Samacheer Kalvi Class 7 English Solutions Term 3 Poem 2 Courage

Warm Up (Text Book Page No. 121)

Look at the face It chart. Discuss in small groups and tell how to face those situations.

If you aspire to get the trophy on the sports day, that is great. But just wishing is not enough. You must practice hard and put in a lot of effort, even if it feels difficult. You might face problems like fights or getting sick. Even then, keep your goal of winning the trophy in mind. You have to work hard for it. If you do, you will surely be successful.

Read and Understand (Text Book Page No. 123)

A. Answer the following questions.

Question 1. Can courage be developed suddenly? Why?
Answer: Courage is not a quick burst of energy or something that happens in an instant. It is a deep-seated feeling within a person's soul. True courage grows over time, building strength from within.
In simple words: No, courage does not appear suddenly. It is a deep feeling inside a person that grows over time.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering about qualities like courage, emphasize their internal and developing nature rather than sudden appearance.

Question 2. When should we have courage?
Answer: Courage is a quality that always stays with a person. It is a natural part of who they are. It is needed not just in dangerous times, but in all parts of life. Courage is a constant inner strength that helps us face everyday challenges.
In simple words: We should always have courage. It is a natural part of us and helps us always, not just in danger.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight that courage is a continuous trait, not something we only need during emergencies, showing its importance in daily life.

Question 3. Give an example for dazzling light.
Answer: Any bright light, no matter how strong, shines brightly for a moment and then disappears. However, courage is different because it is a lasting quality. It lives forever in the hearts of brave people. This shows that courage is more enduring than a fleeting display.
In simple words: A dazzling light is like a bright flash that quickly goes away. Courage is not like that; it stays forever.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use vivid comparisons to explain abstract concepts. Contrasting courage with a fleeting light helps illustrate its permanent nature.

Question 4. Can a courageous man be defeated? Why?
Answer: Yes, even a brave person can face many defeats. But a courageous person will not give up their goal just because they fail. They will keep trying hard to overcome their failures and difficulties. Courage gives them the strength to persist through setbacks.
In simple words: Yes, a brave person can be defeated. But they will not quit their goal and will keep fighting to win.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize that courage is about persistence through failure, not the absence of failure. This shows a deeper understanding of the quality.

Question 5. What is the 'breath of life'?
Answer: Courage is considered the 'breath of life'. This means it is as essential and vital as breathing itself. Without courage, life would be incomplete and difficult to navigate, showing how fundamental it is to human existence.
In simple words: Courage is like the 'breath of life', meaning it is very important and necessary for living.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining metaphors, break down what each part represents (e.g., "breath" means "essential" or "vital") to clarify the meaning.

Question 6. What are the characteristics of a courageous man?
Answer: Courageous people show patience, strength, and work very hard. They are willing to do brave things and always aim for their far-off goals. They plan carefully and do not change their minds easily. These traits help them overcome obstacles and achieve great things.
In simple words: A brave person is patient, strong, works hard, does daring deeds, and stays focused on their goals.

🎯 Exam Tip: List characteristics clearly and concisely. Grouping related ideas (like patience and unwavering focus) makes the answer stronger.

Appreciation Questions

B. Read the following lines and answer the questions.

Question 1. It isn't an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
(a) What does 'it' refer to?
Answer: Courage is not a quality that can appear suddenly in a person. 'It' refers to the quality of courage. It is developed over time through experiences and choices.
In simple words: 'It' means courage, which is a feeling that grows inside a person over time, not something that happens fast.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a question asks what a pronoun refers to, always state the noun clearly and connect it back to the context provided in the lines.

Question 1. It isn't an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
(b) What does 'born of despair' mean?
Answer: 'Born of despair' means that a moment of hopelessness cannot suddenly create courage in a person. Courage is a deep quality in a person's soul, not something that just pops up when things are bad. It shows that true courage is a constant presence, not a reaction to a single event.
In simple words: 'Born of despair' means that courage does not come from a single moment of sadness. It is a deep part of a person's character.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain poetic phrases by breaking down their literal and figurative meanings, relating them to the poem's overall theme.

Question 2. It's a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait
(a) What is an 'ingrained trait'?
Answer: An 'ingrained trait' means a characteristic that is deeply fixed and permanent in someone's personality. Courage is a quality that is a fundamental part of a bold person. It is not easily changed or removed, much like a habit formed over many years.
In simple words: An 'ingrained trait' is a deep-seated and lasting part of a person's character, like a strong habit.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define key terms clearly and use simple analogies (like a strong habit) to help explain complex concepts.

Question 2. It's a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait
(b) Why does a courageous man need patience?
Answer: Success in anything does not come easily or quickly. Strong people work hard for their goals, and they need patience to keep going and wait for results. Patience helps them stay focused and determined through long efforts. True courage often involves enduring a long process.
In simple words: A brave person needs patience because success takes time and hard work, so they must wait for their goals to be met.

🎯 Exam Tip: Connect the need for patience directly to the difficulty and time required for achieving significant goals, as suggested by the poem.

Question 3. It's part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
(a) What does 'tears' mean?
Answer: 'Tears' here mean the difficulties and challenges we face in our struggles. Defeats and sadness are like roadblocks for strong people. Despite these hardships, courageous people continue to perform brave deeds. This shows courage is present even during moments of sorrow.
In simple words: 'Tears' mean the hard times, problems, and sadness we face in life.

🎯 Exam Tip: When interpreting words in poetry, consider both their literal meaning and their figurative meaning within the context of the lines.

Literary Appreciation:

C. Work in pairs and answer the following. (Text Book Page No. 124)

Question 1. Pick out the alliterated words:
Answer:
1. Sudden spring,
2. daring deed,
3. serve some plan
In simple words: Alliteration is when words close together start with the same sound. We found three examples of this in the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: Alliteration is about the *sound* not just the letter. Quickly repeating the initial consonant sound helps to create a rhythmic effect.

Question 2. Pick out the rhyming words.
Answer:
1. dash - flash
2. thing – spring
3. hope – rope
4. not - hot
5. goal – soul
6. sight – trait
7. blue – do
8. freed – need
9. show – go
10. defeat – meet
11. years tears
12. deed - creed
In simple words: Rhyming words are those that have the same ending sound. We identified several pairs of rhyming words from the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the end sounds of words, not just their spelling, to identify true rhymes.

Question 3. Write the rhyming scheme of the poem.
Answer: The rhyming scheme of the poem follows an AB, AB, AB, AB, AB pattern across its four stanzas. This consistent pattern helps to create a smooth, musical flow for the reader. This is a common structure in many poems.
In simple words: The poem's rhyme scheme is ABAB, which means the first and third lines rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme in each part.

🎯 Exam Tip: To find the rhyme scheme, assign a new letter to each new end sound in a stanza and observe the pattern.

Creative Writing

Bio - Poem

A Bio-poem is an essay about oneself in the form of poetry.

Line 1: Your name
Line 2: Four adjectives that describe you.
Line 3: Son of / daughter of... brother of / sister of.
Line 4: Lover of three people, things, or idea.
Line 5: Who feels (three sensations or emotion)
Line 6: Who needs (three things)
Line 7: Who gives (three things)
Line 8: Who fears (three things)
Line 9: Who would like to see (three persons or places)
Line 10: Who lives ...
Line 11: your last name

D. Work in small groups. Pick out the adjectives and nouns that suit you using a dictionary. Read the steps given. Arrange adjectives and nouns like the given sample to construct your BioPoem. Present in the class.

7th English Guide Courage Additional Appreciation Questions

Question 1. "Courage isn't the last resort
In the work of life or the game of sport;
It isn't a thing that a man can call
"
(a) What is not a thing that a man can call according to the poet?
Answer: According to the poet, courage is not something a person can just call upon whenever they want. It is not the final solution in life's challenges or in sports. Courage is an intrinsic quality that one cultivates, rather than an external tool to be summoned.
In simple words: The poet says courage is not something you can just ask for or use only when everything else fails.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the poet's perspective when answering such questions, using phrases like "according to the poet" to frame your response.

Question 2. "Courage was never designed for show; "
(a) What does the poet mean in this line?
Answer: The poet means that courage is a genuine inner quality. It is meant to be shown through actions, not just through empty words or outward displays. True bravery is about deeds, not just appearances. This means courage is more about integrity than performance.
In simple words: The poet means that real courage is not for showing off; it is seen in what a person does, not just in words.

🎯 Exam Tip: When interpreting lines, consider the difference between superficial display and true intrinsic value, as often explored in poetry about virtues.

Question 3. "It's the breath of life and a strong man's creed"
(a) Why does the poet say the above line?
Answer: The poet says this because courage is a deeply ingrained quality. It is like a natural part of a person's very being, essential like breath and blood. It is an inborn trait that strong individuals live by, without fear. Courage forms the core belief system for those who truly possess it.
In simple words: The poet says this because courage is a very important, inborn quality that strong people believe in and live by, just like breathing.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the significance of the metaphors ("breath of life," "creed") by linking them to the idea of courage being fundamental and integral to a person's existence.

Courage Summary in English

Courage resides deep within a person's soul. When someone works towards a goal, they must have courage in their heart. It is a fundamental part of who a person is. Courage is present in both victories and defeats, in happy moments and sad ones. It is truly the breath of life, guiding us through every situation.

Courage Summary in Tamil

தைரியம் என்பது மனிதனின் ஆன்மாவில் உள்ளது. மனிதன் இலட்சியத்தை நோக்கி முயற்சிக்கும் போது அவன் இதயத்தில் துணிவு இருக்க வேண்டும். துணிவு மனிதனின் இதயத்தின் ஒரு பகுதியாகும். இது வெற்றியிலும் உண்டு. தோல்வியிலும் உண்டு. புன்னகையிலும் உண்டு. கண்ணீரிலும் உண்டு. வாழ்வின் மூச்சுக் காற்றிலும் உண்டு.

Courage About the Author in English

Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959) was a prolific English-born American poet. He was very popular in the first half of the 20th century and was known as the "People's Poet." His poems often shared inspiring and hopeful messages, connecting deeply with everyday readers.

Courage About the Author in Tamil

எட்கார் ஆல்பர்ட் கெஸ்ட் என்பவர் (1881 -1959) வரை வாழ்ந்தவர். இங்கிலாந்தில் பிறந்த அமெரிக்கர். 20ஆம் நூற்றாண்டின் முன் பாதியில் பிரபலமாய் இருந்தவர். மக்களின் கவிஞர் என்று புகழ் பெற்றவர். அவரது கவிதைகள் ஆர்வமூட்டுபவை. நல்ல நம்பிக்கை ஊட்டுபவை. நம் அன்றாட வாழ்வில் உற்சாகத்தை ஊட்டுபவை.