The Will to Win
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. (A) In order to achieve success the poet wants us to
(a) Work day and night for it.
(b) Give up our time, peace, and sleep for it.
(c) Go after it with all our capacity, strength, and determination.
(B) Write as many phrases as you can using ‘enough’ and use them in your sentences.
- Strong enough: She was strong enough to face all challenges.
- Smart enough: He is smart enough to solve this problem.
- Brave enough: They were brave enough to stand up for the truth.
- Good enough: This essay is good enough to score high marks.
- Tough enough: Are you tough enough to handle failure?
(C) What does the word ‘Scheme’ mean here? Choose the correct alternative from the following.
(d) Plan of action
(D) Do you think the line ‘Give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it’ means that one should be ‘desperate’ or ‘restless’ to achieve one’s goal. Explain your opinion, in your notebook.
This line does not mean one should be desperate or restless. It suggests dedication and sacrifice. Giving up time, peace, and sleep shows a strong commitment to the goal, not a frantic or anxious state. The poet emphasizes working hard with focus and determination, not losing control.
(E) Following lines are given to you. Find their appropriate meanings after discussing with your partner.
(a) To go out and fight for it: To struggle and make efforts to achieve your goal.
(b) If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it: To happily work hard, worry about, and make plans for your goal.
(c) Lose all your terror of opposition for it: To overcome all fear of challenges or rivals.
(d) With all your capacity, strength and sagacity: Using all your ability, power, and wisdom to achieve it.
(F) Read the poem again and complete the web showing all those things that can turn one away from one’s efforts towards a goal.
Things that can turn you away from goals:
- Cold
- Poverty
- Famished (hunger)
- Gaunt (weakness)
- Sickness
- Pain of body and brain
(G) Find the lines from the poem which mean-
(a) Become crazy for the goal: “If all that you dream and scheme is about it and life seems useless and worthless without it.”
(b) Toil hard happily: “If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it.”
(c) Get rid of all fears: “Lose all your terror of the opposition for it.”
(d) Make efforts continuously: “If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it.”
(e) Extremely poor condition: “If neither cold or poverty, famished or gaunt.”
2. The poet has mentioned some hurdles in the poem that keep us away from achieving our goal in our life. Discuss with your partner and make a list of all the hurdles mentioned in the poem.
- Sickness
- Cold
- Poverty
- Famished (extreme hunger)
- Gaunt (physical weakness)
- Pain of body and brain
3. The poem explicitly describes some strengths and weaknesses with the help of some words and phrases. The poet wants us to possess all the strengths and keep away from all the weaknesses. Make a list of all the words and phrases showing Strengths in table A and Weaknesses in table B.
| A – Strengths | B – Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Work day and night | Sickness |
| Give up your time and peace and sleep | Cold |
| Sweat for, fret for, and plan for it | Poverty |
| Lose all your terror of the opposition | Famished (hunger) |
| Capacity, strength, and sagacity | Gaunt (weakness) |
| Faith, hope, and confidence | Pain of body and brain |
| Stern pertinacity (constant determination) |
4. Listen to the poem carefully and state whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements.
(a) True: If you want a thing you should not give up your sleep.
(b) False: You should not be afraid of your opposition. (Correction: “Lose all your terror of the opposition for it.”)
(c) True: Cold or poverty cannot keep you away from achieving your goal.
(d) True: You can achieve your goal with the help of God.
(e) True: Life will not seem useless and worthless without achieving your goal.
5. Form pairs and complete the web with suitable responses. Tell the class what all things the poet wants us to do to win.
The poet wants us to:
- Give up our sleep
- Work day and night
- Sweat and plan for it
- Lose fear of opposition
- Use all our strength and wisdom
- Keep faith and hope
- Fight with determination
6. Match the phrases in table A with lines of the poem given in table B.
| Condition | Action |
|---|---|
| (1) Toil hard | (c) To work day and night for it |
| (2) Get rid of all | (d) Lose all your terror of the opposition for it |
| (3) Extremely poor condition | (b) If neither cold nor poverty, famished… |
| (4) Need desperately | (a) If you want a thing bad enough… |
7. Every stanza begins with the word ‘if’. How does it add to the effectiveness of the poem?
The word “if” makes the poem conditional and inspiring. It suggests that success depends on our actions and willpower. It motivates readers by showing that if they put in the effort and overcome obstacles, they can achieve their goals, making the poem more powerful and encouraging.
8. (A) In poetry, when words/ideas are arranged in an ascending order of importance, the figure of speech used is called ‘Climax’. Pick out two examples of ‘Climax’ from the poem.
- “If you simply go after that thing that you want with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence and stern pertinacity.”
- “If neither cold or poverty, famished or gaunt or sickness or pain of body and brain can keep you away from the thing that you want.”
(B) When some words, in the line of the poem, express the same idea in different ways, the figure of speech used is ‘Tautology’. Pick out two examples of ‘Tautology’ from the poem.
- “Sweat for, fret for” (both mean working hard with effort and worry).
- “Besiege and beset it” (both mean to attack or pursue relentlessly).
(C) Pick out one example of the following Figures of Speech.
(1) Antithesis: “If all that you dream and scheme is about it and life seems useless and worthless without it” (dream vs. useless life).
(2) Alliteration: “Sweat for, fret for” (repetition of ‘f’ sound).
(3) Repetition: “If” (repeated at the start of every stanza).
9. Work in group and prepare and present a speech on ‘How to Achieve Success.’ (You may take help of the poem).
Speech: Good morning everyone! Today, I’ll talk about how to achieve success, inspired by Berton Braley’s poem “The Will to Win.” Success doesn’t come easily-it requires a strong will and determination. First, we must want our goal badly enough to work day and night, giving up our time, peace, and sleep. Second, we should plan and sweat for it happily, losing all fear of opposition. Third, we need to use our full strength, wisdom, and faith to overcome hurdles like sickness, poverty, or pain. Finally, with hard work and God’s help, we can achieve anything. So, let’s stay focused, work hard, and never give up-success will be ours! Thank you!
10. Read the poem again and write an appreciation of the poem ‘The Will to Win’ in a paragraph format.
“The Will to Win” by Berton Braley is an inspiring poem that highlights the importance of determination and effort in achieving success. The poet uses simple yet powerful language to motivate readers, emphasizing that success comes to those who work tirelessly, sacrifice comfort, and face challenges bravely. The repeated use of “if” creates a sense of possibility, suggesting that victory is within reach if we show strong willpower. Figures of speech like climax and tautology add depth, making the poem rhythmic and impactful. The theme of overcoming obstacles like poverty, sickness, and fear resonates with everyone, while the mention of God’s help adds a spiritual touch. Overall, it’s a timeless piece that encourages us to pursue our goals with unwavering resolve.
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