. He was a kind, moral, and generous person.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the location and then briefly list the key positive moral and social qualities of the man.

Question 4. What kinds of dogs have been described in the poem? कविता में किस प्रकार के कुत्ते की व्याख्या की गई है?
Answer: The poem mentions various types of dogs in Islington. These included all breeds, mixed-breed dogs called mongrels, and young dogs like puppies and whelps (who were often rash). Hunting dogs, known as hounds, and aggressive curs were also present on the streets. कविता में आइजलिंगटन में कई प्रकार के कुत्तों का वर्णन किया गया है। इनमें सभी नस्लों के कुत्ते, दोगले कुत्ते, पिल्ले और युवा (शरारती) व्हेल्प शामिल थे। शिकारी कुत्ते (हाउंड) और हमलावर कर्स (दोगले कुत्ते) भी वहाँ मौजूद थे।
In simple words: The poem describes many kinds of dogs like mongrels, puppies, whelps, hounds, and aggressive curs in Islington.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the different types of dogs mentioned, ensuring you use the specific terms from the poem like 'mongrels', 'whelps', 'hounds', and 'curs'.

C. Answer the following questions in about 60 words each:

Question 1. What are the qualities of the good Man? अच्छे आदमी की क्या विशेषताएँ थीः १०od Man?
Answer: The man from Islington was known for his many good qualities. He was well-liked by everyone, deeply religious, and prayed regularly. He was kind-hearted and generous, always ready to help both his friends and enemies. He even made sure to give clothes to the poor before dressing himself, showing his selfless nature. आइजलिंगटन में रहने वाला आदमी बहुत अच्छा था। वह सभी लोगों को पसंद था, धार्मिक था और नियमित रूप से प्रार्थना करता था। वह दयालु और उदार हृदय का था, जो अपने दोस्तों और दुश्मनों दोनों की मदद करता था। वह गरीबों को कपड़े देने से पहले खुद कपड़े नहीं पहनता था।
In simple words: The man was religious, kind, and generous. He helped friends and enemies and gave clothes to the poor before himself.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the man's virtues (religious, kind, generous, helpful to all) and provide a specific example of his generosity.

Question 2. What does the poet think about a pious man? धर्मपरायण व्यक्ति के बारे में कवि क्या सोचता है?
Answer: The poet thinks a pious man has high ideals and strong morals. This person is truly religious, acts like a good Christian, attends church regularly, and prays daily. Only such a religious individual can possess a truly kind heart, always ready to help and comfort both friends and enemies. कवि सोचते हैं कि एक धर्मपरायण व्यक्ति उच्च आदर्शों और नैतिकता से भरपूर होता है। वह एक सच्चा धार्मिक व्यक्ति है, एक अच्छे ईसाई की तरह व्यवहार करता है, नियमित रूप से चर्च जाता है और हर दिन प्रार्थना करता है। केवल ऐसे धार्मिक व्यक्ति ही दयालु हृदय वाले हो सकते हैं, जो हमेशा अपने दोस्तों और दुश्मनों दोनों की मदद करने और उन्हें सांत्वना देने के लिए तैयार रहते हैं।
In simple words: The poet believes a pious man has high morals, is religious, kind, and helps everyone, including enemies.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the poet's initial portrayal of a pious man as having high morals, kindness, and religiosity, contrasting it with the satirical twist later.

Question 3. Why did an ordinary dog bite his friend? एक साधारण कुत्ते ने अपने दोस्त को क्यों काटा?
Answer: Usually, a normal dog does not bite its friend without a reason. In the poem, the dog and the man were friends at first, but their relationship became bad. The dog then went mad and bit the man, wanting to serve its own selfish goals. It shows that only a mad dog would attack someone who was once its friend. सामान्यतः एक साधारण कुत्ता अपने दोस्त को बिना किसी कारण के नहीं काटता। कविता में कुत्ता और आदमी पहले दोस्त थे, लेकिन उनके रिश्ते खराब हो गए। कुत्ता पागल हो गया और उसने उस आदमी को काट लिया, क्योंकि वह अपने निजी स्वार्थ पूरे करना चाहता था। ऐसे हालात में सिर्फ एक पागल कुत्ता ही अपने दोस्त को काट सकता था।
In simple words: The dog bit its friend because it went mad and wanted to fulfill its own selfish desires.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain that the biting happened because the dog went mad, contrasting it with normal dog behavior towards a friend, and link it to the poem's satirical theme.

Question 4. What did the neighbors think about the dog ? पड़ोसी उस कुत्ते के बारे में क्या सोचते थे?
Answer: After the dog bit the man, the neighbors formed a very bad opinion of the dog. They rushed to the scene when they heard the news, swearing that the dog had lost its mind and gone mad. They believed no ordinary dog would bite such a good man, so it must be a mad dog. कुत्ते द्वारा आदमी को काटने के बाद, पड़ोसियों ने कुत्ते के बारे में बहुत बुरी राय बना ली। खबर सुनते ही वे मौके पर दौड़े और कसम खाई कि कुत्ता पागल हो गया है। उनका मानना था कि कोई साधारण कुत्ता ऐसे अच्छे आदमी को नहीं काट सकता, इसलिए वह एक पागल कुत्ता ही होगा।
In simple words: The neighbors thought the dog was mad because it bit a good man, and they had a very bad opinion of it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the neighbors' initial shock, their assumption of the dog's madness, and their belief that only a mad dog would attack a good man.

Activity 2: Reference To Context

Explain the following lines with reference to context:

Question 1. A Kind and ........ on his clothes.
Answer: This question asks you to explain the meaning of a specific line from the poem within its context. You can find the full line and its meaning on page 257, in the third stanza of your textbook. This type of question tests your ability to understand literary context.
In simple words: To understand this line, look at page 257, stanza 3 in your book. It will explain what the line means in the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: For "Reference to Context" questions, first identify the speaker and situation, then explain the meaning of the lines in simple terms.

Question 2. This dog ........ bit the man.
Answer: This question wants you to explain the context of the line about the dog biting the man. The complete line and its explanation can be found on page 258, in the fifth stanza of your textbook. This event sets up the central conflict of the poem.
In simple words: Find the full line on page 258, stanza 5. That part of the poem talks about the dog biting the man.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always provide the full context of the quoted line, including who said it (if applicable) and what happened right before and after.

Question 3. The wound ........ man would die.
Answer: This question is about the line concerning the wound and the man's expected death. You can find the full line and its context on page 259, in the seventh stanza of your textbook. This line reflects the general belief about rabies during that time.
In simple words: Look up page 259, stanza 7 in your book. It describes the wound and why people thought the man would die.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining the wound and its severity, connect it to the neighbors' fears and the eventual satirical twist.

Question 4. But soon ........ was that died.
Answer: This line refers to the surprising ending of the poem, revealing that the dog, not the man, was the one who died. This crucial twist occurs at the very end. The poem uses this unexpected event to create satire and humor. It challenges the reader's assumptions.
In simple words: This is the final twist: the dog died, not the man. It's the surprising end of the story.

🎯 Exam Tip: For final lines, explain how they conclude the poem's theme, especially when it involves a twist or a strong message.

A. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each:

Question 2. What is a satire? Do you think 'An Elegy on the Death of a mad dog' a satire? Why so? व्यंग्य क्या है? क्या आप समझते हैं कि 'एक पागल कुत्ते की मौत पर शोक-गीत' एक व्यंग्य है? यदि हाँ तो कैसे?
Answer: Satire is a type of writing that uses humor or irony to criticize people or ideas. 'An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog' is a strong satire because it criticizes the man who was bitten by the dog. The man seemed good and kind, like a good Christian, but his appearance was misleading. He was actually more harmful than the dog, and ironically, the dog died, not him. व्यंग्य एक ऐसा तरीका है जिसमें किसी व्यक्ति या विचार की आलोचना करने के लिए हास्य का उपयोग किया जाता है। 'एक पागल कुत्ते की मौत पर शोक-गीत' एक तीखा व्यंग्य है। यह उस आदमी की व्यंग्यात्मक तरीके से आलोचना करता है जिसे पागल कुत्ते ने काटा था। आदमी ईमानदार, noble और दयालु दिखता था, एक अच्छे ईसाई की तरह। लेकिन यह सब सिर्फ दिखावा था। असल में, वह उस पागल कुत्ते से भी ज़्यादा खतरनाक था, और अंत में आदमी नहीं बल्कि पागल कुत्ता ही मरा।
In simple words: Satire uses humor to criticize. This poem is satire because it humorously criticizes the man's false goodness, showing the dog was less harmful.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define satire and then clearly explain how the poem uses the unexpected death of the dog to satirize human hypocrisy and false appearances.

Question 8. What was the reaction of the neighbors when they came to know of the news? उनके पड़ोसियों की उस समय क्या प्रतिक्रिया थी जब उन्होंने यह समाचार सुना?
Answer: It was quite disturbing news for the neighbors. They rushed to help the man and were surprised that the dog had bitten its friend. They swore that the dog had lost its mind and gone mad. They believed only a mad dog could attack such a good and noble man. पड़ोसियों के लिए यह खबर काफी परेशान करने वाली थी। वे आदमी की मदद के लिए दौड़े और हैरान थे कि कुत्ते ने अपने दोस्त को काटा था। उन्होंने कसम खाई कि कुत्ता पागल हो गया था और अपना होश खो चुका था। उनका मानना था कि ऐसे भले और नेक आदमी को सिर्फ एक पागल कुत्ता ही काट सकता है।
In simple words: Neighbors were disturbed and rushed to help. They believed the dog was mad for biting its friend and a good man.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the neighbors' initial shock and concern, and their immediate conclusion about the dog's state and the man's character.

Question 9. What did the neighbors swear when they saw the sore wound of the man who was bitten by the mad dog? लोगों की उस समय क्या प्रतिक्रिया थी जब उन्होंने उस आदमी के शरीर पर गहरा घाव देखा, जिसे एक पागल कुत्ते ने बुरी तरह से जख्मी कर दिया था?
Answer: When the neighbors saw the man's badly swollen and painful wound, they became very concerned. They strongly believed that the dog must have gone mad to bite its former friend. They were sure that the man would not recover from the bite and would eventually die. जब पड़ोसियों ने आदमी के सूजे हुए और दर्दनाक घाव को देखा, तो वे बहुत चिंतित हुए। उन्हें पूरा यकीन हो गया था कि कुत्ता पागल हो गया था क्योंकि उसने अपने दोस्त को काटा था। वे इस बात पर अटल थे कि आदमी इस काटने से ठीक नहीं होगा और अंत में मर जाएगा।
In simple words: Seeing the bad wound, neighbors swore the dog was mad and that the man would surely die from the bite.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe the wound's appearance, the neighbors' emotional reaction (distress, certainty), and their immediate conclusion about the dog's state and the man's fate.

Question 10. What was the wonder that came to light? चौंकाने वाली वह बात क्या थी जो उभरकर सामने आई?
Answer: The surprising wonder was that the man, whom everyone expected to die from the mad dog's bite, actually survived. It was revealed that the man was far more dangerous and 'poisonous' than the dog itself. His apparent good qualities were misleading, and ironically, it was his 'poison' that caused the mad dog's death. आश्चर्यजनक बात यह थी कि जिस आदमी को पागल कुत्ते ने काटा था, वह जीवित बच गया, जबकि सभी ने उसकी मृत्यु की उम्मीद की थी। यह सामने आया कि आदमी खुद उस पागल कुत्ते से भी अधिक खतरनाक और 'जहरीला' था। उसके अच्छे गुण केवल दिखावा थे, और व्यंग्य यह था कि उसी के 'जहर' के कारण पागल कुत्ते की मृत्यु हुई।
In simple words: The man survived, but the dog died. This was surprising and showed the man was more 'poisonous' than the dog.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the ironic twist: the man survives, the dog dies, and the implication that the man's 'poison' (his hypocrisy) was worse than the dog's rabies.

Question 11. Described the unexpected and shocking ending of the poem. इस कहानी के अप्रत्याशित और धक्का पहुँचाने वाले अंत के बारे में बताएँ?
Answer: Goldsmith prepares readers for a major surprise at the poem's end. The shocking twist is that the man bitten by the mad dog survived, while the dog itself died. The man was actually more dangerous and 'poisonous' than the mad dog. It was believed that during the bite, the man's 'poison' entered the dog's body, leading to the poor dog's death. गोल्डस्मिथ कविता के अंत में पाठकों को एक बड़ा झटका देने के लिए तैयार करते हैं। चौंकाने वाली बात यह है कि अंत में आदमी नहीं, बल्कि पागल कुत्ता मर गया। आदमी काटने से बच गया। दरअसल, आदमी उस पागल कुत्ते से कहीं ज़्यादा खतरनाक और जहरीला था जिसने उसे काटा था। माना जाता है कि काटने के दौरान आदमी का 'ज़हर' कुत्ते के शरीर में चला गया, जिससे उस बेचारे कुत्ते की मौत हो गई।
In simple words: The poem's shocking end is that the man lived, but the mad dog died. This suggests the man was more harmful than the dog.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe the reversal of expectations at the poem's conclusion, emphasizing the ironic and satirical nature of the ending where the "good" man survives and the "mad" dog dies.

Questions For Practice

Question 1. What does the poet urge the readers to do? कवि ने पाठकों से क्या करने का आग्रह किया?
Answer: The poet asks all readers to listen carefully and patiently to his story or song. He assures them it will not be long.
In simple words: The poet wants people to listen to his story with full attention.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about a poet's urging, focus on the immediate request and the reason behind it.

Question 2. What kind of man lived in Islington? आइजलिंगटन में किस प्रकार के लोग रहते थे?
Answer: The poem describes a man in Islington as very good and moral. He was religious, kind, generous, and always ready to help others, including his enemies.
In simple words: A very good, religious, kind, and generous man lived in Islington.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recall the initial description of the man's character traits, as presented before the satirical twist.

Question 3. How will you prove that the man was generous and kind? आप किस तरह से यह साबित करेंगे कि वह आदमी उदार और दयालु प्रकृति का था?
Answer: The man showed his generosity and kindness by helping both his friends and enemies. He also gave clothes to poor people before dressing himself.
In simple words: He helped friends and enemies, and gave clothes to the poor before wearing new ones himself.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide specific examples from the poem that demonstrate the man's kindness and generosity.

Question 4. Describe the various breeds of dogs that have been mentioned in the poem. कविता में उल्लेख किए गए कुत्तों की प्रजाति के बारे में बताएँ?
Answer: The poem mentions different types of dogs like mongrels (mixed-breeds), puppies, whelps (young dogs), hounds (hunting dogs), and aggressive curs.
In simple words: The poem talks about many kinds of dogs like mongrels, puppies, hounds, and curs.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the different categories of dogs explicitly named or described in the poem.

Question 5. Why did the dog bit the man who was his friend at first? कुत्ते ने उस आदमी को क्यों काटा जो कभी आरंभिक दिनों में उसका दोस्त हुआ करता था?
Answer: The dog bit the man because it had gone mad, even though they were initially friends. An ordinary dog would not bite its friend without a cause.
In simple words: The dog bit its friend because it went mad.

🎯 Exam Tip: State the primary reason (madness) and briefly contrast it with normal dog behavior towards friends.

Question 6. What did the neighbors swore and why? पड़ोसी आपस में क्या बातें कर रहे थे और क्यों?
Answer: The neighbors swore that the dog was mad because it bit its friend, and they were convinced the man would die from the severe wound.
In simple words: Neighbors believed the dog was mad and that the man would die because of the bad wound.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the neighbors' initial conclusions about the dog's state and the man's fate after the bite.

Question 7. What was the condition of the man and what did the neighbors swear about him? उस आदमी की क्या स्थिति थी और उसके पड़ोसी उसके बारे में क्यों बातें कर रहे थे?
Answer: The man was in a miserable condition with a swollen, deeply-sored wound. Neighbors swore he would not survive the bite, believing the dog was mad and poisonous.
In simple words: The man had a bad, swollen wound, and neighbors swore he would die because they thought the dog was mad.

🎯 Exam Tip: Combine the physical description of the man's injury with the neighbors' dire predictions about his survival.

Question 8. What was the shocking and wondrous thing that came to light in the end? कविता के अंत में ऐसी कौन-सी बात उभरकर सामने आई जो चौंकाने वाली और अप्रत्याशित थी?
Answer: The shocking thing was that the man, expected to die, survived the bite, while the mad dog itself died. This revealed the man's 'poisonous' nature.
In simple words: The man lived, and the mad dog died, which was very surprising and showed the man's bad nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: State the surprising reversal of fate (man lives, dog dies) and its implication about the man's character.

Question 9. Why did the dog die? कुत्ता क्यों मरा?
Answer: The dog died because, ironically, the man it bit was more 'poisonous' than the mad dog. It was believed the man's 'poison' transferred to the dog during the bite, causing its death.
In simple words: The dog died because the man it bit was more 'poisonous', and his 'poison' killed the dog.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the ironic reason for the dog's death, linking it to the man's metaphorical 'poison' as depicted in the poem.