Exploring different literary analyses in DAV Class 6 English Literature Book Solutions Chapter 5 Today and Tomorrow enhances critical thinking.
DAV Class 6 English Literature Chapter 5 Question Answer – Today and Tomorrow
Pre-Reading Task
Question 1.
Have you ever been punished for not doing your homework? Yes/No.
Answer:
Yes, I have once been punished for not doing my homework on time.
Question 2.
Do you know anyone who is always regular in his/her work? Talk to him/her and find out the secret of his/her regularity.
Answer:
Yes, my friend Aryan is always regular in his work. He never likes to leave his work for tomorrow. He always completes his work as soon as he gets it.
Question 3.
If you are half asleep and your mother tells you to pack your bag before sleeping, will you
(i) get up and pack it immediately?
(ii) tell her to wait for 10 minutes?
(iii) tell her that you will pack it in the morning?
Answer:
I will immediately get up and pack it at once.
I. Understanding the Poem
A. The poem ‘Today and Tomorrow’ highlights the importance of time. Can you find some famous proverbs based on the same idea? One has been given below:
Answer:
- Time and tide wait for none.
- Time is precious.
- Time is wealth.
- A stitch in time saves nine.
- There is no time like the present.
B. Answer the following questions briefly:
Question 1.
What sort of man does the poet like?
Answer:
The poet likes those who do their work immediately and don’t leave anything for tomorrow.
Question 2.
How can we command the present?
Answer:
We can command the present only if we act immediately and never wait for tomorrow. In this way we can have full control over the situation.
Question 3.
What happens if we throw the hours away?
Answer:
If we throw the hours away, it might be possible that we may never be able to complete our task on time. We have wasted our precious moments.
Question 4.
Why should we not put off the work/good deed till tomorrow?
Answer:
We should not put off the work/good deed till tomorrow because future is uncertain. Tomorrow the opportunity may be lost, or may be taken over by someone else.
Question 5.
Find out the four pairs of rhyme words in the poem.
Answer:
- wait-late
- when-then
- tell-well
- today-away
Question 6.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Answer:
The rhyming scheme of the poem is abcb.
II. HOTS
Yesterday is dead, tomorrow is unborn but today is a gift. That’s why it is called ‘present’. How can you make one’s present a gift?
Answer:
Well, it’s said that the water which has flown under the bridge can never come back. Similarly, the time which has gone by will never come back. So, there is no use lamenting over the mistakes of the past. Also, worrying unnecessarily for the future will also not bring any positive results. We don’t know what is going to happen in the next moment. So, how can we predict what is going to happen tomorrow. So, it is best to worry only for today and to utilize the time in hand. It’s best to finish your work and never to leave anything for tomorrow.
III. Life Skill
Kushal has the habit of procrastination. He gets scolded by his parents and almost all the teachers for being so disorganised. What suggestions can you give him to manage his time?
Answer:
Procrastination means the habit of delaying the work. It is only a wastage of time. We should never waste time because time waits for none. ‘Present’ is the best gift God has given to mankind. So, it is best to utilise it to the maximum. If you develop this habit of putting today’s work on tomorrow, it will only spoil your future.
IV. Values
What according to you is the best way of spending time out of the given options?
(a) grooming yourself
(b) gaining knowledge
(c) entertaining yourself
(d) teaching someone
(e) helping the needy
Answer:
(b) Gaining Knowledge is the best way to spend one’s time.
V. Writing Skills
A. Write a letter to your brother living in a hostel to maintain a balance between playing games and studying so as to make the most productive use of his time.
Answer:
H.No. 36
Model Town
Delhi
10 August, 20XX
Dear Kunal,
I hope this letter of mine finds you in best of health and high spirits.
Kunal, yesterday only I came to know from your friend that you hardly take interest in sports and games. In your hostel also, you keep on studying in all your free time. Dear brother, you should not forget that games are also an integral part of our education. ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,’ I am sure you have heard this proverb. Well, it true: Games and Sports not only keep us fit in body, mind and spirit but they are necessary for developing values like Team Spirit, taking failures in our stride, etc. as well so, strike a balance between education, studies and games and at least play for one hour daily.
Yours lovingly
Sumesh
B. Write a short story to illustrate the proverb:
‘A stitch in time saves nine.’
Answer:
Once upon a time there was a farmer. He had to go to a cattle fair to sell his sheep. He got a good price for them. On his way back he found that one nail from his horse’s shoe was loose. But he was in a hurry to get back. He ignored all the advice given by his well wishers and started back home. After some time he found that the whole shoe had come off. Still he continued with his journey. Then, after walking some more kilometres he found that his horse was limping very badly. Still, he continued. By the time he reached home, the horse was in pain.
The vet also couldn’t do anything now. He had to cut off his leg as the infection had spread. Had he paid heed to the advice of his well wishers in the beginning and got the shoe repaired, his horse wouldn’t have lost a leg.
DAV Class 6 English Literature Chapter 5 Solutions – Today and Tomorrow
I. Reference to context:
Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow:
I. That when a good deed’s to be done,
“Let’s do the deed today.”
Question 1.
What do you mean by a good deed?
Answer:
A good deed means the creative work.
Question 2.
Name the poem from which these lines have been taken?
Answer:
The poem is Today and Tomorrow’.
Question 3.
Why should a good deed be done today?
Answer:
A good deed should be done today. We must not leave it for tomorrow because future is uncertain.
II. We may all command the present,
If we act and never wait,
But repentance is the phantom Of a past that comes too late!
Question 1.
Explain the last two lines of the extract.
Answer:
If we have not done a good deed when we got the opportunity, then we all will repent but repentance comes too late. Time has gone by to do the deed.
Question 2.
How can we command the present?
Answer:
We can command the present only by completing our work immediately.
Question 3.
What makes us repent?
Answer:
We have to repent on our habit of putting off the work for tomorrow.
III. Every moment has its duty,
Who the future can foretell?
Then why put off till tomorrow What today can do as well?
Question 1.
Name the poem and the poet.
Answer:
The poem is Today and Tomorrow’ and the poet is J.E. Carpenter.
Question 2.
What does the poet mean by the first line?
Answer:
The poet wants to tell that every moment is important.
Question 3.
Explain Who the future can foretell?’
Answer:
Future is uncertain. So nobody can tell about the next moment.
II. Answer the following questions briefly:
Question 1.
What do you mean by importance of time?
Answer:
Time is priceless. So it must be used with care. Time does not wait for anyone. If we have not done a good deed when we got the opportunity, then we all repent but repentance comes too late. Time has gone by to do the good deed.
Question 2.
Why should we not depend on future?
Answer:
Future is uncertain. Nobody knows about the next moment. So we must think for making our present beautiful.
Question 3.
What is the secret of success?
Answer:
One must be regular and do one’s work on time. Nothing should be left for tomorrow.
Question 4.
Who always repents?
Answer:
Those who do not care for the time and always put off their work for tomorrow have to repent because tomorrow never comes.
Question 5.
The poet J.E. Carpenter says
“…Then why put off till tomorrow
What today can do as well?”
Do you put off your work till tomorrow? Think of some things that you could have done yesterday but you haven’t done till this day. Discuss with your partner.
Answer:
Yes, sometimes I put off my work till tomorrow. I often put off cleaning of my room for tomorrow. Sometimes I do not complete my homework on time and leave for tomorrow. But it is really bad. We must do our work on time.
Question 6.
Explain the following extract:
“But repentance is the phantom
of a past that comes too late!”
Answer:
The poet says that we may command our present if we do our work immediately. If we leave things for tomorrow we have to repent and repentance is the phantom of past that comes too late.
Today and Tomorrow Summary in English
In this poem, the poet tells us to do everything today and not to leave the things for tomorrow. The poet advocates that we should do all the good things today when the opportunity arises because tomorrow never comes. He says that we can have full command over our present if we do our work timely. By leaving things for tomorrow we have to repent always and this repentance comes by when the time to do good deed has gone. Time never waits for anyone. Then, we can only lament over the past. He says that we have much to do for today then why to postpone it for tomorrow. He says that one never knows what the future has in store for us. So one should be regular and do one’s work on time to be a successful person in life.
Today and Tomorrow Summary in Hindi
इस कविता में कवि हमें समय का महत्व बताते हुए कहता है कि हमें आज का काम कल पर कभी नहीं छोड़ना चाहिए। हमें अपने सभी अच्छे काम आज ही खत्म करने चाहिए। क्योंकि कल कभी नहीं आता है। उनका कहना है कि वर्तमान तभी हमारा होगा जब हम अपना काम समय से पूरा करेंगें। यदि हम अपना कार्य कल पर छोड़ते हैं तो हमें हमेशा पछताना पड़ेगा, क्योंकि पश्चाताप बीते हुए समय का भूत होता है जो देर से आता है। समय किसी का इंतज़ार नहीं करता। फिर सिर्फ हम अपने भूत पर विलाप कर सकते हैं वह कहता है कि अगर हमारे सामने बहुत कुछ आज करने को है तो हमें अपने कामों को कल पर नहीं टालना चाहिए। कवि कहता है कि कोई भी अपने भविष्य के बारे में नहीं जानता। इसलिए एक सफल व्यक्ति बनने के लिए हमें अपना काम समय से करने की आदत डालनी चाहिए।
- Deed – something done – कार्य;
- Accomplish – to succeed in doing something difficult – कठिन कार्य को करने में सफल होना;
- Foretell – to predict – भविष्य बताना;
- Phantom – ghost – भूत-प्रेत;
- Put off – to postpone – स्थगित करना