Question Answers Class 9 Chapter 4.1 Kumarbharati English Maharashtra Board

Please Listen!

ENGLISH WORKSHOP

1. The poet uses a free, conversational style in his poem. It is also called Colloquial style. Pick out and write down such lines or expressions that support the above statement.

Answer:

• (a) “you have not done what I asked.”
• (b) “Listen! All I ask is that you listen.”
• (c) “Advice is cheap; 20 cents will get you both Dear Abby and Billy Graham in the same newspaper.”
• (d) “And I can do for myself; I am not helpless.”
• (e) “So please listen, and just hear me.”
• (f) “And if you want to talk, wait a minute for your turn – and I will listen to you.” Note: These lines sound like everyday talk, simple and direct, as if the poet is chatting with a friend.

2. Put the following expressions in a table of Dos and Don’ts as expressed by the poet.

Answer:

Note: The poet wants the listener to hear and accept his feelings without interfering or judging.

3. Write in your own words:-

(a) What does the listener do when the poet asks him to just listen? Give 3 points.

Answer:

1. 1. The listener starts giving advice instead of just listening.
   2. The listener tells the poet why he shouldn’t feel that way, ignoring his emotions.
   3. The listener tries to fix the poet’s problem, even though the poet didn’t ask for help.

(b) Why does the poet remark that advice is cheap?

Answer: The poet says advice is cheap because it’s easy to find-like in newspapers for just 20 cents-and doesn’t take much effort to give, unlike truly listening.

(c) Which two facts show that the poet is confident of overcoming his irrational feeling?

Answer:

1. 1. He says he’s not helpless, just discouraged, showing he believes he can handle things.
   2. He believes that once he understands his feelings, the answers will be clear, and he won’t need advice.

4. According to the poet, how does God help people, when they pray to him for help?

Answer:  The poet says God helps by staying silent and just listening, not giving advice or fixing things. This lets people figure out their problems on their own, which makes their feelings make sense.

5. Why should one learn to tackle one’s problems by one’s own self?

Answer:  One should learn to tackle their own problems because it builds confidence and strength. When others solve things for you, it can make you feel weak or scared, like you can’t do it yourself. Solving your own issues helps you grow and understand yourself better.

6. Why should seniors not over-protect or over-pamper juniors?

Answer:  Seniors shouldn’t over-protect or over-pamper juniors because it stops them from learning to handle life on their own. It can make juniors feel helpless or afraid, like they can’t manage without help. Letting them face challenges builds their courage and skills.

7. Find out and write down some proverbs/axioms/quotations that convey a message similar to ‘Self-help is the best help.’

Answer:

• “God helps those who help themselves.”
• “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
• “The best way out is always through.”
• “You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” Note: These sayings emphasize doing things for yourself instead of relying on others.

8. Maintain a diary at least for a week. Write about your interactions with other people in your surroundings in 3-4 lines. Also write whether you find the interactions happy, unhappy, satisfactory-unsatisfactory, enjoyable-stressful, etc.

Answer: (Sample entry for one day)

• April 6, 2025: Today, I talked to my friend about a school project. We planned it together and laughed a lot. It was enjoyable and satisfactory because we got stuff done and had fun. Note: You’d need to write similar entries for a week based on your real interactions.

9. Write an informal letter from a teenager to his/her parent, expressing a few thoughts from the poem.

Answer: Dear Mom, Hi! Are you surprised to see this letter? I wanted to talk about something, but I thought I’d write it instead. Sometimes, I just need you to listen to me, not give advice or fix things-like in this poem I read. I’m not helpless, just figuring stuff out, and it helps when you hear me without jumping in. Can we try that next time? Love, [Your Name]

10. Read aloud a couple of stanzas of the poem ‘Invictus’ and ‘Please Listen’. In what ways do they differ? Think and fill up the table with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

• Answer:
  

  	‘Invictus’	‘Please Listen’
  (1) Rhyming lines	Yes	No
  (2) Steady rhythm	Yes	No
  (3) Uniformity in length of lines	Yes	No
  (4) Uniformity of number of lines in each stanza	Yes	No
  (5) Figurative language	Yes	Yes

Note: ‘Invictus’ has a strict structure with rhyme and rhythm, while ‘Please Listen’ is free-flowing and conversational, like talking.