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:
- "One aspiration yet unfelt;"
- "One gleam of faith"
The word "One" is repeated in several lines to
emphasize the small but significant things that can make life meaningful.
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?
4. Reading and Understanding
Students will read the poem aloud.
Discuss meanings of new words:
5. Mind Map
| Influence/Quality | Explanation from Poem | Practical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Grace | Learn grace from every contact | Act kindly each day |
| Kindly Thought | Be inspired by others' kind thoughts | Think and speak positively |
| Aspiration | New hopes from those you meet | Set new goals inspired by role models |
| Courage | Courage in dark or tough times | Stay strong in difficulties |
| Faith | A gleam of faith to face life's challenges | Believe things will get better |
| Glimpse of Brighter Skies | Hope after struggles | Look 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:
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
