MATRIC ENGLISH SINDH BOARD KING BRUCE AND THE SPIDER

 

KING BRUCE AND THE SPIDER

 

Reference:

This poem is written by Eliza cook (1818-1889). Born in London, she was the youngest of seven children. She was entirely self-educated and wrote verses from the age of fourteen. Her first volume being published at seventeen. In 1849, she edited and published, “Eliza Cooks Journal.” Her work is simple and highly moral. In this poem, she teaches the reader what she always practised in her own life to keep on trying and never to be discouraged.

 

 

Theme:

“Where there is a will, there is a way.”

    or

“The world is his who her patients and industry.”

 

 

Central Idea:

The central idea of this poem is that we should cultivate a strong will – power and a hopeful attitude to life, be bold through thick and thin, counting no labour loss and our heart within than. Almighty creator will surely help us if we adopt such a coarse. As it is also said, “The world is his who has patience and industry.”

 

 

Summary:

 

The poetess has expressed the true sense of life in this poem. A solution to the problems of life and key to the success are being preached in this poem in a dramatic style.
This poem tells the story of King Bruce of Scotland. Once he was defeated by the English men. He took refuge in a cave. Due to his repeated failures, he was very grieved. King Bruce mentally accepted his defeat from the English men.

One day, he was pondering at the point of his defeat, he watched a spider who was try8ng to reach to her cobweb. The thread was the only pathway for the spider to reach her destination. Spider started her voyage with great anxiety and force. But the spider comes down to the initial stage where it had started her journey. King Bruce was showing insecurity on the foolish attempts to reach the destination that the spider will not try again.

However, the spider succeeded in the 10th attempt to reach its cobweb. After the success of spider, King Bruce sounded in an optimistic order. “All honour to those who try persistently.” King Bruce determined his heart to try once more in order to get the win over on his enemies.” At last, he succeeded.

 

Fill in the blanks.

i.                    The poem “King Bruce and the Spider” is written by Eliza Cook.

ii.                  Eliza Cook was born in London in 1818.

iii.               Eliza Cook was the youngest of eleven children.

iv.                Eliza Cook was entirely self-educated.

v.                  Eliza Cook wrote verses from the age of fourteen.

vi.                Eliza Cook’s first volume being published at seventeen.

vii.              Eliza Cook edited and published “Eliza Cook's Journal” in 1849.

viii.           Eliza Cook’s work is simple and highly moral.

ix.                In this poem, Eliza Cook teaches the reader what she always practised in her own life.

x.                  The moral of this poem is, keep on trying and never to be discouraged.

xi.                King Bruce of Scotland flung himself down in a lonely mood to think.

xii.             Tis true he was monarch and wore a crown,

xiii.           For he had been trying to do a great deed to make his people glad;

xiv.            As grieved as a man could be.

xv.              And after a while, as he pondered there.

xvi.            Now just at the moment, a spider dropped with its silken cobweb clue.

xvii.         The King in the midst of his thinking stopped to see what the spider would do.

xviii.       ‘T was a long way up to the ceiling dome and it hung by a rope so fine,

xix.           That how it would get to its cobweb home King Bruce could not divine.

xx.              But up the insect went once more Ah me! 'tis an anxious minute

xxi.           He's only a foot from his cobweb door' Oh, say, will he lose or win it?

xxii.         And a bold little run at the very last pinch.

xxiii.       All honour to those who try.

xxiv.       He conquered, and why should not I?"

xxv.          And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind, and gossips tell the tale

 

Question and Answers:

 

Q.1    What lesson did the King learn from the spider?

Ans. The persistent tries of spider gave a positive spin to the thoughts of King Bruce and taught him that we are to be persistent and bold to achieve our aim of life. Continuous struggle to the main aim always produces a favourable result. We should try hard without caring for the resistance and circumstances of life.

 

Q.2.   What do you know about King Bruce of Scotland?

Ans. King Bruce of Scotland was a very generous and patriotic Emperor. Once he fights with the British Army who wants to make a British colony in Scotland, but he was defeated. As he wanted to defeat his enemy, that’s why he made several attempts to get back his domain but he failed.

 

Q.3    What do you know about King Bruce of Scotland?

Ans. Eliza cook (1818-1889) was born in London. In 1849 she edited and published “Eliza cook’s Journal.” Her work is simple and highly moral and she teaches the readers what she always practised in her life; to keep on trying and never to be discouraged.

 

Q.4    What is meant by poetess when she says that “a great deed”?

Ans. The poetess has used the words “a great hard” for King Bruce. He had been trying hard to protect his domain from the contaminated hands of the enemy. As the protection of the country keeps a very high rank among the man’s priorities of life, that’s why the poetess called it “a great deed”.

Q.5    What resemblance, does the poetess find between King Bruce and the Spider?

Ans. The points of the similarity between King Bruce and the spider were that the aim was quite far away from both of them. Both of them were having a very slightest hope to achieve success i.e. the spider had a single thread to reach the cobweb and the King Bruce also had a very tiny hope to win over his enemies.

 

Q.6    Why did King Bruce or poetess call the spider “Brave”.

Ans. The poetess calls the spider brave because it was very persistent and tried hard to complete her task. Although she suffered several failures, she did not show any grievance on the hard-luck of its fate. It went on making attempt and at last, its persistent tries put it into the cobweb.

 

Reference to the context:

 

           “He flung himself down in a low despair,

As grieved as a man could be,

And after a while, as he pondered there,

"I'll give it all up" said he”

 

i.                   Name the poem. Who wrote this poem?

Ans.    The name of the poem is “King Bruce & The Spider”.  This beautiful poem is written by “Eliza Cook”.

ii.                 Why was he grieved and where was he?

Ans.     He was grieved because he was defeated six times. He took refuge in a cave in low despair. He was really disappointed.  

iii.                What was he thinking at that time?

Ans.    The king was very sad because of the defeat. He was in deep thoughts. he thought he will give up his efforts and he will not go back.

 

"Bravo! Bravo!" the King cried out,

All honour to those who try!

The spider up there defied despair-

He conquered, and why should not I?

 

i.                   Name the poem. Who wrote this poem?

Ans.    The name of the poem is “King Bruce & The Spider”.  This beautiful poem is written by “Eliza Cook”.

ii.                 Explain the phrase “All honour to those who try”.

Ans.     In the above phrase, the poetess wants to convey the idea about struggle. It means that the hard struggle always bears fruit. One can achieve everything through consistent efforts and work.

iii.                What did lesson did he get from the spider?

Ans.    He learnt that he can succeed if he struggles. As he observed a little insect got success in its aim just because of struggle. So, he asked himself he could also get success. Finally, he embraced himself once again and got success.