The Wonderful Words Poem Questions and Answers

The Wonderful Words Poem Questions and Answers: In the enchanting world of literature, language serves as the magical bridge that connects the human soul with the realm of imagination and emotion. Among the myriad treasures of language, poetry stands tall, weaving its verses to evoke feelings, paint vivid imagery, and inspire minds.

For the students of Class 9 (KSEEB solutions for Class 9 English) studying under the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB), Chapter 4 presents an enthralling adventure into the realm of poetry. Aptly titled “The Wonderful Words,” this chapter explores the profound impact of language and its ability to breathe life into thoughts, emotions, and ideas.

The Wonderful Words Poem Summary

The poem emphasizes the importance of expressing thoughts and ideas through words in the English language. It encourages readers to never let a thought wither away due to a lack of words to articulate it. The poet views English as a delightful game accessible to all, allowing them to participate and express themselves.

The poem explains that by choosing the right words, one can bring clarity and truth to their thoughts, presenting them in an elegant and well-nurtured manner. The poet believes that many beautiful and meaningful thoughts remain unspoken, waiting to be expressed through the power of words.

The poem highlights that words are like nourishment and attire for thoughts, giving them substance and grace. It suggests that people today long to hear something fresh and enchanting, emphasizing the importance of articulating thoughts effectively.

The closing lines inspire readers to liberate their thoughts by finding the appropriate words, acknowledging that the mind may hold hidden surprises and remarkable ideas waiting to be shared with the world.

Know about the author

Mary Devenport O’Neill (1879 – 1967) was an Irish poet and dramatist and a friend and colleague of W. B. Yeats, Russell, and Austin Clarke. Mary Davenport was born in Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland. She was a pupil of the Dominican Convent in Eccles Street, Dublin. She studied teaching at the Metropolitan College of Art (the present-day National College of Art, Dublin) from 1889-1902. She published three verse plays, Bluebeard (1933), Cain (1945) and Out of The Darkness (1947). Her collection, Prometheus and Other Poems, was the first collection of poetry published by an Irish poet, besides Yeats, which could be considered modernist. She is one of a small number of known early 20th century Irish modernist women poets.

Before you read

Question 1: Look at the words and phrases in the box and mime them.

astonished, thanking Someone, requesting for help, being happy, feel nervous, apologizing to someone, helping a blind person cross the road.

Answer: class activity

Question 2: Suppose you have been to a strange place where people use a language which is different from yours/new to you. How will you communicate with them in that situation? Discuss with your friends.

Answer: When we are in some strange place. Our body language comes to our aid. We have to emulate them and express what we feel or do, some situations require physical gestures, sometimes our actions reflect our inner strengths and our own personality. Sometimes we have to use signs and symbology for everything we want to communicate.

Understand the poem

Answer the following questions and discuss the responses with your partner.

Question 1: What does the poet ask us not to let die?

Answer: The poet tells us not to let our ‘Thoughts’ die.

Question 2: “English is a game to play”. How does the poet justify it?

Answer: English plays an important role in communicating with any person across the globe. Through this, worldwide knowledge can be obtained. It is a wonderful game of matching words with the brightest thoughts in our mind. So that they come forth and come true. He takes away our wrong thoughts and makes our thoughts the loveliest things.

Question 3: The poet speaks about matching words. What should we match the words with?

Answer: We should match the words to brightest thoughts in our head.

Question 4: What has never been said yet, according to the poet?

Answer: According to the poet “loveliest things” have never been said yet.

Question 5: Read lines 11 and 12 in the poem: ‘Words are the food and dress of thought They give it its body and swing’ .What do you understand by these lines?

Answer: Words give life to our thoughts. They give proper shape and movement to our thoughts which touch the heart of the people.

Question 6: What does everyone try to hear and see a fresh?

Answer: Everyone tries to hear some fresh words (new words) which make thought alive and see beautiful thing through it.

Question 7: The poet mention ‘prison’ in line 16. What according to her is imprisoned?

Answer: According to her thought is imprisoned, that means a thought which is behind our sight can be freed or brought to our mind by the words only.

Read and appreciate

Question 1: Which line/lines of the poem strike you the most? For example, in line one the poet says ‘Never let a thought shrivel and die’. This is a thought-provoking line. Can you think of some other line/lines which are highly thought-provoking? Discuss in a small group and share your responses.

Answer: “Words are the food and dress of thought. They give it its body and swing”, I think this line is highly thought provoking. This line is in metaphorical meaning and personified. Words give the life to our thoughts and move our hearts.

Question 2: ‘Words alone are good’ says a great Indian poet. Can you relate the meaning of the statement with the theme of the poem you have studied? Share your ideas with your comments.

Answer: Words alone are good. Words we speak bring out our thoughts. But in this poem, poet says that we have to match the words to our thoughts so that they come out clearly and truly and handsomely groomed and fed further. Poet says that words are the food and dress of thought and they give, its body and swing. Only words can free our thoughts. So we can say that words alone are good which bring out our thoughts.

Question 3: Our philosophy advocates the oness-unanimity of Kaya (work), Wacha (words) and Manasa (thought). How far does this poem support this philosophy?

Answer: The poem “The Wonderful words”, we see how the words (Wacha) play an important role in making thought (Manasa) alive and brightful. If the thought is true to words, we can play (work) handsomely in our life. Words are the food and dress. This food makes the mind (thought) healthy and sound. The healthy thought or mind resides in sound body. That sound mind or thought makes the body render useful work to society. Thus, the poem somewhat supports thus philosophy of Kayo, Wacha, and Manasa.

The Wonderful Words Poem Questions and Answers (Extra)

Choose the correct answer.

Question 1: Poet asks us not to let die our:

(a) ourself
(b) thoughts
(c) words
(d) language.

Answer: (b) thoughts.

Question 2: We have to match the words to our:

(a) Brightest thoughts
(b) Brightest eyes
(c) Brightest head
(d) Knowledge.

Answer: (a) Brightest thoughts.

Question 3: Words are food and dress of:

(a) us
(b) mind
(c) thought
(d) language.

Answer: (c) thought.

Question 4: Our thoughts can be freed by:

(a) us
(b) others
(c) words
(d) knowledge.

Answer: (c) words.

Answer the following questions.

Question 1: Who is the writer of the poem “The wonderful words”?

Answer: Mary O’Neill.

Question 2: Identify the figures of speech used in the following.

1. Never let a thought shrivel and die.
2. English is a wonderful game and all of you can play it.
3. Words are the food and dress of thought.
4. They give it its body and swing.
5. But only words can free thought, from its prison behind your eyes.

Answer:

1. Personification.
2. Metaphor
3. Metaphor
4. Personification
5. Personification