Life
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Pick out from the poem, two lines each that reflect an optimistic (positive) attitude and pessimistic (negative) attitude.
Optimism: (1) “Oft a little morning rain / Foretells a pleasant day” – This shows hope that difficulties lead to better times. (2) “Gratefully, cheerily, / Enjoy them as they fly” – This encourages enjoying life’s happy moments with positivity.
Pessimism: (1) “Life, believe, is not a dream, / So dark as sages say” – This reflects a negative view some have about life. (2) “What though Sorrow seems to win, / O’er hope a heavy sway?” – This suggests sorrow overpowering hope, a gloomy thought.
2. Give other ‘-ly’ adverbs of similar meaning for the following. Use a thesaurus if needed.
(a) rapidly → swiftly (e) manfully → bravely
(b) merrily → happily (f) fearlessly → boldly
(c) gratefully → thankfully (g) gloriously → splendidly
(d) cheerily → joyfully (h) victoriously → triumphantly
3. (a) Pick out three examples of interrogation (rhetorical questions) from the poem. Explain in your own words the point that each one makes.
| Interrogation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| (1) “Oh, why lament its fall?” | This asks why we should feel sad about troubles if they lead to good outcomes, like rain helping roses grow. |
| (2) “What though death at times steps in?” | This questions why we should fear death when it’s a natural part of life. |
| (3) “What though Sorrow seems to win?” | This wonders why we should give up when sorrow feels strong, as hope can still rise again. |
(b) Explain the metaphor in the following lines:
(1) “Oft a little morning rain / Foretells a pleasant day”
- Metaphor: Rain represents small problems in life, and a pleasant day stands for happiness that follows. It means tough times can lead to better ones.
(2) “Sometimes there are clouds”
- Metaphor: Clouds symbolize sadness or difficulties that come and go in life, not staying forever.
(3) “… the shower will make the roses bloom”
- Metaphor: The shower (rain) is like challenges, and roses blooming represent beauty or success that comes after struggles.
(4) “Life’s sunny hours flit by”
- Metaphor: Sunny hours are happy moments in life, and “flit by” compares them to birds flying away quickly, showing how brief joy can be.
(c) Pick out four examples of personification. Write what is personified in each:
(1) “Sometimes there are clouds of gloom”
- Personified: Clouds – given the human quality of gloom (sadness).
(2) “What though Sorrow seems to win”
- Personified: Sorrow – shown as a person who can win or fight against hope.
(3) “Yet Hope again elastic springs”
- Personified: Hope – described as a living thing that can spring back like a person.
(4) “Still strong to bear us well”
- Personified: Hope’s wings – given strength like a person to carry us through life.
(d) ‘And calls our Best away’ is a gentle way of expressing the unpleasant idea of a loved one dying. It is an example of euphemism. Think and write down 3 or 4 ways in which we can express the idea of ‘death’ in a tactful and gentle manner.
(1) “Passed away” (3) “Gone to a better place”
(2) “Left us peacefully” (4) “Taken by the angels”
4. ‘….. and that’s how I realised that courage and hope can help me overcome any major mishap/problem in life.’ Write an episode/experience from your own life that leads to the above conclusion.
Last year, I failed my math exam, which made me feel hopeless. I was scared I’d never improve. But my teacher encouraged me to keep trying, and I studied hard with hope and determination. After weeks of effort, I passed the next test with good marks. This taught me that courage to face failure and hope for better days can help me overcome any problem.
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