Question Answers Class 8 Chapter 3.1 Balbharati English Maharashtra Board

The Plate of Gold

English Workshop

1. Pick out words from the poem to complete the sentences meaningfully.

Answer:

(a) Stephen Hawking was a renowned (famous) Astrophysicist.

(b) The Government made a proclamation (announcement) about their new taxation policy.

(c) Everyone stood aghast (horrified) when the terrible accident took place.

(d) She wrangled (bargained) with the hawker to reduce the price.

(e) Handicapped people should never be shunned (ignored and avoided).

2. Make a list of archaic words from the poem and give their modern equivalents.

Answer:

3. Rearrange the following in the proper order and insert them into a flow chart as per the poem.

(a) The plate turned to lead, when it was gifted to false-hearted claimants .

(b) Many claimants donated their wealth to receive the plate of gold .

(c) For almost two years, no claimants received the plate of gold .

(d) A plate of gold fell in a temple from Heaven.

(e) The peasant offered comfort and courage to a blind miserable beggar, whom all had ignored.

(f) The priests announced that the one who loved God most of all, would receive the gift from Heaven.

(g) When the priest gave the plate of gold to that peasant, it shone with thrice its lustre.

(h) A simple peasant, who had nothing to offer, came to that temple.

Answer:

The correct chronological order of events from the poem is:

1. (d) A plate of gold fell in a temple from Heaven.

2. (f) The priests announced that the one who loved God most of all would receive the gift from Heaven.

3. (b) Many claimants donated their wealth to receive the plate of gold.

4. (a) The plate turned to lead when it was gifted to false-hearted claimants.

5. (c) For almost two years, no claimants received the plate of gold.

6. (h) A simple peasant, who had nothing to offer, came to that temple.

7. (e) The peasant offered comfort and courage to a blind miserable beggar, whom all had ignored.

8. (g) When the priest gave the plate of gold to that peasant, it shone with thrice its lustre. Flow Chart:

START → (d) → (f) → (b) → (a) → (c) → (h) → (e) → (g) → END

4. Which two sayings about God are conveyed through the poem ‘The Plate of Gold’?

(a) God helps those, who help themselves.

(b) God loves those, who love their fellow beings.

(c) God loves those, who give away their wealth, to please Him.

(d) Service to mankind is service to God.

Answer:

(b) God loves those who love their fellow beings.

(d) Service to mankind is service to God.

Explanation: The peasant wins the plate of gold not by giving away wealth or performing grand deeds, but by showing genuine love and compassion to a blind beggar, emphasizing that true love for others is what pleases God.

5. ‘But the peasant bowed and prayed to God ………..’ What could he have prayed for ?

Answer:

The peasant could have prayed for:

• Gratitude for receiving the plate of gold and God’s recognition of his love.
• Strength to continue serving and loving others selflessly.
• Blessings for the poor and suffering, like the blind beggar he helped.
• Guidance to remain humble and faithful despite the honor bestowed upon him.

For example: “O God, I thank You for this gift and pray for the strength to love and serve others as You desire.”

6. Imagine that you are the peasant. Compose a short prayer to God, after having received the plate of gold. Write it using stylish handwriting.

Answer:

Prayer:

“O merciful God, I bow before You in thanks for this golden gift. Let my heart remain humble, my hands ever ready to help the needy, and my soul filled with Your love forever.”

Since I can’t physically write in stylish handwriting here, imagine this written in an elegant, cursive style with flourishes on the capital letters “O,” “G,” and “L” to reflect gratitude and reverence.

7. Read other poems by Leigh Hunt, especially ‘Abou Ben Adhem’. Compare the messages in that poem with those in ‘The Plate of Gold’. What do you observe ?

Answer:

Both “The Plate of Gold” by James Henry Leigh Hunt and “Abou Ben Adhem” share similar messages about love, humility, and service to others as the truest expressions of devotion to God. Here’s a comparison:

• Message in “The Plate of Gold”: The poem emphasizes that genuine love and compassion for fellow beings, especially the downtrodden, are what God values most. The peasant wins the plate not through wealth or grand gestures but by showing selfless pity to a blind beggar, suggesting that true virtue lies in humble, heartfelt acts of kindness.
• Message in “Abou Ben Adhem”: In this poem, Abou Ben Adhem’s name is not initially on the list of those who love God. However, when he expresses his love for humanity, his name appears at the top of the list. This conveys that loving and serving fellow humans is the highest form of devotion to God.
• Observations:
  • Both poems reject superficial displays of piety (e.g., donating wealth to gain favor in “The Plate of Gold” or merely claiming to love God in “Abou Ben Adhem”).
  • They highlight that God prioritizes love for humanity over material offerings or self-centered devotion.
  • The protagonists in both (the peasant and Abou) are simple, humble figures whose quiet, sincere actions earn divine approval.
  • Leigh Hunt consistently promotes the idea that service to mankind is the ultimate service to God, a recurring theme in his works.

In summary, both poems align in their core message: true spirituality is demonstrated through love and kindness toward others, not through wealth, status, or outward religiosity.