The Frog and the Nightingale
1. What did the frog do all night?
The frog croaked every night from dusk to dawn.
2. How did the other creatures react to his voice?
The other creatures hated the fog’s voice. They threw stones, sticks
and bricks at him, begged him to stop singing, insulted him and
complained about him, but all in vain.
3. Find a word from the poem which the poet has made up?
‘awn’ The poet has done so to create a rhyme scheme with dawn.
4. Explain: ‘crass cacophony.
5. The phrase means very loud and unpleasant noise.
6. What features of the frog’s personality are brought out in the first
stanza of the poem?
The frog was thick-skinned and impervious to insults. He was
determined and stubborn.
7. Explain the phrase: ‘whole admiring bog’
All the creatures of the Bog were struck with admiration for the
nightingale’s melodious song.
8. How did the frog react to the nightingale’s song?
The frog was dumbstruck by the beauty of her voice.
9. Who was the solitary loon? How was his behaviour different from that
Loons are water birds. The single loon came to listen to the
nightingale’s song. The sweetness of her voice stirred something within
him. He was so overcome by emotion that he wept.
10. How do you know that the nightingale’s song was a sensation?
The creatures of the Bog heard her voice and swam towards her.
They listened to her song, enraptured and encouraged her to sing the
11. What can you conclude about the nightingale’s personality from the
information in this stanza?
The nightingale could easily be influenced by others. Appreciation
and criticism alike could get her to follow what others asked her to
12. How did the nightingale make the public happier?
By singing sharper stronger and quicker.
13. ‘We must aim for better billings, you still owe me sixty shillings’
These lines reveal the frog to be greedy and money-minded/ a miser.
Answer the following questions briefly.
1.‘Other creatures loathed his voice,
But, alas, they had no choice,
And the crass cacophony
Blared out from the sumac tree
At whose foot the frog each night
Minstrelled on till morning night’
a. Why had ‘they’ no choice?
The frog would go on singing continuously without caring for others.
b. Why did other creatures loathe his voice?
... because he sang loudly, constantly and unpleasantly.
c. Find a word from the passage which means ‘hated’
loathed.
2. ‘And the whole admiring bog
Stared towards the sumac, rapt,
And, when she had ended, clapped,
Ducks had swum and herons waded
To her as she serenaded’
a. Where did the whole admiring bog stare?
They stared towards the sumac tree.
b. When did they clap?
They clapped when the nightingale ended her melodious song.
c. Find a word from the passage which means ‘walked through water’?
waded.
3. "Oh! " the nightingale confessed.
Greatly flattered and impressed
That a critic of such note
Had discussed her art and throat:
"I don't think the song's divine.
But - oh, well - at least it's mine".
a. How did the nightingale take the frog’s critical comments?
She felt flattered and impressed.
b. What did the Nightingale think of the frog?
She thought of him to be a great critic of art and music.
c. Find the synonym of the word ‘agreed/accepted’
confessed
4. “Bravo!” “Too divine!” “Encore!”
so the nightingale once more,
quite unused to such applause,
sang till dawn without a pause.
a. Why was the nightingale unused to applause?
The nightingale had never sang before an appreciative audience
such as the one in Bingle Bog.
b. Why did she sing without a pause?
She got so carried away with the praise and applause of her
audience that she sang without taking a break till it was dawn.
c. What does the word ‘encore’ mean?
The word ‘encore’ means sing some more.
5. ‘Did you like my song?
‘Not too bad ...but far too long.
the techniques was fine of course
But it lacked a certain force”
a. What do you think is the real message conveyed by the poet in the
dialogue given here?
The poet wants to show how rough, coarse and incompetent people
rule the competent skilful and intelligent ones.
b. Why is the frog not justified in reviewing the song of the nightingale?
The frog has no talent for singing and therefore cannot review the
nightingale’s song.
c. How does the nightingale react to the frog’s claim of being a music
critic?
The nightingale was very impressed with the frog’s boast and she
flattered that an artist and a critic of great fame had heard her.
B. Answer the following questions briefly.
a. Which are the different ways in which the frog asserts his importance?
The frog knows that the nightingale is naive, timid and lacks self- esteem. He becomes
her self-styled guide and teacher. He makes money by showcasing her talent to the
admiring creatures of the bog. He charges her a fee for the lessons in singing. He asserts
himself to be the owner of the sumac tree.
b. Why is the frog’s joy both sweet and bitter?
The frog exploited the nightingale’s talent to his advantage. He sold
her songs for silver. He was filled with joy when he saw ladies of status
and wealth coming to hear the nightingale’s song. But he was also
bitter as he was jealous of the appreciation and attention she
received from the creatures of the bog.
c. Why was the frog angry?
The frog was angry when he realised that the nightingale was no
longer a source of income for him. He couldn’t sell her songs like
before since her tired and uninspired voice did not attract the
creatures of Bingle Bog. He was even more enraged when The frog
tried to push her into changing her style and practising with more
gusto but nothing seemed to improve the earnings.
d. How did the frog become the unrivalled king of the bog again?
The frog’s loathsome singing could not be curbed inspite of threats
insults and pleading from the creatures of the bog. The nightingale
attracted the ‘whole admiring bog’ with her melodious singing. The
cruel and scheming frog tired the nightingale to death by forcing her
to sing without a moment of rest. After her death the frog remained
the unrivalled king of the bog again.
C. Long Answers
a. Bring out the irony in the frog’s statement: ‘Your song must be your
own.’
The frog’s statement ‘Your song must be your own’ is quite ironical.
The frog who charged the nightingale for being stupid and ‘too prone
to influence’ says these words. It was the frog who ruined her natural
potential for singing by claiming to be a critic and appointing himself
her trainer. He then went on to exploit her by telling her that her
singing needed some improvement. He made her practise till she
was tired and her uninspired voice could not attract an audience.
When she died he charged her for not being an inspired singer.
b. Do you think the end is justified?
The end seems tragic but is justified. Those who do not have self- esteem and confidence
in their own talent generally meet the same fate as the nightingale did. The timid and servile bird
allowed herself selfishness. Not only did she ruin her voice but also brought an end to
herself.
c. Do you agree with the frog’s inference of the Nightingale’s
character?
The words of the frog may sound quite ironical but they are
unfortunately true. He refers to her as a ‘stupid’ and ‘brainless bird’
which she really was. He calls her ‘far too nervous and tense’. This
extremely talented bird lacked self-confidence and an ability to
assert herself. She was foolish enough to consider that the frog was
Mozart and ask for his guidance. She had no mind of her own. She
listened to what the frog told her without analysing and checking
facts for herself. Sadly, she was very easily influenced by a foghorn of
a frog who exploited her and finally led her to her death.
d. Draw a character sketch of the nightingale.
As against the frog, the nightingale is a simple-hearted and
unsuspecting creature. She is a symbol of innocence and symbolises
all innocent and simple-hearted people. She personifies real human
qualities and has no ill-will against anybody. Moreover, she doesn’t
suspect anyone of evil. She is naive enough to respect all and think
that everyone around her is just like her. That is why she is easily
deceived by the sly and wily frog. The frog’s villainous traits are
masked by his keenness to help train her. The nightingale has no self- confidence
so she gives in and follows his commands. In the name of training the frog tires
her out. She finally dies like a martyr to the cause of humanism.
1. What did the frog do all night?
The frog croaked every night from dusk to dawn.
2. How did the other creatures react to his voice?
The other creatures hated the fog’s voice. They threw stones, sticks
and bricks at him, begged him to stop singing, insulted him and
complained about him, but all in vain.
3. Find a word from the poem which the poet has made up?
‘awn’ The poet has done so to create a rhyme scheme with dawn.
4. Explain: ‘crass cacophony.
5. The phrase means very loud and unpleasant noise.
6. What features of the frog’s personality are brought out in the first
stanza of the poem?
The frog was thick-skinned and impervious to insults. He was
determined and stubborn.
7. Explain the phrase: ‘whole admiring bog’
All the creatures of the Bog were struck with admiration for the
nightingale’s melodious song.
8. How did the frog react to the nightingale’s song?
The frog was dumbstruck by the beauty of her voice.
9. Who was the solitary loon? How was his behaviour different from that
Loons are water birds. The single loon came to listen to the
nightingale’s song. The sweetness of her voice stirred something within
him. He was so overcome by emotion that he wept.
10. How do you know that the nightingale’s song was a sensation?
The creatures of the Bog heard her voice and swam towards her.
They listened to her song, enraptured and encouraged her to sing the
11. What can you conclude about the nightingale’s personality from the
information in this stanza?
The nightingale could easily be influenced by others. Appreciation
and criticism alike could get her to follow what others asked her to
12. How did the nightingale make the public happier?
By singing sharper stronger and quicker.
13. ‘We must aim for better billings, you still owe me sixty shillings’
These lines reveal the frog to be greedy and money-minded/ a miser.
Answer the following questions briefly.
1.‘Other creatures loathed his voice,
But, alas, they had no choice,
And the crass cacophony
Blared out from the sumac tree
At whose foot the frog each night
Minstrelled on till morning night’
a. Why had ‘they’ no choice?
The frog would go on singing continuously without caring for others.
b. Why did other creatures loathe his voice?
... because he sang loudly, constantly and unpleasantly.
c. Find a word from the passage which means ‘hated’
loathed.
2. ‘And the whole admiring bog
Stared towards the sumac, rapt,
And, when she had ended, clapped,
Ducks had swum and herons waded
To her as she serenaded’
a. Where did the whole admiring bog stare?
They stared towards the sumac tree.
b. When did they clap?
They clapped when the nightingale ended her melodious song.
c. Find a word from the passage which means ‘walked through water’?
waded.
3. "Oh! " the nightingale confessed.
Greatly flattered and impressed
That a critic of such note
Had discussed her art and throat:
"I don't think the song's divine.
But - oh, well - at least it's mine".
a. How did the nightingale take the frog’s critical comments?
She felt flattered and impressed.
b. What did the Nightingale think of the frog?
She thought of him to be a great critic of art and music.
c. Find the synonym of the word ‘agreed/accepted’
confessed
4. “Bravo!” “Too divine!” “Encore!”
so the nightingale once more,
quite unused to such applause,
sang till dawn without a pause.
a. Why was the nightingale unused to applause?
The nightingale had never sang before an appreciative audience
such as the one in Bingle Bog.
b. Why did she sing without a pause?
She got so carried away with the praise and applause of her
audience that she sang without taking a break till it was dawn.
c. What does the word ‘encore’ mean?
The word ‘encore’ means sing some more.
5. ‘Did you like my song?
‘Not too bad ...but far too long.
the techniques was fine of course
But it lacked a certain force”
a. What do you think is the real message conveyed by the poet in the
dialogue given here?
The poet wants to show how rough, coarse and incompetent people
rule the competent skilful and intelligent ones.
b. Why is the frog not justified in reviewing the song of the nightingale?
The frog has no talent for singing and therefore cannot review the
nightingale’s song.
c. How does the nightingale react to the frog’s claim of being a music
critic?
The nightingale was very impressed with the frog’s boast and she
flattered that an artist and a critic of great fame had heard her.
B. Answer the following questions briefly.
a. Which are the different ways in which the frog asserts his importance?
The frog knows that the nightingale is naive, timid and lacks self- esteem. He becomes
her self-styled guide and teacher. He makes money by showcasing her talent to the
admiring creatures of the bog. He charges her a fee for the lessons in singing. He asserts
himself to be the owner of the sumac tree.
b. Why is the frog’s joy both sweet and bitter?
The frog exploited the nightingale’s talent to his advantage. He sold
her songs for silver. He was filled with joy when he saw ladies of status
and wealth coming to hear the nightingale’s song. But he was also
bitter as he was jealous of the appreciation and attention she
received from the creatures of the bog.
c. Why was the frog angry?
The frog was angry when he realised that the nightingale was no
longer a source of income for him. He couldn’t sell her songs like
before since her tired and uninspired voice did not attract the
creatures of Bingle Bog. He was even more enraged when The frog
tried to push her into changing her style and practising with more
gusto but nothing seemed to improve the earnings.
d. How did the frog become the unrivalled king of the bog again?
The frog’s loathsome singing could not be curbed inspite of threats
insults and pleading from the creatures of the bog. The nightingale
attracted the ‘whole admiring bog’ with her melodious singing. The
cruel and scheming frog tired the nightingale to death by forcing her
to sing without a moment of rest. After her death the frog remained
the unrivalled king of the bog again.
C. Long Answers
a. Bring out the irony in the frog’s statement: ‘Your song must be your
own.’
The frog’s statement ‘Your song must be your own’ is quite ironical.
The frog who charged the nightingale for being stupid and ‘too prone
to influence’ says these words. It was the frog who ruined her natural
potential for singing by claiming to be a critic and appointing himself
her trainer. He then went on to exploit her by telling her that her
singing needed some improvement. He made her practise till she
was tired and her uninspired voice could not attract an audience.
When she died he charged her for not being an inspired singer.
b. Do you think the end is justified?
The end seems tragic but is justified. Those who do not have self- esteem and confidence
in their own talent generally meet the same fate as the nightingale did. The timid and servile bird
allowed herself selfishness. Not only did she ruin her voice but also brought an end to
herself.
c. Do you agree with the frog’s inference of the Nightingale’s
character?
The words of the frog may sound quite ironical but they are
unfortunately true. He refers to her as a ‘stupid’ and ‘brainless bird’
which she really was. He calls her ‘far too nervous and tense’. This
extremely talented bird lacked self-confidence and an ability to
assert herself. She was foolish enough to consider that the frog was
Mozart and ask for his guidance. She had no mind of her own. She
listened to what the frog told her without analysing and checking
facts for herself. Sadly, she was very easily influenced by a foghorn of
a frog who exploited her and finally led her to her death.
d. Draw a character sketch of the nightingale.
As against the frog, the nightingale is a simple-hearted and
unsuspecting creature. She is a symbol of innocence and symbolises
all innocent and simple-hearted people. She personifies real human
qualities and has no ill-will against anybody. Moreover, she doesn’t
suspect anyone of evil. She is naive enough to respect all and think
that everyone around her is just like her. That is why she is easily
deceived by the sly and wily frog. The frog’s villainous traits are
masked by his keenness to help train her. The nightingale has no self- confidence
so she gives in and follows his commands. In the name of training the frog tires
her out. She finally dies like a martyr to the cause of humanism.
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