"The Gift of India" by Sarojini Naidu is a moving tribute to the brave soldiers of India who had participated in the World War I. It is written from the perspective of India as a mother figure who has given away her sons to fight other people's.......
The Gift of India - Class 8 Oxford Reading Circle - Summary, Extra Questions, Quiz & Video
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Back Exercises - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Literature | English | Class 8
What is the difference?
a. cease/seize
b. peace/piece
c. grief/grieve
d. aught/ought
e. heart/hart
a. Cease means to come to an end or stop, while seize means to grab, take hold of, or confiscate.
b. Peace refers to a state of tranquility or calmness, free from war or any disruption. Piece, on the other hand, refers to a section or part of something.
c. Grief is the emotional suffering caused by a loss or a disaster, while grieve is the verb which means to feel, show, or express grief.
d. Aught is an old-fashioned term that means anything at all, whatsoever. Ought is used to indicate duty or obligation, similar to 'should'.
e. Heart refers to the organ in the body that pumps blood. It's also used metaphorically to represent love or emotions. Hart, on the other hand, is an old or rarely used term for a stag or a male deer.
Use these words in sentences of your own.
a. dauntless
b. anguish
c. martyred
d. strewn
e. stricken
f. alien
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Ask Chatterbot AIBack Questions - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Literature | English | Class 8
In whose voice is the poet speaking throughout the poem?
The poet, Sarojini Naidu, is speaking in the voice of India as a mother throughout the poem. She expresses the pain and grief of sending her sons to fight in foreign lands, and remembers their sacrifice with heartfelt pride and hope.
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What are the treasures that have been torn from the breast?
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Sign up nowWhere have the Indian soldiers fallen and been buried?
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Sign up nowWhat feelings or emotions are described in the third stanza?
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Sign up nowWhat fitting memorial will be acceptable for the fallen soldiers?
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Sign up nowThey are strewn like blossoms mown down by chance
On the blood-brown meadows of Flanders and France.
a. Who does ‘they’ refer to? What has happened to them?
b. Why are the meadows described as ‘blood-brown’?
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Sign up nowAnd the far sad glorious vision I see
Of the torn red banners of victory?
Why are the red banners of victory described as a ‘far sad glorious vision’?
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Ask Chatterbot AIExtra Questions - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Literature | English | Class 8
Is there aught you need that my hands withhold,
Rich gifts of raiment or grain or gold?
Lo! I have flung to the East and the West
Priceless treasures torn from my breast,
And yielded the sons of my stricken womb
To the drum beats of duty, the sabres of doom.
How does the use of rhetorical questions in the beginning of the poem reflect the speaker’s emotions and intentions?
What do the ‘rich gifts of raiment or grain or gold’ symbolize in this context?
Discuss the significance of the phrase ‘flung to the East and the West’. What does it imply about the situation of the speaker and her emotions?
The phrase ‘priceless treasures torn from my breast’ is an example of a metaphor. What does this metaphor signify?
How does the poet use the imagery of ‘the drum beats of duty, the sabres of doom’ to depict the fate of her sons? What emotions are evoked by this imagery?
The use of rhetorical questions in the beginning of the poem reflects the speaker’s anxiety and willingness to give everything she possesses for a cause. The questions also serve as a way to challenge the listener to consider what they truly need or consider as essential.
The ‘rich gifts of raiment or grain or gold’ symbolize the wealth and resources that India has to offer. In this context, it also symbolizes India’s sacrifice and contribution during the times of conflict, specifically referring to the soldiers it contributed during World War I.
The phrase ‘flung to the East and the West’ signifies the dispersion of resources and lives across different regions of the world. It implies the speaker’s sacrificial offering and the widespread involvement of her ‘sons’ in global conflicts.
The metaphor of ‘priceless treasures torn from my breast’ signifies the loss of her children to war. These ‘priceless treasures’ are her sons, conveying the pain of a mother losing her children.
The poet uses the powerful imagery of ‘the drum beats of duty, the sabres of doom’ to depict the grim fate of her sons who were sent to war. This imagery evokes emotions of sadness, bravery, and inevitability highlighting the tragic cost of war and duty.
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Ask Chatterbot AIQuiz - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
About the Poet - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
Sarojini Naidu was a prominent Indian poet, author, and political activist during the pre-independence era of India. She was born on 13th February 1879 in Hyderabad, India into an intellectual and progressive family. Inspired by the likes of Rabindranath Tagore and Sir Mohammed Iqbal, her poetry and writing were deeply rooted in Indian themes, showcasing the rich heritage and prejudices facing the country then.
Apart from being a poet, Naidu was also a key figure in the Indian independence movement. She was a significant part of the Indian National Congress and was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. She was the first Indian woman to be president of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to be the governor of Uttar Pradesh state.
Naidu was often referred as the 'Nightingale of India' for her contribution to poetry and literature. Her poems were beautifully written and expressed the spiritual, emotional and intellectual enthusiasm of India and its culture. Her notable works include 'The Bird of Time', 'The Broken Wing' and 'The Gift of India'. Sarojini Naidu passed away on 2nd March 1949.
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Summary - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Sacrifice and Loss:
One of the central themes of "The Gift of India" is the extensive sacrifice and loss borne by India in the World War I. Naidu personifies India as a mother who has given away her sons, who now lie in "alien graves". This sacrifice is contrasted...
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Symbols - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
1. "Priceless Treasures" & "Rich Gifts": These symbolize the sons of India who were sent to fight in World War I. Their value is depicted as surpassing any material wealth.
2. "Pearls" & "Shells": These metaphors......
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Poetic Devices - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Metaphor: Naidu extensively uses metaphors in the poem. The soldiers are referred to as 'priceless treasures,' meaning that they're invaluable to their motherland.
2. Simile: Naidu uses similes.....
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Vocabulary - The Gift of India | Oxford Reading Circle | Class 8 Literature | English
Aught: anything, whatever (an archaic and literary usage)
Is there aught you need from the store?Raiment: clothing
She was admired for her fashion sense and her raiment was always top-notch.Compass: to go round; to grasp mentally
She struggled to..........................
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