Notes Chapter 1.1 A Teenager’s Prayer Class 10 English Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – English Class 10

Introduction

• The chapter encourages teenagers to reflect on their decisions and seek guidance for a righteous path in life.
• It emphasizes the importance of making thoughtful choices and staying resilient against temptations.

Key Concepts and Activities

1. Warming Up Activities:

• Discuss scenarios like decision-making and methods to solve dilemmas (consulting elders, thinking silently, praying to God, etc.).
• Introduces the Figure of Speech: Apostrophe (addressing an absent person or abstract idea).
  Examples:
  • “Twinkle, twinkle little star.”
  • “O Life! How challenging you are!”

2. The Poem: A Teenager’s Prayer (By J. Morse)

Themes:

• Decision-making during adolescence.
• Seeking divine guidance for righteousness.
• Overcoming temptations to maintain physical and moral integrity.

Summary:

• Each day offers new opportunities, and decisions shape our future.
• Choosing the right path leads to success, while wrong choices lead to distress.
• A prayer to God for strength to resist temptations and to develop into the best version of oneself.
• Highlights the importance of divine companionship for living a meaningful life.

Glossary

• Darkened Road: Represents evil or negative choices.
• Distress: Great worry or strain.
• Temptation: A strong desire to do something wrong.

Q&A Based on the Poem

Comprehension Questions:

1. Age Group of the Speaker: Teenagers.
2. Decisions: Choosing between right and wrong.
3. New Beginnings: Opportunities to make decisions.
4. Reacting to Temptation: By resisting and staying strong.
5. Desired Outcome: To emerge as the best version of oneself after teenage years.
6. Physical Condition: Maintaining a clean and fit body.
7. Desired Company: God’s companionship.

Language Study

1. Rhyming Words in the Poem:

• Make–Take
• Success–Distress
• See–Me

2. Rhyme Scheme: aabb

3. Figures of Speech:

• Apostrophe: “Please open up my eyes, dear Lord.”
• Inversion: “Decisions I must make.”
• Metaphor: “Travel down the darkened road.”
• Alliteration: “Help me stand for what is right.”