Maharashtra State Board | Standard IX | English
Life
by Charlotte Brontë · Chapter 1.1
📜 Paraphrase of the Poem
The poetess tells us to enjoy every moment in life. We should not focus only on the good or only on the bad things. Life is about balance, and we should be thankful for everything that life gives us. We should enjoy the good times while they last, since bad times do not last forever. Every situation in life is temporary. Even if we are stuck in a difficult situation, we should remember that it will not last forever. Bad times are always followed by good things. Charlotte Brontë encourages us to enjoy the ‘sunny’ things as long as they last. In the end, she says that in moments of great trouble, hope will rescue us.
📚 Word Meanings
🌟 Appreciation of the Poem
The poem ‘Life’ is written by Charlotte Brontë. The rhyme scheme of the poem is abcb in the first stanza, and dede in all the remaining stanzas. The theme or central idea of the poem is motivational and inspirational. The poet says that nothing is long-lasting in this life, and every one of the terrible things we face will eventually go, while beneficial things will follow. The poem gives a strong message of hope and trust. The poet advises us to have confidence, to courageously bear all our difficulties, and to conquer our worries with fortitude.
The most prominent figure of speech in the poem is Personification, seen in the line ‘What though death at times steps in’, where death is given the human quality of stepping in. Other figures of speech such as Metaphor and Interrogation (rhetorical questions) are also used effectively throughout the poem. A special feature of the poem is its imagery-driven, hopeful narrative — the poet uses natural imagery like morning rain, clouds, sunshine, and roses to convey deep life lessons, making the poem feel vivid and relatable.
“For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell despair!”
I like this poem because it gives me trust, strength, and courage. It reminds me that regardless of how difficult things may seem, nothing in life is truly permanent, and there will always be better days ahead.
🔥 Warming Up!
Q1. There are many popular lines like ‘Life is a game – play it well’ and ‘Life is a journey – keep going ahead.’ Discuss and write down a few such metaphorical lines about ‘life’. You can make them up yourselves.
Ans:- 1You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
- 2Only I can change my life; no one else can do it for me.
- 3Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.
- 4Life isn’t about finding yourself; it is about creating yourself.
- 5A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
Q2. Prepare as many ‘acrostics’ using the word LIFE, as you can. Two examples are given below.
Ans:LLaugh
IImagine
FFreedom
EExperience
LLove
IInspire
FFaith
EEndure
Q3. Listen carefully and write the word in the appropriate column.
hopeful, lonely, happy, jealous, surprised, shy, loving, proud, cheerful, anxious, nervous, excited, embarrassed, scared, silly, comfortable, peaceful, depressed, enthusiastic, motivated, inspired, threatened, crushed, angry
| 😊 Positive Feelings | 😔 Negative Feelings |
|---|---|
| hopeful, happy, surprised, loving, proud, cheerful, excited, comfortable, peaceful, enthusiastic, motivated, inspired | lonely, jealous, shy, anxious, nervous, embarrassed, scared, silly, depressed, threatened, crushed, angry |
Ans: It is possible to experience two emotions at once; it is human psychology that gives birth to such mixed feelings. For example, when my mother was very sick, I felt happy and overwhelmed at the thought that I could care for and pamper her, but at the same time, I felt deeply emotional knowing that she was growing older and more fragile.
💬 In Between the Poetry
Q1. What do the sages say?
Ans:The sages say that life is not a dream.
Q2. What does the rain often foretell?
Ans:Rain often foretells a pleasant day.
Q3. What should we do during joyful times in life?
Ans:During joyful times in life, we should enjoy life cheerfully and gratefully.
Q4. Who does ‘our Best’ refer to?
Ans:‘Our Best’ refers to our loved ones.
Q5. Why are the wings of hope ‘golden’?
Ans:The wings of hope are golden because they give us bright hope to face our future bravely and fearlessly.
🛠️ English Workshop
Q1. Pick out from the poem, two lines each that reflect an optimistic (positive) attitude and a pessimistic (negative) attitude.
Ans:🌤️ Optimism
Foretells a pleasant day.
Oh, why lament its fall?
🌧️ Pessimism
O’er hope a heavy sway?
Q2. Give other ‘-ly’ adverbs of similar meaning for the following. Use a thesaurus if needed.
Ans:Q3. Pick out three examples of interrogation (rhetorical questions) from the poem.
Ans:(a) Explain in your own words the point that each one makes.
| Interrogation (Rhetorical Question) | Explanation |
|---|---|
| If the shower will make the roses bloom, Oh, why lament its fall? |
The poet says that whenever the sky is covered with dark clouds, we cannot see the sun. But when it rains, the roses bloom — so we should not dislike the rain. Difficulties, too, bring good results in the end. |
| What though death at times steps in, And calls our Best away? |
The poet tells us that sometimes death, which is inevitable, may take our loved ones away. We should accept it as a part of life, just as we accept happiness. |
| What though Sorrow seems to win, O’er hope a heavy sway? |
The poet tells us that sometimes sorrow takes over all other happy feelings and thus has a heavy negative influence on our hope. We should accept this situation with courage, just as we accept happiness in our lives. |
(b) Explain the metaphor in the following lines.
| Lines | Metaphor Explained |
|---|---|
| Oft a little morning rain Foretells a pleasant day |
Morning rain is compared to darkness and gloom in life — a difficult period that hints at brighter days ahead. |
| Sometimes there are clouds of gloom | Clouds are compared to sadness and gloom — just as clouds temporarily block the sun, sorrow temporarily blocks happiness. |
| …the shower will make the roses bloom | Roses refer to the good things in life — the positive outcomes that grow out of difficult or challenging situations. |
| Life’s sunny hours flit by | Sunny hours are compared to happy days — pleasant moments in life that pass quickly, just as sunshine does not last all day. |
(c) Pick out four examples of personification. Write what is personified in each.
| Lines | What is Personified |
|---|---|
| Oft a little morning rain Foretells a pleasant day |
Rain is given the human quality of foretelling (predicting the future). |
| Life’s sunny hours flit by | Sunny hours are given the human quality of flitting by (moving quickly). |
| What though death at times steps in | Death is given the human quality of stepping in (entering a situation). |
| What though Sorrow seems to win | Sorrow is given the human quality of winning (triumphing over others). |
(d) ‘And calls our Best away’ is a gentle way of expressing the unpleasant idea of a loved one dying. It is an example of euphemism. Think and write down 3 or 4 ways in which we can express the idea of ‘death’ in a tactful and gentle manner.
Note: “He kicked the bucket” is a slang expression and is not considered tactful or gentle. It should be avoided when speaking about someone’s death with sensitivity.
Q4. ‘…and that’s how I realised that courage and hope can help me overcome any major mishap or problem in life.’ Write an episode or experience from your own life that leads to the above conclusion.
Ans:I was really upset when I received my first unit test mark sheet, because I had failed in all subjects. I had to face a great deal of embarrassment and shame. However, I resolved that I would pass the First Semester Examination at any cost in the coming two months.
I approached my school teacher for help, and indeed, they helped me generously. The amazing part was that they gave me a very useful trick to study — instead of memorising long answers and practising lengthy sums mechanically, they showed me a smarter way to understand and revise. This gave me hope and the desire to study. The only condition was that I had to maintain continuity in my studies, which was quite challenging. But I kept at it.
Due to my teachers’ support and motivation, I passed my First Semester Examination with 50%. It was one of the most wonderful days of my life. Receiving the mark sheet from my class teacher, I felt so proud — and that is how I realised that courage and hope can help me overcome any major mishap or problem in life.
Q5. Read: ‘The Psalm of Life’ — a poem by H. W. Longfellow.
Ans:A Psalm of Life
— by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.