1.1 A Teenager's Poem

1) The title of the poem is “A Teenager’s Prayer”.

2) The poet’s name is J. Morse.

3) The rhyme scheme is: abcb

4) Favourite Lines:

“Help, Lord, to just say “no”
When temptation comes my way.”

“That life is lived its very best
With you walking next to me”

5) Theme/Central Idea:
The central idea of the poem is a teenager’s desire to be able to take the right decisions that leads to success in life. The teenager requests the Lord to help guide him in his journey in life and stay with him as he has to take important decisions on a daily basis.

He simply wants to choose the right path that helps him keep his mind clean and avoid all temptations or roads that lead to distress. It is a beautiful poem that shows how a teenager wants to do the right thing and needs the Lord’s help to ensure he does not stray from his morals.

6) Figures of Speech: Apostrophe, Alliteration, Inversion, Metaphor.

7) Special features: This poem uses simple words along with the abcb rhyme scheme. There is use of metaphors to express the poet’s thoughts. This poem conveys a teenager’s inner feelings beautifully.

8) I like this poem as I can relate to its subject. It connects to my own hopes and desires to be successful in life and have my Lord alongside me all the way.

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1. Form Groups of 5 to 6 and discuss. Give a rating of 1 to 5 to each of the following.
When you have to make important decisions what do you generally do?
(a) Consult parents/elders [ ]
(b) Contact friends for advice [ ]
(c) Pray to God for guidance [ ]
(d) Think deeply in silence [ ]
(e) Ask your teacher for help [ ]
(f) Toss a coin to decide [ ]

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Question 1.
Form Groups of 5 to 6 and discuss. Give a rating of 1 to 5 to each of the following.
When you have to make important decisions what do you generally do?
(Answer is directly given in the box.)
(a) Consult parents/elders [b]
(b) Contact friends for advice [d]
(c) Pray to God for guidance [e]
(d) Think deeply in silence [a]
(e) Ask your teacher for help [c]
(f) Toss a coin to decide [f]
Note: Students may note their own rating after discussion.

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2. In poetry, very often, there are lines in which the poet seems to talk directly to an absent person, an abstract idea or thing/object.
Such a tactic/device used by the poet is the Figure of Speech ‘Apostrophe’.
For example,
Twinkle, twinkle little star …………
Death! Where is thy sting?
O Cave man! I wish I could live with you.
Now, complete the following, creating examples of Apostrophe of your own.
(a) O, Life! How ………………………………………………………………………..
(b) Dear God, Please ………………………………………………………………….
(c) Books! You are ……………………………………………………………………..
(d) Exams! I wish ………………………………………………………………………
(e) O, You beautiful sky ……………………………………………………………….

Question 1.
complete the following, creating examples of Apostrophe of your own.
(a) O, Life! How ………………………………………………………………………..
(b) Dear God, Please ………………………………………………………………….
(c) Books! You are ……………………………………………………………………..
(d) Exams! I wish ………………………………………………………………………
(e) O, You beautiful sky ……………………………………………………………….
Answer:
(a) O, Life! How Strange are your ways?
(b) Dear God, Please keep me calm in my difficult days.
(c) Books! You are my dear companions.
(d) Exams! I wish you were never there, never!
(e) O, you beautiful sky send all your beauty to the earth.

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English Workshop:

1. Choose the correct alternatives and complete the sentences :

Question 1.
Choose the correct alternatives and complete the sentences :
(a) According to the poet, …………. are brought by each new day. (new beginnings/new endings)
(b) We must decide to take the road which leads to ……………. . (great distress/great success)
(c) The poet prays to the Lord to help him stand for what is ………………. . (might! right)
(d) The poet wants to see that his teenage years have been the ………… years of his life. (worst/best)
Answer:
(a) According to the poet, new beginnings are brought by each new day. (new beginnings / new endings)
(b) We must decide to take the road which leads to great success. (great distress/great success)
(c) The poet prays to the Lord to help him stand for what is right. (might/right)
(d) The poet wants to see that his teenage years have been the best years of his life, (worst/ best)

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2. Find and write the pairs of rhyming words from the poem.
1. …………, 2. …………., 3. …………., 4. …………, 5. ……………

Question 1.
Find and write the pairs of rhyming words from the poem.
Answer:
1. make – take
2. success – distress
3. see – me
4. way – day

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3. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? Choose the correct one from the following options.
(i) aabb (ii) abcd (iii) abcb (iv) abba

Question 1.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? Choose the correct one from the following options.
(i) aabb (ii) abed (iii) abeb (iv) abba
Answer:
(iii) abeb.

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4. Match the lines in Column A with the Figures of Speech in Column B.

Question 1.

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Answer:
 

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5. Elements of Planning An Interview : (Group Activity)
Form groups and discuss each element of planning an interview and prepare notes on each element.
 

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6. Prepare a set of 10 questions to interview any successful teenager. You may use the following guidelines.

Question 1.
Prepare a set of 10 questions to interview any successful teenager. You may use the following guidelines.

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Answer:
Interview questions for blind musician :

1. Could you please tell me about your family?

2. How did your blindness affect your career as a musician and composer?

3. Who supported you in your venture?

4. Who were your Gurus and what sort of training did you receive?

5. What is your speciality in singing?

6. Which was the best performance in your life according to you?

7. What are the awards you have received?

8. What are your plans for future?

9. What is your advice to young aspirants?

10. What can you do to encourage them?

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7. Read the poem. Write an appreciation of the poem in about 12 to 15 sentences with the help of the following points.

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Question 1.
Read the poem. Write an appreciation of the poem in about 12 to 15 sentences with the help of the following points.

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Answer:

1. Title: ‘A Teenager’s Prayer’.

2. The name of the Poet: J. Morse.

3. Rhyme scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is ‘abeb.’

4. Figure of speech (Any 1): Apostrophe, Inversion, Metaphor.

5. Theme/Central Idea: The theme of the poem is a teenager’s dilemma about making the right decisions.

The responsibility of choice falls fully on him/her. A wrong decision may ruin the whole life. Hence the teenager in the poem prays to God for His help and guidance.

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8. Compose a short prayer in English asking God to guide you in your teenage years. Later, you can even try to make the lines rhyme to give it a poetic form.

Question 1.
Compose a short prayer in English asking God to guide you in your teenage years. Later, you can even try to make the lines rhyme to give it a poetic form.
Answer:

• O God, bless me with friends

• with purest heart,

• Who’ll always stand by me in dark and dust.

• Let our friendship grow clean and right.

• My future bright will be in my sight.

9. Look around in your vicinity – your family, friends, neighbours, classmates, etc. and write about any four teenagers who have made a name for themselves by doing something extraordinary.

Question 1.
Look around in your vicinity – your family, friends, neighbours, classmates, etc. and write about any four teenagers who have made a name for themselves by doing something extraordinary.
 

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Answer:

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