a) The lines say the cricket was "accustomed to sing", so his routine was singing. b) The seasons mentioned are summer and spring.
a) The routine of the cricket was to sing regularly and continuously throughout the warm, sunny months of summer and spring. He spent his days singing and enjoying himself without any concern for the future or the need to work and prepare for harder times ahead. b) The seasons mentioned in these lines are summer and spring, both of which are warm and pleasant seasons when the cricket was carefree and occupied with singing.
a) The previous lines refer to the cricket; thus 'he' is the cricket. b) The cricket did not store food (did not save for winter), so there was nothing in his cupboard.
a) 'He' refers to the cricket, the main character of the poem who had spent the warm months singing instead of working. b) His cupboard was empty because the cricket had not saved any food during the warm months of summer and spring. Instead of working and storing food for the winter like the ant, the cricket had spent all his time singing and enjoying himself, leaving him unprepared when winter arrived and food became scarce.
a) 'Not a crumb to be found' means there was no food. b) Snow on the ground indicates the season is winter.
a) He couldn't find any crumbs (food) on the ground. b) The ground was covered with snow because it was winter.
a) 'By starvation and famine made bold' shows hunger forced him to act. b) 'All dripping with wet' indicates he was wet from rain/snow; 'trembling with cold' shows he was shivering in winter. Rhymes identified as above.
a) Starvation and extreme hunger made the cricket bold enough to seek help. b) He was dripping from wet weather (rain/snow melt) and trembling from the cold of winter. Rhyming words in the lines: bold / cold. More rhymes from the poem: sing / spring; found / ground; rain / grain; borrow / tomorrow; light / night / might / sight (examples).
Corrected OCR phrase 'To keep if' to intended meaning 'To beg if, to keep him alive, he would grant' (meaning he asked the ant to grant shelter and some grain). The cricket sought the ant's help; shelter and food would save him. Rhyme pattern: first two lines rhyme with each other, and the last two rhyme with each other (A A B B).
a) The cricket wanted to meet a miserly ant to ask for help and shelter. He went to the ant because he was desperate and had nowhere else to turn. The cricket hoped that the ant would take pity on him and provide him with the basic necessities to survive the harsh winter season. b) Shelter from rain and a mouthful of grain would keep him alive during the winter. These two things represent the basic needs for survival—protection from the elements and food to sustain life. The rhyme scheme employed in these lines is AABB, where 'ant' and 'grant' form the first rhyming couplet, and 'rain' and 'grain' form the second rhyming couplet.
a) The ant explains their habit of saving and not depending on others. b) In the story the ant speaks these words to refuse the cricket's request.
a) The ants neither borrow nor lend because they are self-reliant and believe in saving for themselves. Ants work hard throughout the year to accumulate their own stores and resources, and they do not believe in depending on others or helping those who have failed to prepare. The ant's philosophy reflects the principle that one should be responsible for one's own welfare and should not expect others to bail them out due to their own negligence or laziness. b) The ant says these lines to the cricket. The ant is responding to the cricket's desperate plea for help by firmly refusing to provide shelter or food, emphasizing that the cricket should have worked and saved during the summer months instead of singing.
The cricket admits he was joyful and spent his time singing when the weather was pleasant, showing a carefree temperament.
a) 'I' refers to the cricket. The cricket is speaking about itself and its carefree nature during the summer months. b) The cricket was light-hearted, carefree, and joyful in nature. We know this because the cricket explicitly states that its heart was so light that it sang day and night, and it found all of nature to be gay or cheerful. This reveals the cricket's pleasure-seeking and irresponsible attitude toward life, as it spent the entire warm season singing and dancing instead of preparing for the winter months ahead.
a) The ant cites the principle of not lending and the cricket's failure to save. b) 'Lifted the wicket' = opened the small gate/door and 'turned the poor little cricket' = expelled him outside.
a) The ant refused to help the cricket because ants follow a strict principle of never borrowing or lending. Additionally, the cricket had failed to save anything for the winter season when the weather was warm and favorable. The ant believed that the cricket should have worked and saved during the summer months instead of wasting time singing and dancing. The ant's refusal reflects its belief in self-reliance and the principle that one must prepare for difficult times through hard work and foresight. b) The second line means that the ant quickly and hastily lifted the wicket, which is the small gate or door of the ant's home, and turned the poor little cricket out of the house. The use of 'hastily' emphasizes the ant's abrupt and dismissive manner, showing its lack of sympathy for the cricket's plight. The cricket is described as 'poor' to highlight its miserable condition and the harshness of being expelled into the cold winter.
Identify the rhyme pair in the lines and provide additional rhyme pairs found elsewhere in the poem.
a) Rhyming words: borrow / tomorrow. b) Other examples: sing / spring; found / ground; bold / cold; rain / grain; light / night.
a) The cricket's heart was light, carefree, cheerful, and unburdened. The cricket possessed a pleasure-seeking and joyful nature that made it sing and dance throughout the summer season without any worry or concern for the future. This lightness of heart reflects the cricket's irresponsible and short-sighted attitude toward life, as it prioritized immediate enjoyment over practical preparation. b) The line 'You sang, Sir, you say?' is used ironically by the ant to remind the cricket of its foolish behavior and wasteful choices. By repeating this phrase as a question, the ant emphasizes the cricket's guilt and highlights the contrast between what the cricket did during the warm months and what it should have done. The ironic tone serves as a rebuke, making the cricket realize that singing and dancing were luxuries it could not afford when it should have been working and saving for the winter. This rhetorical device underscores the moral lesson that idleness and lack of foresight lead to suffering and hardship.
Reasoning: (1) story in the poem is about an ant and a cricket; (2) the central idea is saving for the future; (3) cricket sings and dances in summer; (4) he doesn't save for winter; (5) his kitchen cupboard is empty; (6)-(7) he asks the ant for a warm place and some grains; (8) ant says ants never borrow or lend; (9) cricket says he sang because of the pleasant nature; (10)-(11) poet says the story is not just a fable but applies to human beings.
Filled summary:
(1) an ant and a cricket
(2) saving for future
(3) sings and dances
(4) doesn't save
(5) kitchen cupboard
(6) warm place
(7) some grains
(8) never borrow or lend
(9) the pleasant nature
(10) just a fable
(11) human beings
Explaination: The poet notices physical or behavioural differences among crickets to remind readers that not all are alike. This contrast helps introduce the moral contrast between the industrious ant and the carefree cricket.
From the poet's point of view, the statement 'Some crickets have four legs and some have two' is a metaphorical expression that highlights the diversity and variety that exists among creatures and, by extension, among human beings. The poet uses this observation to suggest that despite physical or superficial differences, all creatures share common behavioral traits and face similar challenges in life. The line serves as an introduction to the moral theme of the poem, which is that regardless of outward differences, the principle of saving and preparing for the future applies universally. The poet implies that just as crickets may differ in appearance, people too differ in their habits, abilities, and circumstances, yet they all must learn the lesson of foresight and responsibility. This statement sets the stage for the narrative by acknowledging diversity while preparing readers to understand that the moral lesson about the importance of hard work and preparation for difficult times transcends these differences and is applicable to all creatures and all human beings.
The ant plans ahead, works steadily through summer to store food, values responsibility and self-reliance. The cricket spends the warm months singing and enjoying the present, neglecting preparation for winter. As a result, the ant is secure in hardship while the cricket faces hunger and must beg. In short: ant = industrious and provident; cricket = careless and impractical.
The ant and the cricket represent two contrasting attitudes toward life and responsibility. The ant is hardworking, industrious, and prudent, spending the warm summer months diligently gathering and storing food for the winter. It is future-oriented, disciplined, and believes in self-reliance and the principle of never borrowing or lending. The ant's approach ensures security and survival during harsh times. In contrast, the cricket is carefree, pleasure-seeking, and short-sighted, spending the entire summer singing and dancing without any concern for the future. The cricket is irresponsible and fails to prepare for winter despite having ample time and opportunity. However, both characters share a certain honesty and directness in their communication. The ant is stern but fair in its refusal, while the cricket is truthful about its past behavior. The fundamental difference lies in their values: the ant prioritizes survival and security through hard work, while the cricket prioritizes immediate pleasure and enjoyment. This contrast forms the core of the poem's moral lesson about the importance of foresight and responsibility.
Being like the ant means working consistently, planning for the future and being self-reliant—qualities that provide long-term security and dignity. While the cricket’s joy and spontaneity are admirable, without planning they lead to avoidable suffering. A balanced approach—enjoying life while preparing for the future—combines the best traits of both.
I would choose to be the ant because it embodies the virtues of responsibility, hard work, foresight, and independence that are essential for a secure and fulfilling life. The ant's approach of preparing during favorable times ensures that it can face difficult periods with confidence and self-reliance. By working diligently and saving for the future, the ant demonstrates wisdom and maturity in its approach to life. The ant's principle of not borrowing or lending reflects its belief in self-sufficiency and the importance of earning one's own sustenance through effort. While the cricket's carefree nature may seem appealing in the short term, it leads to suffering, desperation, and dependence on others during times of hardship. The ant's lifestyle, though it may require more effort and discipline, ultimately provides security, dignity, and peace of mind. Furthermore, the ant's values are universally applicable to human life, where planning for the future, working hard, and maintaining financial independence are crucial for success and well-being. The poem's moral lesson affirms that the ant's way of living is not just a fable but a practical truth that applies to all human beings, making the ant's character the more admirable and worthy choice.