Bihar Board Class 9 English Book Solutions Poem 8 Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to His Son’s Teacher
A. Answer the following questions orally:
Question 1.
What do you know about Abraham Lincoln, the famous President of America?
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth President of the United States of America. He abolished slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. He was assassinated in 1865.
Question 2.
Has your father ever written any letter to your teacher?
Answer:
No, my father has never written any letter to my teacher.
Question 3.
Can you imagine how much your father is worried about your future?
Answer:
Yes, like every father, he is very concerned about my future. He wants me to succeed in life and therefore takes great care of my studies.
B.1. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statement:
It is a letter written by a father to his son. — F
All men are not just and true. — T
A dollar earned is of far more value than five pounds. — T
One should be taught to mourn over losing. — F
One should be taught to fail rather than to cheat. — T
B.2. Complete the sentences on the basis of your reading of the poem:
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidder
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people.
Teach him to scoff at cynics.
Teach him it is far honourable to fail than to cheat
Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick
Teach him the wonder of books.
He should be given quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky.
One should have sublime faith in himself to have faith in mankind.
C.1. Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Why did Abraham Lincoln write a letter to his son’s teacher?
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln wrote this letter to guide his son’s teacher about the kind of education his son should receive. He wanted his son to grow strong in character, mind, and spirit and to learn moral values along with academic knowledge.
Question 2.
What does Lincoln mean by saying that “for every scoundrel, there is a hero; that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader…”?
Answer:
Lincoln means that the world has both good and bad people. For every dishonest person, there is someone noble and brave. Similarly, for every selfish politician, there is a devoted leader. He wants his son to recognise goodness and not lose faith in humanity.
Question 3.
A child should be treated gently but not cuddled. Do you agree? Give your opinion.
Answer:
Yes, I agree. Excessive pampering can spoil a child. A child should be treated kindly but must also be disciplined. Gentle guidance combined with firm correction helps in shaping a strong and responsible character.
Question 4.
“All men are not just, all men are not true.” Comment on this statement.
Answer:
This statement is true because human nature varies from person to person. Some people are honest and kind, while others are selfish and dishonest. Lincoln advises that children should be prepared to face reality and learn to judge people wisely.
Question 5.
Why do you think Lincoln wants his son to steer away from envy and learn the secret of quiet laughter?
Answer:
Lincoln wants his son to avoid envy because it leads to bitterness and unhappiness. Quiet laughter reflects inner strength and balance. A person who can laugh calmly can face difficulties with confidence and grace.
Question 6.
Why does Lincoln not want his son to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon?
Answer:
Lincoln does not want his son to blindly follow others because it destroys individuality. He wants his son to think independently, stand for what is right, and develop leadership qualities instead of becoming a mere follower.
Question 7.
What qualities did Lincoln want his son’s teacher to teach him?
Answer:
Lincoln wanted his son to learn honesty, courage, patience, self-confidence, faith in humanity, respect for others, and the strength to stand alone when necessary. He wanted his son to be morally strong and self-reliant.
C.2. Group Discussion
Question 1.
The present system of education is at variance with the learner’s experience.
Answer:
The present education system often focuses on memorisation rather than practical learning. Many subjects taught have little connection with real life. Education should be more skill-based and meaningful so that students can apply their knowledge in daily life.
Comprehension Based Questions with Answers
1.
Answers:
The poem is “Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to His Son’s Teacher” and the poet is Abraham Lincoln.
The pupil has to learn that not all people are honest and fair.
The poet advises that for every enemy there is a friend.
A dollar earned honestly is more valuable than five pounds earned dishonestly.
2.
Answers:
The poet advises the teacher to teach the child how to accept defeat and enjoy success.
Envy means feeling unhappy because of another person’s success.
The early lesson is that bullies are the easiest to defeat.
The poet believes that books contain great wonder and knowledge.
He advises giving the child time to reflect on nature and its mysteries.
3.
Answers:
The poet advises that it is better to fail honestly than to cheat.
He should have faith in his own ideas.
He should be gentle with kind people and firm with tough ones.
The word meaning “cart” is wagon.
4.
Answers:
He should be taught to listen to everyone carefully.
When sad, he should learn to laugh.
He should scoff at cynics.
He should sell his skills to the highest bidder but not his values.
He should ignore the howling mob and stand firm for what he believes is right.
5.
Answers:
The poet suggests treating the boy gently but not over-pampering him.
He should always have sublime faith in himself.
The son is a fine and promising boy.