Renews every month. Cancel anytime
Everyone that flatters thee,
Is no friend in misery.
Words are easy, like the wind,
Faithful friends are hard to find.
Why should flatterers be avoided?
What is the literary device used in the third line? Explain it.
What does the poet mean by "words are easy"?
Flatterers should be avoided because they are not genuine friends, they are just people who use sweet words and praise others for their own benefit. In times of trouble or misery, they are not reliable or dependable.
The literary device used in the third line is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two different things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. Here, the poet is comparing the ease of uttering words with the movement of the wind.
By saying “words are easy”, the poet implies that it’s easy to say nice things or make promises, but the true test of friendship lies in action and support during tough times - something that flatterers often fail at. The line underscores the emptiness or insincerity of flattery.
Powered by Chatterbot AI
Every man will be thy friend,
Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend;
But if store of crowns be scant,
No man shall supply thy want.
When will you have innumerable friends?
What is a 'store of crowns'?
What happens during adverse situations?
Sign up to unlock Extra Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Sign up to unlock Extra Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Sign up to unlock Extra Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Sign up to unlock Extra Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Sign up to unlock Extra Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Given below are some words from the poem in column A and their meanings in Column B. Match the words with their correct meanings.
Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
(a) flatterer | 1. Very little, not as much as there should be |
(b) scant | 2. Enemy |
(c) prodigal | 3. One who says nice things about someone without having sincere feelings for the person |
(d) grief | 4. A feeling of great sadness |
(e) foe | 5. Generous, one who gives away large amounts of money |
(f) bountiful | 6. To try to please someone with lavish praise |
(g) fawn | 7. One who wastes money without giving any thought to the future. |
Given below are some words from the poem in column A and their meanings in Column B. Match the words with their correct meanings.
Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
(a) flatterer | 3. One who says nice things about someone without having sincere feelings for the person |
(b) scant | 1. Very little, not as much as there should be |
(c) prodigal | 7. One who wastes money without giving any thought to the future |
(d) grief | 4. A feeling of great sadness |
(e) foe | 2. Enemy |
(f) bountiful | 5. Generous, one who gives away large amounts of money |
(g) fawn | 6. To try to please someone with lavish praise |
Powered by Chatterbot AI
Words are easy
(i) they speak easy words
(ii) they don’t really mean what they say
(iii) they don’t know difficult words
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Wherewith to spend
(i) the place where you go and spend money
(ii) with whom you spend money
(iii) surplus money to spend
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Fortunes once do frown
(i) one loses the money one has
(ii) someone keeps frowning
(iii) someone is fortunate
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓crowns be scant
(i) one loses one’s crown
(ii) one doesn’t become a king
(iii) one becomes poor
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Identify four pairs of rhyming words from the poem and find out the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓In the third stanza, the poet says, ‘Pity but he was a king.’ If a person is a king, why is he to be pitied?
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Given below are some traits of sincere friends and flattering foes. Write the in proper columns given on the next page.
Points out your weaknesses in a fearless but decent manner
Praises you even for those qualities which you do not have
Cannot feel comfortable if you are in trouble
Shares with you the pain of your grief
Treats you as a king as long as you have money
Leaves you when your fortunes are low
Sincere Friend | Flattering Foe |
|---|---|
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓There is a marked difference between the sincere appreciation of a faithful friend and the artificial flattery of a flattering foe. Discuss. Give examples of your personal experience. Refer to the poem ‘The Spider and the fly’ also.
Sign up to unlock Back Questions and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Imagine that you picked a quarrel with a classmate and said rather nasty things. One of your friends pointed out to you that the fault was yours and you should feel sorry for it. However, you were furious with your friend also for not taking your side. Later you realised your mistake. Write a letter to your friend saying that you are sorry.
Dear Friend,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits. I write this with a heavy heart to sincerely apologize for my inappropriate behavior some days back.
In retrospect, I understand that I was completely wrong in the way I misbehaved not only with our classmate but also with you. I stepped over the line and acted irrationally, I let my anger and frustration cloud my judgement which lead me to say things I didn't mean to.
I wrongly accused you of not being on my side while, in reality, you were only pointing out my mistakes, something which a true friend should do. I deeply regret my words and actions, they were born out of sheer emotions and not thought through.
I seek your forgiveness, hoping our friendship can withstand this test. I assure you that I will learn from this and become a more understanding and more responsible friend.
Sorry once again.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sign up to unlock Line-by-line explanation in Hindi and everything else
Unlock now 🔓William Shakespeare, often regarded as the greatest playwright in the English language, was also a prolific poet. Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare penned numerous sonnets and poems throughout his career. His poetry, like his plays, explores a wide range of themes, from love and beauty to mortality and the human condition.
Shakespeare's poetry is characterized by its lyrical beauty, imaginative language, and deep emotional resonance. His mastery of the English language, combined with his ability to capture profound insights into the human experience, has made his poetry timeless and enduring.
In his poem "Friends and Flatterers," Shakespeare explores the theme of true friendship versus the fickleness of flattery. He cautions that those who flatter others in times of abundance and prosperity are not true friends when adversity strikes. The poem serves as a reminder to seek out genuine companionship and support in times of need.
Overall, Shakespeare's poetry showcases his remarkable talent for capturing complex emotions and universal truths. His words continue to inspire and resonate with readers centuries after his death, solidifying his place as one of the greatest poets in history.
Sign up to unlock About the Poet and everything else
Unlock now 🔓1. True Friendship:
Shakespeare explores the nature of true friendship, emphasizing that it goes beyond mere surface-level associations. True friends are...
Sign up to unlock Themes and everything else
Unlock now 🔓In "Friends and Flatterers," William Shakespeare utilizes symbols to convey deeper meanings and enhance the themes of the poem. Here are some key symbols in the poem:
1. Wind:
The wind symbolizes the ease with which flattery comes....
Sign up to unlock Symbols and everything else
Unlock now 🔓In "Friends and Flatterers," William Shakespeare employs various poetic devices to enhance the impact and eloquence of his words. Here are some of the key poetic devices used in the poem:
1. Rhyme:
The poem follows a rhyming scheme, primarily using couplets,....
Sign up to unlock Poetic Devices and everything else
Unlock now 🔓Flatters: (verb) praises or compliments someone excessively, often insincerely, to gain favor or approval.
Sentence: The politician flatters his constituents with promises during election campaigns.
Faithful: (adjective) loyal, reliable, and true to one's commitments and promises.
Sentence: Even in difficult times, a faithful friend stands by your side and offers support.
Scant: (adjective) in short supply; barely sufficient or inadequate in quantity.
Sentence: The hikers had to............................
Sign up to unlock Vocabulary and everything else
Unlock now 🔓
