The Vagabond -
Robert Louis Stevenson
Activity - 1
Choose the correct answer from the given alternatives:
- The vagabond wishes to have his bed–
(i) in a frosty field
(ii) in the bush ✅
(iii) at a roadside inn.
Answer: In the bush. - The vagabond prays for a life–
(i) in close contact with nature ✅
(ii) devoted to social work
(iii) spent in comfort and luxury
Answer: In close contact with nature. - The vagabond does not seek–
(i) the heaven above him
(ii) wealth ✅
(iii) the road below him
Answer: Wealth.
Activity - 2
Identify which of the following statements are True and which are False. Give a supporting statement for each of your answers:
| Statement | True/False | Supporting Statement |
|---|---|---|
| The vagabond wants the way to be far away from him. | False | “And the byway nigh me.” |
| The vagabond dips the bread in the river water. | True | “Bread I dip in the river.” |
| When autumn comes the birds are going to be happy with their chirpings. | False | “Silencing the bird on tree.” |
| The vagabond will not fear to face Autumn or Winter. | True | “Not to autumn will I yield / Not to winter even!” |
Activity - 3
Complete the sentences meaningfully:
- The vagabond is a person who is a homeless wanderer.
- The vagabond wants a life of close contact with nature.
- The vagabond asks for the heaven above him and the road below.
- The vagabond does not like to have friends to know him.
Activity - 4
Answer the following questions:
1. What kind of a life does the vagabond want?
Answer: The vagabond wants a life surrounding by nature, there should be nothing called anxiety. He wants the open air the above sky the road bellow and a simple existence on earth.
2. What are the things that do not interest the vagabond?
Answer: The vagabond is not interested in wealth, hope, love or even friendship. He has no interest in the materialistic things.
3. What would the vagabond do when winter falls?
Answer: When winter falls the Vagabond continues to live outdoors, cherishing the transition of the weather. He doesn’t fear of cold at all, showing the cold and quite beauty of the season.
4. How does the poet describe a field in autumn?
Answer: The poet describes the field in autumn as frosty and white that covered the field as meal, showing the beauty of winter.
5. Why does the poet repeat the second stanza once again?
Answer: The poet repeats the second stanza once again to say loudly and confidently that being a lover of nature the Vagabond strongly desires a free life and he is keen to face any storm he encountered.
6. What message does the poet want to give through the poem?
Answer: The poet wants to give a message that true happiness lies in freedom and living close to nature, not in materialistic wealth or attachments.
Activity - 5
Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B:
| A | B |
|---|---|
| Love | A feeling of care and understanding. |
| Heaven | A place where a soul finds peace and his God. |
| Nigh | That which is near. |
| Lave | A stream or rivulet. |
| Frosty | Covered with thin ice. |
| Friend | A person who stands by at all times |
Activity - 6
Fill in the blanks with the antonyms of the words given in brackets:
- There is a cold (warm) breeze blowing from the sea.
- His coat is black (white) in colour.
- After spring comes summer (winter).
- From the mountain top, I could see the river flowing below (above).
- I do not want to be late (early) for the meeting.
Activity - 7
Make as many new words as you can from the poem by adding suffixes:
- __y: wealthy, earthy, bushy, starry.
- __less: loveless, hopeless, friendless.
- __full: hopeful, mouthful.
- __ly: manly, likely, friendly.
- __th: warmth, width.
- __side: roadside, riverside.
- __er: blower, sooner, seeker, jollier.
- __r: lover, giver, later.
Activity - 8(a)
Find participle adjectives from the given sentences:
- He got down from a running bus.
- The loaded truck hit the tree.
- I met a charming woman today.
- Don’t eat rotten mangoes.
- Cricket is an exciting game.
Activity - 8(b)
Make new sentences with the participle adjectives:
- Running: She is running behind her home.
- Loaded: She carried a loaded basket of books.
- Charming: It is a charming smile.
- Rotten: The rotten apple smelled bad.
- Exciting: The class was exciting.
Activity - 9
Punctuate the following passage:
“Do you know, Watson?” said Holmes, as we sat together at the end of the garden.
“In the darkness, I have really some hesitation in talking to you tonight. There is a risk of danger.”
“You know I welcome it. But you have evidently seen more in these rooms than was visible to me.”
“You saw the ventilator?”
“Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very dangerous or unusual thing to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a rat could hardly pass through.”
Activity - 10
Complete the sentences with adjectives in their proper degree:
- Ram is older (old) than Shyam.
- Mt. Everest is the highest (high) peak in the world.
- A mango is as sweet (sweet) to taste as an apple.
- Darjeeling is cooler (cool) than Siliguri.
- Kolkata is the largest (large) city in West Bengal.
- Sita is taller (tall) than Reshma.
Activity - 11
Fill in the blanks with the plural nouns given in the help box. There are some extra words.
(species, headquarters, means, series, spectacles, tongs, congratulations)
- You have won the match – congratulations!
- The police headquarters were not far away.
- He did not have the means, but he had the capacity to build an empire.
- The test series was so exciting that all were glued to the television.
- He held the burning coal with the help of tongs.
Activity - 12
Describe in a short paragraph (within 80 words) your experience of enjoying a picnic. You may use the following hints:
* place of the picnic
* time/season of the picnic
* your companions in the picnic
* games/events/activities
* your feelings after the picnic
Answer: Last winter, I enjoyed a joyful picnic in the quiet hills with my family. We found a place surrounded by trees and flowers, it was a nice view. We shared tasty homemade food and we played simple games like badminton and hide and seek. The fresh air and stunning views made me feel peaceful and happy. We spend the whole day there. After the picnic, I felt relaxed and full of joy, wishing we could do it all over again.