Here is the poetic appreciation of poems prescribed for std 10 English as first language. It is helpful for the students of English medium.

Poetic Appreciation of “Animals”

The poem “Animals” is an excerpt from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. In this reflective piece, Whitman admires the simplicity, honesty, and contentment of animals, contrasting them with the complexities and hypocrisies of human life.

Rhyme Scheme:
The poem is written in free verse, meaning it has no specific rhyme scheme or structured meter, which aligns with Whitman’s signature style of natural, flowing expression.

Figures of Speech:

Repetition – The phrase “Not one” is repeated to emphasize the purity and contentment of animals.

Alliteration – “So placid and self-contain’d” (repetition of the ‘s’ sound).

Metaphor – “They bring me tokens of myself” suggests that animals possess qualities that humans have lost over time.

Personification – Animals are depicted as being capable of bringing “tokens” and “evincing” them.


Central Idea/Theme:
The poem highlights the contrast between animals and humans, portraying animals as peaceful, content, and free from materialistic and religious burdens. Whitman suggests that humans have lost their natural innocence due to greed, societal norms, and artificial concerns. The poet longs for a life of simplicity and authenticity, like that of animals, questioning whether humans once possessed such qualities and lost them over time.

Poetic Appreciation of “The Pulley”

“The Pulley” is a philosophical and religious poem by George Herbert, exploring the relationship between God and humankind. It presents a unique perspective on why human beings are restless despite possessing numerous blessings.

Rhyme Scheme:
The poem follows a regular ABABA rhyme scheme in each stanza, creating a rhythmic and structured flow.

Figures of Speech:

Metaphor – The title “Pulley” symbolizes the way God draws humans toward Him through restlessness.

Personification – “Rest” is depicted as a tangible gift that God withholds from humans.

Alliteration – “So strength first made a way” (repetition of the ‘s’ sound).

Imagery – The poem vividly describes how God bestows riches, wisdom, and beauty upon humans.


Central Idea/Theme:
The poem conveys the idea that God, in His wisdom, gave humankind numerous blessings—strength, beauty, wisdom, and honor—but deliberately withheld rest. By doing so, He ensured that humans would always feel an inner longing that pulls them toward divine grace. Herbert suggests that human restlessness is not a curse but a divine tool to keep them connected to God, making the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment essential in life.

“Life: A Stage Where We All Play Our Roles!”

William Shakespeare’s iconic monologue “All the World’s a Stage” beautifully captures the journey of human life in seven stages, from infancy to old age. With powerful imagery and deep philosophical insight, he compares life to a grand performance where we are mere actors, entering and exiting as time demands. Want to explore the meaning behind these timeless words? Read on for a poetic appreciation of this masterpiece!

Poetic Appreciation of “All the World’s a Stage

The poem “All the World’s a Stage” is an excerpt from William Shakespeare’s play As You Like It. In this monologue, the character Jaques compares life to a stage, where every human being plays different roles through seven stages of life.

Rhyme Scheme:
This poem is written in blank verse, meaning it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme but maintains a rhythm in iambic pentameter.

Figures of Speech:
The poem uses several figures of speech, including:

Metaphor – Life is compared to a stage, and humans are described as actors.

Alliteration – The repetition of consonant sounds, such as “plays his part.”

Imagery – Vivid descriptions of different stages of life.


Central Idea/Theme:
The poem presents a philosophical perspective on human life, depicting it as a scripted performance where each person plays different roles from birth to death. Shakespeare emphasizes the temporary nature of life, highlighting how people transition through childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age before fading away like actors leaving the stage.

Poetic Appreciation of “Where the Mind is Without Fear

The poem “Where the Mind is Without Fear” is a powerful and inspiring composition by Rabindranath Tagore. It is a part of his famous work Gitanjali and reflects his vision of a free and enlightened India.

Rhyme Scheme:
The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme.

Figures of Speech:

Metaphor – “The clear stream of reason” symbolizes rational thinking, while “the dreary desert sand of dead habit” represents outdated traditions.

Personification – “Tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection” gives human qualities to efforts.

Alliteration – Repetition of consonant sounds, such as in “head is held high.”


Central Idea/Theme:
The poem envisions an ideal world where people are fearless, educated, and united beyond boundaries of caste, religion, and narrow-mindedness. Tagore prays for a nation guided by truth, reason, and progress, urging for freedom not just in political terms but also in thoughts and actions. It is a call for awakening, inspiring individuals to strive for a better, enlightened, and liberated society.

Word Formation

Word formation is the process of creating new words by adding prefixes, suffixes, or combining words. It helps in expanding vocabulary and understanding how words function in different contexts.

1. Prefixation (Adding a Prefix)

A prefix is a group of letters added at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.

un- → not/opposite (e.g., unhappy, unclear)

dis- → opposite of (e.g., dislike, disconnect)

re- → again (e.g., rewrite, rebuild)

mis- → wrongly (e.g., mislead, misjudge)

pre- → before (e.g., preview, prepay)

anti- → against (e.g., antifreeze, antisocial)

2. Suffixation (Adding a Suffix)

A suffix is a group of letters added at the end of a word to form a new word.

-er/-or → person who does (e.g., teacher, actor)

-ness → state of being (e.g., happiness, darkness)

-able → capable of being (e.g., readable, comfortable)

-ful → full of (e.g., hopeful, beautiful)

-ment → result of an action (e.g., development, achievement)

-ly → in a certain manner (e.g., quickly, happily)

3. Compound Words

Compound words are formed by joining two or more words together.

Open compounds → ice cream, full moon

Closed compounds → notebook, bedroom

Hyphenated compounds → mother-in-law, well-being

4. Conversion (Changing the Word Class)

Some words change their function without adding a prefix or suffix.

Noun → Verb: email → to email, water → to water

Verb → Noun: run → a run, talk → a talk

Exercise on Word Formation

A. Add a suitable prefix to form a new word: ( im, in, un, )

1. ____correct

2. ____possible

3. ____do

4. ____happy

5. ____active



B. Add a suitable suffix to form a new word: (ness, able, less,er, or)

1. Kind → __________

2. Move → __________

3. Help → __________

4. Teach → __________

5. Hope → __________



C. Identify the compound words in the following sentences:

1. My grandmother loves storytelling.
2. The sunlight was very bright today.
3. She bought a bookshelf for her room.
4. We went to the airport early in the morning.
5. The firefighter saved the cat.



D. Change the word form as instructed in brackets:

1. She is a very (create – adjective) person.
2. He showed great (kind – noun) to the poor.
3. We must (beauty – verb) our surroundings.
4. The new law will lead to the (develop – noun) of the town.
5. The children were playing (happy – adverb) in the park.

Write your reaponses in comment section.

Completion of Sentences Exercise for CUET

Instructions: Choose the most appropriate option to complete each sentence meaningfully.

1. Unless you work hard, _______.
   a) you will succeed
   b) you will not succeed
   c) you can easily pass
   d) you won’t need help
2. The doctor advised him to stop smoking because _______.
   a) he was in good health
   b) he wanted to lose weight
   c) it was affecting his lungs
   d) he never had a habit of smoking
3. As soon as the teacher entered the classroom, _______.
   a) the students started talking
   b) the students became silent
   c) the class was over
   d) the teacher left immediately
4. He talks as though _______.
   a) he has achieved everything in life
   b) he will achieve great success
   c) he was unhappy with life
   d) he doesn’t want to succeed
5. The moment the thief saw the police, _______.
   a) he pretended to sleep
   b) he was caught
   c) he ran away
   d) he stood still
6. The movie was so boring that _______.
   a) I watched it twice
   b) I left the theater halfway
   c) I could not stop watching
   d) I recommended it to everyone
7. You cannot enter the hall _______.
   a) if you have a ticket
   b) without a valid pass
   c) because the show is canceled
   d) unless you don’t have permission
8. She behaves as if _______.
   a) she knows everything
   b) she will win the race
   c) she is a guest here
   d) she was unaware of the rules
9. The meeting will start _______.
   a) by the time everyone leaves
   b) when the manager arrives
   c) because it is canceled
   d) as soon as the office closes
10. Had he asked me earlier, _______.
    a) I would lend him money
    b) I would have lent him money
    c) I will lend him money
    d) I may have helped him
11. No sooner did the bell ring than _______.
    a) the students ran out of the classroom
    b) the teacher entered the room
    c) the class started quietly
    d) the principal announced the results
12. In case you miss the bus, _______.
    a) wait for the next one
    b) you will reach on time
    c) the driver will call you
    d) take a taxi
13. It was raining heavily; nevertheless, _______.
    a) they decided to cancel the trip
    b) the match was called off
    c) we went out for a picnic
    d) everyone stayed indoors
14. Despite her best efforts, _______.
    a) she failed to convince the audience
    b) she easily solved the problem
    c) she won the debate
    d) she completed her work on time
15. If the flight is delayed, _______.
    a) I will inform you immediately
    b) we will arrive on time
    c) we will cancel our booking
    d) the passengers may leave early
16. The dog barked loudly because _______.
    a) it was hungry
    b) it was happy to see strangers
    c) it wanted to remain quiet
    d) it didn’t notice anyone
17. She was confident about her speech until _______.
    a) she prepared thoroughly
    b) she practiced well
    c) she stood on stage
    d) she received the award
18. By the time he reached the station, _______.
    a) the train left
    b) the train had left
    c) the passengers were waiting
    d) the journey began
19. He will not stop complaining _______.
    a) because he is satisfied
    b) until his problem is solved
    c) as his issue is resolved
    d) when the manager agrees
20. If I were you, _______.
    a) I will ignore the situation
    b) I would have ignored the situation
    c) I would ignore the situation
    d) I could ignore the situation

Answer Key

1. b) you will not succeed
2. c) it was affecting his lungs
3. b) the students became silent
4. a) he has achieved everything in life
5. c) he ran away
6. b) I left the theater halfway
7. b) without a valid pass
8. a) she knows everything
9. b) when the manager arrives
10. b) I would have lent him money
11. a) the students ran out of the classroom
12. d) take a taxi
13. c) we went out for a picnic
14. a) she failed to convince the audience
15. a) I will inform you immediately
16. a) it was hungry
17. c) she stood on stage
18. b) the train had left
19. b) until his problem is solved
20. c) I would ignore the situation