Summer Friends
- Mary Lamb
Summary:
The poem talks about two kinds of friends. Some are like summer friends they stay only during happy times. But true friends are like winter friends they stay with us even when things are hard. The poem says real friendship means being there in every season, not just the sunny days. The poem reminds us that true friends don’t leave when times get hard. They support us in every season, just like a faithful little bird that never flies away. Mary Lamb compares these friendships to two birds, the swallow, who comes only in summer, and the sparrow, who stays all year.
Match column A with column B:
Answer:A | B |
---|---|
Peacock | Dances when the sky is overcast. |
Pigeon | Used to carry letters. |
Crow | Cleans surroundings. |
Activity - 1
- The swallow comes to the poet in
Answer: Summer. - Many young friends follow the behaviour of the
Answer: Swallow. - The sparrow accompanies the poet in times of
Answer: Snow and frost. - The poet wants a friend who will be like
Answer: Sparrow.
Activity - 2
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:- The swallow chirps for weeks together when the weather is fine and warm.
- In a cold day the swallow flies away.
- Even when old friends are separated, their hearts never become narrow.
- The poet wishes for a bird that will sing in frost and love in sorrow.
Activity - 3
- Why do you think the swallow leaves the poet during the winter season?
Answer: The swallow leaves the poet in Summer Friends by Mary Lamb because it only enjoys the warm, sunny days. When winter comes, the swallow flies away, just like some friends who are only around during happy times but disappear when life gets cold and hard.
Activity - 4
Fill in the following chart with information from the text:Who | Does what | When |
---|---|---|
The swallow | Chirping his notes | In fine and warm weather. |
The sparrow | Clings closer to man | In dreary days of snow and frost |
Old friends | Never narrow their hearts | Even when “in life we’re crost.” |
A true friend of the poet | Sings in frost and loves in sorrow | Whate’er mischance may come. |
Activity - 5
Answer the following questions:- What does the swallow do in summer?
Answer: The swallow builds its nest in the Chimney and sings peacefully when the weather is warm and sunny. - How is the behavior of a “gay young friend” similar to that of the swallow?
Answer: Like the swallow, a “gay young friend” enjoys happy times but disappears when life becomes difficult or cold. - What type of a friend does the poet want?
Answer: The poet Mary Lamb wants a friend who stays through hard difficult and sorrow moments of life, someone who is loyal and loving even in tough times of life. - Whom does the poet like- the swallow or the sparrow? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The poet likes the sparrow more because it stays close during winter and sad times of life, the sparrow shows the true friendship and loyalty
Activity - 6 (a)
Read the following sentences. Identify noun clauses, Adjective clauses and Adverb clauses and fill in the chart given below:(i) I expect that I shall get a prize.
Noun clauses | Adjective clauses | Adverb clauses |
---|---|---|
That I shall get a prize | which has a yellow handle | When I was younger |
where I was born |
Activity - 6 (b)
Change the following sentences into indirect speech:- The sailor said to us, “There will be a storm.”
Answer: The sailor said to us that there would be a storm. - The teacher said to the student, “Did you come to school yesterday?”
Answer: The teacher asked the student if she/he had come to school the previous day. - The tired guest said to the host, “Please give me a glass of cold water.”
Answer: The tired guest requested the host to give him/her a glass of cold water. - Rita said, “How happy I am!”
Answer: Rita exclaimed that she was very happy - My grandmother said, “May you live long!”
Answer: My grandmother blessed me saying that I might live long.
Activity - 7
Make meaningful sentences of your own with the following words:- Guest: The guest knocked at the door.
- Dreary: It was a dreary and rainy day.
- Narrow: She walked on a narrow road.
- Mischance: By mischance she dropped the book.
Activity - 8 (a)
Write a short story in about eighty words using the following hints. Give a suitable title to the story:The Ungrateful Snake
One cold morning, a farmer found a snake almost frozen. He felt pity and brought it home. He placed it near the fire, and soon the snake became warm and alive again. Just then, the farmer’s son came close. The snake raised its head to bite him. The farmer quickly took a stick and chased it away. He learned a lesson that day some creatures cannot be trusted, even when you help them. Kindness doesn’t always change one’s true nature.
Activity - 8 (b)
Suppose you have a bird that talks and plays with you. Write a paragraph in about eighty words on how you spent a day with the bird during your summer vacation.During my summer vacation, I spent a wonderful day with my talking bird, Mithu. Early in the morning, Mithu greeted me with a cheerful “Good morning!” We played with a ball and spend the whole day together. Mithu copied everything I said, which made me laugh a lot. In the afternoon, we rested under a tree while I read a story to him. In the evening, we watched the sunset together. It was a fun and happy day I’ll always remember.