Fable Poem - Summary, Explanation, Meanings, Questions and Answers

Fable Poem – Summary, Explanation, Meanings, Questions and Answers

Table of Contents

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s introduction

Ralph Waldo Emerson (25 May 1803 – 27 April 1882) was primarily known by his middle name Waldo. He was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet. His famous poems were “Concord Hymn” and “Brahma”.

The Mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel.
And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig’.
Bun replied,
‘You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together,
To make up a year
And a sphere.
If I’m not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.
I’ll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut,’

The theme of the poem

The main theme of the poem is that everyone has their own unique role to play in the world, regardless of their size or strength. The mountain may be big and strong, but it cannot crack a nut. The squirrel may be small and weak, but it can climb trees and gather food. Both creatures are important in their own way, and they both contribute to the balance of nature.

Explanation

It is an adaptation of the poem “The Mountain and The Squirrel”. This portion of the poem is called Fable. The poem is about a quarrel between a mountain and a squirrel. The mountain insults the squirrel by calling it a “little prig.” In response, the squirrel defends himself by saying that you are doubtlessly very big but both the mountain and the squirrel have their own roles and significance in the world.

The squirrel also pointing that various elements like different types of weather and circumstances come together to create a complete year and a spherical world.

The squirrel asserts that he is not ashamed of his small size and that his role is not a disgrace in the world. He also points out that he was not as large as the mountain but the mountain was not as small as he was.

The squirrel believes that talents and abilities vary and that everything in the world has been well and wisely designed.

Just like the squirrel cannot carry forests on its back, the mountain cannot crack a nut. This fable teaches that each entity in nature has its unique role and value, and no one should be underestimated or considered less important based solely on appearance or size.

Summary

The mountain is quick to call the squirrel a “little prig,” but the squirrel can calmly and respectfully defend himself.
He points out that the mountain is not as small as the squirrel, and that he is not as spry.
He also says that they both have different talents and that both of their talents are important.
The poem ends with the message that “talent differs, all is well and wisely put.” This means that everyone is different and that our differences are what make us special.
We should celebrate our differences, and we should not try to be someone we are not.

Word meaning

Word	English Meaning	Hindi Meaning
Former	denoting the first or first mention of two people or things.	भूतपूर्व
Prig	One who puts on an appearance of being morally correct	घमण्डी
Bun	Squirrel	गिलहरी
Replied	To say	कहा
Doubtless	Almost certainly	निस्संदेह
Sorts	Types, ways	प्रकार
Things	Stuff	चीज़ें
Weather	Season, Climate	मौसम
Taken	Took	ले लिया
Together	With, together	साथ-साथ
Sphere	Area, field	गोला
Think	Peruse, guess	सोचना
Disgrace	Insult, offense	अपमान
Occupy	Capture	कब्जा
Half	Half, halves	आधा
Spry	Full of life and energy
Deny	Refuse	नकारना
Make	Create	बनाना
Pretty	Beautiful	सुंदर
Squirrel	Squirrel	गिलहरी
Track	Track	ट्रैक, पर नज़र रखने
Talent	Genius	प्रतिभा
Differ	Different, separate	भिन्न होना
Well	Good	अच्छा
Wisely	Prudently	बुद्धिमानी
Carry	Moving, taking	ले जाना
Forest	Jungle, wilderness	जंगल
Neither	Not	भी नहीं
Crack	Rift	दरार
Nut	Nut	अखरोट
Conversation	interaction	बातचीत
Between	Between, among	के बीच
Individual	Person, personalised	व्यक्ति, वैयक्तिक
Existence	Existent	अस्तित्व
Reason	Cause, due	कारण

Comprehension exercises

1. choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

a) The quarrel was between the mountain and the

i) rabbit
ii) rat
iii) cat
iv) squirrel

Ans: iv) squirrel

b) Bun does not doubt that the mountain is

i) small
ii) big
iii) noble
iv) kind

Ans: ii) big

c) Unlike a mountain, a squirrel can crack a

i) nut
ii) joke
iii) stone
iv) lock

Ans: i) nut

2. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer:

(a) The mountain called the squirrel “Little Bun”. – False

Supporting statement: And the former called the letter “little prig”.

(b) The squirrel is sprier than the mountain. – True

Supporting statement: “And not half so spray”.

Supporting statement: “If I cannot carry forests on my back, neither can you crack a nut”.

3. Answer the following questions:

a) Who had a quarrel with the squirrel?
Ans: The mountain had a quarrel with the squirrel.

b) What is not a disgrace to the squirrel?
Ans: It is not a disgrace to the squirrel to occupy a small space in the world.

c) What is it that the squirrel doesn’t deny?
Ans: The squirrel does not deny that the mountain makes a very pretty squirrel track.

Grammar in use

4. Replace the underlined words with suitable phrasal verbs from the list given below. Change the form of verbs where necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list:

a) Rabi met his friend in the park.
Ans: Rabi came across his friend in the park.

b) Tanushree cannot tolerate cruel behaviour to animals.
Ans: Tanushree cannot put up with cruel behaviour to animals.

c) His proposal was rejected.
Ans: His proposal was turned down.

List: a) turn down b) come over c) put up with d) come across

5. Change the voice of the following sentences:

a) Lock the door.
Ans: Let the door be locked.

b) Ashim knows the solution to this problem.
Ans: The solution to this problem is known to Ashim.

c) I had written a letter.
Ans: A letter had been written by me.