Everest is Not The Only Peak: Questions and Answers

A. Based on your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions in a sentence or two each.

1.        Which line is repeated in the poem? What is the effect created by this repetition?

“We are proud and feel so tall”- This line is repeated.

The author’s self-confidence and strong determination are revealed here.

2.        Who are the ‘deserving ones’?

Those people who do their duty with “deep and true devotion” are the “deserving ones”.

3.        Which quality does the speaker wish to nourish? What is his mission?

The speaker wish to nourish devotion. His mission is to bless the “deserving ones”— people who do their duty with devotion, dignity and honour.

4.        Which path should we follow in life?

We should follow the path of dignity and honour.

5.        What does ‘Everest’ in the title stand for?

“Everest” refers to any height we reach, any achievement or noble deed in life.

6.        What does ‘hillock’ refer to in the line ‘Every hillock has a summit to boast!’?

Hillock is a small hill. But here it means any small work you do. We must do the job in the best way.

7.        Why does the speaker say ‘Everest is not the only peak’?

The speaker says “Everest is not the only peak” He means that climbing the highest peak is not the only achievement. Even in small jobs, we must do our best and achieve success.

8.        What does the ladder symbolize?

People who are true and stand on their own are great leaders and they help the society to march forward and climb great heights. That is the meaning of the word ladder.

B. Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow.

1. Our nature it is that whatever we try 

We do with devotion deep and true.

a.        Who does ‘we’ refer to?

“We” refers to all people who shoulder responsibilities.

b.        How should we carry out our duties?

We should carry out our duties with deep and true devotion. That is, we must be sincere in our work.

2. Defeat we repel, courage our fort;

a.        How do we react to defeat?

We repel defeat that we hate. We drive away defeat.

b.        Which is considered as our strong hold?

“Fort” means strong hold, strong point. “Courage” is our fort, our strong hold.

3. We are proud of the position we hold; humble as we are,

a.What is the speaker proud of?

The speaker is proud of their position

b. How is the speaker both humble and proud?

The position of the speaker may be humble. But he is proud of the position.

c.  Pick out the alliteration in these lines.

Proud-position; hold - humble are the words in alliteration.

4. He, who does not stoop, is a king we adore. 

We bow before competence and merit;

a.        Who is adored as a king?

A person who does not stoop, who does not surrender is adored as a king.

b.        What is the figure of speech used in the first line?

Metaphor

5. Honour is a property, common to all:

In dignity and pride no one need to be poor.

a. Who are considered rich?

Persons who have honour, dignity and pride are considered rich.

b. What is their asset?

Honour is their asset.

C. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 100–150 words each.

1.        In what way is every hillock similar to Everest?

In the Himalayas, Mount Everest is the summit, the highest peak. In the same way every hillock has a summit, highest point. The poet says that even humble jobs, insignificant or dull and uninteresting job also has the highest point-— that is achievement of success even in simple jobs. We are proud of our position, however humble it may be. Whatever we do, we do it with deep and true devotion. We fight against defeat and we succeed. Courage is our strongest point. We do not fall before somebody or flatter somebody for gain. We will never fail in our duty and service. It is our duty to encourage the deserving ones— those who do their work with confidence and devotion. We follow a path of honour and dignity. We are proud about it. Honest life we lead — we do not submit ourselves to men in authority for personal gain. A man who does not stoop (bend, lose heart) in trouble is a king. We recognize competence and merit and appreciate them. Those people who have courage are the ladders of society. We are proud and so tall.

2.        The poem does not focus on the destination but the journey towards it. Discuss.

Everest is the highest peak and climbing it is a great achievement. But every hillock has a summit. Even though we may hold humble devotion, We face defeat with courage and determination. We should be proud of our position, however humble it may be. Whatever we do, we do it with deep and true devotion. We fight against defeat and succeed. Courage is our strongest point. We do not fall before somebody or flatter somebody for gain. We will never fail in our duty and service. It is our duty to encourage the deserving ones— those who do their work with confidence and devotion. We follow a path of honour and dignity. We are proud about it. The height we reach is not important. But we must not stoop, that is we must not yield or give up our responsibility. Competence and merit are two important qualities. Therefore the author does not focus on the destination but insists on our life with honour and dignity and confidence.

D. Creative Activity.

·            Write eight words you associate with success.

·            Use the words to write eight lines that mean success to you or how success makes you feel.

·           Arrange your lines into a poem.

·            Share your poem with the class and post a copy on the notice board.

Success

1. Accomplishment

2. Achievement

3. Advance

4. Progress

5'. Victory

6. Triumph

7. Flying colours

8. Hit

Sweat and toil yield achievement 

And accomplish does not come easy.

Who advance in life, but those with confidence 

Work hard, practice and practice you will progress 

Victory— is it easy to achieve?

Triumph the result of years of labour 

Those who study well come out 

With flying colours in the Exam.

Dignity, honour, devotion, duty ------ you make a big hit.

E. Speaking Activity.

Discuss the following topics in groups of five and choose a representative to sum up the views and share them with the class.

a.        To succeed in life, one must have a single-minded devotion to duty.

Student 1: Single-minded devotion to duty is important for every person.

Student 2: Yes, of course. My father was devoted to his duty and so he got promotion earlier than his colleagues.

Student 3: The opposite is also true. If you do not discharge your duties well, you will meet with failure.

Student 4: Yes, yes. My neighbour is a graduate. He joined a school as a teacher, but after two months he was sent away, because he did not teach well, he was careless in preparing for the classes.

Student 5: My uncle runs a hotel. He goes to the hotel at 5 in the morning. He never relaxes.

Up to 8 in the evening, he runs around, checks everything, encourages the workers, welcomes the customers with a smiling face and attends to all their needs. Therefore now he is earning a lot of money and he is going to open another hotel near the railway station.

Rep : Dear friends we have effectively proved that single minded devotion to duty to necessary to succeed in life. Thank you.

b.   ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal.’ It is the courage and perseverance that counts.

Student 1: Success is not final, failure is not fatal. This is an interesting statement

Student 2: Yes, you must not lose heart at failure. You must try again and you will succeed. Student 3: The story of Robert Bruce of Scotland is an example. He was driven out of Scotland by the English. But he did not lose heart. Slowly he gathered supporters and grew stronger and stronger and finally drove out the Englishmen from Scotland. He was crowned king.

Student 4: You should not be flattered by success. If you slacken after success, you will fail. Therefore success is not final, you must still work hard.

Student 5: We should have a balanced mind and treat success and failure as equal.

Rep : Very good. We have agreed that we must not lose balance of mind either by success or by failure.

c.         Successful people neither brood over the past nor worry about the future.

Student 1: To worry about is meaningless, because you cannot recall the past. “Don’t cry over spilt milk”. This is a meaningful proverb.

Student 2: Those who worry about the past cannot proceed further.

Student 3: Successful people forget the past misfortune or unpleasant things, but plan meaningfully for the future.

Student 4: We should not worry about the future, but we must be optimistic (hopeful).

Student 5: We do not know what is in store for us in the future. Therefore don’t worry, but plan and act.

Rep : I remember HW Longfellow’s poem; “A psalm of Life”.

Trust no future, however pleasant.

Let the dead past bury its dead.

Act, act in the living present,

Heart within, and god overhead.

Thank you friends, we had a meaningful discussion.

F. Parallel Reading.

Read and enjoy the following poem. Try to grasp the message it conveys.

Be the Best

If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,

Be a scrub in the valley – but be

The best little scrub by the side of the rill;

Be a bush, if you can’t be a tree.

If you can’t be a bush, be a bit of the grass,

And some highway happier make;

If you can’t be a muskie, then just be a bass-

But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,

There’s something for all of us here.

There’s big work to do and there’s lesser to do

And the task we must do is the near.

If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail,

If you can’t be the sun, be a star;

It isn’t by size that you win or you fail-

Be the best of whatever you are!

 - Douglas Malloch