Fable by Ralph Waldo Emerson | Madhyamik English Question and Answer
Fable by Ralph Waldo Emerson is an important poem for WBBSE Class 10 English. The poem presents a conversation between a mountain and a squirrel. Their argument about size and importance leads to a broader lesson about the value of different abilities.
The squirrel accepts that the mountain is large and can perform things that a small creature cannot. At the same time, the squirrel points out that it also has abilities of its own. The poem therefore emphasizes that every creature has a distinct role and talent. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Fable – Madhyamik English Question and Answer
The questions below are arranged around the comprehension and question-answer areas presented for the poem. The focus is on the Mountain, the Squirrel, their argument, their different abilities and the central message of the poem. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Fable – MCQ Questions and Answers
1. The Mountain calls the Squirrel —
(A) Little Dog (B) Little Cat (C) Little Prig (D) Little Rat2. The Mountain is unable to crack a —
(A) Lock (B) Nut (C) Stone (D) Shell3. What can the Mountain carry on its back?
(A) A river (B) A house (C) Forests (D) A village4. Which creature is described as more spry?
(A) The Mountain (B) The Squirrel (C) Both (D) Neither5. What can the Squirrel do?
(A) Carry forests (B) Crack a nut (C) Change the weather (D) Stop the river6. The poem mainly presents a conversation between —
(A) Two people (B) A bird and a tree (C) The Mountain and the Squirrel (D) The poet and nature7. The word “former” refers to —
(A) The Squirrel (B) The Mountain (C) The Nut (D) The ForestFable – True or False with Supporting Statements
1. The Squirrel is more spry than the Mountain.
Answer: True.
2. The Mountain calls the Squirrel “Little Bun.”
Answer: False.
3. The Mountain can carry forests on its back.
Answer: True.
4. The Mountain is as spry as the Squirrel.
Answer: False.
5. Talents are the same in every creature.
Answer: False.
Fable – Short Questions and Answers
1. What is it that the Squirrel does not deny?
Answer: The Squirrel does not deny that the Mountain can make a pretty squirrel track.
2. What is not a disgrace to the Squirrel?
Answer: Being small and occupying its own place as a small creature is not a disgrace to the Squirrel.
3. Who calls the Squirrel “Little Prig”?
Answer: The Mountain calls the Squirrel “Little Prig.”
4. Why does the Mountain call the Squirrel “Little Prig”?
Answer: The Mountain calls the Squirrel “Little Prig” because it considers the Squirrel small in size.
5. What can the Mountain carry?
Answer: The Mountain can carry forests on its back.
6. What can the Squirrel do?
Answer: The Squirrel can crack a nut and move with greater agility than the Mountain.
7. What must be taken together to make a year?
Answer: All sorts of things and weather must be taken together to make a year.
8. What does the phrase “Talents differ” suggest?
Answer: It suggests that different beings possess different abilities, and each ability has its own value.
Fable – Important Questions and Answers
1. What lesson do we learn from the poem Fable?
Answer: The poem teaches that every creature, whether large or small, has its own special qualities and useful abilities. A person or creature should not be judged only by size. Different talents have different purposes, and all of them contribute to the balance of the world.
2. How does the Squirrel defend itself against the Mountain?
Answer: The Squirrel accepts that the Mountain is large and can perform certain great tasks. However, it points out that the Mountain cannot crack a nut and is not as agile as the Squirrel. Therefore, the Squirrel proves that being smaller does not make it inferior.
3. Why does the Squirrel say that “all is well and wisely put”?
Answer: The Squirrel says this because every creature has been given a different role and different abilities. Their differences are necessary, and each one has a useful place in the natural order.
4. How does the poem show the importance of individuality?
Answer: The poem shows that the Mountain and the Squirrel are useful in different ways. The Mountain represents strength and great size, while the Squirrel represents agility and skill. Their differences make both of them valuable.
5. Why is the Squirrel not ashamed of being small?
Answer: The Squirrel is not ashamed because it recognizes that size is not the only measure of usefulness. Although it is small, it has its own abilities and can perform tasks that the Mountain cannot.
Mountain and Squirrel – Comparison
| Point | Mountain | Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Very large | Very small |
| Main Strength | Can carry forests | Can crack a nut |
| Movement | Not spry | Very spry |
| Role | Has its own important place | Has its own important place |
| Lesson | Different abilities make different creatures valuable. | |
Fable – Central Idea and Message
The central idea of Fable is that size alone does not determine importance. The Mountain may be enormous, but it cannot do everything. The Squirrel may be tiny, but it has abilities that the Mountain does not possess.
Through the dialogue between the two characters, Emerson presents a simple but meaningful idea: differences in ability are natural and necessary. Instead of comparing everyone by the same standard, we should recognize the value of each individual talent. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
The most important message of the poem is that “Talents differ”. Every creature has a distinct ability, and the world becomes complete because different beings perform different functions.
Fable – Important Points for Revision
- The poem is a dialogue between the Mountain and the Squirrel.
- The Mountain calls the Squirrel “Little Prig.”
- The Squirrel accepts that the Mountain is large.
- The Mountain can carry forests on its back.
- The Squirrel can crack a nut.
- The Squirrel is described as more spry than the Mountain.
- All sorts of things and weather are needed to make a year.
- The poem emphasizes that talents differ from being to being.
- Small size is not a disgrace.
- Every creature has a distinct and useful role.
Fable – Quick Revision Table
| Question Area | Quick Answer |
|---|---|
| Poet | Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| Main Characters | The Mountain and the Squirrel |
| Mountain’s name for Squirrel | Little Prig |
| Mountain’s ability | Can carry forests |
| Squirrel’s ability | Can crack a nut |
| More spry | The Squirrel |
| Central message | Different talents have different values |
| Important idea | “Talents differ” |
How to Prepare Fable for Madhyamik English
For examination preparation, first read the complete poem carefully. Then understand the dialogue between the Mountain and the Squirrel. After that, revise the important statements, question-answer patterns and the central message of the poem.
Read the poem → understand the Mountain-Squirrel dialogue → revise key lines → practise MCQs → prepare short answers → revise the central message → practise descriptive questions.
Conclusion
Fable by Ralph Waldo Emerson is a simple but meaningful poem about the importance of different talents. The conversation between the Mountain and the Squirrel shows that a larger size does not make one creature superior in every respect.
For WBBSE Class 10 preparation, students should pay special attention to the Mountain’s and Squirrel’s abilities, the expression “Little Prig,” the idea that the Squirrel is more spry, and the central message that every being has its own useful talent. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
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