The Pilgrim
English Workshop
1. Pick out words from the poem to fill in the web diagram. They should be related to the theme in the web.
Answer:
Travel
1. Pilgrim
2. Journey
3. Chasm
4. Bridge
Time Around Sunset
1. Evening
2. Twilight
3. Close of day
4. Sunset
2. The entire poem is metaphorical (Implied comparison).
Match the words in Column A with what they imply in Column B.
A B
(1) pilgrim (a) threat to life
(2) journey (b) trap
(3) evening or close of day (c) life
(4) chasm, deep and wide (d) death
(5) building a bridge (e) old age
(6) pitfall (f) a dutiful man
(7) close of day (g) solving the problem / getting
rid of threat to life
Answer:
| A | B | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Pilgrim | (f) a dutiful man | ✅ Pilgrim → Dutiful man |
| (2) Journey | (c) life | ✅ Journey → Life |
| (3) Evening or close of day | (e) old age | ✅ Evening or close of day → Old age |
| (4) Chasm, deep and wide | (a) threat to life | ✅ Chasm → Threat to life |
| (5) Building a bridge | (g) solving the problem/getting rid of threat to life | ✅ Building a bridge → Solving problems |
| (6) Pitfall | (b) trap | ✅ Pitfall → Trap |
| (7) Close of day | (d) death | ✅ Close of day → Death |
3. (A) Read the poem and write 3 qualities of each of the following.
Answer:
1. The old pilgrim
- Wise
- Selfless
- Caring
2. The fellow pilgrim
- Curious
- Practical
- Skeptical
3. The young pilgrim
- Inexperienced
- Adventurous
- Vulnerable
(B) Answer in your own words.
(a) Why did the old man have no need to build the bridge, across the chasm ?
Answer: The old man had no need to build the bridge because he had already crossed the chasm safely and would never have to pass that way again.
(b) What explanation did he give to the fellow- pilgrim for his thoughtful deed ?
Answer: The old man explained that he was building the bridge for a young pilgrim who would follow the same path. The chasm, which was not dangerous for him, could be a problem for the young pilgrim, so he wanted to make the path easier for others.
(c) What message does the poem convey to all of us ?
Answer: The poem teaches us the importance of selflessness and helping others. It emphasizes that we should use our experiences to make life easier for those who come after us.
4. (A) Note the rhyming words in the first stanza.
way – gray / wide-side- tide / dim -him.
The poet has used a deliberate pattern of lines that rhyme with other lines in the
poem or the stanza. This pattern can be identified by giving the rhyming pairs of
words the same letter of the alphabet.
For example: 1st stanza of this poem has the pattern AABCCBB
So, AABCCBB is called the Rhyme Scheme of the 1st stanza of the poem
‘The Pilgrim’.
Answer:
Rhyming Words in the First Stanza:
- way – gray
- wide – side – tide
- dim – him
Rhyme Scheme of the First Stanza:
The rhyme scheme of the first stanza is AABCCBB.
- “way” and “gray” = A
- “wide,” “side,” and “tide” = B
- “dim” and “him” = C
(B) Now write the Rhyme Scheme of the 2nd stanza …………. and 3rd stanza …………. Remember that a line in the 2nd or 3rd stanza may rhyme with lines in the 1st stanza, too. You may use the same letter of the alphabet as used in the 1st stanza.
Answer:
Rhyme Scheme of the Stanzas
- 2nd Stanza Rhyme Scheme: AABCCB
- 3rd Stanza Rhyme Scheme: AABCCBB
(C) Find two lines that contain Inversion.
Answer:
Inversion Lines
- “Up came the sun.”
- “Down the hill, it flowed.”
- Pick out one line each that contains the following Figures of Speech.
Answer:
Figures of Speech
(a) Tautology: “It brought joy and cheer.”
(b) Personification: “The chasm held no fear for him.”
(c) Interrogation: “Why waste your time in building here?”
5. Imagine that you are the fellow pilgrim and you wish to share your experience of the incident in the poem. Write a short article about it for a magazine / journal. Also convey what change it has brought in your life.
Answer:
Title: A Lesson from the Old Pilgrim
I met an old pilgrim during my journey, and I was puzzled when I saw him building a bridge across a deep chasm. When I asked him why he was doing so, as he would never need to cross it again, he explained that he was building it for the young pilgrims who would come after him. His act of selflessness and foresight taught me a valuable lesson – that true greatness lies in helping others without expecting anything in return. This incident changed my outlook on life, encouraging me to think about how I can make the world a better place for future generations.
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