Unit 2.6 Money William H. Davies
When I had money, money, O !
I knew no joy till I went poor;
For many a false man as a friend
Came knocking all day at my door.
Then felt I like a child that holds
A trumpet that he must not blow
Because a man is dead; I dared
Not speak to let this false world know.
Much have I thought of life, and seen
How poor men’s hearts are ever light;
And how their wives do hum like bees
About their work from morn till night.
So, when I hear these poor ones laugh,
And see the rich ones coldly frown
Poor men, think I, need not go up
So much as rich men should come down.
When I had money, money, O!
My many friends proved all untrue;
But now I have no money, O!
My friends are real, though very few
- William H. Davies
A1. True or false : (02)
State whether the following statements are true or false.correct the false statements with the help of the poem.
a) The poet knew no joy till he was rich. (T)
b) When poet had money, he had many true friends.
When poet had money he had many false friends. (F)
c) When poet became poor he had few real friends. (T)
d) Poet’s friends do not like him but his money. (T)
A1. Complete : (02)
Complete the following sentences and rewrite them.
a) When poet had money ....…………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………came running all day at his door.
1) True real friends 2) false and untrue friends
3) classmates 4) Relatives and rich people.
b) When the poet has no money . . …………………………………………
1) He has everybody with him.
2) All rich friends came to meet him.
3) He has few but real friends
4) none of the above.
c) The ………………………………… are unhappy because of financial condition.
1) Wives of poor people. 2) wives of rich people
3) children of rich people 4) Employees of poor people.
d) The central idea of the poem is …………………………………………………….
1) Distinction between the poor and the rich
2) How rich people are merciless.
3) Rich man who wants to be a poor man to find real happiness.
A2. Give reasons : (02)
a) Friends came knocking all day at the poet’s door because ………………………..
When the poet was rich he had many friends. They were not real or true friends.it meant they just were friends when they wanted money. His happiness with many false friends was untrue because for his friends his money was their friend nothing else.
b) Poor men’s wives hum like bees because ……………………………………………
Poor men’s wives always grumbled and not satisfied with their husband work although the poor men always work hard all day. It might be because they don’t carry much money.
A2. Infer : (02)
Money makes the world go round. Explain it in the light of the poet’s experience.
A lot of events could not happen with money. Money is very important. It is one of the most essential things. Money solves all the problems.
A2. Interpret : (02)
Interpret the statement,” poor men need not go up so much as rich men should come down. Express your views regarding this statement.
A3. Personal Response : (02)
“Money cannot give you eternal happiness. Do you agree with the views of the poet. Explain with suitable examples in about Fifty words
A3. Personal Response : (02)
“Money is essential but money is not above everything” share your views on this in about Fifty words.
A3. Personal Response : (02)
“Money cannot purchase happiness and contentment,” express your views on it in about Fifty words.
A3. Personal Response : (02)
“We cannot buy everything with money” Justify your answer with suitable examples in about Fifty words.
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
“When I had money, money o!
Name and Explain the figure of speech used in the above line.
The figure of speech used in the above line is an example of REPETITION because the word Money is repeated in a pleasant manner.
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
“For many a false man as a friend.”
Name and explain the figure of speech used in the above line.
The figure of speech used in the above line is an example of an ALLITERATION because the initial sound/letter “f” is repeated in a pleasant manner.
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
“Much have I thought of life and seen
How poor men’s hearts was ever light”
The figure of speech used in the above line is an example of an INVERSION because the words are not arranged in a correct prose/grammatical order.
The correct order should be,” I have thought much of life and seen how poor men’s hearts was ever light.”
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
“And how their wives do hum like bees’
Name and explain the figure of speech used in the above line.
The figure of speech used here is an example of ONOMATOPOEIA because the word, “hum” indicates a particular sound.
It is also an example of SIMILE because the grumbling of the wives are directly compared with the humming of the bees and the comparison is made with the word, ‘Like”
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
‘About their work from morn till night”
Name and explain the figure of speech used here.
The figure of speech used here is an example of ANTI-THESIS because two opposite ideas/contrasting ideas morn(morning) and night are used in the same line.
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
“ So when I hear these poor ones laugh
And see the rich ones coldly frown,”
Identify the figure of speech used in the above line.
The figure of speech used here is an example of ANTI-THESIS because two opposite ideas/contrasting words “rich/poor” and “laughs/frown” are used in the same line.
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
“Then felt I like a child that holds”
The figure of speech used here is an example of an INVERSION as well as SIMILE. Inversion because the words are not arranged in the correct prose order. The correct order should be,” then I felt like a child that holds’
Simile because the feelings of the poet are directly compared with the child and the comparison is made with the word,” like”
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
Complete the following table.
No. Figures of Speech Lines from the poem Explanation
01 Inversion
02 Simile
03 Repetition
04 Onomatopoeia
05 Anti-thesis
A4. Poetic Devices : (02)
Note down the Rhyme scheme used in the extract and also note down the Rhyming pair of words.
Stanza Rhyme Scheme Rhyming pair of words
FIRST
SECOND
THIRD
FOURTH
FIFTH
A5. Poetic Creativity : (02)
“ when I had money. money, O!
…………………………………
For many a false man as a friend.
Compose two lines (lines 2/4) of your own and make a meaningful composition.
A5. Poetic Creativity : (02)
Compose a short poem of four lines on the theme,” contentment”
A5. Poetic creativity : (02)
Then felt I like a child that holds
A trumpet that he must not blow
Because a man is dead, I dared
Not speak to let this false world know”
( Change the prose /grammatical order of the lines and compose the above stanza.)
A5. Poetic creativity : (02)
Much have I thought of life and seen
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
About their work from morn till night
Compose two lines of your own and rewrite the above stanza.
A5. Poetic Creativity : (02)
But now I have no money, O !
……………………………………
……………………………………
……………………………………………
Compose next lines of your own and complete the activity.
Activities Compiled by
TUSHAR J BAGWE
K.J. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77
