"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions by Evergreen Publications - Maya Angelou

"I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions/Notes

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Solutions/Notes, poem written by Maya Angelou

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UNSOLVED PASSAGES

PASSAGE-1

(i) In the opening lines, the poet describes the world of nature to be beautiful. She further describes its beauty, why stating that it is evening, and the whole sky is orange in color, with a beautiful sunset accompanying it, making the whole scene breathtaking.

(ii) According to the poet, the sun symbolizes freedom, the sky symbolizes glory and the wind symbolizes power in her poem.

(iii) The bird described in this stanza is free, representing the white American which is free to do anything and does not have to face any racial discrimination, as the free bird here, can fly in the sky without any restriction, and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

(iv) The free bird is a metaphor for the white Americans, that are not bounded by prejudice and racism, and can enjoy their life to the fullest, as the free bird can take another flight in the beautiful orange sky just like the white American can enjoy their freedom.

(v) The caged bird behaves abnormally and cries like one who has had a nightmare. It acts like this, as a person without freedom always acts abnormally, for the state of captivity is abnormal.

PASSAGE-2

(i)  The free bird claims the sky it's own, as it has the right to so. The free bird is not restricted in any way, neither there is anything preventing him from doing so. It can enjoy freedom, unlike the caged bird.

(ii) The encaged bird behaves abnormally and cries like one who has had a nightmare. It acts like this, as a person without freedom always acts abnormally, for the state of captivity is abnormal. (This question is a straight repetition of ques. (v) from Passage-1)

(iii) No, his state of captivity is not normal, as it is a living being, and a living being should not be kept in captivity without any viable reason. It is a crime to restrict freedom to any living being. Living beings are meant to explore, enjoy life, and most importantly, enjoy freedom.

(iv) The 'bars of rage' stands for the bars of the cage that the bird is kept in. It is angry and is screaming in agony due to not being able to fly and enjoy the things that the free bird can, which is why his cage is being referred to this.

(v) The caged bird is shown to be afraid of many unknown dangers of freedom, but in spite of all this, it still opens its mouth to sing for freedom, and his song is heard far and wide. The caged bird also screams in agony after this, in a frightening tone, due to not being able to experience freedom.

PASSAGE-3

(i) The poet reveals the plight of the caged bird in the second stanza, by gradually describing its situation in detail. The poet states how the bird's wings are clipped, and how this bird is captured in a small cage where is movement is very hard. The poet also describes its emotions, stating its anger, and fear. (plight means 'unfortunate situation')

(ii) The encaged bird is fearful of many unknown dangers that he might come across when he gets freedom. Although, in the end, the caged bird is shown to get past this fear, and yearn for his freedom.

(iii) This line means that although this bird is captured in a narrow cage, and has to experience so much mental pain due to its current situation, it still sings for his freedom, and his voice is heard far and wide. This symbolizes that the voice of an oppressed person can never be silenced, and his heard everywhere.

(iv) This line means that although the bird is struggling very hard to get his freedom, it is at the same time, afraid of the many dangers that might come with freedom. It fears those possible unknown dangers, but in the end, overcomes its fear.

(v) I get the idea, that although the African-American had to suffer years of racism, prejudice, and discrimination, they will still manage to win their fight for freedom, and make their voices of struggle heard everywhere in the world, which they did.

PASSAGE-4

(i) The 'bars of rage' symbolizes the bars of the cage that the bird is captured in. These are the bars, that are restricting the movement of the bird inside, due to them being so much narrow.

(ii) This phrase represents the fact that the free bird can take another flight in the sky and fly with the breeze, as it is free to do so. It can enjoy his freedom.

(iii) The 'trade winds' symbolize the fact that the free bird can take another flight in the sky against the wind. The 'fat worms' indirectly represent that the free bird can also find its own food since it has got freedom.

(iv) He 'names the sky his own' as it has every right to do so. It has the right to enjoy life, and enjoy the freedom to the fullest. He is not restricted by anyone from not doing so and does not have to face captivity. 

(v) The poet beautifully handles this topic by using symbolization, metaphors, and imagery to describe each bird and its situation, whilst at the same time, also highlighting the evil of racism in American society. 

"The Cold Within" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions by Evergreen Publications - James Patrick Kinney

"The Cold Within" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions/Notes

The Cold Within Solutions/Notes, poem written by James Patrick Kinney

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UNSOLVED PASSAGES

PASSAGE-1

(i) The poet describes that all the 'six humans' were together by happenstance, an event that is arranged. They were in a situation, which seems to have been arranged, even though it was accidental.

(ii) Each of them possed a log of wood with them, which could fuel the fire burning in front of them. The log of wood is used as a metaphor for sin, meaning that each of them was holding onto their sins.

(iii) There is a certain significance of the logs of wood in the hands of six-person, as each log of wood could fuel the fire burning in front of them all night, but refused to use it, so as to cause harm to others just over prejudice. This shows, that the log of wood was a metaphor for sin, which they held onto.

(iv) All these people could have used their logs to fuel the fire burning in front of them, which could have eventually saved their lives, as the fire would have kept them all warm throughout the night.

(v) All the six people in that situation died in the morning, due to the cold. They could have used the logs in their hands, but they did not because of prejudice and that costed them with their lives.

                                 PASSAGE-2

(i) The poet to the 'dying fire' here, as the fire was slowly dying due to the lack of wood. Six people of different religion, race, and beliefs were sitting beside it. It is a happenstance, which is an arranged situation. 

(ii) Each of them possessed a log of wood in their hands, without any explanation as to how they came in possession of it. Each log could also have fueled the fire in front of them, to keep them warm throughout the night. 

(iii) The first person was a white male, who believed in white supremacy. He also possessed a log of wood, that could fuel the fire to keep it burning throughout the cold night.

(iv) He had noticed a black African-American person standing in front of him. 

(v) He held back from giving his stick, since he had noticed a black person in front of him, and wanted to hurt him. So he denied to give up his stick to fuel the fire, all because of racial prejudice.

(vi) He suffered from racial prejudice, that eventually led him to his death.


                                 PASSAGE-3

(i) Six people from a different race, religion, and backgrounds were trapped in the bitter cold. This situation is a happenstance, meaning it is arranged to serve a particular purpose. 

(ii) Just one log of wood, that could fuel the fire to burn throughout the cold night, was needed to save them from the dangerous cold, which they all held in their hands, was needed.

(iii) The second man noticed a person who was not of his religion, standing in front of him. Since he suffered from religious incompetence, he refused to give his stick to fuel the fire, that could have saved all of the six people from their deaths.

(iv) He decided not to help a person of different religion because he did not want to save a person who was not of his religion, and thus, suffered from intolerance, which sealed his fate.

(v) Yes, he suffers from the 'cold within' him, as he was ready to accept death for something that did not even had a proper reason to hate for. He suffered due to his intolerance, due to the 'cold within' him.


                               PASSAGE-4

(i) The poet tells us that a group of six people from different backgrounds and upbringing are trapped in a happenstance, an arranged situation, with the fate of their lives, lying in their hands.

(ii) The two men kept their stick with them, as they both believed in racial prejudice, and religious incompetence respectively, to the extent that they both were ready to accept their deaths.

(iii) The third man was extremely poor and was a beggar, as stated in the poem. He wore tattered clothes and a coat.

(iv) The third man decided not to warm the 'idle rich', as he believed that the rich man already had a lot, so should he give the little help that he had to someone with so many worldly luxuries.

(v) No, they were all aware of their consequences of what they were doing, but they still refused to act otherwise, only because of hatred for something, that no one could change even if they wanted. They all believed in their unjustified and irrational hatred so much, that they were ready to die for it.


                               PASSAGE-5

(i) The other three men referred to earlier in the poem, was the white man who supported racism, the man of a particular religion who suffered from intolerance, and finally the poor man, who suffered from stinginess.

(ii) The poor man did not part with his stick, as he wanted to hurt the rich man, and also did not wanted to give the little help he had to someone so rich. He acted out of his stinginess and faced death because of it.

(iii) The thought of all the wealth he had with himself, and how he could keep what he had earned with himself by not helping the poor, kept him lost in his thought.

(iv) He decided not to help the poor man, as he did not wanted to help someone who was lazy and did not wanted to work. Thus, making it clear that he suffered from greediness.

(v) He possessed with himself, the sin of greediness, which made him not give up his stick, which eventually led him to his death.

                                PASSAGE-6

(i) The four men referred earlier, included the racist white man, the intolerant religious man, the stingy poor man, and the greedy white man.

(ii) The prejudice in the minds of the poor man and the rich man were stinginess, and greediness respectively, that led them not to give up their sticks to fuel the fire.

(iii) The black man's face clearly showed his rage and the anger in his heart. It was clear that he wanted revenge against the white man standing across him. 

(iv) The black man decided to hurt the white man, by not giving up his stick to fuel the fire, that would lead to his death, forgetting the fact that it would kill him as well at the same time, but his thirst for revenge was greater to make him realize his loss.

(v) Each of the men in the group are unable to see their loss, as their hatred for their so-called 'justified reason' is so strong, that it has blinded all of them to see past their self motives and to maybe act beyond their own agendas, and have a bigger heart. 


                                PASSAGE-7

(i) The five other men referred by the poet earlier includes the racist white man, the religiously incompetent man, the stingy poor man, the greedy rich man, and the revenge-thirsty black man.

(ii) Each man failed to act outside their own personal motive, and make the selfless act that could had saved not only them but also others. Each of them failed to see past their hate.

(iii) The last man was the ungrateful and selfish type. He suffered from a lack of generosity. 

(iv) He failed as well to give his log of wood, as he was also blinded by his selfish nature and failed to see past it, which led him to his death like the others. 

(v) According to the poet, the hate inside each of their hearts, the 'cold within' them, killed them all towards the end. They were all consumed by their hate so much, that they were ready to accept their fall. Thus, aptly, they all died because of the 'cold within', and not because of the cold outside.

(Side Note: If you think that some of the answers are too short, that is because you are only required to answer only that much which is asked. It is ok to write more, but you are only increasing the chances of making more spelling errors, and also killing your time, especially if you are giving exams. From my experience, you are only required to write as much as the question asks you, in boards. You should only give a satisfactory answer. My teacher always taught me, 'Creativity is not writing numerous words to give a small meaning, but instead writing a few words, and still managing to say a lot.")

"The Patriot" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions by Evergreen Publications - Dr. K.S. Paul

"THE PATRIOT" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions/Notes

The Patriot Solutions/Notes, poem written by Robert Browning

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UNSOLVED PASSAGES

PASSAGE-1

(i) The patriot, who was welcomed over a year ago, after his grand victory, by the people, reminded him of his past, since all these same people now hate him, and hurled stones at him, even during his execution.

(ii) A year ago, this same patriot was welcomed by the people, and his path was strewn with fragmented roses, and people were mad with zeal, and enthusiasm to see him, come back after his grand victory.

(iii) The 'bells' that are being referred to here are the bells of a church tower, which was decorated for the patriot's welcome. They were rung in the honor of the patriot's return.

(iv) The fact that the patriot thinks that even if he had demanded the sun, from the sky, the people would still have granted that to him, because of their happiness. This tells that the patriot was swayed by the enthusiasm. The sight of the same people now wanting him to die, and hurling stones at him even during his execution, proves him wrong.

(v) The patriot is punished for a certain 'misdeed' that he did, which made all the people turn against him. Seeing the same people who once loved him, a year ago, now hating him, and wanting him to be executed, makes him sad.

PASSAGE-2

(i) The patriot was welcomed a year ago for his victory, as a hero. To welcome him, his path was filled with roses, church towers were decorated, and blazed with victory flags, people cheered for him, etc. was done.

(ii) The speaker is now in a mood of joy, and happiness when he about the time he had a year ago. At present, he is now on his way to the Shamble's Gate, with his hands tied, about to be executed.

(iii) The fact that he thinks that his people would have done anything for him, tells us that he was overambitious. As a result, only because of one misdeed, he is now being taken to the gates of death, on the will of the same people, he thought loved him.

(iv) 'Harvest' is referring to the reward he got, for the victory he got for his people, according to the speaker. The speaker has reaped the reward of hate, and death, from the same people, who once welcomed him.

(v) He is being led to the Shamble's Gate, where then he will be executed on the scaffold. The thought of hate and betrayal surged from his people, who, a year ago, welcomed and honored him, makes him reconcile with his fate.

PASSAGE-3

(i) Most of the people had left the town, so as to get to the Shamble's Gate, to watch the patriot get executed on the scaffold.

(ii) The patriot, who a year ago, was welcomed by the people for his grand victory, is led to the gallows. He had done one misdeed, which made the people completely blind to see all his good deeds and lead him to his death.

(iii) The people tried to be at the Shamble's Gate or near the scaffold, so as to get a better view of the execution. 'Shambles' Gate means a place of execution of a person.

(iv) This line means that only a few people that were afflicted with paralysis, were at the windows of their houses.

(v) The poet does so, by first giving the description of the patriot's life a year ago, which he represents as though the patriot himself is remembering those days, as he is being led to the Shamble's Gate.

PASSAGE-4

(i) The speaker of this extract is the patriot. At present, he has entered the Shambles' Gates, and now being led to the scaffold, in the rain, with his hands tied, and stones flying at him, about to be executed.

(ii) Since all his people have now turned against him in hate just because of his one misdeed, and ignored all his good, and lead him to his death, with still hurling stones at him even though he is about to be executed, tells us that he is being treated very harshly.

(iii) Some people still had hurled stones at him, even though he was about to be executed, have done so because they are cruel, and hate him just for the one bad deed that he had committed.

(iv) The same people, who are now wanting the patriot to be executed, just over a year ago, treated him with honor, happiness, and had a welcoming nature for him after his grand victory.

(v) I think that the mentality of the crowd is fickle-minded, and evil, as they are immediately ready to execute him, just because of one misdeed, when he had gotten a grand victory for his people.

PASSAGE-5

(i) This line means that the patriot entered his city amid great rejoicings and honor. Now, he is leaving it in great humiliation, insult, and hate.

(ii) The patriot thinks that if he had died in excess of joy at his tumultuous welcome after his grand victory, then God would not have cared for him since he would have been rewarded by the people.

(iii) The thought of the fact that now since the people had now rewarded him with hate, and death, instead of love and honor, God will now reward him in heaven after his death.

(iv) The irony involved here is the fact that the patriot is going to get executed by the same people, for whom he risked his life for the grand victory. A year ago, they welcomed him and honored him, and now these people have brought the patriot to death's gates.

(v) The patriot's optimism is unrealistic, as he believes that although he will be executed by the same people that once loved him, he will find peace, and love in the arms of God, upon his death, ignoring the fact that he will forever be remembered in hatred by the people, for his one mistake, and that the people will now forget all the sacrifices he made for them and the hard work he did for them, even after he dies.

"Nine Gold Medals" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions by Evergreen Publications - Dr. K.S. Paul

"NINE GOLD MEDALS" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions/Notes

Nine Gold Medals Solutions/Notes, poem written by David Roth

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UNSOLVED PASSAGES

PASSAGE-1

(i) The event referred to here by the poet is the 'Special Olympics', meant for differently abled people. In this event, the people with some disability compete to win a medal of gold, silver or bronze, according to the finish position.

(ii) The athletes participating in this event were differently abled, meaning that every contestant had some kind of disability in their bodies.

(iii) Their aim was to win the race and win themselves a gold medal, for which they had practiced for years. No one wanted to lost the race, or come second, or third, etc.

(iv) They prepared themselves for this special event by practicing and training for years. They all put up a lot of hard work to win this race.

(v) All the participants of the race won it, in the end, as described later in the poem, by finishing all together, holding hands.

PASSAGE-2

(i) The sports event that was referred to, earlier in the context, was the 'Special Olympics', where all the athletes that were disabled in some way, participated.

(ii) The event was a special one, since the event was specifically designed for the disabled athletes, and not for a normal person who had no disabilities.

(iii) The spectators, that were sitting all around the field, were in an enthusiastic, and excited mood. They also cheered for all the young participants of that race.

(iv) The final event of the day of 'Special Olympics', which was the last race, consisting of a hundred meters, was about to begin.

(v) The last event turned out to be special, since this event displayed the ideals of empathy, and human values, when all the participants helped an athlete, who had tripped, and finished the race, altogether.

PASSAGE-3

(i) The 'Special Olympics' was a sports event, designed for those people, who are disabled in some manner, by giving them a chance to participate, and win rewards.

(ii) the kind of athletes that had a certain kind of disability in their bodies, came to take part in this 'Special Olympic' sports event.

(iii) The race, which consisted of the athletes to cover a distance of hundred meters, was the last event of that day.

(iv) The nine athletes, that had participated in this event, stood on the starting line. They all had a determined state of mind, as they waited for the pistol shot to fire, as a starting signal.

(v) The event of the falling of the weaker, and the youngest contestant, on the track, stopped the race after it had taken off, since all the other eight participants stopped as well, and returned to help him.

PASSAGE-4

(i) The sports event for the people with different disabilities, was about to start, consisting of a race of hundred meters.

(ii) It was started by the sound of the pistol shot, that was fired, as a start signal. Upon hearing it, all the participants began the race, but the weaker athlete stumbled and fell.

(iii) One of the athletes, which was weaker, and younger than all the other athletes, fell on the track, as his legs gave in.

(iv) As soon as the other participants in the race saw that one of the athletes has fallen on the track, they immediately stopped and rushed to his help.

(v) They came to the help of the fallen athlete, by turning back, as a result of the emotions of empathy, and human values, which surged in their hearts, at that moment.

PASSAGE-5

(i) 'He' is referred to the weak, and young athlete, who had fallen on the track, as his legs gave up on him.

(ii) The thought of the fact that all of his hard work, and practice, and training he had done for the race was now all a waste, made him cry in frustration and anguish.

(iii) The strange thing that happened was the moment when all the other eight participants stopped in their tracks and came back to the aid of the fallen athlete.

(iv) The eight contestants gave up their competitive spirit, as they all felt pity, empathy for the fallen athlete, which made them come back to his aid.

(v) All the participants in the race were awarded gold medals as they all now finished together, hand-in-hand with each other.

PASSAGE-6

(i) The falling of the youngest, and weaker athlete on his tracks, as his legs gave in, happened earlier in the context.

(ii) The event of the falling of one of the participants in his tracks filled all their hearts with empathy, and true sportsmanship, which made them stop in their tracks.

(iii) Their surprise move was to stop in their tracks, turn around, come to the aid of the fallen athlete, and then finish the race altogether, with the fallen athlete along with him, supporting him, and hand-in-hand with each other.

(iv) The human value of empathy and true sportsmanship is displayed by their actions, as they all did not fear their loss, and they helped that fallen athlete, to get up on his feet, and complete the race.

(v) The rhyming words used in this passage are 'complete' and 'feet'. They are significant in a way, since this poem does not follow a set rhyme scheme, and stanza 6, and 7, are the only stanzas that follow a pattern of abcd.

PASSAGE-7

(i) The last sports event of that day, of 'Special Olympic', which was a race of hundred meters for disabled athletes, was in progress.

(ii) The event of the falling of a participant of that race, made the other athletes stop the race, as they went back to help him finish the race.

(iii) The fact that all the other eight participants discontinued their race, just to help a fellow contestant, who had fallen, all risking their win, was quite shocking to the spectators.

(iv) The race came to an end as all the athletes, finished it, all together, by each other's side, supporting the fallen athlete, and hand-in-hand with each other.

(v) The theme of the poem is about empathy and human values. It is conveyed through a special event race, where all the other eight athletes stopped, and helped the athlete who had fallen, all risking their win.

Side Note: If you think this poem had a lot of questions that were the same, but just written differently, and had the same answer, then you are not Alone. Cause there are a lot of them, almost like they were out of ideas on what question to make, so they wrote the same thing, over and over.

"The Heart Of The Tree" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions by Evergreen Publications - Dr. K.S. Paul

"THE HEART OF THE TREE" Treasure Trove Workbook Solutions/Notes

The Heart Of The Tree Solutions/Notes, poem written by Henry Cuyler Bunner

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UNSOLVED PASSAGES

PASSAGE-1

(i) The poet described a tree, earlier in the poem, as a 'friend of sun and sky', since a tree benefits in making the air, and atmosphere, around us, clean, and pure; and because a tree needs sunlight to survive.

(ii) The line 'What does a plant who plants a tree', has been repeated since the poet wants to express the benefits of planting a tree, but in a question-answer form, so as to create the poem amusing.

(iii) The benefits of ensuring a cool shade for us in the summer, and tender rain in all seasons, which are necessary for our survival, are the social, and ecological benefits of planting a tree, he refers to.

(iv) The poet calls the tree as 'the harvest of coming age' since a tree gives us many social, and ecological benefits, which can be enjoyed by the future generations, in the time to come.

(v) 1. The tree planter, plants cool shade, and tender rain.

         2. The tree planter, plants shelter for the birds.

PASSAGE-2

(i) The person who plants a tree ensures, cool shade in summer, a shelter for birds, tender rain in all seasons, pure and clean air, a cool gentle breeze, peace, harmony, comfort, etc, are some benefits of tree planting referred to by the poet, earlier in the context.

(ii) A tree planter does civic good, since when he/she plants a tree, it benefits not only to him but his neighbors around, as well. A tree planter also helps in contributing to the country's growth, and development, as mentioned by the poet.

(iii) According to the poet, a tree planter holds 'all the growth of our land', since a tree has many social, and ecological benefits. The poet also says that the person who plants a tree also does civic good as well. The poet is talking about the earth's land.

 (iv) I do not agree with the poet that a nation's growth depends upon the wealth of trees since although a tree has many benefits, it still cannot help in improving the other factors, such as unemployment, poverty, corruption, etc., existing in a nation.

(v) The poem holds a lot of relevance in our times since many of the forests are now cut down to build cement buildings, flats, etc. In the metropolitan cities, there are few to none trees planted, which not only deteriorates the atmosphere, but also the beautiful sights of greenery are almost gone.