Class 10: English, Lesson 2: Fable -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fable
(Poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson)
📖 পাঠ ও বঙ্গানুবাদ (Text & Translation)
Text:
The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel,
And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig.’
Bun replied,
‘You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together,
To make up a year
And a sphere.
বঙ্গানুবাদ:
পর্বত এবং কাঠবিড়ালির মধ্যে একবার ঝগড়া হলো,
এবং প্রথমজন (পর্বত) দ্বিতীয়জনকে (কাঠবিড়ালি) বলল ‘খুদে নীতিবাগীশ’ (বা তুচ্ছ জীব)।
বান (কাঠবিড়ালি) উত্তর দিল,
“নিঃসন্দেহে তুমি অনেক বড়;
কিন্তু সব ধরনের জিনিস এবং আবহাওয়া
অবশ্যই একসাথে জড়ো করতে হবে,
একটি বছর তৈরি করতে
এবং এই গোলক (পৃথিবী) গড়তে।
Text:
And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I’m not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.
I’ll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.’
বঙ্গানুবাদ:
এবং আমি মনে করি না এটা কোনো লজ্জার বিষয়
আমার নিজের জায়গা (ক্ষুদ্র অস্তিত্ব) দখল করে থাকাটা।
আমি যদি তোমার মতো বিশাল না হই,
তুমিও আমার মতো ছোট নও,
এবং আমার অর্ধেকও চটপটে নও।
আমি অস্বীকার করব না যে তুমি তৈরি করো
কাঠবিড়ালির জন্য খুব সুন্দর একটি চলার পথ;
প্রতিভা ভিন্ন ভিন্ন হয়; সবকিছুই ভালো এবং বাছবিচার করেই রাখা হয়েছে;
আমি যদি পিঠে করে জঙ্গল বইতে না পারি,
তুমিও তো একটা বাদাম ভাঙতে পারো না।”
শব্দার্থ (Word Nest)
| Word | Meaning (Bengali) |
|---|---|
| Quarrel | ঝগড়া / বিবাদ |
| Former | পূর্বোক্ত / প্রথমজন (এখানে পর্বত) |
| Latter | শেষোক্ত / দ্বিতীয়জন (এখানে কাঠবিড়ালি) |
| Prig | যে নিজেকে বড় বা নীতিবান মনে করে / দাম্ভিক |
| Bun | কাঠবিড়ালির ডাকনাম |
| Sphere | গোলক / পৃথিবী |
| Disgrace | অপমান / লজ্জা |
| Spry | চটপটে / প্রাণবন্ত |
A. বহুবিকল্পভিত্তিক প্রশ্ন (MCQ)
i. The quarrel was between the mountain and the —
- (a) rabbit
- (b) rat
- (c) cat
- (d) squirrel
উত্তর দেখো
ii. Bun has no doubt that the mountain is —
- (a) small
- (b) big
- (c) noble
- (d) kind
উত্তর দেখো
iii. Unlike a mountain, a squirrel can crack a —
- (a) nut
- (b) joke
- (c) stone
- (d) lock
উত্তর দেখো
iv. The squirrel thinks it no disgrace to occupy its —
- (a) own place
- (b) father’s place
- (c) sphere
- (d) mountain
উত্তর দেখো
v. The squirrel says that the mountain is not —
- (a) half so spry as him
- (b) half so big as him
- (c) half so small as him
- (d) half so intelligent as him
উত্তর দেখো
B. বাক্য সম্পূর্ণ করো (Complete the Sentences)
i. The mountain called the squirrel __________.
উত্তর দেখো
ii. All sorts of things and weather must be taken in together to __________.
উত্তর দেখো
iii. The squirrel does not deny that the mountain makes __________.
উত্তর দেখো
iv. Talents differ, but all is __________.
উত্তর দেখো
v. If the squirrel is not as large as the mountain, then __________.
উত্তর দেখো
C. সত্য/মিথ্যা নিরূপণ (True/False with Supporting Statement)
i. The mountain called the squirrel ‘Little Bun’.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig’.”
ii. The squirrel is more spry than the mountain.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “And not half so spry.” (কাঠবিড়ালি পর্বতকে বলছে, তুমি আমার মতো অর্ধেকও চটপটে নও)
iii. The mountain can crack a nut.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “Neither can you crack a nut.”
iv. The squirrel feels ashamed to be small.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “And I think it no disgrace / To occupy my place.”
v. Everything in this world is wisely put.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “…all is well and wisely put;”
D. সংক্ষিপ্ত প্রশ্ন (Short Answer Questions)
i. Who had a quarrel?
উত্তর দেখো
ii. What is needed to make up a year and a sphere?
উত্তর দেখো
iii. What does the squirrel not deny?
উত্তর দেখো
iv. How does the squirrel defend himself?
উত্তর দেখো
v. What is the main message of the poem ‘Fable’?
উত্তর দেখো
Fable
(Textual Exercises: 1 – 4)
Exercise 1: Choose the correct alternative
1. The quarrel was between the mountain and the —
- (a) rabbit
- (b) rat
- (c) cat
- (d) squirrel
উত্তর দেখো
2. Bun has no doubt that the mountain is —
- (a) small
- (b) big
- (c) noble
- (d) kind
উত্তর দেখো
3. Unlike a mountain, a squirrel can crack a —
- (a) nut
- (b) joke
- (c) stone
- (d) lock
উত্তর দেখো
Exercise 2: True/False with Supporting Statements
(a) The mountain called the squirrel ‘Little Bun’.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig’.”
(b) The squirrel is spryer than the mountain.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “And not half so spry.” (অর্থ: পর্বত কাঠবিড়ালির মতো অর্ধেকও চটপটে নয়।)
(c) The mountain can carry forests on its back.
উত্তর দেখো
S.S: “If I cannot carry forests on my back, / Neither can you crack a nut.” (এখানে ‘If I cannot’ বলছে কাঠবিড়ালি, যার অর্থ পর্বত পারে।)
Exercise 3: Answer the following questions
(a) Who had a quarrel with the squirrel?
উত্তর দেখো
(b) What is not a disgrace to the squirrel?
উত্তর দেখো
(c) What is it that the squirrel doesn’t deny?
উত্তর দেখো
Exercise 4: Replace the underlined words with suitable Phrasal Verbs
[List: turn down, come over, put up with, come across]
(a) Rabi met his friend in the park.
উত্তর দেখো
(Reason: ‘met’ is in Past Tense, so ‘come’ becomes ‘came’)
(b) Tanushree cannot tolerate cruel behaviour to animals.
উত্তর দেখো
(c) His proposal was rejected.
উত্তর দেখো
(Reason: ‘was rejected’ is in Passive Voice/Past Participle form, so ‘turn’ becomes ‘turned’)
Writing Activity
(Exercise 5 & 6)
Exercise 5: Letter to a Friend
Question: Write a letter to your friend (within 100 words) advising him/her to visit the public library in his/her locality as frequently as possible.
উত্তর দেখো (Click to Reveal Answer)
Barasat, Kolkata – 124
Date: 20th March, 2024
My dear Rahul,
I hope you are doing well. Today I am writing this letter to advise you something very important. I know you love reading books, but you rarely visit the library.
I strongly suggest you visit the public library in your locality frequently. A library is a storehouse of knowledge. You can find books on various subjects like history, science, literature, and current affairs there, which are expensive to buy. Reading in the calm atmosphere of a library improves concentration. It will not only help you in your studies but also broaden your outlook.
Do tell me about your experience after visiting the library. Give my regards to your parents.
Sayan
Rahul Roy
C/O: Amit Roy
Station Road, Malda
Exercise 6: Paragraph Writing
Question: Write a paragraph (within 100 words) on the benefits of early morning exercises using the following points:
Points: good for health – fresh air – keeps one active throughout the day – practicable for all – physical and mental fitness.
উত্তর দেখো (Click to Reveal Answer)
Benefits of Early Morning Exercises
Early morning exercise is very beneficial for our health. As the saying goes, “Health is Wealth,” and morning exercise is the key to it. In the morning, the air remains fresh and free from pollution, which is good for our lungs. Exercising at this time rejuvenates our body and mind. It boosts our energy level and keeps us active throughout the day. It is a habit that is practicable for people of all ages. Regular morning exercise ensures both physical fitness and mental alertness. Therefore, we should all form the habit of exercising early in the morning for a healthy life.
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