The little swallow says, “It is curious, but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.” Have you ever had such a feeling ? Share your experience with your friends.

What are the precious things mentioned in the story ? Why are they precious ?

Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt ?

What does the swallow see when it flies over the city ?

For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why ?

Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seams-tress ? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house ?

Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’ ? Is he really happy ? What does he see all around him ?

Let’s look at the words at the end of the second and fourth lines, viz., ‘snows’ and ‘clothes’, ‘true’ and ‘you’, ‘below’ and ‘know.’ rhymes with ‘clothes’, ‘true’ rhymes with ‘you’ and ‘below’ rhymes with ‘know’. Find more such rhyming words.

Write the story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.

What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend?

Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?

Do you think that the old lady would have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was? What would she have done then?

How does the woodpecker get her food?

How did Saint Peter punish the lady?

What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction?

Which country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to?

Compare the two translations on the basis of the following points: (i)the tense of narration (past and present tense) (ii)short, incomplete sentences (iii)sentence length Which of these translations do you like? Give reasons for your choice.

Read the description given alongside this sketch from a photograph in a newspaper (Times of India, 4 September, 1999). Make up a story about what the monkey is thinking, or why it is looking into a mirror. Write a paragraph about it.

Try to rewrite the story without its humour, merely as a frightening incident. What details or parts of the story would you leave out?

Seema asked her, “How long have you lived here?”

Pran asked me, “Have you finished reading the newspaper?”

She asked me, “When are we going to leave?”

He asked the little boy, “Why are you studying English?”

Sheila asked the children, “Are you ready to do the work?”

Report these questions using if/whether or why/when/where/how/which/what. Remember the italicised verbs change into the past tense. 2. David asked his colleague, “Where will you go this summer?”

Report these questions using if/whether or why/when/where/how/which/what. Remember the italicised verbs change into the past tense. 1. Meena asked her friend, “Do you think your teacher will come today?”

Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you : 7. The boy hid behind the door, not moving a muscle.

Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you : 6. Paralysed with fear, the boy faced his abductors.

Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you : 5. Wait until I tell his story — it will make your hair stand on end.

Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you :4. You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like that.

Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you : 3. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bull coming towards him.

Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you : 2. I got a fright when I realised how close I was to the cliff edge.

Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you : 1. I knew a man was following me, I was scared out of my wits. (very frightened)

Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened? Read the story and complete the following sentences : 3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like ............

Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened? Read the story and complete the following sentences : 2. I sat there holding ............

Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened? Read the story and complete the following sentences : 1. I was turned ............ .

Here are some sentences from the text. Say which of them tell you, that the author : (a) was afraid of the snake (b) was proud of his appearance (c) had a sense of humour (d) was no longer afraid of the snake 1. I was turned to stone. 2. I was no more image cut in granite. 3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength.

(i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror (ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm Write Short paragraph on each of these to get our answer.

This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below.) 1. (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions) (ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)

“I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.” What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when : (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?

What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?

“The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sound stop?