Govt. High School Gandhi Nagar, Patiala

Poem : Sympathy

Class : 9th

Subject : English

Name of Students:

Sukhwinder, Lakhwinder, Kuldeep, Malkeet, Om Parkash, Harpreet, Davinder, Pardeep, Mandeep, Joti

POET : Charles MackayPOET : Charles Mackay

Charles Mackay (1814-89) was a Scottish song-writer. An editor of The Illustrated London News, he published several volumes of verse. His poems were very popular with the reading public and many of these are set to music.

ObjectivesSkills requiredPrevious knowledge TestingGist of the poemModel ReadingRecapitulationQueries

Contents

To enable the students feel the thought and imagination in the poem.

To enable the students to recite the poem rhythmically with proper stress and intonation.

To help them to understand the idea and message of the poem.

Objectives

Students should have a basic knowledge of rhymes in their mother tongue.Students should be able to read, write and understand simple sentences of English.

Skills Required

Previous Knowledge Testing

Answer the following questions.

Who helps us in trouble ?

What is greater than money ?

Model Reading

I lay in sorrow, deep distressed,

My grief a proud man heard;

His looks were cold, he gave me gold,

But not a Kindly word.

Model Reading

My sorrow passed – I paid him back

The gold he gave to me ;

Then stood erect and spoke my thanks

And blessed his charity.

Model Reading

I lay in want, and grief, and pain

A poor man passed my way,

He bound my head, he gave me bread,

He watched me night and day.

Model Reading

How shall I pay him back again

For all he did to me ?

Oh, gold is great, but greater far

Is heavenly sympathy.

Glossary

The teacher will explain meaning of difficult words.

GLOSSARY MEANING

1. Sorrow : sadness

2. Proud : haughty

3. Erect : upright

4. Charity : kindness

5. Heavenly : belonging to heaven

6. Sympathy : feeling of compassion

Let Us Answer

How did the proud man help the poet when he was in trouble ?

What did he not give to the poet ?

Did the poet pay him back ?

How did the poor man help the poet ?

Write in your own words the message the poem conveys.

Bibliography

∂ English Main Course Book for class 9th published by Punjab School Education Board

∂ Pictures from Internet