Here is the class 9 Kaveri English full Gifts of Grace Class 9 NCERT Solution
Reflect and Respond
I. Given below are four riddles. Read and identify who these people are.
In furrows deep, secrets I sow, / As time passes, / I watch them grow. / Who am I?
Answer: A Farmer
From wheel to kiln, my skill is born, / Step by step, an art takes form. / Who am I?
Answer: A Potter
I lay foundations, brick by brick, / To build a house, it’s me you pick. / Who am I?
Answer: A Mason / Bricklayer
I work with pots, pans, and spice, / Creating dishes that taste so nice. / Who am I?
Answer: A Cook / Chef
II. What is the role and relevance of the people you identified in the riddles. How do they contribute to the society? Discuss.
Answer: These individuals form the foundational pillars of our society. Farmers cultivate the food necessary for survival, potters create essential vessels and preserve cultural art, masons build the infrastructure and homes we live in, and cooks nourish us. Their collective contributions sustain daily life and drive societal progress.
Check Your Understanding
I. Based on your understanding of the poem, state whether the following statements are true or false. Also, rectify the false statements.
The poem highlights the skilled work of craftsperson. (True)
The poet shares that musicians express emotions through their instruments. (True)
The carpenters in the poem are admired for their logical work. (True)
The electricians in the poem are recognised for their crucial role in lighting up lives. (True)
The poem pays homage to shoemakers who manufacture quality footwear. (True)
The poem celebrates the patriotism of the people of Bharat. (False) * Rectification: The poem celebrates the dignity of labor, the diverse vocations, and the unique skills of the working people of Bharat rather than traditional patriotism.
The poet feels that each vocation deserves to be respected. (True)
II. Let us appreciate the poem.
1. Rhyme Scheme and Lineation
(i) Does the poem strictly adhere to a rhyme scheme, or is it in free verse?
Answer: The poem does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme; it is written in free verse.
(ii) What is the impact of the varying length of lines in the poem?
Answer: The varying line lengths mimic natural, free-flowing conversation and mirror the diverse, unrestricted nature of the different vocations being celebrated.
(iii) What is the pattern in the structure of most lines of the poem?
Answer: Most lines follow a pattern of introducing the specific worker (e.g., “The carpenters,” “The electricians”), followed by an action verb describing what they are celebrating or creating.
2. Speaker
(i) Who appears to be the speaker and what is her/his role here?
Answer: The speaker appears to be an observant citizen of Bharat. Their role is to bear witness to the harmony of the nation’s workforce and to elevate everyday jobs into a celebration of identity and skill.
3. Tone and Mood
(i) Fill in the blanks with suitable options from the box given below.
Answer: A. The tone is reverential, depicting a sense of admiration and respect for the artisans and crafts persons.
B. There is a celebratory mood throughout the poem, capturing the vibrancy and richness of cultural traditions and skills.
4. Imagery
(i) Select any two descriptions from the poem that evoke visual images.
Answer: 1. “…woven with colours and myriad hues”. 2. “The boatmen gathering their nets from the shore”.
(ii) Fill in the blanks with suitable phrases.
Answer: The poem includes auditory imagery through mentions of artisans with lutes, electricians humming , and the delicious singing of the cook , emphasising the sounds associated with each vocation.
5. Metaphor
(i) State whether the following sentence is true or false. The mention of ‘delicious singing’ of the cook is a metaphor because it implies that the quality of the singing is so enjoyable or pleasing that it can be equated to the experience of tasting something delicious.
Answer: True.
6. Personification
(i) Select the line that tells us that the poet personifies vocations by attributing human-like qualities to them.
Answer: “The voice of their vocation is the voice of their identity.”
7. Repetition
(i) Why might the poet have begun and ended with the same line—’I hear Bharat celebrating, the varied vocations I hear!’?
Answer: This repetition acts as a powerful refrain to reinforce the central theme of the poem: the continuous, unified celebration of the nation’s diverse workforce.
8. Alliteration
(i) Identify two examples of alliteration from the poem.
Answer: 1. “craftsperson, each one celebrating their craft”. 2. “sailing, and singing”.
9. Symbolism
(i) Each vocation in the poem symbolises something more than just a job. What does it symbolise?
Answer: It symbolizes the individual’s identity, their creative expression, and their indispensable contribution to the collective fabric of the nation.
Critical Reflection
I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. The shoemakers affirming the quality of their work, for the feet that walk, dance, run, jump, return home. The delicious singing of the cook, or the rhythm of designer, mason, each celebrating what belongs to them and to none else,
The poet says that the shoemakers ‘affirm’ the quality of their work. What does ‘affirm’ refer to here?
Answer: (ii) to declare with confidence
What do quality shoes help with, according to the poet?
Answer: Quality shoes help the feet to comfortably walk, dance, run, jump, and safely return home.
What does ‘return home’ symbolise besides the literal act of returning?
Answer: It symbolizes the completion of a day’s journey, achieving rest after hard work, and the safety and comfort provided by the fruits of one’s labor.
Identify the phrase that tells us that every worker’s contribution is distinct.
Answer: “…each celebrating what belongs to them and to none else”.
Complete the following with suitable words: …for the feet that walk, dance, run, jump, return home refers to the diverse, active, and varied journeys of human life.
II. Answer the following questions.
Why does the poet say, ‘I hear Bharat celebrating, the varied vocations I hear’?
Answer: The poet observes people across the country performing their varied jobs with joy, dignity, and dedication. This collective harmony and pride in labor feel like a grand national celebration.
What does the electrician ‘humming’ while getting ready for work suggest?
Answer: It suggests that the electrician finds joy and contentment in their work, approaching their task of “brightening lives” with a positive and cheerful attitude.
Explain the significance of the line, ‘The voice of their vocation is the voice of their identity.’
Answer: This line signifies that a person’s work is not merely a way to earn a living; it deeply defines who they are. Their skills, passion, and daily contributions shape their unique identity in society.
Do you think the role of all the people belonging to different vocations is important in our daily lives? Support your answer with a reason.
Answer: Yes, every vocation is crucial. Society functions on interdependence; for example, an engineer relies on the farmer for food, and the farmer relies on the engineer for modern tools. Removing even one vocation disrupts the balance of our daily lives.
Why is the poet celebrating all the vocations in the poem? Explain by giving examples from your context.
Answer: The poet is celebrating the dignity of labor, emphasizing that all honest work is worthy of respect. In a school context, for instance, a teacher’s role in educating students is just as vital as the school support staff who maintain a clean, safe environment for learning.
How does the poet use sensory imagery to bring out the beauty of everyday work?
Answer: The poet uses rich sensory details: visual imagery like “myriad hues” and “gathering nets”; auditory imagery like “artisans with lutes” and “electricians humming”; and even gustatory/blended imagery like the “delicious singing of the cook.” This makes the act of everyday work feel vibrant, alive, and beautiful.
Vocabulary in Context
I. Match the vocations given in the box below with the descriptions that follow. (Options: ASHA worker, confectioner, sericulturist, welder, horticulturist, goldsmith)
A person who studies or grows garden plants: horticulturist
A trained female community health worker: ASHA worker
A producer of raw silk: sericulturist
A person whose job is making or selling sweets and chocolates: confectioner
A metalworker who specialises in working with precious metals: goldsmith
A person who fuses materials together: welder
II. Identify the word from Column 2 that is not the synonym of the words given in Column 1.
myriad -> (i) countable
hues -> (ii) drawing
precision -> (iii) calculation
varied -> (iv) uniform
delicious -> (v) inedible
