Subject: English (Third Language)
Class: 8th
Board: Karnataka State Board (KSEEB)
Poem 3 : A Child’s Evening Prayer
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Summary (English):
This poem is a heartfelt evening prayer by a child. The child begins by asking for grace to say its prayers. It then prays for the good health and strength of its mother and father for many years, expressing a desire to show due reverence to its father. The child wishes to use its best thoughts to become a source of hope and joy for its parents. It also prays for its brothers, asking God to protect them from evil deeds and laziness, and for the family and friends to always love each other. Finally, the child asks the Lord for an innocent and grateful heart, so that after death, it may awaken to God’s eternal day.
सारांश (Marathi):
ही कविता एका लहान मुलाने केलेली संध्याकाळची एक मनापासूनची प्रार्थना आहे. मूल आपल्या प्रार्थना करण्यासाठी कृपा मिळावी अशी विनंती करून सुरुवात करते. त्यानंतर ते आपल्या आई-वडिलांना अनेक वर्षे चांगले आरोग्य आणि शक्ती मिळावी अशी प्रार्थना करते, वडिलांबद्दल योग्य आदर व्यक्त करण्याची इच्छा दर्शवते. मूल आपल्या पालकांसाठी आशा आणि आनंदाचा स्रोत बनण्यासाठी आपले सर्वोत्तम विचार वापरण्याची इच्छा ठेवते. ते आपल्या भावांसाठीही प्रार्थना करते, त्यांना वाईट कृत्ये आणि आळशीपणापासून वाचवण्यासाठी देवाला विनंती करते आणि कुटुंब व मित्रांनी नेहमी एकमेकांवर प्रेम करावे अशी इच्छा करते. शेवटी, मूल देवाकडे एक निष्पाप आणि कृतज्ञ हृदय मागते, जेणेकरून मृत्यूनंतर ते देवाच्या अनंतकाळच्या दिवसात जागे होऊ शकेल.
About the Poet:
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) was an influential English poet, philosopher, and critic. He was known for his vast knowledge and unique conversational abilities. His famous works include ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ and ‘Kubla Khan’. His poetry significantly impacted the major poets of his era.
Glossary / Difficult Words:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| Ere | एर | आधी, पूर्वी |
| Limbs | लिम्स | अवयव, हातपाय |
| Grant | ग्रान्ट | देणे, प्रदान करणे |
| Grace | ग्रेस | कृपा, देवाची दया |
| Preserve | प्रिजर्व्ह | जतन करणे, रक्षण करणे |
| Reverence | रेव्हरन्स | आदर, मान |
| Employ | एम्प्लॉय | वापरणे, उपयोगात आणणे |
| Sloth | स्लॉथ | आळस, सुस्ती |
| Impart | इम्पाटर् | देणे, प्रदान करणे (ज्ञान, भावना इ.) |
| Innocent | इनोसन्ट | निष्पाप, निरागस |
| Grateful | ग्रेटफुल | कृतज्ञ, आभारी |
| Eternal | इटर्नल | अनंतकाळचा, शाश्वत |
A. Answer the following questions:
1. Who does the child pray for?
Ans. – The child prays for itself, its mother, father, and brothers.
2. What does the child pray for its mother?
Ans – The child prays for its mother to remain in good health and strength for many years.
3. What does the child pray for its father?
Ans – The child prays for its father to be preserved and wishes to show him due reverence.
4. Pick out the lines in the poem which show that the child is praying for its brothers.
Ans – The lines are:
“And O! preserve my brothers both
From evil doings and from sloth,
And may we always love each other,
Our friends, our father, and our mother.”
5. The child wants to be a source of joy to its parents. Which lines in the poem show this?
Ans – The lines are: “And may I my best thoughts employ / To be my parent’s hope and joy!”
6. “O Lord, to me impart an innocent and grateful heart”
a) Who does ‘me’ refer to?
Ans – ‘Me’ refers to the child who is praying.
b) What is the child asking for?
Ans – The child is asking for an innocent and grateful heart.
c) What is the meaning of the word ‘grateful’?
Ans – The meaning of ‘grateful’ is feeling or showing thanks; thankful.
Fill in the boxes below with correct rhyming words from the poem. Then add one rhyming word of your own. Ask your teacher for help (One example is given).
| Ex: day | may | say |
| dear | year | clear |
| both | sloth | froth |
| joy | employ | toy |
| other | mother | brother |
| impart | heart | start |
| lay | say | play |
