8. The Snail
8. The Snail - WBBSE - Class 10 - ইংরেজি
📝 Lesson 8: The Snail
About the Author and the Text
William Cowper (1731-1800) was one of the most popular poets of his times. Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing about the English countryside and the everyday lives of people. His famous works include Olney Hymns and The Task.
The poem takes us into the private world of a snail, where it is seen to lead a self-sufficient life. We are allowed to observe, in minute detail, the small yet self-contained world in which a snail lives.
Read the Following Poem:
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall As if he grew there, house and all, Together.
Within that house secure he hides When danger imminent betides Of storm, or other harm besides Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch, His self-collecting pow'r is such, He shrinks into his house with much Displeasure.
Where'er he dwells, he dwells alone, Except himself has chatells none, Well satisfied to be his own Whole treasure.
📌 Word Nest
- imminent: > likely to happen soon
- chatells: > personal belongings
🧠 Comprehension Exercises
-
Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
- (a) With the slightest touch, the snail shrinks into its house with
- (i) displeasure
- (ii) pleasure
- (iii) pain
- (iv) surprise
- (b) In its house, the snail lives with
- (i) parents
- (ii) friends
- (iii) relatives
- (iv) no one
- (a) With the slightest touch, the snail shrinks into its house with
-
State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer:
- (a) The snail fears to fall from the wall. False.
- Supporting statement: "nor fears to fall"
- (b) The snail comes out of his house during a storm. False.
- Supporting statement: "Within that house secure he hides When danger imminent betides Of storm..."
- (a) The snail fears to fall from the wall. False.
-
Answer the following questions:
- (a) What does the snail usually stick itself to?
- The snail usually sticks itself to grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall.
- (b) What makes the snail well-satisfied?
- The snail is well-satisfied to be his own whole treasure and to dwell alone, having no chatells except himself.
- (a) What does the snail usually stick itself to?
✍️ Grammar in Use
- Change the following sentences into questions, as directed:
- (a) Siraj always rises early. (Interrogative sentence using 'does')
- Does Siraj always rise early?
- (b) Joyce is the best singer in the class. (Information question using 'who')
- Who is the best singer in the class?
- (c) He saw the rainbow. (Interrogative sentence using 'did')
- Did he see the rainbow?
- (d) I go to school by bus. (Information question using 'how')
- How do you go to school?
- (a) Siraj always rises early. (Interrogative sentence using 'does')
📝 Writing Activity
- Write a letter (within 100 words) to the editor of an English daily about the disturbances caused by the thoughtless use of loudspeakers.
Summary
This lesson introduces William Cowper, a popular 18th-century poet known for changing nature poetry by focusing on the English countryside and everyday life. His famous works include Olney Hymns and The Task. The core of the lesson is his poem "The Snail," which beautifully describes the private and self-sufficient world of a snail. The poem illustrates how the snail firmly sticks to surfaces, hides securely in its shell from dangers like storms, and retreats with displeasure at the slightest touch to its horns. Ultimately, the snail is portrayed as a solitary creature, completely content with itself, needing no other possessions.
Key Points
- William Cowper (1731-1800) was a popular 18th-century poet.
- Cowper shifted nature poetry towards the English countryside and everyday life.
- His notable works include Olney Hymns and The Task.
- The poem "The Snail" explores the private and self-sufficient life of a snail.
- The snail sticks firmly to surfaces (grass, leaf, fruit, wall) without fear of falling.
- It hides securely in its house (shell) when danger (like a storm) is imminent.
- A slight touch to its horns makes the snail shrink into its shell with displeasure.
- The snail dwells alone, possesses nothing but itself, and is content to be its own 'whole treasure'.
Practice Questions
1. Who was William Cowper?
- A renowned 17th-century novelist
- A popular 18th-century poet
- A distinguished 19th-century playwright
- A contemporary Modernist poet
Answer: undefined
2. William Cowper's famous works include Olney Hymns and ______.
3. William Cowper was known for writing about the English countryside and the everyday lives of people.
Answer: true
Explanation: The text states, 'Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing about the English countryside and the everyday lives of people.'
4. What is the main theme of William Cowper's poem 'The Snail'?
Answer: The poem explores the private, self-sufficient, and solitary life of a snail.
Explanation: The text explicitly states, 'The poem takes us into the private world of a snail, where it is seen to lead a self-sufficient life.' and 'Ultimately, the snail is portrayed as a solitary creature, completely content with itself, needing no other possessions.'
5. According to the poem, the snail sticks close to which of the following?
- Grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall
- Only walls and trees
- Only fruit and leaves
- Just its own shell
Answer: undefined
6. The snail fears to fall from the surfaces it sticks to.
Explanation: The first stanza clearly states, 'The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall'.
7. When danger is imminent, the snail hides securely ______.
Answer: Within that house
Explanation: The second stanza of the poem states, 'Within that house secure he hides When danger imminent betides'.
8. What kind of danger is mentioned in the poem that makes the snail hide?
- Predators like birds
- Storm, or other harm besides Of weather
- Human interaction
- Lack of food
Answer: undefined
9. How does the snail react to the slightest touch on its horns?
Answer: It shrinks into its house with much displeasure.
Explanation: The third stanza states, 'Give but his horns the slightest touch, His self-collecting pow'r is such, He shrinks into his house with much Displeasure.'
10. Where'er he dwells, the snail dwells ______.
Answer: alone
Explanation: The fourth stanza clearly states, 'Where'er he dwells, he dwells alone'.
11. What does the poem suggest the snail possesses?
- Many personal belongings
- Only itself
- A small treasure chest
- Shared resources with other snails
Answer: undefined
12. The snail is well satisfied to be its own whole treasure.
Answer: true
Explanation: The fourth stanza explicitly states, 'Well satisfied to be his own Whole treasure.'
13. What is the meaning of the word 'imminent' as provided in the Word Nest?
Answer: Likely to happen soon.
Explanation: The 'Word Nest' section defines 'imminent' as '> likely to happen soon'.
14. The word 'chatells' in the poem means personal ______.
Answer: belongings
Explanation: The 'Word Nest' section defines 'chatells' as '> personal belongings'.
15. In which century did William Cowper live and write?
- 17th century
- 18th century
- 19th century
- 20th century
Answer: undefined
16. William Cowper continued the traditional direction of 18th-century nature poetry without significant changes.
Explanation: The text states, 'Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing about the English countryside and the everyday lives of people,' indicating a significant shift.
17. What does the poem 'The Snail' allow readers to observe in minute detail?
Answer: It allows readers to observe the small yet self-contained world in which a snail lives.
Explanation: The text states, 'We are allowed to observe, in minute detail, the small yet self-contained world in which a snail lives.'
18. The snail's house provides it with ______ when danger is present.
Answer: security
Explanation: The second stanza says, 'Within that house secure he hides When danger imminent betides', implying the house offers security.
19. How does the snail feel about its possessions, specifically having no 'chatells' except itself?
- Discontented
- Indifferent
- Well satisfied
- Anxious
Answer: undefined
20. The poem portrays the snail's life as one that is dependent on others.
Explanation: The text states the snail leads a 'self-sufficient life' and 'dwells alone', indicating independence, not dependence.
CONTENT MANAGER