English Notes Chapter 4.1 “Double Standards” Class 7 Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – English Class 7

The poem “Double Standards” highlights the unfair behavior of grown-ups towards children. It describes how grown-ups judge the same actions differently when done by a child and themselves. The child in the poem feels hurt and confused by this unequal treatment.

Key Themes:

1. Unfair Judgments: The grown-ups criticize the child’s actions but justify their own similar actions.
2. Double Standards: The poem shows how grown-ups have one set of rules for themselves and another for children.
3. Child’s Perspective: The child questions why grown-ups cannot be fair and why they spoil a child’s happiness.

Important Situations in the Poem:

1. Waking Up Late:

• The child is called lazy for waking up late.
• The grown-up blames the alarm when they wake up late.

2. Saying ‘No’:

• The child is called stubborn for saying ‘No’.
• The grown-up is called firm for doing the same.

3. Raising Voice:

• The child’s raised voice is considered shocking and rude.
• The grown-up’s raised voice is seen as teaching good behavior.

4. Breaking Something:

• The child is called clumsy and careless.
• The grown-up says it slipped and they were helpless.

5. Making Mistakes:

• The child’s mistake is labeled as a terror.
• The grown-up’s mistake is forgiven as a small error.

6. Quarreling:

• The child is considered wild and naughty for quarreling with a friend.
• The grown-up defends their quarrel with a neighbor as fulfilling a duty.

Key Words and Meanings:

1. Stubborn: Refusing to change decisions, even if it’s not nice.
2. Firm: Making strong decisions that don’t change.
3. Clumsy: Lacking skill or neatness.
4. Terror: A person who causes great trouble.
5. Forgivable: A mistake that is not serious and can be excused.
6. Error: A mistake.
7. Delight: Joy or happiness.

Important Messages:

1. Children feel unfairly treated when grown-ups judge them harshly but excuse their own actions.
2. The poem encourages understanding and fairness in relationships between children and adults.
3. Grown-ups should avoid double standards and treat children’s actions with kindness and equality.

Moral of the Poem: The poem teaches us to be fair and understanding. It reminds grown-ups not to judge children harshly and to acknowledge their own mistakes with humility.