Comprehension I: The Blind Boy”

Question 1.
Whose voice is it in the poem?
Answer:
The poem is narrated in the voice of a blind boy who expresses his feelings and thoughts about his blindness.

Question 2.
‘The blessings of the sight’—line’ 3. Can you list a few of them?
Answer:
Some blessings of sight include:
• Seeing the beauty of nature (sun, moon, stars, flowers, rivers, mountains)
• Recognizing the faces of loved ones
• Reading and writing
• Observing colors and movements
• Enjoying art and scenic views

Question 3.
How does a blind person understand whether it is day or night?
Answer:
The blind boy understands day and night through his own experiences. He feels the warmth of the sun but does not see its light. He states that his “day or night” is determined by his activities—when he sleeps or plays, rather than the actual presence of sunlight.

Question 4.
Read lines 13 and 14. Who is sympathizing with whom?
Answer:
In these lines, sighted people are sympathizing with the blind boy, mourning his loss of sight. They express sorrow for his inability to see the world.

Question 5.
How does the blind boy pacify himself? Quote the lines that suggest this.
Answer:
The blind boy comforts himself by accepting his condition with patience. He does not let his blindness take away his happiness. The lines that suggest this are:
• “Then let not what I cannot have / My cheer of mind destroy.”
• “Whilst thus I sing, I am a king, / Although a poor blind boy.”

Read and appreciate: “The Blind Boy.”

Question 1.
Who do you think is the person addressed as ‘you’ in the poem?
Answer:
The person addressed as ‘you’ refers to people who can see. The blind boy is questioning them about light and sight, which he has never experienced.

Question 2.
Read the first stanza carefully. The tone of the speaker is one of______________ a. surprise b. curiosity c. sadness (choose the appropriate one)
Answer:
b. curiosity (The blind boy is curious about what light is and how sight works, as he has never experienced it.)

Question 3.
The blind boy can feel _________________of the sun. (fill in the blank)
Answer:
The blind boy can feel the warmth of the sun.

Question 4.
What a normal person can easily understand is almost a riddle to the blind boy. What is it?
Answer:
The concept of light and sight is a riddle to the blind boy because he has never experienced them. He can feel the sun’s warmth but cannot comprehend how it creates day and night.

Question 5.
Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB (every alternate line rhymes).

Question 6.
Match the following and frame appropriate sentences for each phrase thus matched.

Answer:

Question 7.
“ಇರುವುದನು ನೆನೆದು
ಬಾರೆನೆಂಬುದನು ಬಿಡು
ಹರುಷಕ್ಕಿದೆ ದಾರಿ”
Read the lines from a poem by D.V.G. Does the poem “The Blind Boy” reflect the same idea? Discuss it in the class.
Answer:
The given Kannada lines by D.V.G. emphasize contentment and acceptance of one’s fate, a theme that resonates with “The Blind Boy.” In the poem, the blind boy does not mourn what he has never had; instead, he finds joy and strength in what he can experience. Similarly, D.V.G.’s lines suggest that one should accept life’s circumstances with patience and wisdom rather than lamenting what is beyond control.

“The Blind Boy” Summary