Samacheer Kalvi Class 10 English Solutions Poem 2 The Grumble Family

A. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below.

Question 1. There's a family nobody likes to meet;
They live, it is said, on Complaining Street
(a) Where does the family live?
(b) Why do you think the street is named 'Complaining Street'?
Answer:
(a) The family lives on Complaining Street.
(b) The street is named 'Complaining Street' because a family that always complains lives there, and no one enjoys meeting them. This name clearly shows their nature.
In simple words: The family lives on Complaining Street. The street gets its name because the family living there complains all the time, and people don't like to be around them.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining why a name is given, always connect it to the main characteristic or event associated with that name.

Question 2. They growl at that and they growl at this;
Whatever comes, there is something amiss;
(a) What does the word 'growl' mean here?
(b) Why do they find everything amiss?
Answer:
(a) The word 'growl' here means 'grumbling' or complaining softly. It shows their constant unhappiness.
(b) They find everything amiss because they are never happy or satisfied with anything that happens. They always look for problems.
In simple words: 'Growl' means 'grumble' or complain quietly. They find everything wrong because they are never happy or pleased.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining a word from a poem, relate its meaning to the context of the poem to show understanding.

Question 3. Nothing goes right with the folks you meet Down on that gloomy Complaining Street
(a) What is the opinion about the folks you meet down the street?
(b) What does the word 'gloomy' mean here?
Answer:
(a) The people you meet on that street are always in trouble and always complaining. They never see the good side of things.
(b) Here, 'gloomy' means 'depressing' or sad. It describes the unhappy atmosphere of the street.
In simple words: People on Complaining Street are always complaining and having problems. 'Gloomy' means sad or depressing here.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to descriptive words like 'gloomy' as they often reveal the mood or atmosphere the poet wants to create.

Question 4. The worst thing is that if anyone stays
Among them too long, he will learn their ways;
(a) What is the worst thing that can happen if anyone stays with them?
(b) What are the ways of the Grumble family?
Answer:
(a) The worst thing that can happen is that someone staying with them for too long will also start complaining and become like them. Their negative attitude can be very catching.
(b) The Grumble family complains about everything and anything. They grumble so much that sometimes they even complain about having nothing to complain about.
In simple words: If you stay with them, you might start complaining too. The Grumble family always complains, even when there's nothing wrong.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing the "worst thing," clearly state the negative outcome that the poem highlights as a warning.

Question 5. And so it was wisest to keep our feet From wandering into Complaining Street;
(a) What is the wisest thing that the poet suggests?
(b) What does the phrase 'to keep our feet from wandering' refer to?
Answer:
(a) The wisest thing the poet suggests is to stay away from Complaining Street and avoid going there. It is best to avoid negative influences.
(b) The phrase 'to keep our feet from wandering' means to control your path and stop yourself from visiting or joining in with the grumbling people. It is about choosing not to be around negativity.
In simple words: The poet says it's smart to stay away from Complaining Street. 'To keep our feet from wandering' means to avoid going there or getting involved with the complainers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify key phrases and explain their figurative meaning as well as their literal sense, as poems often use imagery.

Question 6. Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song,
No matter if things do sometimes go wrong;
(a) What does the poet expect everyone to learn?
(b) What should we do when things go wrong sometimes?
Answer:
(a) The poet expects everyone to learn to live with a smile and a song, even when things are difficult. A positive attitude helps overcome challenges.
(b) When things go wrong sometimes, we should still try to be happy and cheerful. This helps us face problems better instead of just complaining.
In simple words: The poet wants us to learn to be happy and sing, even if things go wrong. We should stay cheerful when problems happen.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions asking about the poet's message, summarize the core lesson or advice given in the lines.

B. Answer the following questions in about 80-120 words.

Question 1. Write a paragraph on 'The Grumble Family' and their attitude towards other folks.
Answer: The Grumble family lives on Complaining Street in a place called 'Never-are-Satisfied', where River Discontent flows nearby. This family is always unhappy and finds something wrong with everything, no matter the season or situation. They scold each other and complain constantly. They are never satisfied and have a very negative outlook on life, which is contagious. Anyone who spends too much time with them can easily pick up their habit of grumbling and complaining. People do not like to meet them because of their constant negativity. The poem suggests that staying away from such people is the wisest choice to keep one's own happiness. We should choose to live with a positive mindset, rather than giving in to constant dissatisfaction.
In simple words: The Grumble family lives on Complaining Street and is always unhappy, finding fault in everything. They complain constantly, and their bad attitude can spread to others. People don't like to be around them. It's best to stay away from such negative people to keep a good outlook on life.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing a paragraph about characters, describe their key traits and how they interact with others, using specific details from the text.

Question 2. If you were to live in Complainant Street how would you deal with the people who grumble?
Answer: If I were to live on Complaining Street, I would aim to be a positive influence rather than adopting their habits. First, I would choose to be optimistic and happy myself, showing them a different way of living. I would approach them with kindness and try to teach them the value of patience and working hard for their needs. Since they are often gloomy, I would encourage them to look for the good in situations and think positively. My main goal would be to help them become less anxious and get rid of negative thoughts. I would teach them to appreciate life's goodness and help them stop worrying about small, unimportant things. Ultimately, I would hope to inspire them to live happy and successful lives by focusing on the bright side, because true happiness comes from within us. I would try to help them find joy in simple things, hoping my calm and cheerful nature would slowly change their ways.
In simple words: If I lived on Complaining Street, I would stay positive and try to teach the grumbling people about patience and being happy. I would encourage them to look for good things, get rid of worries, and appreciate life. My goal would be to help them live happier lives.

🎯 Exam Tip: For hypothetical questions, present a clear plan of action, linking your responses to the specific traits of the characters in the poem.

Question 3. From the poem ‘The Grumble Family' – what kind of behaviour does the poet want the readers to possess?
Answer: In 'The Grumble Family,' L.M. Montgomery wants readers to have an optimistic outlook on life. The poet encourages us to focus on the good things and avoid negative thoughts and constant criticism. She advises us to always try our best to be positive, seeing good in all situations rather than dwelling on the bad. It is wise, she believes, to keep away from the "Complaining Street" and avoid grumbling about everything, even if we feel we are wronged. The poet suggests that we should learn to live with a smile and a song, no matter when things go wrong. This means being cheerful and hopeful, because a person who only complains is just someone who explains problems without trying to solve them. By not giving in to pessimism, we can prevent others' negativity from affecting our own success and well-being. The poet wants us to choose joy and a positive mindset, fostering peace and social harmony.
In simple words: The poet wants us to be optimistic and see the good in life. She encourages us to smile, sing, and avoid complaining, even when things are tough. We should not let other people's negative attitudes affect us and instead choose to be happy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the central theme or moral of the poem and clearly state how the poet wants the readers to apply this lesson in their own lives.

C. Answer the following.

Question 1. "And whether their station be high or humble" Pick out the alliteration from the above line.
Answer: The alliterated words here are 'high' and 'humble'. Both words start with the 'h' sound. This repetition creates a musical effect in the poem.
In simple words: In the line "high or humble", the words 'high' and 'humble' start with the same 'h' sound, which is called alliteration.

🎯 Exam Tip: Alliteration involves the repetition of the initial consonant sound in words that are close together.

Question 2. Pick out the other examples of alliteration from the poem.
Answer: Other examples of alliteration from the poem include:
- "growl" and "grumble" in the line "They'd growl that they'd nothing to grumble about!"
- "Let" and "learn", "walk" and "with", "smile" and "song" in the line "Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song,"
- "Jong" and "learn" in the line "Among them too long, he will learn their ways;"
Alliteration helps to make the poem more memorable and enjoyable to read.
In simple words: Other alliterations are "growl, grumble," "Let, learn," "walk, with," "smile, song," and "Jong, learn." These are words near each other that start with the same sound.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying alliteration, carefully listen for the *sound* of the initial consonant, not just the letter, as some letters can have different sounds.

Question 3. Pick out the rhyming words and identify the rhyme scheme of the above lines.
Answer: The "above lines" refer to the stanza from Question 3, Part A: "Nothing goes right with the folks you meet Down on that gloomy Complaining Street".
The rhyming words are 'meet' and 'Street'. They share similar ending sounds.
The rhyme scheme for these lines is 'aabb'. Each pair of lines rhymes with each other.
In simple words: From the lines "Nothing goes right with the folks you meet Down on that gloomy Complaining Street", the rhyming words are 'meet' and 'Street'. The pattern is 'aabb', meaning every two lines rhyme.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify rhyming words, focus on the sounds at the end of each line. For rhyme scheme, assign a new letter for each new rhyming sound.

The Grumble Family (Lucy Maud Montgomery) Literary Devices At A Glance (Figures of Speech)

The Grumble Family Summary of the poem

The poem 'The Grumble Family' talks about a very pessimistic family. For many people today, complaining has become a common habit. This family lives on 'Complaining Street,' and nothing ever seems right in their lives. The poet advises readers to stay away from such people and avoid associating with them. We are warned not to enter their world, because if we do, we might also become complainers. The poet expresses hope that a pessimistic person cannot truly lead a happy life, but an optimist, who always looks for the good, will always find happiness.
In simple words: The poem is about a family that always complains and is never happy. The poet tells us to stay away from such negative people so we don't become like them. She says that only optimistic people can live happy lives.

🎯 Exam Tip: A good summary should capture the main characters, setting, conflict, and the central message or moral of the poem concisely.

Glossary:

- discontent (adj) – feeling unhappy with one's situation
- amiss (adj) – not quite right or wrong
- growl (y) – to make a low, rumbling sound in the throat, often showing anger or annoyance
- grumble (n) – a quiet complaint about something in a bad-tempered way
- gloomy (adj) – appearing sad, dark, or depressing
- queerest (adj) – the strangest or most unusual of all
- acknowledge – to accept or admit that something exists or is true
- terrible (adj) – extremely bad or serious
- wandering (y) – walking or moving around in a relaxed or aimless way
In simple words: This list explains difficult words from the poem. For example, 'discontent' means unhappy, 'amiss' means wrong, and 'gloomy' means sad.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding new vocabulary from a poem helps in grasping its full meaning and expressing ideas accurately in answers.