10th English Poem 4 Questions and Answers

The Ant and the Cricket

Get complete study material for 10th English Poem 4 – The Ant and the Cricket Adapted from Aesop’s fables. This page includes detailed question and answers, appreciation questions with explanations, and important paragraph questions for exam preparation. Designed for Tamil Nadu State Board students, this resource helps you understand the poem clearly and score high marks.

Read the following lines and answer the questions given below

1. A silly young cricket accustomed to sing ; Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring.

  1. a) What was the routine of the cricket?
  2. The routine of the cricket was to sing during the warm months.
  3. b) Name the seasons mentioned here.
  4. The seasons mentioned are summer and spring.

2. Began to complain when he found that, at home, His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.

  1. a) Who does ‘he’ refer to?
  2. He refers to the cricket.
  3. b) Why was his cupboard empty?
  4. His cupboard was empty because he had not stored any food during the summer and spring.

3. Not a crumb to be found ; On the snow-covered ground;

  1. a) What couldn’t he find on the ground?
  2. He couldn’t find any crumbs of food on the ground.
  3. b) Why was the ground covered with snow?
  4. The ground was covered with snow because it was winter.

4. At last by starvation and famine made bold, All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,

  1. a) What made the cricket bold?
  2. The cricket was made bold by starvation and famine.
  3. b) Why did the cricket drip and tremble?
  4. The cricket was dripping wet and trembling because it was out in the cold and wet winter.

5. Away he set off to a miserly ant, To keep if, to keep him alive, he would ; grant Him shelter from rain, And a mouthful of grain.

  1. a) Whom did the cricket want to meet? Why?
  2. The cricket wanted to meet the ant to seek shelter and food to survive the winter.
  3. b) What would keep him alive?
  4. Shelter from rain and a mouthful of grain would keep him alive.

6. But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend.

  • a) Why do you think ants neither borrow nor lend?
  • Ants neither borrow nor lend because they are hardworking and self-reliant.
  • b) Who says these lines to whom?
  • The ant says these lines to the cricket.

7. ‘‘ Not I! My heart was so light ; That I sang day and night, For all nature looked gay.”

  1. a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?
  2. ‘I’ refers to the cricket.
  3. b) What was the nature of the cricket? How do you know?
  4. The cricket was carefree and cheerful, as it sang day and night, enjoying nature.

8. Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket, And out of the door turned the poor , little cricket,

  1. a) The ant refused to help the cricket. Why?
  2. The ant refused to help because it believed in self-reliance and did not lend or borrow.
  3. b) Explain the second line.
  4. The second line means that the poor little cricket was thrown out and left outside by the ant.

9. He wished only to borrow; He’d repay it tomorrow;

  1. a) Pick out the rhyming words in the above lines.
  2. Borrow – Tomorrow
  3. b) Give more examples of rhyming words from the poem..
  4. sing – spring, see – tree, rain – grain, friend – lend, home – come, found – ground , bold – cold, ant – grant , borrow – tomorrow- sorrow  , light – night, gay – say

10. Mention the rhyme scheme employed in the lines

  1. 10. My heart was so light
  2. that I sang day and night,
  3.  For all nature looked gay.
  4. “You sang , Sir , you say”?
  5. a) Mention the rhyme scheme employed in the above lines. A,A,B,B

Paragraph Questions

1. ‘Some crickets have four legs and some have two’. Elucidate this statement from the poet’s point of view.

TITLE : THE ANT AND THE CRICKET

Poet : Adapted from Aesop’s fables

  • ‘Some crickets have four legs and some have two ’ in this line the poet is comparing the Cricket to Human Beings.
  • According to the poet, the four-legged cricket enjoyed the good times but never planned for the tough times of life. Same as the cricket, some of the human beings enjoy their good times.
  • They never plan and save anything for their future.
  • The poet indicates that there are some two-legged crickets which are human beings.
  • He wants such people to work hard and plan for their future.
  • According to the poet, we all must accomplish what we are assigned to in our life.
  • Further, he says we are born not only to enjoy the present happy moments but also to work hard for the happy future. 

Conclusion : The poet urges us to work hard and plan for the future, not just enjoy the present.

2. Compare and contrast the attitude of the ant and the cricket.

TITLE : THE ANT AND THE CRICKET

AUTHOR : Adapted from Aesop’s fables 

  • The poem is about a hardworking ant and a careless cricket.
  • According to the poet, the cricket was young and silly.
  • It enjoyed singing all summer and spring not worrying about the future.
  • The ant, on the other hand, was a wise and hardworking creature working for its future.
  • The poet projects the cricket as a borrower whereas the ant, neither a borrower nor a lender.
  • However, the attitude of the ant in the last stanza is quite disappointing because the ant told the cricket angrily and sarcastically to go away and dance in the winter.

Conclusion : Through this poem, the poet warns us not be like the cricket in this poem and he advises us to work hard and plan for the future like the ant.

3. If given a chance, who would you want to be- the ant or the cricket? Justify your answer.

TITLE : THE ANT AND THE CRICKET 

AUTHOR : Adapted from Aesop’s fables 

  • If given a choice, I would choose to be like the ant.
  • Ants are hardworking and function both individually and as a team.
  • They carefully store food in advance to face difficult times.
  • They are self-reliant and do not depend on others for survival.
  • Similarly, we should work sincerely and prepare for our future.
  • We must avoid depending on others by planning wisely.
  • A secure and happy life comes through effort and discipline.
  • Like the ant, I will stay focused, responsible, and consistent.
  • I will plan ahead to build a successful future.

Conclusion : Like the ant, we should work hard, stay self-reliant, and plan wisely for a secure future.

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