Class 10: English, Lesson 8: ‘The Snail’ – William Cowper
The Snail
(Part 1: Sticking & Hiding – Stanza 1 & 2)
📖 পাঠ ও বঙ্গানুবাদ (Text & Translation)
Stanza 1:
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall
As if he grew there, house and all
Together.
বঙ্গানুবাদ:
ঘাস, পাতা, ফল কিংবা দেয়ালে
শামুক শক্ত হয়ে লেগে থাকে, পড়ে যাওয়ার ভয় পায় না
যেন সে ওখানেই বড় হয়েছে, ঘরবাড়ি এবং সবকিছু নিয়ে
একসাথে।
Stanza 2:
Within that house secure he hides
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides
Of weather.
বঙ্গানুবাদ:
সেই ঘরের (খোলসের) ভেতরে সে নিরাপদে লুকিয়ে পড়ে
যখন আসন্ন বিপদ ঘটে বা ঘনিয়ে আসে
ঝড়ের, কিংবা আবহাওয়া জনিত
অন্য কোনো ক্ষতির।
শব্দার্থ (Word Nest)
| Word | Meaning (Bengali) |
|---|---|
| Sticks close | দৃঢ়ভাবে বা শক্ত হয়ে লেগে থাকে |
| House | এখানে শামুকের খোলস (Shell) |
| Secure | নিরাপদ |
| Imminent | আসন্ন / যা শিগগিরই ঘটবে |
| Betides | ঘটে / উপস্থিত হয় |
| Besides | তাছাড়া / এছাড়া |
A. বহুবিকল্পভিত্তিক প্রশ্ন (MCQ)
i. The snail sticks close to grass, leaf, fruit or —
- (a) sand
- (b) wall
- (c) water
- (d) sky
উত্তর দেখো
ii. The snail does not fear to —
- (a) run
- (b) hide
- (c) fall
- (d) jump
উত্তর দেখো
iii. The snail hides in his house when there is danger of —
- (a) fire
- (b) flood
- (c) animal
- (d) storm
উত্তর দেখো
iv. The word ‘imminent’ means —
- (a) far away
- (b) likely to happen soon
- (c) impossible
- (d) past event
উত্তর দেখো
v. The snail sticks as if he —
- (a) is glued
- (b) grew there
- (c) is dead
- (d) is sleeping
উত্তর দেখো
B. বাক্য সম্পূর্ণ করো (Complete the Sentences)
i. The snail sticks close to grass or leaf or __________.
উত্তর দেখো
ii. It seems as if the snail grew there together with __________.
উত্তর দেখো
iii. The snail hides securely within his house when __________.
উত্তর দেখো
iv. The danger mentioned in the poem refers to __________.
উত্তর দেখো
v. The snail’s house provides him __________.
উত্তর দেখো
C. সত্য/মিথ্যা নিরূপণ (True/False with Supporting Statement)
i. The snail is afraid of falling from the wall.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “…nor fears to fall.”
ii. The snail grows separately from his house.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “As if he grew there, house and all / Together.”
iii. The snail hides when the weather is bad.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “When danger imminent betides / Of storm, or other harm besides / Of weather.”
iv. The snail stays loose on the leaf.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “The snail sticks close…”
v. The snail’s house is secure.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “Within that house secure he hides…”
D. সংক্ষিপ্ত প্রশ্ন (Short Answer Questions)
i. Where does the snail usually stick?
উত্তর দেখো
ii. What does “house” refer to in the poem?
উত্তর দেখো
iii. Does the snail fear to fall?
উত্তর দেখো
iv. When does the snail hide inside his house?
উত্তর দেখো
v. What does the phrase “house and all” signify?
উত্তর দেখো
The Snail
(Part 2: The Hermit Life – Stanza 3 & 4)
📖 পাঠ ও বঙ্গানুবাদ (Text & Translation)
Stanza 3:
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting power is such,
He shrinks into his house with much
Displeasure.
বঙ্গানুবাদ:
তার শুঁড়ে (horns) যদি সামান্যতম স্পর্শও করা হয়,
তার নিজেকে গুটিয়ে নেওয়ার (আত্ম-সংবরণের) ক্ষমতা এতটাই প্রবল যে,
সে অত্যন্ত অসন্তোষের সাথে
তার ঘরের (খোলসের) ভেতর কুঁকড়ে যায়।
Stanza 4:
Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.
বঙ্গানুবাদ:
সে যেখানেই বাস করে, সে একাই বাস করে,
নিজেকে ছাড়া তার আর কোনো ব্যক্তিগত সম্পদ (বা সঙ্গী) নেই,
সে নিজেই নিজের সম্পূর্ণ সম্পদ হতে পেরে
খুবই সন্তুষ্ট।
শব্দার্থ (Word Nest)
| Word | Meaning (Bengali) |
|---|---|
| Horns | শামুকের শুঁড় |
| Slightest | সামান্যতম / খুব অল্প |
| Self-collecting power | আত্ম-সংবরণ করার ক্ষমতা / নিজেকে গুটিয়ে নেওয়ার শক্তি |
| Shrinks | সংকুচিত হয় / কুঁকড়ে যায় |
| Displeasure | অসন্তোষ / বিরক্তি |
| Dwells | বাস করে |
| Chattels | অস্থাবর সম্পত্তি / ব্যক্তিগত জিনিসপত্র (এখানে পরিবার বা সঙ্গীহীনতা বোঝানো হয়েছে) |
| Treasure | সম্পদ / গুপ্তধন |
A. বহুবিকল্পভিত্তিক প্রশ্ন (MCQ)
i. Give the snail’s horns the slightest —
- (a) push
- (b) touch
- (c) shock
- (d) blow
উত্তর দেখো
ii. The snail shrinks into his house with much —
- (a) pleasure
- (b) pain
- (c) displeasure
- (d) joy
উত্তর দেখো
iii. Where’er the snail dwells, he dwells —
- (a) with friends
- (b) in a group
- (c) alone
- (d) with family
উত্তর দেখো
iv. The snail is satisfied to be his own whole —
- (a) property
- (b) master
- (c) treasure
- (d) servant
উত্তর দেখো
v. The word ‘chattels’ refers to —
- (a) personal belongings
- (b) food
- (c) relatives
- (d) house
উত্তর দেখো
B. বাক্য সম্পূর্ণ করো (Complete the Sentences)
i. If one touches the snail’s horns, __________.
উত্তর দেখো
ii. The snail has the power of __________.
উত্তর দেখো
iii. The snail has no chattels except __________.
উত্তর দেখো
iv. The snail lives a life of __________.
উত্তর দেখো
v. The snail’s self-collecting power is displayed when __________.
উত্তর দেখো
C. সত্য/মিথ্যা নিরূপণ (True/False with Supporting Statement)
i. The snail loves to be touched.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “He shrinks into his house with much / Displeasure.”
ii. The snail is dependent on others.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “Except himself has chattels none,” (সে স্বয়ংসম্পূর্ণ)
iii. The snail is not satisfied with his life.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “Well satisfied to be his own / Whole treasure.”
iv. The snail lives a hermit-like life.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,”
v. The snail’s horns are very sensitive.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “Give but his horns the slightest touch,”
D. সংক্ষিপ্ত প্রশ্ন (Short Answer Questions)
i. What happens when the snail’s horns are touched?
উত্তর দেখো
ii. What is meant by ‘self-collecting power’?
উত্তর দেখো
iii. Who lives with the snail?
উত্তর দেখো
iv. Why is the snail ‘well satisfied’?
উত্তর দেখো
v. Describe the lifestyle of the snail.
উত্তর দেখো
The Snail
(Textual Exercises: 1 – 3)
Exercise 1: Choose the correct alternative
1. With the slightest touch, the snail shrinks into his house with —
- (a) displeasure
- (b) pleasure
- (c) pain
- (d) surprise
উত্তর দেখো
2. In his house, the snail lives with —
- (a) parents
- (b) friends
- (c) relatives
- (d) no one
উত্তর দেখো
3. The writer says that the snail is satisfied to be his own —
- (a) treasure
- (b) house
- (c) chattels
- (d) family
উত্তর দেখো
Exercise 2: True/False with Supporting Statements
(a) The snail fears to fall from the wall.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall”
(b) The snail comes out of his house when there is a storm.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “Within that house secure he hides / When danger imminent betides / Of storm…”
(c) The snail and his house are inseparable.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “As if he grew there, house and all / Together.”
Exercise 3: Answer the following questions
(a) What does the snail usually stick itself to?
উত্তর দেখো
(b) What makes the snail satisfied?
উত্তর দেখো
(c) When does the snail feed faster?
উত্তর দেখো
*Correction:* If the question is strictly from the syllabus provided text: The poem describes him hiding, sticking, and dwelling alone. There is no mention of “feeding faster” in the standard 4 stanzas. If it refers to “shrinking faster”, the answer is: When his horns are given the slightest touch.
Grammar & Writing
(Exercise 4, 5 & 6)
Exercise 4: Change the following sentences as directed
(a) No one can trust a liar. (Change into an interrogative sentence)
উত্তর দেখো
OR
Can anyone trust a liar?
(b) Is this the way to behave? (Change into an assertive sentence)
উত্তর দেখো
(c) Who does not know the name of Rabindranath? (Change into an assertive sentence)
উত্তর দেখো
Exercise 5: Editorial Letter
Question: Write a letter to the Editor of a daily newspaper (within 100 words) about the hazards caused by the indiscriminate use of plastic carry bags.
উত্তর দেখো (Click to Reveal Answer)
To
The Editor,
The Telegraph,
Kolkata – 700001
Sub: Hazards of plastic carry bags
Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to express my deep concern about the nuisance caused by the indiscriminate use of plastic carry bags. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable and choke the drainage system, causing waterlogging during rains. Stray animals often eat them with food scraps and die. Moreover, they pollute the soil and water bodies. Burning plastic releases toxic gases that are harmful to health. Despite the ban, their use continues unchecked.
[Image of plastic pollution]
It is high time the authorities took strict action to ban plastic bags completely and encourage the use of paper or jute bags.
Yours faithfully,
Riya Sen
Barasat, Kolkata
Exercise 6: Paragraph Writing
Question: Write a paragraph (within 100 words) on ‘Visiting a Place of Interest’ using the following points:
Points: name of the place – time of visit – companions – description of the place – your feelings.
উত্তর দেখো (Click to Reveal Answer)
A Visit to Murshidabad
During the last winter vacation, I visited Murshidabad, a place of great historical interest. I went there with my parents. We reached there by train. Our main attraction was the Hazarduari Palace. It is a massive building with a thousand doors, some real and some false. We saw the weapons, paintings, and thrones of the Nawabs in the museum inside the palace. We also visited the Katra Mosque and the tomb of Siraj-ud-Daulah. The history of Bengal seemed to come alive before my eyes. It was a thrilling experience that enriched my knowledge and left a lasting impression on my mind.
শেয়ার