Saturday, April 12, 2025

Class 8 - Unit -3 - Poem- *Making Life Worth While - George Eliot

 Unit -3 - Poem- *Making Life Worth While  -  George Eliot

LESSON PLAN for this lesson is given at the end of the answers



*Making Life Worth While  -  George Eliot

Making Life Worth While

Every soul that touches yours -

Be it the slightest contact -

Get there from some good;

Some little grace; one kindly thought;

One aspiration yet unfelt;

One bit of courage

For the darkening sky;

One gleam of faith

To brave the thickening ills of life;

One glimpse of brighter skies -

To make this life worthwhile

And heaven a surer heritage.

- George Eliot

1. Comprehension Questions

1. What should we learn from every soul?
We should learn something good from every soul that touches our life, even if the contact is very small or brief.

2. What qualities will help us brave the thickening ills of life?
Qualities like courage, faith, and aspiration will help us face and overcome the increasing difficulties in life.

3. Why should we make this life worthwhile?
We should make life worthwhile so that we can bring goodness to others and make our journey meaningful.

4. What does the poet assure if we make our life worthwhile?
The poet assures that if we make our life worthwhile, heaven will be a surer heritage, meaning we will have a better and more certain reward in the afterlife.

 

2. Figure of Speech

Repetition:
The repetition of words or ideas for emphasis is a poetic device used in this poem.

Pick out any two lines of repetition from the poem:

  1. "One aspiration yet unfelt;"
  2. "One gleam of faith"

The word "One" is repeated in several lines to emphasize the small but significant things that can make life meaningful.

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Lesson Plan: "Making Life Worth While" (Unit 3 Poem)

1. Learning Objectives

  • The teacher will understand how the poem encourages learning virtues from every interaction, however brief.

  • The teacher explores strategies to instill in students values such as kindness, courage, faith, and optimism.

2. Learning Outcomes

  • Students will apply virtues—like grace, courage, faith, and optimism—when interacting with others in daily life.

  • Students will recognize the impact of positive actions on themselves and their community.

3. Introduction

Starter Questions for Students:

  • Have you ever felt encouraged or inspired by someone's kind words or actions?

  • What can we learn from a simple smile or a kind gesture from another person?

  • Can one small act change how someone feels about their life?

4Reading and Understanding

  • Students will read the poem aloud.

  • Discuss meanings of new words:

    • grace (elegance, charm)

    • aspiration (a hope or ambition)

    • courage (bravery)

    • gleam (shine brightly)

    • glimpse (a quick look)

    • worthwhile (purposeful, valuable)

    • heritage (inheritance).

5. Mind Map

Influence/QualityExplanation from PoemPractical Application
GraceLearn grace from every contactAct kindly each day
Kindly ThoughtBe inspired by others' kind thoughtsThink and speak positively
AspirationNew hopes from those you meetSet new goals inspired by role models
CourageCourage in dark or tough timesStay strong in difficulties
FaithA gleam of faith to face life's challengesBelieve things will get better
Glimpse of Brighter SkiesHope after strugglesLook for good even in problems

6. Consolidation and Presentation

Summary:
The poem by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) urges us to gather something good—kindness, courage, a spark of faith—from every person we meet. Even the smallest contact can inspire us. If we develop these positive traits, life becomes valuable, and we inherit the true 'reward' of a purposeful, worthwhile existence.

7. Reinforcement

  • Share a story or quote about how a small act of kindness made a difference.

  • Discuss examples of facing difficulties with courage and faith.

8. Evaluation

a) Lower Order Thinking Question:

  • What should we learn from every soul?
    Expected answer: Something good—like kindness or courage.

b) Middle Order Thinking Question:

  • Why does the poet call for 'one gleam of faith'?
    Expected answer: To help us face and be brave against the difficulties in life.

c) Higher Order Thinking Question:

  • How can you make someone’s life worthwhile with a small action? Give an example.
    Expected answer: By offering encouragement, a smile, or helping someone in need.

9. Remedial Teaching

  • Use stories, visual aids, and role play to show the poem’s message.

  • Group students to discuss real-life situations where a simple good act made a difference.

  • Encourage peer explanation of new vocabulary.

10. Writing

  • Ask students to write a brief paragraph: “A small act of kindness I experienced or gave.”

  • Or, write how they gather courage or faith during tough times.

11. Follow-Up

  • Homework: Observe and jot down any small positive action (by self/others) witnessed over the week.

  • Assignment: Draw a visual map/flowchart of how virtues (grace, courage, faith) spread positivity.

  • Activity: Present a group skit showing how a minor act leads to greater happiness.

This structured plan helps teachers embed the poem’s core message—making life valuable through small yet meaningful virtues—into both classroom discussion and students’ everyday experiences

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