10th std English Guide unit-2 - The Grumble Family
The Grumble Family
GLOSSARY
B.P.No. 47
discontent (adj.) – dissatisfaction with one’s circumstances
amiss (adj.) – not quite right
growl (v) – make a low guttural sound in the throat
grumble (n) – a complaint about something in a bad-tempered way
gloomy (adj.) – depressing or frightening
queerest (adj.) – the strangest or the most unusual
acknowledge (v)– accept or admit the existence or truth of
terrible (adj.) – extremely bad or serious
wandering (v)
– walking or moving in a leisurely or aimlessstreet
Poetry Appreciation Questions.
B.P.No. 47
A. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below.
1. There’s a family nobody likes to meet;
They live, it is said, on Complaining Street.
a. Where does the family live?
The family lives on Complaining Street.
b. Why do you think the street is named as ‘Complaining Street’?
The street is named as Complaining Street because the people who live there always complain
about everything.
2. They growl at that and they growl at this;
Whatever comes, there is something amiss;
a. What does the word ‘growl’ mean here?
‘Growl’ means bark or snarl. Here it means they find fault with everything.
b. Why do they find everything amiss?
They find fault with everything so everything seems to be amiss to them.
3. Nothing goes right with the folks you meet
Down on that gloomy Complaining Street.
a. What is the opinion about the folks you meet down the street?
Nothing goes well with the people who live on the complaining street.
b. What does the word ‘gloomy’ mean here?
‘Gloomy’ means darkness. Here it means unhappy
4. The worst thing is that if anyone stays
Among them too long, he will learn their ways;
a. What is the worst thing that can happen if anyone stays with them?
If anyone stays with them he will get the habit of complaining about everything.
b. What are the ways of the Grumble family?
The grumble family never gets satisfied. They always grumble about everything.
5. And so it were wisest to keep our feet
From wandering into Complaining Street;
a. What is the wisest thing that the poet suggests?
The wisest thing that the poet suggests is not to go near the complaining street.
b. What does the phrase ‘to keep our feet from wandering’ refer to?
‘To
keep our feet from wandering’ means ‘to keep off our feet from wandering near the complaining
street
6. Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song,
No matter if things do sometimes go wrong;
a. What does the poet expect everyone to learn?
The poet expects everyone to lead a happy life with a smile.
b. What should we do when things go wrong sometimes?
We should smile and lead a happy life even if things go wrong sometimes.
B. Answer the following question in about 80-120 words.
Book.Page.No. 48
1. Write a paragraph on ‘The Grumble Family and their attitude towards other folks.
Poem :The Grumble Family
Poet :L.M. Montgomery
Theme :Discontentment begets despair
In the city of Never-Are-satisfied
The River of Discontentment beside
- L.M. Montgomery (1874 – 1942) was a Canadian author best known for a series of novelsbeginning in 1908 with Anne Green Gables. A prolific writer, She published over 100 stories between1897 and 1907.
- ‘The Grumble Family’ has been written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The poet gives a vividpicture of neighbourhood scenes. She says that there is a family which nobody wants to meet. Theylive on ‘Complaining’ street in a city called ‘Never-Are-satisfied’. The river of ‘Discontent’ runs beside it.They always complain about everything. They will never be satisfied and they are always discontented.They find fault with everything. They grumble at everything whether they live a high or low life. Theweather is always too hot or cold for them. They scold summer and winter in the same way. Nothingwill go well with these people. If they are pleased with something they will growl saying that theyhave nothing to grumble about. The funniest thing is that no member of the family will be ready toacknowledge the family. If someone stays with them for long he will also get their way of life. He willalso start grumbling about everything.The weather is always too hot or coldSummer and winter alike they scold
2. If you were to live in the Complaining Street, how would you deal with the people who grumble?
Poem :The Grumble Family
Poet :L.M. Montgomery
Theme :Discontentment begets despair
- If I were to live in the complaining street I may find it difficult to deal with such people.I am with a lot of positive ideas. Only those who have negative ideas will complain about people andsituations. It is very clear that such people will never have a feeling of satisfaction. So I will be carefulnot to get involved in their way of life. If they come forward to grumble over something I will notaccept it immediately. I will try to convince them that it is better to accept things as they come to uswith a smile. We should avoid taking everything negatively. I will slowly tell them that life has ups anddowns and we should be able to balance them carefully.Attitude shows over altitude.
3. From the poem ‘The Grumble Family’ what kind of behaviour does the poet want the readers to possess?
Poem :The Grumble Family
Poet :L.M. Montgomery
Theme :Discontentment begets despair
They growl at the rain and they growl at the sun;
In fact, their growling is never done.
- L.M. Montgomery (1874 – 1942) was a Canadian author best known for a series of novelsbeginning in 1908 with Anne Green Gables. A prolific writer, She published over 100 stories between1897 and 1907.
- ‘The Grumble Family’ has been written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. She says that thereis a family which nobody wants to meet. They live on ‘Complaining’ street in a city called ‘Never-Are satisfied’. The river of ‘Discontent’ runs beside it. They always complain about everything. They willnever be satisfied and they are always discontented. The poet does not want the readers to follow thiskind of life. She wants them to lead a life with contentment. The poet accepts that even in the grumblefamily the members do not want to attach themselves with the family. Let us learn to live with a smileeven if something goes wrong. We should never be the part of the grumble family whether our life ishigh or low.Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song, No matter if things do sometimes go wrong:
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