Class - 10 English

First Flight
Prose Section

S. no. Name of the Lesson Name of the Author

1 A Letter to God [Link]
2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Freedom
3 Two Stories about Flying
Liam O F Laherty
I. His First Flight
4 Two Stories about Flying
Frederick Forsyth
[Link] Aeroplane
5 From the Diary of Anne Frank Anne Frank
6 Glimpses of India
Lucio Rodrigues
I. A Baker from Goa
Lokesh Abrol
II. Coorg
Arup Kumar Datta
III. Tea from Assam
7 Mijbil the Otter Gavin Maxwell
8 Madam Rides the Bus VallikKannan
9 The Sermon at Benares -
10 The Proposal Anton Chekov

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Lesson Prose First Flight

1 A Letter to God

Theme Key literary device

Hope for Help Irony – Lencho

Faith in God thought that post
Kindness office employees
had cheated him.

 • Lencho was a farmer.

 • Lencho's house was situated on the crest of a low hill.
 • Lencho had grown corn in his fields.
 • Lencho compared the large raindrops with new coins.
 • Lencho hoped for good harvest.
 • Hailstones destroyed Lencho's fields.
 • The field looked as if it was covered with salt
 • Lencho's soul was filled with sadness.
 • Lencho needed money to save his family from hunger.
 • Lencho wrote a letter to God.
 • Lencho asked for hundred pesos from God.
 • The postmaster read the letter.
 • Postmaster and employees collected 70 pesos.
 • Seventy pesos were arranged by the post master.
 • Lencho became angry because he got only seventy pesos. Lencho called the
post office employees a bunch of crooks.

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Summary- The story is about a poor farmer named Lencho who lived with
his family on a hill. He was a hardworking and honest man who had strong
faith in God. One day, he hoped for rain to grow his crops, and it rained,
but soon heavy hail destroyed his entire field. Lencho and his family were
very sad because they had nothing left to eat. Still, Lencho believed that
God would help him. He wrote a letter to God, asking for 100 pesos to
sow his field again. The postmaster, touched by his faith, collected some
money with the help of other employees and sent him 70 pesos in an
envelope signed “God.” Lencho received the money but thought the post
office people had stolen the rest. The story shows Lencho’s deep faith and
human kindness.

Message of the Story

The story teaches faith in goodness, hope during hardship, the selflessness of
people, and how sometimes human kindness goes unrecognized. It encourages
belief in both divine and human help.

Let's Learn New Words

 Crest-top of a hill
 Draped-covered, Locusts- insects which fly in big swarms
 Supper-last meal of the day
 Conscience- inner sense of right and wrong
 Peso- currency of Latin American countries
 Amiable- friendly
 Contentment-satisfaction

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Lesson Prose First Flight

2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Special Facts
 Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first Black
president.
 African National Congress won the first democratic
elections of South Africa's history.
 The inauguration ceremony took place in the Union
Buildings amphitheater in Pretoria on 10th May 1994.
 Mandela was accompanied by his daughter Zenani
 Nelson Mandela said,” Never, never again will this beautiful and experience
the oppression of one by another.”
 South Africa had a political system called apartheid.
 Apartheid is a political system that separate people according to their race.
Famous Quotations of Mandela
 “Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.”
 •“The greatest wealth of a nation is its people.”

Summary- The lesson Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is an

extract from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography. It tells about the day when
South Africa got freedom from apartheid — a system that separated
people by color. On 10th May 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first
Black President of South Africa. Leaders and guests from many countries
attended the ceremony to celebrate the birth of a new democratic nation.

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Mandela remembered the long struggle of many brave men and women who
fought for freedom and equality. He said that courage is not the absence
of fear but the victory over it. He also spoke about the twin obligations
every person has — to his family and to his country. Mandela dreamed of
a nation where everyone would live with freedom, respect, and equality.
The chapter teaches the values of sacrifice, peace, and forgiveness.

Special facts about the Story

  The military generals saluted Nelson Mandela and pledged their loyalty to the new
democratic government.
  Two national anthems were sung on the day of the inauguration, one by the whites and
another by the blacks to promote equality and unity.
  According to Mandela, courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
  10th May 1994 was called an “autumn day” because it marked the country’s political
rebirth.

Mandela said every

 • Mandela wished to
person has two obligations:
build a society of
Justice, equality and
freedom  Obligation to his family – to
parents, wife, and children.
 • No discrimination of
race  Obligation to his people and
country

Let's Learn New Words

 Apartheid – a system of racial segregation in South Africa.
 Activist – a person who works to bring social or political change.
 Protest – to show disagreement publicly.
 Courage – bravery in facing danger or difficulty.
 Imprisonment – being put in prison.
 Equality – treating everyone the same, without discrimination.
 Reconciliation – making peace after conflict.
 Tribute – showing respect or honor to someone.

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Lesson Two Stories about Flying First Flight

Prose
3 I. His first flight

 • The story is about a young seagull afraid to fly.

 • His two brothers and sister had already flown.
 • The young seagull was alone on the ledge for 24
hours.
 • He was hungry and weak as he had not eaten
since the previous nightfall.
 • His parents encouraged and scolded him to fly.
 • He felt that his wings would not support him.
 • He felt the heat because he had not eaten since the previous night fall.
 • His mother tempted him a piece of fish.
 • The sight of the food maddened seagull.
 • His mother had picked up a piece of the fish.

Main idea
Overcoming fear through courage

Let's Learn New Words

 Ledge- a narrow horizontal shelf, skim- to move lightly
 Herring- a sea fish
 Whet-sharpen
 dizzy- an uncomfortable feeling of spinning, curveting- leaping like a horse
 Fledgling – a young bird learning to fly; a beginner.
 Perch – a branch or place where a bird sits.
 Frightened – scared or afraid.
 Flutter – to move wings quickly and lightly.
 Encourage – to give confidence or hope.
 Adventure – an exciting or risky experience
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Lesson Two Stories about Flying First Flight

Prose
3 [Link] Blake Aeroplane

 •The writer of the black Aeroplane

is Frederick Forsyth.
 • Name of the black Aeroplane was
(Dakota DS 088)
 • Pilot was returning from France to England.
 • He saw clouds like blackmountains.
 • Pilot did not have enough fuel to fly.
 • Pilot had decided to fly Old Dakota straight into the storm.
 • Pilot looked first at the compass and it stopped to work.
 • The aeroplane was lost in the storm.
 • A black aeroplane appeared and guided pilot to the runway.
 • When the pilot reported about the black aeroplane to the control centre, the
woman looked at him in surprise and informed him that there had been no
other aeroplanes flying that night.

Special Fact
The narrator took the risk of flying his old Dakota aeroplane straight into the
storm. He did this because he was very eager to reach home in time for breakfast
with his family.

Let's Learn New Words

 Strange- odd
 Dakota – an old aeroplane
 Vanish- disappear
 Mystery- Secret
 Frightening – Scary, fearful

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Lesson Prose First Flight

4 From the Diary of Anne Frank

 • The writer of this lesson is "Anne Frank."

 • Anne Frank was born on 12 June,1929.
 • She was a German Jewish girl.
 • Anne's long awaited friend is her diary.
 • Mr Keesing was annoyed with her because she was talkative.
 • In Maths subject she (Anne) was not sure of passing.
 • Paper has more patience than people.
 • The narrator wrote the poem about the ducks.
 • The topic of the the essay written by Anne was (a chatter box.)
 • Anne's school friend name was G.N .
 • Anne died in the concentration camp .
 • 'Quaking in its boots' mean feeling nervous.
 • Anne frank wrote in her last essay a funny poem.
 • The diary was given to Anne on her 13th birthday.
 • The diary was originally written in the Dutch language.
 • Anne's family moved to Amsterdam

Special Facts
 Anne called her diary Kitty.
 Anne kept a diary because she did not have a real friend to share her thoughts and
feelings with

Let's Learn New Words

 Listless –having no energy or feeling very tired.
 Confide – to share personal or secret things with someone you trust.
 Inherited traits – qualities or characteristics received from one’s parents.
 Incorrigible – very difficult to correct or change someone’s behavior.
 Ramble on – to talk for a long time in a confused or aimless way.
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Lesson Glimpses of India First Flight

Prose
5 I. (A Baker from Goa)

 • Bakers in Goa are known as pader.

 • Baker came twice a day with a bamboo staff.
 • Jhang-jhang sound announced his arrival.
 • Children ran for bread-bangles and sweet loaves.
 • A baker’s prosperity was judged by his plump body.
 • Peculiar dress of baker in Goa is known as the kabai .
 • Bread was linked with every important occasion in Goa (birthdays, marriages,
festivals).
 • Bol is the sweet bread.
 • The baker collected the bills at the end of the month.
 • Monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil.
 • A person with a jackfruit-like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker.

Special Facts
  The baker visited twice a day with his basket of bread.
  Special cakes, bolinhas, sandwiches, and sweet bread were a must in wedding meals.

Let's Learn New Words

 Pader – a baker or a person who bakes bread.
 Furnace – a large oven used for baking or heating.
 Loaves – pieces or shapes of bread.
 Jhang-jhang – the jingling sound made by the bamboo of the baker’s staff.
 Bread-bangles – round-shaped breads that look like bangles.
 Bolinhas – sweet cakes made during festivals in Goa.
 Kabai – a long frock-like traditional dress worn by the baker.
 Plump – fat, chubby, or slightly overweight.
 Heralding – announcing or declaring the coming of something.
 Reminiscing – remembering and talking about the past happily.
 Extinguished – means put out or ended, like putting out a fire.
 Essential – means very important or necessary.
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Lesson Glimpses of India First Flight

Prose
5 II. (Coorg) picture

 •Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka.

 Evergreen forests cover thirty percent of this district.
 Coorgis are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent .
 Black coat with an embroidered waist belt worn by the kodavis.
 Coorgis are famous for their hospitality .
 The coorg regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian army.
 The first chief of the Indian army General Cariappa was a coorgi.
 Kodanis have the permission to carry firearms without a licence.
 Kaveri river flows in the Coorg.
 In Coorg Mahasheer fish a large fresh water fish abound in these waters.
 Brahmagiri hills provide the most scenic view of the Coorg
 Macaques, Malabar squirrels, Langurs and Selender loris are found in Coorg.
 Madikeri is the only gateway to Coorg.
 The nearest airports of Coorg are Mangalore and Bangalore.

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Special Facts

  Coorg is Coffee Country.

  Coorg is also known as the land of rolling hills.
  Smallest district of Karnataka state
  Famous for rainforests and spices
  Time to visit from September to March
  Adventures -river rafting , canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking
  Largest Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe
  It is said that a part of Alexender's army settled and married amongst locals in Coorg.
  The island of Nisrgadhama is in Coorg.

Let's Learn New Words

 Invader – an enemy who enters another country to attack or take control.
 Tradition – a custom or practice followed by people for a long time.
 Descent – a person’s family origin or ancestry.
 Kayaking – rowing or moving in a small narrow boat called a kayak.
 Martial – related to war or soldiers.
 Trail – a small path made by people or animals walking often.
 Prime – the best or most important part of something.
 Rappelling – sliding down a rock or mountain using a rope.
 Canopies – roof-like coverings that give shade or shelter.

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Lesson Glimpses of India First Flight

Prose
5 III (Tea from Assam)

 Arup Kumar Datta has written "Tea from

Assam'.
 Tea was first drunk in China in 2770 B.C

 Assam has the largest concentration of plantations Special Facts:-
in the world . Tea came to Europe only in the  Assam is a tea country.
sixteenth century. Â  Words such as tea, chai, chini
 The British started tea plantations in Assam and are from Chinese language
Darjeeling   Sprouting period lasts from May
 Pranjol’s father was the manager of a tea garden to July
in Assam . Â  Chinese Legend – Tea was
 Dhekiabari tea garden is in Assam. discovered when some tea leaves
accidentally fell into boiling
 In Europe Tea was drunk more as medicine than
water of a Chinese emperor.
as beverage.
  Indian Legend – Bodhidharma,
 Bodhidharma was an ancient Buddlist ascetic. a Buddhist ascetic, cut off his
eyelids, and from them grew tea
plants to keep people awake.
Let's Learn New Words
 Legend – a traditional old story that is passed down from generation to generation.
 Emperor – a ruler or king of an empire.
 Delicious – very tasty or pleasant to eat.
 Ascetic – a monk or a person who lives a simple life without luxury.
 Meditation – deep thinking or prayer to make the mind calm.
 Plantation – a large farm where crops like tea, coffee, or sugarcane are grown.
 Stimulating – refreshing or giving energy and excitement.
 Infusion – a drink made by boiling leaves or herbs in water.
 Export – selling goods to other countries.

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Lesson First Flight

Mijbil the Otter Prose
6
 • The author of Mijbil the otter is Gavin Maxwell.
 • Early in the new year of 1956 Maxwell travelled
to Southern Iraq.
 • The otter was brought to the author by his
friend.
 • In the beginning, the otter was aloof and
indifferent . 
 • The otter was very playful and curious by Special Facts:-
nature. Â  Mijbill was a young otter raised
 • The meaning of an appalling spectacle is a by Gavin Maxwell.
Shocking Scene. Â  Otters are found in large numbers
 • Marbels were Mij's favourite toys for his in the Tigris marshes.
pastime . Â  The author transported the otter
 • Maxwell called the airhostess "the very queen in a box from Iraq to London.
of her kind". Â  The otter developed a strong
 • When the author saw the otter for the first time, bond with Maxwell.
it resembled a dragon. Â  Camusfearna, a Scottish birch-
 • Mijbil was the name given to the otter. tree region in Scotland
 • Tigris river has been mentioned in the story   In its attempt to escape Mij tore
"Mijbil the Otter ". into the metal lining of the box.
 • British Airline refused to allow the animals As a result it hurt itself and
along with passengers. started bleeding.

Let's Learn New Words

 Ricochetting bullet – a bullet that hits something and then changes direction.
 Appalling spectacle – a very shocking or horrible scene to look at.
 Infuriate – to make someone very angry.
 Nuzzle – to rub gently with the nose or face to show love or comfort.
 A stone’s throw – a very short distance away.

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Lesson Prose First Flight

7 Madam Rides the Bus

Special Facts:-
 • The author of the lesson "Madam rides the Bus'   Valli’s full name was
is Vallikkannan. Valliammai.
 Valli was an eight years old girl.   Valli was eight years old.
 Her favourite past time was standing in the   The town was six miles from her
front door and watching the street . village.
 Valli's strongest desire was to ride the bus .
  The fare was thirty paise one
 Valli was amused the most, by the sight of cow way.
running in front of the bus.
  The trip to town took 45 minutes.
 The conductor was funny . He called Valli
madam because she behaved like a grown-up   Valli didn’t want to make friends
girl. with the old woman because she
 The dead cow saddened Valli.
found her repulsive.
 The timing for the afternoon nap taken by
Valli's mother was 1 to 4 .
 Valli stood up on the seat because she wasn’t
able to look outside properly.
 The conductor offered Valli a soft drink.
 Valli had saved sixty paise for her bus journey.

Let's Learn New Words

 Kindle – to start or light something, like a fire; it can also mean to make someone feel
excited or interested.
 Wistfully – sadly thinking or wishing for something that you want or miss.
 Slack – loose or not tight; it can also mean not active or lazy.
 Mimic – to copy or imitate someone’s actions, voice, or behavior.
 Repulsive – very unpleasant or disgusting, something that makes you feel sick or
dislike it strongly.
 Haunt– to keep coming to your mind again and again; it can also mean a ghost visiting
a place repeated

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Lesson Prose First Flight

8 Sermon at Benares

 •Gautam Buddha was a prince named Siddartha.(563 B.C.- 483 B.C.)

 At about the age of twenty five, he went out into the world to seek enlightenment.
 He wandered for Seven year.
 The Buddha sat under a peepal tree.
 Buddha got enlightenment after seven days.
 Buddha renamed the tree Bodhi tree .
 The bodhi tree mean a tree of wisdom.
 The Buddha Preached his first Sermon at the city of Benares
 The city of Benares is situated on the river Ganges.
 Sermon is a religions discourse.
 Kisa Gotami had an only Son.
 Kisa Gotami was sad because her only son had died .
 Buddha asked Kisa to bring Mustard seeds from a house where no one had lost a
child, husband or parent.

Let's Learn New Words Message of Gautam

 Lamentation- grief or sorrow Buddha
 Alms- money or food given to  The world is afflicted with
the people (death decay).
 Enlightenment- a state of high  Those who do not grieve are
Spirutial knowledge is called wise.
 Free from sorrow is the person
who overcomes sorrow.

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Lesson Prose First Flight

9 The Proposal

 Anton Chekhov is the writer of the play 'The Proposal'.

 The main characters are Lomov, Natalya, and Chubukov.
 Chubukov is Natalya’s father.
 Lomov suffers from palpitations and nervousness.
 The play is set in the drawing room of Chubukov’s house.
 Lomov comes to propose to Natalya but ends up arguing with her instead.
 The first quarrel begins over the ownership of Oxen Meadows.
 he second quarrel is about whose dog is better.
 Lomov’s dog is named Guess.
 Natalya’s dog is named Squeezer.
 Their arguments show pettiness and pride.
 Lomov threatened to take the matter to court
 Lomov becomes so angry that he faints during the fight.
 Chubukov revives Lomov and hastily arranges the marriage.
 Message- Relationships are more important than property or pride.

Let's Learn New Words

 Proposal – an offer of marriage
 Oxen Meadows – a piece of land used for grazing
 Quarrel – to argue or fight
 Excitable – easily angered or upset
 Malicious – full of bad intention
 Hypochondriac – a person always worried about being sick
 Palpitations – strong or irregular heartbeats
 Insult – to speak or act rudely to someone
 Argumentative – always ready to argue

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Poetry-Section

S. no. Name of the Poem Poet

1 Dust of Snow Robert Frost
2 Fire and Ice Robert Frost
3 A Tiger in the Zoo Leslie Norris
4 How To Tell Wild Animals Carolyn Wells
5 The Ball Poem John Berryman
6 Amanda Robin Klein
7 The Trees Adrienne Rich
8 Fog Carl Sandburg
9 The Tale of Custard the Dragon Ogden Nash
10 For Anne Gregory William Butler Yeats

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Poem Composed by- Robert Frost

1 Dust of snow

 The dust of snow affected the poet by

Changing his Mood .
 The crow was sitting on a hemlock tree .
 The poet saved some part of the day in the
poem "Dust of Snow'.
 Hemlock was a poisonous plant with small
white Flowers.
 The dust of snow means the flakes of snow
in the poem "dust of snow'.
 The poet's mood got changed when dust of
snow falls on him.
 The crow and hemlock tree symbolize Sorrow.

Message
 A small thing in nature can change a person’s mood. Nature helps us see beauty even
in sadness. The poet learns that little things can make a big difference.
Central idea of the poem
 The poem shows how a small event in nature can change our mood. When a crow
shakes snow from a hemlock tree onto the poet, it refreshes him and makes him feel
positive. It teaches that even little things can bring joy and make our day better.
Key Literary Device
ÂÂ Alliteration -“Has given my heart”- Repetition of h sound for rhythm.
ÂÂ Symbolism - “Crow” and “hemlock tree” Symbols of gloom changing to positivity

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Poem Composed by- Robert Frost

2 Fire and Ice

 The world can end because of people’s strong emotions.

 Fire stands for desire, and ice stands for hatred.
 The meaning of perish in the poem is to die.
 According to Robert Frost in the world will end one day.

Message
 Human emotions like desire (fire) and hatred (ice) are powerful enough to destroy
the world; we must control them for peace.
Central idea of the poem
 The poet compares two emotions — desire (like fire) and hatred (like ice) — that can
destroy the world. He says both emotions are equally harmful. The poem gives a deep
message that uncontrolled human feelings can lead to destruction.
Key Literary Device
ÂÂ Metaphor- “Fire” = Desire, “Ice” = Hatred

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Poem Composed by- Leslie Norris

3 Tiger in the Zoo

 The tiger in the zoo is quiet but full of anger

 The tiger looks at stars.
 Deer passes near the hole.
 Caged tiger ignores the visitors.
 He dreams of freedom in the wild.
 The poem 'A Tiger in the zoo' portrays the contrast
between a tiger in the wild and a
 tiger in captivity.

Message
 Wild animals are meant to live freely in nature, not in cages. Captivity takes away their
strength and happiness.
Central idea of the poem
 The poem contrasts a tiger in the zoo with one in the wild. In the zoo, the tiger walks
quietly in his cage, full of anger and helplessness. In the wild, he would be free to hunt
and roam. The poet highlights the cruelty of keeping animals in captivity.
Key Literary Device
ÂÂ Zoo Imagery- “He stalks in his vivid stripes” Creates a visual picture of the tiger.

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Poem Composed by- Carolyn Wells

4 4 How to Tell Wild Animals

Hyena Bear Chameleon Crocodile

Leopard Bengal Tiger Asian Lion

 The poet uses humour to describe dangerous animals.
 The poem teaches us how to identify animals in a funny way.
 The animal that roars at you is a lion
 A chameleon looks like a lizard.
 Crocodile cries while catching its prey.
 The tiger is a noble wild beast.
 The animal that hugs you is bear.
 Hyena smiles while catching its prey.
 The poem ' How to Tell Whild Animal' is a humorous guide on identifying
 different wild animals.

Message
 The poem humorously teaches us to recognize wild animals and reminds us that nature
can be both dangerous and beautiful.
Central idea of the poem
 This is a funny poem. The poet tells us some risky and silly ways to know wild animals.
He says if you go to the jungle and meet a lion, tiger, leopard, bear, crocodile, hyena,
or chameleon, you will know them by the way they attack you. The poem makes us
laugh while learning about animals.
Key Literary Device- Humour/Irony “If he roars at you as you’re dying…”
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Poem Composed by- John Berryman

5 The Ball Poem

 The boy lost his ball in the water.

 The boy is upset on losing his ball.
 Losing his ball helps him grow up
emotionally.
 Epistemology is the study of the nature
of knowledge itself.
 The boy is learning the meaning of
loss.

Message
 Loss is a part of life. We must learn to accept it and move on, as it helps us grow
mature and responsible.

Central idea of the poem

 The poem The Ball Poem is about a boy who loses his ball while playing. The ball falls
into the water and cannot be brought back. The boy feels sad and helpless because it
was his first ball, and he loved it very much.
 Through this small incident, the poet teaches an important life lesson. He says that
losing things is a part of life, and everyone has to learn to accept loss. The boy slowly
understands that he cannot get the same ball again, just like we cannot get back lost
things or moments in life.
 The poem shows that growing up means learning to face loss and becoming stronger. It
tells us that money can’t replace everything, and some losses teach us more than they
hurt.

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Poem Composed by- Robin Klein

6 Amanda

 Amanda wishes for a world without rules and orders.

 She dreams of being free like a mermaid or an orphan.
 The poem shows a child’s need for understanding, not
control.
 ‘Stop that slouching and sit up straight’ is alliteration
device.
 Slouching means sit in a lazy way.
 The sole inhabitant in the emerald sea is mermaid .
 Amanda cannot eat chocolate because it causes acne .
 In the poem 'Languid' means that Amanda is relaxed.
 Amanda was a school going girl.
 Silence is described in poem Amanda as golden.
 "Freedom is sweet" is a literally metaphor device used in the poem Amanda.
 Synonym for roaming is wandering.

Message
 Parents should balance discipline with empathy, allowing children to express themselves
freely. Childhood should be filled with joy, creativity, and freedom—not just rules and
restrictions.
Central idea of the poem
 The poem shows that a child wants freedom and loves to imagine things. It also tells us
that parents should give children some space to grow and express themselves.
Key Literary Device
ÂÂ Imagery -I am a mermaid, drifting blissfully”

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Poem Composed by- Adrienne Rich

7 The Tress

 Trees want to go back to the forest from human homes.

 The poem is a symbol of freedom and self-growth.
ÂÂThe Sun has been personified in the line, “no sun bury its feet in shadow".
 Simile device used in "The moon is broken like a mirror".
 The poet is writing long letters.
 The poet talks about the house as a place of confinement
 The word boughs mean "fruits' in this poem.

Message
 Nature longs to be free and return to its natural home. The poem is a call for environmental
awareness and freedom.
Central idea of the poem
 The poem is about trees that were kept inside a house. Now, the trees are going back to
the forest. They want to be free and grow in their own place. The poet watches them
go and feels happy about their freedom.
Key Literary Device
ÂÂ Personification -“The trees inside are moving out” Trees given human qualities.

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Poem Composed by- Carl Sandburg

8 Fog

 The poem compares nature’s beauty to an animal’s movement.

 The fog looks over the harbor and city.
 Fog comes slowly and silently.
 Fog has been personified in the poem.
 The poet compared the fog with cat.

Message
 Nature is mysterious and powerful; the fog silently covers and uncovers the world,
showing beauty in calmness.
Central idea of the poem
 The poet compares the fog to a cat. It comes quietly, covers the city and harbour,
and then moves away softly. The poem beautifully shows the quiet and mysterious
behaviour of nature in very few words.
Key Literary Device
ÂÂ Metaphor -“It sits looking over harbour and city”

25
 English Class - 10

Poem Composed by- Ogden Nash

9 The Tale of Custard the Dragon

 Belinda lived in a little white house with her pets

— a kitten, a mouse, a dog, and a dragon named
Custard.
 All the pets were very brave and proud of their
courage.
 Custard, the dragon, was quiet and always asked for
a safe cage.
 Everyone laughed at Custard and called him a coward.
 One day, a pirate with a pistol came to Belinda’s house.
 All the brave pets ran away in fear and hid themselves.
 Only Custard, the so-called cowardly dragon, stood up to fight.
 Custard fought bravely and ate the pirate in one big bite.
 Belinda and the others praised Custard and were very happy.
 But soon, they again started boasting about their bravery.
 Custard stayed calm and didn’t say anything — he was truly brave from
inside.

Message
 True courage appears in difficult times. We should not judge anyone by their looks or
by what others say about them
Central idea of the poem
 This funny poem tells the story of Custard, a dragon who is thought to be a coward.
But when danger comes, he bravely fights and saves everyone. The poem teaches that
true courage is shown in action, not in words.
Key Literary Device
ÂÂ Simily- "Mouth like a fire peace'- comparison between two objects with the worlds
"like, as, so etc

26
Class - 10 English

Poem Composed by- William Butler Yeasts

10 For Anne Gregory

 The poem is a short talk between the poet and

a young girl named Anne Gregory.
 Anne Gregory has beautiful golden (yellow)
hair.
 The poet says many men may love her only for
her beautiful hair and looks.
 Anne replies that she can change her hair colour to any shade to get true
love.
 She wishes someone would love her for her inner goodness, not for her
outer beauty.
 The poet agrees and says true love looks beyond physical beauty.
 The poem teaches that real love is based on character, not appearance.

Message
 Outer beauty fades, but inner beauty and goodness are lasting. Real love should be
based on the heart, not appearance.
Central idea of the poem
 The poem talks about real and false love. The poet says beauty is temporary, and true
love should be for inner goodness, not for outward looks. It reminds us that the heart
is more valuable than appearance.
Key Literary Device
ÂÂ Symbolism- The yellow hair symbolizes outer beauty or physical appearance.

27
 English Class - 10

Grammar (Fillers)
Articles
 He is an S.D.O.
 You are an N.C.C officer.
 Mr. Mohan is an M.L.A.
 He is an hour late.
 His uncle is an M.L.A.
 The Ganga is a sacred river.
 Arun is the tallest boy in the class.
 The Taj Mahal is a historical monument.
 Germany is a European country.
 She is a university student.
 Mahatma Gandhi is known as the "Father of the nation".
 I have a one rupee note.
 She secured the first position.
 Ujjain is a famous city.
 The earth moves round the sun.
 Ravi is the best boy in the class.
 He is poor but an honest man.
Exanples to Remember
words starting with vowel (स्‍वर) but words starting with consonant (व्‍यंजन) but
pronunciation with consonant (व्‍यंजन) pronunciation with vowel (स्‍वर)
 a university teacher  an honest man
 a european  an hour late
 a one rupee note  an SP/ MLA/MA/RJ....
 a useful book  an umbrella

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Class - 10 English
Use ‘the’ before:-
 • names of unique things →- the sun, the moon, the earth
 • rivers, seas, mountains →- the Ganga, the Himalayas
 • famous buildings →- the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort
 • superlatives →- the best, the tallest
 • only one in a group →- the headmaster, the principal

Determiners
 There is not any water in the pool. (any, some, many)
 There is not any milk in the kitchen. (any, some, many)
 Kalidas has written many plays. (much, many, any)
 He hasn't got any money now. (any, some, many)
 Did you want some money? (any, some, many)
 All that glitters is not gold. (every, all, each)
 Would you like to have any more sugar in your milk? (any, some, little)
 There aren't any books in the almirah. (any, much, some)
 I have many books in my library. (much, many, any)
 My mother gave me some oranges to eat. (much, some, any)
 How many students are present today? (many, much, any)
 There are many flowers in this garden.(many, much, any)
 He speaks many different languages. (few, many, some)
 There is not much water in the lake this year. (much, many)
 He has given me some money to start my business. (any, some)
 He spent all the money. (all, whole, both)
 He paid his whole attention to his studies. (all, whole)
 How much sugar do you take in your tea. (much, many)
Explanation:-
 Use of Some in positive sentences and offers/requests
 Use of Any in negative and interrogative (question) sentences
 Use of Much for uncountable nouns (things we can’t count)
 Use of Many for Countable nouns (plural)
 Use of All for Whole group
 Whole for One complete thing

29
 English Class - 10

Modals
ÂÂ May I take your pen? (need/may/used)
 We ought to follow traffic rules. (ought/should/must)
 When I was young, I could climb trees. (may/can/could)
 I would buy that mobile if I had money. (will/would/would have)
 She would go to temple every day, when she lived in village.(will/would/could)

 We should wear mask in crowded places. (should/used/ought)

ÂÂ May I know the place where you are going? (can, may, might)
 My brother is very strong. He can lift 80 kg of weight. (may/can/ought to)
 You must drive carefully. (may/must/can)
 Work hard lest you should fail. (will/would/should)
Explanation:-
 May- used for permission(polite), request and possibility
 Might- weaker possibility
 Can- present ability and permission (less polite)
 Could-past ability and polite request
 Should- suggestion/advice
 Must-compulsion
 Ought to- moral duty

Verbs/Tenses
 He has written many plays. (write/wrote/written)
 The Earth moves round the Sun. (move/moves/moving)
 He always comes on time. (comes/come/coming)
 They have been playing here since morning. (are playing/has been playing/have been
playing)
 We were making kites when father arrived. (arrive/arrived/arrives)
 He wanted to become an engineer. (become/becomes/becoming)
 My father is a retired teacher. (retire/retiring/retired)
 The teacher taught the students yesterday. (teaches/taught/teaching)
 Mohan is learning English nowadays. (is learning/learns/learn)
 He said that he had worked there. (works/has worked/had worked)

30
Class - 10 English

Prepositions
 It has been raining since Morning. (since/for/from)
 He is good at English. (in/at/of)
 He is hard of hearing. (in/at/of)
 She is fond of playing Chess. (at/of/with)
 He is listening to the radio. (to/of/at)
 Tarun is interested in reading books. (of/on/in)
 His grandfather died of Cancer. (from/of/with)
 The meeting will be held on Monday. (on/in/since)
 Gandhiji was born on 2nd October 1869. (on/in/since)
 He travels by bus. (from/of/by)
Conjunctions
 Work hard else you will fail. (but/else/as)
 I called him loudly, but he gave me no answer. (or/but/else)
 Walk carefully lest you should fall down. (or/else/lest)
 Unless you work hard, you will fail. (if/unless/though)
 He could not come to school because he was ill. (so/but/because)
 Though he played well, he lost the game. (still/so/though)
 If it rainst, we will not go to school. (if/unless/though)
 Take a taxi to the station or you will get late. (but/or/so)
 He didn’t do his work so he was punished. (because/but/so)
 He washed the clothes and ironed them. (but/so/and)
 He knows the boy who is wearing a blue shirt. (which/who/where)
 He prefers coffee to tea (from/than/to)
 Don’t leave this place until I come back. (until/when/as)

Grammar (Do as directed)

 He did his work well. (Change into negative)
- He did not do his work well.
 They are selling their house. (Change into present perfect)
- They have sold their house.
 She speaks the truth. (Change into negative)
- She does not speak the truth.
31
 English Class - 10
 They have been playing here since morning. (Change the sentence into past perfect
continuous)
- They had been playing here since morning.
 He teaches Hindi. (Change the sentence into Passive Voice)
- Hindi is taught by him.
 Children are making toys. (Change the sentence into Passive Voice)
- Toys are being made by children.
 In the park/were playing/Children/football (Rearrange the words to make a meaningful
sentence.)
- Children were playing football in the park.
 She shut the door. (Change into negative)
- She did not shut the door.
 He has taken tea. (Change into interrogative)
- Has he taken tea?
 She lived in Shivpuri. (Change into interrogative)
- Did she live in Shivpuri?
 Anita read the Ramayana every day. (Change into negative)
- Anita did not read the Ramayana every day.
 He taught English. (Change the sentence into Present indefinite Tense)
- He teaches English.
 He is too weak to go to school. (rewrite the sentence using ‘so………that’)
- He is so weak that he cannot go to school.
 He is too poor to pay his fees. (rewrite the sentence using ‘so………that’)
- He is so poor that he cannot pay his fees.
 The boy is my friend. The boy has won the prize. (combine the sentence using ‘who’)
- The boy who has won the prize is my friend.
 The tea is too hot to drink. (rewrite the sentence using ‘so………that’)
- The tea is so hot that I cannot drink it.
or
- The tea is so hot that one cannot drink it.
 He is rich. He is not happy. (combine the sentence using ‘yet’)
- He is rich yet he is not happy.
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Class - 10 English
 They played well. they could not win the match. (combine the sentence using ‘though’)
- Though they played well, they could not win the match.
 Unless you work hard, you won’t pass. (use ‘If’ in place of unless)
- If you do not work hard, you won't pass.
 Work hard. You will fail in the exam. (combine the sentence using ‘or’)
- Work hard or you will fail in the exam.
 He did not go to school. He was ill. (combine the sentence using ‘because’)
- He did not go to school because he was ill.
 If you don’t come to school regularly, you won’t learn your lesson. (use ‘unless’ in place
of if)
- Unless you come to school regularly, you won’t learn your lesson.
 As it was Saturday, there were no children in the school. (Use--- 'because' and rewrite)
- There were no children in the school because, it was Saturday.
 We shall go for picnic this year. (Rewrite the sentence in ‘future continuous’)
- We shall be going for picnic this year.
 Jim will take coffee. (change into ‘present perfect’ )
- Jim has taken coffee.
 The boy is my cousin. The boy has won the race. (Combine the sentences into a relative
clause)
- The boy who has won the race is my cousin.
 Unless you work hard, you will fail. (Rewrite the sentence using ‘if’ in place of ‘unless’)
- If you don't work hard, you will fail.
 Aman is very intelligent. He can pass this exam easily. (Combine the sentences using
‘so...........that’)
- Aman is so intelligent that he can pass this exam easily.
 The tall man is a doctor. The tall man is talking to my father. (Combine the sentences
using ‘who’)
- The tall man who is talking to my father is a doctor.
 I am ill. I am not going to school. (Combine the sentences using ‘so’)
- I am ill so I am not going to school.
 Delhi is larger than Bhopal (Rewrite the sentence using ‘positive degree’)
- Bhopal is not as large as Delhi.
 If she does not come on time, the teacher will punish her. (Rewrite the sentence using
‘unless’ in place of ‘if’)
- Unless she comes on time, the teacher will punish her.
 Hindi is not so difficult as English. (Rewrite the sentence using ‘comparative degree’)
- English is more difficult than Hindi.
33
 English Class - 10
Rewrite the following sentences
 Shweta is so weak in studies that she connot pass.
Shweta is too weak in studies to pass.
 My sister is so good that she cannot harm anyone.
My sister is too good to harm anyone.
 My boss is so busy to pick up the phone.
My boss is too busy to pick up the phone.
 The patient is so weak that he cannot go upstairs
The patient is too weak to go upstairs.
 This house is so expensive that I cannot buy it.
This house is too expensive for me to buy.
 Anil is so lazy that he cannot get up early in the morning.
Anil is too lazy to get up early in the morning.
 Rakesh is so slow that he cannot win the race.
Rakesh is too slow to win the race.
 Anika is so short that she cannot touch the painting.
Anika is too short to touch the painting.
 He is so poor that he cannot pay the fee.
He is too poor to pay the fee.
 The box is so heavy that I cannot lift it.
The box is too heavy to lift it.
 My brother worked hard he passed the test.
My brother worked so hard that he passed the test.
 My grandfather is very weak he cannot walk.
My grandfather is so weak that he cannot walk.
 The necklace was very expensive. I couldn't buy it.
The necklace was so expensive that I couldn’t buy it.

Fillers (miscellaneous)
yy He knows the boy who is wearing a blue shirt. (which/who/where)
yy He prefers coffee to tea (from/than/to)
yy His brother is an R.J. in a local radio channel. (a/an/the)
yy There is not any water in the pool. (some/any/many)
yy He has written many plays (write/wrote/written)
yy I haven’t bought any milk today. (some/any/many)
yy How many students are present today? (many/much)
34
Class - 10 English
yy How much sugar do you take in tea? (any/much/many)
yy The Ganga is a sacred river. (a/an/the)
yy Arun is the tallest boy in the class. (a/an/the)
yy His father is an engineer. (a/an/the)
yy They have been playing here since7 O'clock. (from/since/for)
yy We have been studying in this college for three years. (from/since/for)
yy They will go to Delhi on Monday. (in/on/at)
yy We went to Kashmir in April. (in/on/at)
yy He is afraid of dogs. (from/of/to)
yy If you work hard, you will pass (if/unless/though)
yy The patient had died before the doctor arrived. (before/after)
yy Bhopal is larger than Gwalior (from/then/than)
yy Don’t leave this place until I come back. (until/when/as)
yy He avoids talking to strangers. (talk/talked/talking)
yy Sold goods will not be taken back. (sell/selling/sold)
yy Work hard or you will fail (but/and/or)
yy He is an hour late. (a/an/the)
yy Please spread a little butter on bread. (a few /a little / few)
yy He has given up smoking. (away /up /for)
yy We should wear mask in crowded places. (should/used /ought)

E - Contents - Science
[Link]. Title Link Q.R. Code

1 Poems [Link]

Determiners
- Some, any,
2 [Link]
much, many,
a, an, the

3 Prose [Link]

35
 English Class - 10

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