The poem "Louse and the Mosquito" by Vikram Seth tells the story of two blood-sucking creatures, a louse and a mosquito, who live in a king's bed and feed on his blood. The louse and her family have been living in the bed for three decades and have made it their ancestral house. They enjoy ........................
The Louse and the Mosquito - New Broadway - Class 8 - English
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Back Exercises - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Literature | English | Class 8
Here are some sentences with the word sleep. Choose the ones that you think are acceptable.
I sometimes sleep late on Saturdays.
She was fast sleeping by the time we got home.
It’s very late now – why don’t you sleep over?
I’ll feel better after a good day’s sleep.
I put the asleep baby down gently.
We didn’t get much sleep last night.
Could I sleep on it and let you know tomorrow?
The school hostel sleeps 100 boarders.
a. I sometimes sleep late on Saturdays.
d. I’ll feel better after a good day’s sleep.
f. We didn’t get much sleep last night.
g. Could I sleep on it and let you know tomorrow?
h. The school hostel sleeps 100 boarders.
Fill in the appropriate words in the blanks. Use the correct form of the words.
pierce spear stick gore
a. We use a fork to ……………………………… our food so that we can lift it to our mouths.
b. The lady ……………………………… the little girl’s earlobe with a clean needle.
c. As we walked in the forest we found a few arrows ……………………………… in the trunk of a tree.
d. The man was ……………………………… to death by the bull as he tried to grab its horns.
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Sign up nowBack Questions - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Literature | English | Class 8
If the mosquito had not turned up, would life have continued to be the same for the louse and her family? Why do you think so?
Had the mosquito not arrived, the louse and her family's peaceful life would've continued untouched. They seamlessly drank the King's blood without arousing suspicion, maintaining harmony. The mosquito's arrival brought disruption; his impulsive sting woke the King, exposing and ending the louse's reign. Hence, without the mosquito, their stealthy, symbiotic existence would've carried on.
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How did the louse and her family live undetected in the king’s bed for so many years?
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Sign up nowWhich, according to the louse, seemed to be the best time to bite the king?
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Sign up nowDid the mosquito heed the louse’s warning? What was the result?
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Sign up nowRead these extracts from the poem and choose the correct answer to each question that follows.
‘You, I fear, would cause all three.
I can’t risk my family.’
i. pain, loss of sleep, and noise.
ii. pain, noise, and a stain on the quilt.
iii. pain, loss of sleep, and a stain on the quilt.
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Sign up nowRead these extracts from the poem and choose the correct answer to each question that follows.
Yes, yes, yes. That’s all old hat,’
Said Sir Leap, ‘I know all that.
Keep your stale advice.’
Creep’s advice that Sir Leap finds stale and commonplace is that he ought to
i. Descend o to the king’s back very quietly without a buzz.
ii. bite the king’s little toe only when he is in deep slumber.
iii. creep upon the king and take him by surprise.
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Sign up nowRead these extracts from the poem and choose the correct answer to each question that follows.
‘Help! A scorpion! A snake!’
Screamed the King, at once awake.
‘I’ve been bitten! Search the bed!
Find and strike the creature dead!’
The king screamed because Sir Leap
i. Stung him sharply in a fit of eagerness.
ii. slowly punctured his skin to drink his blood.
iii. bit the king again and again till he was awakened from sleep.
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Sign up nowWhy did the louse not want the mosquito to get into the king’s bed? Do you think her fears were justified?
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Sign up nowWhy did the mosquito wish to drink the king’s blood? Do you think he was being honest?
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Sign up nowDo you think the mosquito felt sorry for having caused the death of the louse and her family? Why do you think so?
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Sign up nowFind words in the poem that rhyme with the following words.
quilt | louse | pleaded | stealth | bed |
flew | more | shoes | flee | prey |
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Sign up nowThe writer uses personification, that is, he represents the louse and the mosquito as human beings. E.g. ‘…. Creep the louse lived in her ancestral house.’
Find other examples of personification in the poem.
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Sign up nowThe poem is also rich in sensory images like ‘Growing plump and smooth and white.’ (visual image)
Find an example of each of the following:
a. visual image
b. tactile image (touch and texture)
c. Olfactory image (of smell)
d. gustatory image (of taste)
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Sign up nowExtra Questions - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Literature | English | Class 8
But the glib mosquito cried:
'Now you’ve let me come inside,
Lady Louse, how can you be
Cold in hospitality?
But the glib mosquito cried:
'Now you’ve let me come inside,
Lady Louse, how can you be
Cold in hospitality?
a. Why has the mosquito been called glib?
b. Why has been called cold in hospitality?
c. Why did the mosquito say so?
a. The mosquito was called glib because he was smooth-talking and persuasive. He was able to convince the louse to let him stay and eat.
b. The mosquito called the louse cold in hospitality because initially, she had set conditions for his stay, which involved him fasting and not feeding on the King. This is seen as a lack of proper hospitality by the mosquito.
c. The mosquito said so because he wanted to convince the louse to let him feed on the King, although she had initially forbidden it. The mosquito tried to guilt-trip the louse, accusing her of being unkind and inhospitable.
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All were killed without ado
Meanwhile, the mosquito flew,
Looking out for further prey,
Humming mildly on his way.
a. What happened to the louse family?
b. What did the mosquito do?
c. Why was he humming?
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Sign up nowJust one bite-I ask no more-
For I’ve learned from learned lore
That the royal blood contains
Remedies for aches and pains-
Ginger, honey, sugar, spice,
Cardamom, and all things nice.
a. How many bites he want? Of what?
b. What had he learned from learned lore?
c. Why did he say so?
d. What all did royal blood contain?
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Sign up nowOne day a mosquito flew
Through the window; As it drew
Closer to the velvet bed
Canopied with gold, he said:
'Lovely! Just the place for me.
a. Where did the mosquito come from?
b. Whose bed was it?
c. What had he canopied himself with?
d. What did he think about the place?
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Vocabulary - Flashcards - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Class 8 Literature | English
About the Author - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Class 8 Literature | English
Vikram Seth is an Indian writer and poet known for his diverse literary works. He was born on June 20, 1952, in Kolkata, India, and educated at St. Michael's School in Patna, Doon School in Dehradun, and Oxford University in England. Seth has published several acclaimed books, including his debut novel, "The Golden Gate," which was written in verse and set in San Francisco. He is also known for his novel "A Suitable Boy," which is one of the longest novels in the English language. Additionally, he has published several collections of poetry, including "Mappings" and "All You Who Sleep Tonight." Seth has received numerous awards and honors for his writing, including the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, the Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards from the Government of India.
Summary - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Class 8 Literature | English
Power and Hierarchy
The poem explores the power dynamics between the louse clan and the mosquito in the King's bed. The louse clan sees themselves as the rightful inhabitants of the bed and has been drinking the King's blood for decades. They feel threatened by the mosquito's presence and are reluctant to share their space with him. This theme highlights the importance of social hierarchy and power dynamics within a group or society.
Greed and Selfishness
The louse clan's greed and selfishness are evident in their reluctance to share the bed with the mosquito. They prioritize their own needs and desires over ...
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- The Louse: The louse in the poem symbolizes tradition, entitlement, and a sense of superiority. It represents those who have been in power for a long time and who believe that they have the right to continue to do so. The louse also represents those who are unwilling to share their power or resources with others.
- The Mosquito: The mosquito in the poem symbolizes ambition, opportunism, and a desire for power. It represents those who are willing to take risks...
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Class 8 Literature | English
- Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things, used to create a vivid image or convey a deeper meaning. For example, "Smooth as banks of Ganges silt" and "Deeply dirked the dozing king."
- Rhyme: The repetition of sounds at the end of lines in a poem, often used for rhythmic effect. For example, "sipped" and "slipped," and "hat" and "rat."
- Imagery: The use of vivid and descriptive...
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - The Louse and the Mosquito | New Broadway | Class 8 Literature | English
- Ancestral: relating to something inherited from an ancestor or forebear.
- Delight: great pleasure or satisfaction.
- Parabolic: -------------
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