7th English Poem – 7
Work is Worship
Glossary :
admonish : advise severely.
holy mantle : covering worn for religious worship.
deliverance : it is the state in which you feel you are saved from bad conditions.
tattered : torn .
toil : hard work.
B. Reading, Speaking and Writing
Take turns with your partner to ask or answer these questions. Explain to him/her why you think your answer is correct. Quote from the text if necessary. Write down your answers.
Underline the word/words that complete these sentences.
- In this poem, the poet is addressing you/the reader/ the worker/the worshipper.
Answer: In this poem, the poet is addressing you/the reader/ the worker/the worshipper.
- The poet sounds angry/irritated/impatient.
Answer: The poet sounds angry/irritated/impatient.
- The poet is ordering /admonishing/ advising the worshipper.
Answer: The poet is ordering /admonishing/ advising the worshipper.
- The poet is asking the worshipper five questions/ four questions/three questions. (scan the poem to find out)
Answer: The poet is asking the worshipper five questions/ four questions/three questions.
- The poet does not know the answers/ thinks the worshipper knows the answers/ wants to make the worshipper think deeply.
Answer: The poet does not know the answers/ thinks the worshipper knows the answers/ wants to make the worshipper think deeply.
- The poet gives two examples/ three examples/ four examples of what pleases God.
Answer: The poet gives two examples/ three examples/ four examples of what pleases God.
- The poet does not tell the worshipper where to find God. (True/Not True)
Answer; Not True
- The worshipper does not tell the poet what he really wants. (True/Not True)
Answer: Not True
9. The worshipper tells the poet that he does not want _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
(Complete the sentence)
Answer: The worshipper tells the poet that he does not want to take rebirth. He worships God because for deliverance.
10. The Creator is happy when he has no work to do. (True/Not True)
Answer: Not True
11. Give your own examples of hard work that can please God.
Answer: Working hard in any profession, such as a sweeper, cook, officer, doctor, professor, lawyer. Helping elders, disabled people, and underprivileged children is appreciable and can please the god. In Mahabharatha, Arjuna did the same to won the heart of Krishna. In Ramayana Hanuman ji also done the hard work and worshiped Rama.
12. Give one or two examples of people who pleased God by their hard work.
Answer: Subhash Chandra Bose and Chathrapathi Shivaji are the two examples of people who pleased God by their hard work.
13. Do the last two lines talk about death? Discuss this point with your partner.
Answer: No. The last two lines do not talk about death. The last two lines says that all the worshipers have to see the god in their hard work.
C. Writing: Write a short summary of the poem.
A short summary of the poem:
‘Work is Worship’ poem was written by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941) is best known as a poet, and in 1913 was the first non-European writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Rabindranath Tagore was an Indian Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter.
‘Work is Worship’ refers to the importance and value of Work in our life. Worship alone can achieve nothing. Hard working is also important in our life. Work is Worship states the importance and values of Work in our life. Just the way we honour our Gods with full dedication and devotion, we must honour our work the same way. Work and worship are two different terms but are connected because it teaches us to worship our work as we worship God.
