Day 1: Summer Friends Class VIII | English | Butterfly Memory in Marble NOTES

Lesson: Summer Friends - Class VIII

Class VIII | Blossoms

Summer Friends

Exploring loyalty and the changing seasons of friendship.

The Core Theme

This poem contrasts two birds: the Swallow, who stays only during the warm summer, and the Sparrow, who remains close even in the coldest winter. It serves as a metaphor for "fair-weather friends" versus "true friends."

Learning Goals

Understanding poetic metaphors
Identifying Noun, Adjective, and Adverb Clauses
Mastering Indirect Speech

The Poem: Stanza by Stanza

"The Swallow is a summer bird;
He in our chimneys, when the weather
Is fine and warm, may then be heard
Chirping his notes for weeks together."

সোয়ালো একটি গ্রীষ্মের পাখি;
আমাদের চিমনিতে, যখন আবহাওয়া
সুন্দর এবং উষ্ণ থাকে, তখন তাকে শোনা যায়
সপ্তাহের পর সপ্তাহ ধরে তার সুর গাইতে।

"Come there but one cold wintry day,
Away will fly our guest the Swallow:
And much like him we find the way
Which many a gay young friend will follow."

যদি একটিও ঠান্ডা শীতের দিন আসে,
উড়ে যাবে আমাদের অতিথি সোয়ালো:
এবং তার মতোই আমরা পথ খুঁজে পাই
যা অনেক হাসিখুশি তরুণ বন্ধু অনুসরণ করবে।

"In dreary days of snow and frost
Closer to Man will cling the Sparrow:
Old friends, although in life we’re crost,
Their hearts to us will never narrow."

তুষার ও বরফের বিষণ্ণ দিনে
মানুষের আরও কাছে থাকবে চড়ুই:
পুরানো বন্ধুরা, যদিও জীবনে আমাদের পথ আলাদা হয়,
তাদের হৃদয় আমাদের প্রতি কখনও সংকীর্ণ হবে না।

Activity 6(a) Grammar Spotlight: Clauses

Noun Clause

"I expect that I shall get a prize."

Adjective Clause

"I have a ring which has a yellow handle."

Adverb Clause

"When I was younger, I used to fly kites."

Adjective Clause

"This is the place where I was born."

Quick Check: Activity 4

Who	Does What	When
The Swallow	Chirping his notes	When the weather is fine and warm
The Sparrow	Clings closer to Man	In dreary days of snow and frost
Old Friends	Hearts never narrow	Although in life they are separated

WBBSE Notes - Summer Friends & Happy Prince

WBBSE AI Engine Class VIII | Blossoms

Lesson: Summer Friends

Comprehensive Study Notes: 20 Short & 20 Long Questions with Solutions

Short Answer Questions (Small)

1. When can the Swallow be heard chirping?

Ans: The Swallow is heard chirping in the chimneys for weeks together when the weather is fine and warm.

2. What does the Swallow do on a cold wintry day?

Ans: On a cold wintry day, the Swallow flies away, leaving the poet's chimney.

3. Which bird clings closer to man in dreary days?

Ans: The Sparrow clings closer to man during the dreary days of snow and frost.

4. Who follows the behavior of the Swallow?

Ans: Many "gay young friends" follow the behavior of the Swallow by leaving in difficult times.

5. What is the nature of old friends' hearts?

Ans: Even if old friends are separated in life, their hearts never narrow towards us.

6. Where did the Happy Prince live when he was alive?

Ans: He lived in the wonderful palace of Sans-Souci.

7. What were the eyes of the Happy Prince made of?

Ans: His eyes were made of two precious sapphires.

8. What was fixed on the hilt of the Prince's sword?

Ans: A big red ruby was fixed on the sword hilt.

9. Why was the seamstress's son crying?

Ans: The son was suffering from fever and his mother could only give him river water.

10. Why did the Swallow feel warm in the cold night?

Ans: The Swallow felt warm because he had done something good to help someone.

11. Where were the Swallow's friends going?

Ans: His friends had left for warm Egypt.

12. Why did the Swallow stay with the Prince forever?

Ans: He stayed because the Prince became blind after giving away his sapphire eyes.

13. What did the Mayor decide about the statue?

Ans: The Mayor decided to pull it down because it was no longer beautiful or useful.

14. What did the Angel bring to God?

Ans: The Angel brought the leaden heart of the Prince and the dead Swallow.

15. What does "crost" mean in the poem?

Ans: "Crost" (crossed) refers to the separation or different paths taken by friends in life.

16. What is the "house of the brother of Sleep"?

Ans: It is a metaphorical reference to Death.

17. What did the Happy Prince see from his pedestal?

Ans: He saw the poor people, the hungry children, and all the ugly things in his land.

18. What was the Mayor's new law?

Ans: No bird could die in the town square or near the Happy Prince.

19. What happened to the Swallow at the end?

Ans: The Swallow died at the feet of the Happy Prince due to the extreme cold.

20. What did the Happy Prince do with his gold leaves?

Ans: He asked the Swallow to take them off and give them to the poor and hungry people.

Long Answer Questions (Big)

1. Compare the Swallow and the Sparrow as described in the poem "Summer Friends".

Solution: In the poem, the Swallow is presented as a "summer bird" that enjoys the warmth and fine weather. It chirps in the chimneys when life is pleasant but flies away as soon as winter or "cold wintry days" arrive. This represents fair-weather friends who stay only during happy times. In contrast, the Sparrow is a loyal companion that "clings closer to man" during the "dreary days of snow and frost." It represents true, old friends who remain steadfast even when life becomes difficult or sorrowful.

2. Why does the poet wish for a bird-like friend who will "sing in frost"?

Solution: The poet desires a friend who mirrors the behavior of the Sparrow rather than the Swallow. A friend who "sings in frost" is one who provides comfort and companionship during the "winter" of life—times of misfortune, poverty, or sadness. The poet values loyalty over temporary presence, seeking someone who will "love in sorrow" and greet them with a hopeful sight even after a day of "mischance."

3. Describe the Happy Prince's life in the palace of Sans-Souci and how it changed after death.

Solution: When the Happy Prince was alive, he lived in total luxury in the palace of Sans-Souci. He had no idea about the suffering or poverty of the people outside his palace walls because he was always surrounded by beauty and joy. However, after death, he was made into a statue and placed high above the town. From this vantage point, he could see all the "ugly things" and the misery of the poor, which filled his heart with sorrow and led him to sacrifice his riches to help them.

4. How did the Swallow help the seamstress and her son?

Solution: The Happy Prince saw a poor woman in a little street who was making a dress for the Queen's maid. Her son was suffering from fever and crying for oranges, but she had nothing but river water. At the Prince's request, the Swallow picked out the big red ruby from the Prince's sword-hilt and flew to the poor house. He laid the ruby on the table and fanned the boy's forehead with his wings, making the boy feel cool and helping him fall into a delicious sleep.

5. Why did the Swallow decide not to go to Egypt and stay with the Prince?

Solution: Initially, the Swallow was eager to join his friends in warm Egypt. However, after the Happy Prince gave away both his sapphire eyes to help a playwright and a match-girl, the Prince became completely blind. The Swallow was so moved by the Prince's kindness and sacrifice that he decided he could not leave him alone in his darkness. He told the Prince, "You are blind now, so I must stay with you always," showing a transformation from a "summer friend" to a true, loyal companion.

6. Explain the significance of the ending where the Angel chooses the leaden heart and the dead bird.

Solution: When God asked the Angel to bring the two most precious things from the city, the Angel chose the leaden heart of the Prince and the dead Swallow. This signifies that true value lies not in gold or gems, but in sacrifice, love, and kindness. The Mayor saw the statue as "shabby" and the bird as "dead," but in the eyes of God, their selfless acts made them the most beautiful. They were rewarded with eternal life in the "city of gold" and the "garden of Paradise."

7. What does the "dreary days of snow and frost" symbolize in the poem?

Solution: The "dreary days of snow and frost" symbolize the difficult periods in a person's life. This could include financial loss, illness, grief, or social isolation. Just as the physical winter is harsh and cold, these life events test the strength of relationships. The poet uses this imagery to distinguish between friends who are only there for the "warmth" of prosperity and those who remain "close" when the "weather" of life turns bitter.

8. Analyze the character of the Mayor and the Town Council.

Solution: The Mayor and the Town Council represent the superficial and materialistic side of society. They only valued the Happy Prince statue as long as it was covered in gold and jewels. As soon as the Prince sacrificed his beauty to help the poor, the Mayor called it "shabby" and "no longer useful." Their decision to pull down the statue and create a law against birds dying in the square shows their lack of empathy and their obsession with outward appearances and meaningless regulations.

9. How does the Swallow's feeling of "warmth" explain the theme of the story?

Solution: After helping the seamstress, the Swallow remarks that he feels warm despite the cold night. The Prince explains, "That happens when you do something good to help someone." This is a central theme: the internal warmth of a good conscience and the joy of altruism. It suggests that true happiness and "warmth" come from selfless service to others, which is more powerful than the physical environment.

10. What is the similarity between a "gay young friend" and the Swallow?

Solution: According to the poet, many "gay young friends" are like the Swallow because their friendship is seasonal. Just as the Swallow arrives when it is "fine and warm" and leaves when it is "cold," these friends are present during times of wealth, youth, and happiness. However, when a person faces "mischance" or "sorrow," these friends "follow the way" of the Swallow and disappear, lacking the depth of character required for true loyalty.

11. Describe the playwright's situation and how the Prince helped him.

Solution: The playwright was a young man in a garret trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre. He was too cold to write, there was no fire in the grate, and hunger had made him faint. The Happy Prince, having no more rubies, ordered the Swallow to pluck out one of his sapphire eyes and take it to the young man. The playwright sold the sapphire, bought food and fuel, and was able to finish his play.

12. Why did the Happy Prince ask the Swallow to take the gold from his body?

Solution: After giving away his jewels, the Prince saw through the Swallow's reports that the poor were still suffering while the rich were making merry. He told the Swallow, "I am covered with fine gold... you must take it off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor." He believed that the living always think that gold can make them happy, and he was willing to lose all his external beauty to provide bread and joy to the hungry children of his city.

13. Discuss the significance of the phrase "Their hearts to us will never narrow."

Solution: This phrase refers to "old friends" who are like the Sparrow. It means that even if life's circumstances separate people ("in life we're crost"), the love and affection of a true friend remain constant. Their hearts do not become "narrow" or restricted by distance, time, or misfortune. They remain generous and open, always ready to offer the same love they did in the past.

14. What happened to the Happy Prince's statue at the foundry?

Solution: After the statue was pulled down, it was melted in a furnace. However, the broken leaden heart of the Prince would not melt. The overseer at the foundry remarked that it was a strange thing and threw the broken heart on a dust heap where the dead Swallow was also lying. This moment highlights the physical destruction of the "useful" parts of the statue, while the "precious" heart remained intact, eventually to be recognized by the Angel.

15. How does the poem "Summer Friends" teach us about the value of time-tested relationships?

Solution: The poem teaches that the value of a relationship is proven during difficult times. "Summer friends" (Swallows) are easy to find when everything is going well, but they add no real value to one's soul. Time-tested relationships (Sparrows) are those that survive the "frost" of life. The poet emphasizes that we should cherish those who stay with us in "sorrow" and "mischance," as their loyalty is the only thing that truly matters when the "weather" of life changes.

16. Describe the Swallow's final moments.

Solution: As the winter grew colder, the Swallow knew he was going to die. He had grown too weak to fly to Egypt. He flew up to the Prince's shoulder one last time to say goodbye. He told the Prince he was not going to Egypt but to the "house of the brother of Sleep" (Death). He kissed the Happy Prince on the lips and fell down dead at his feet. At that moment, a curious cracking sound was heard inside the statue—the leaden heart had snapped in two.

17. Why does the poet prefer the Sparrow over the Swallow?

Solution: The poet prefers the Sparrow because it is a symbol of unconditional love and loyalty. The Swallow is a "guest" who only stays when it is "fine and warm," making it a symbol of selfishness. The Sparrow, by staying "closer to man" during "snow and frost," proves that its bond is not dependent on comfort. The poet values the friend who "will love in sorrow," which is exactly what the Sparrow represents through its actions.

18. What is the irony in the name "Happy Prince"?

Solution: The irony lies in the fact that while he was called "Happy" when he was a living prince in a palace, he was actually ignorant of the world's reality. He only became truly "Happy" in a spiritual sense when he was a "sad" statue, because it was then that he learned the value of compassion and sacrifice. His "happiness" as a statue came from giving everything away to help others, even though he was physically weeping for the misery he saw.

19. How does the play "The Happy Prince" portray social inequality?

Solution: The play portrays social inequality by contrasting the lives of the rich and the poor. While the Prince lived in a palace where "sorrow was not allowed to enter," the seamstress, the playwright, and the match-girl lived in extreme poverty and hunger. The Mayor and the Town Council are shown as being concerned only with their own statues and public image, completely ignoring the suffering of the citizens until the Prince's gold was distributed among them.

20. What is the central message of both "Summer Friends" and the story of the Happy Prince?

Solution: The central message of both texts is that true beauty and true friendship are found in loyalty and self-sacrifice. Whether it is the Sparrow staying through the frost in the poem, or the Swallow staying with the blind Prince in the play, the emphasis is on remaining steadfast during difficult times. Both texts suggest that material wealth and "summer" weather are temporary, but the "golden heart" that loves in sorrow is eternal and precious.

CLASS 5 BUTTERFLY

Lesson 4: Memory in Marble

1. Let’s Read (চলো পড়ি)

Tarun, a class five student, was given a task to write a paragraph on the Taj Mahal. Worried, he asked his grandfather for help. His grandfather told him the story of Prince Khurram, son of Jehangir. One day, Khurram saw an extremely beautiful girl, Arjumand Banu Begum, in the Meena Bazaar and wanted to marry her.

তরুণ, পঞ্চম শ্রেণীর ছাত্র, তাজমহলের উপর একটি অনুচ্ছেদ লেখার কাজ পেয়েছিল। চিন্তিত হয়ে, সে তার দাদুকে সাহায্য করতে বলল। তার দাদু তাকে রাজকুমার খুররমের গল্প বললেন, যিনি ছিলেন জাহাঙ্গীরের পুত্র। একদিন, খুররম মীনা বাজারে এক অত্যন্ত সুন্দরী মেয়ে, আরজুমান্দ বানু বেগমকে দেখতে পান এবং তাকে বিয়ে করতে চান।

Prince Khurram was later known as Shah Jahan and became emperor in 1628. Arjumand Banu Begum was renamed Mumtaz Mahal, meaning “the brightest crown of the world.” When Mumtaz was on her deathbed, Shah Jahan promised her he would not marry again and would build the most beautiful mausoleum over her grave.

রাজকুমার খুররম পরে শাহজাহান নামে পরিচিত হন এবং ১৬২৮ সালে সম্রাট হন। আরজুমান্দ বানু বেগমের নতুন নাম হয় মমতাজ মহল, যার অর্থ “বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে উজ্জ্বল মুকুট।” মমতাজ যখন মৃত্যুশয্যায়, শাহজাহান তাকে প্রতিশ্রুতি দেন যে তিনি আর বিয়ে করবেন না এবং তার কবরের উপর সবচেয়ে সুন্দর সমাধিসৌধ নির্মাণ করবেন।

Shah Jahan was so sad after her death that he ordered the court to mourn for two years. He then started building the monument beside the river Yamuna. It took 22 years and 22,000 workers to build. The Taj Mahal was built entirely out of white marble. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his body was placed next to the grave of Mumtaz Mahal. It is now considered one of the seven wonders of the World.

তার মৃত্যুর পর শাহজাহান এতই দুঃখিত হয়েছিলেন যে তিনি দরবারকে দুই বছর শোক পালনের আদেশ দেন। এরপর তিনি যমুনা নদীর তীরে স্মৃতিস্তম্ভটি নির্মাণ শুরু করেন। এটি তৈরি করতে ২২ বছর এবং ২২,০০০ কর্মী লেগেছিল। তাজমহল সম্পূর্ণরূপে সাদা মার্বেল দিয়ে তৈরি। ১৬৬৬ সালে শাহজাহান মারা গেলে, তার দেহ মমতাজ মহলের কবরের পাশে রাখা হয়। এটি এখন বিশ্বের সাতটি আশ্চর্যের মধ্যে একটি হিসাবে বিবেচিত হয়।

2. What We Learn (আমরা যা শিখি)

The Power of a Promise

Shah Jahan built the magnificent Taj Mahal to keep a promise he made to his dying wife. This teaches us the importance of keeping our promises and honoring our commitments.

শাহজাহান তার মৃত্যুপথযাত্রী স্ত্রীকে দেওয়া একটি প্রতিশ্রুতি রাখতে magnificently তাজমহল নির্মাণ করেছিলেন। এটি আমাদের প্রতিশ্রুতি রাখা এবং আমাদের অঙ্গীকার সম্মান করার গুরুত্ব শেখায়।

Love and Memory

The Taj Mahal is a symbol of Shah Jahan’s deep love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It shows how art and architecture can be used to create a timeless memorial to remember a loved one forever.

তাজমহল শাহজাহানের তার স্ত্রী মমতাজ মহলের প্রতি গভীর ভালোবাসার প্রতীক। এটি দেখায় যে কীভাবে শিল্প এবং স্থাপত্যকে একজন প্রিয়জনকে চিরকাল স্মরণ করার জন্য একটি চিরন্তন স্মৃতিস্তম্ভ তৈরি করতে ব্যবহার করা যেতে পারে।

Hard Work and Dedication

Building the Taj Mahal took 22 years and 22,000 workers. This incredible feat of construction teaches us that great things can be achieved through long-term dedication, patience, and the hard work of many people.

তাজমহল নির্মাণে ২২ বছর এবং ২২,০০০ কর্মী লেগেছিল। এই অবিশ্বাস্য নির্মাণকার্য আমাদের শেখায় যে দীর্ঘমেয়াদী উৎসর্গ, ধৈর্য এবং অনেক মানুষের কঠোর পরিশ্রমের মাধ্যমে মহান জিনিস অর্জন করা যেতে পারে।

3. Vocabulary (শব্দভান্ডার)

Word (শব্দ)	Meaning (অর্থ)
Monument স্মৃতিস্তম্ভ	A building or structure built to remember a person or event.
Glimpse এক ঝলক	A brief or partial view.
Emperor সম্রাট	A ruler of great power and rank.
Mausoleum সমাধিসৌধ	A building built to house the dead.
Mourn শোক করা	To feel or show deep sorrow or regret for someone’s death.
Magnificent চমৎকার	Impressively beautiful or grand.

4. Activities 1 & 2

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks

(a) Prince Khurram was later known as ___.

(b) Mumtaz Mahal means ___.

Activity 2: True or False

(a) Shah Jahan was the grandson of Akbar the Great.

(b) The Taj Mahal is in Delhi.

5. Activities 3, 4 & 5

Activity 3: Cause and Effect

Cause	Effect
(a) Shah Jahan was sad after the death of his wife.	He ordered the court to mourn for two years.
(b) Shah Jahan wanted to build a beautiful monument.	The Taj Mahal was built.

Activity 4 & 5: Vocabulary

(a) A building built to house the dead: ___

(b) A brief or partial view: ___

6. Activities 6 & 7

Activity 6: Complete the sentences

(a) Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of…

(b) It took ___ years and ___ workers to build the Taj Mahal.

Activity 7: Fill in the chart

Who	What
Shah Jahan	built the Taj Mahal
Tarun’s Grandfather	told the story of the Taj Mahal
Mumtaz Mahal	was the wife of Shah Jahan

7. Grammar Practice (ব্যাকরণ অনুশীলন)

Activity 12: Modals

(a) I ___ finish my homework before going to school.

(b) We ___ save trees for a better future.

Activity 13: Negative Modals

(a) I ___ help you. I am sorry.

(b) One ___ go for swimming when the sea is rough.

8. Creative Writing (সৃজনশীল লেখা)

Activity 14: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Write a story in about 75 words about a cart-man whose cart gets stuck in the mud.

Activity 16: A Tree Plantation Drive

Write a paragraph on a recent Tree Plantation Drive undertaken by your school.

Day 2: Summer Friends Class VIII | English | Butterfly Memory in Marble ACTIVITIES

Day 3: Summer Friends Class VIII | English | Butterfly Memory in Marble MOCK TEST

WBBSE Para Translation - Summer Friends

WBBSE AI Engine | Class VIII

Summer Friends

Complete Side-by-Side Translation (English | Bengali)

Part 1: The Poem

The Swallow is a summer bird;
He in our chimneys, when the weather
Is fine and warm, may then be heard
Chirping his notes for weeks together.

Come there but one cold wintry day,
Away will fly our guest the Swallow:
And much like him we find the way
Which many a gay young friend will follow.

In dreary days of snow and frost
Closer to Man will cling the Sparrow:
Old friends, although in life we’re crost,
Their hearts to us will never narrow.

Give me the bird-give me the friend-
Will sing in frost-will love in sorrow-
Whate’er mischance to-day may send,
Will greet me with his sight to-morrow.

আমাকে সেই পাখি দাও-আমাকে সেই বন্ধু দাও-
যে বরফের মধ্যেও গাইবে-দুঃখেও ভালোবাসবে-
আজ যতই দুর্ভাগ্য আসুক না কেন,
কাল সে তার দর্শনে আমাকে স্বাগত জানাবে।

Poem Activities & Exercises

Activity 1: Tick the correct alternative (i) Swallow comes in... (ii) Friends follow behavior of... (iii) Sparrow accompanies in... (iv) Poet wants a friend like...

Activity 2: Complete sentences: (a) Weather is fine... (b) Cold day swallow flies... (c) Hearts never narrow... (d) Bird that sings in frost...

Activity 6(a) Clauses: Noun Clause, Adjective Clause, Adverb Clause examples provided in text.

Part 2: The Happy Prince (Play)

Student 1: So this is the famous statue of Happy Prince.

ছাত্র ১: তাহলে এটাই সেই বিখ্যাত সুখী রাজকুমারের মূর্তি।

Student 2: He is very well known in this land. Happy Prince lived in the wonderful palace of Sans – Souci. He had no idea about the people of this world who live outside his palace.

ছাত্র ২: এই দেশে তিনি খুব পরিচিত। সুখী রাজকুমার সান-সুসির চমৎকার প্রাসাদে বাস করতেন। তার প্রাসাদের বাইরে বসবাসকারী এই পৃথিবীর মানুষ সম্পর্কে তার কোনো ধারণাই ছিল না।

Student 3: The Happy Prince is built with gold from head to foot. His eyes are two precious sapphires and there is a big red ruby on his sword hilt.

ছাত্র ৩: সুখী রাজকুমার মাথা থেকে পা পর্যন্ত সোনা দিয়ে গড়া। তার চোখ দুটি মূল্যবান নীলকান্তমণি এবং তার তলোয়ারের বাঁটে একটি বড় লাল চুনি রয়েছে।

Young mother: I can’t understand why you keep crying! Why can’t you be happy? The Happy Prince never cries for new things.

তরুণী মা: আমি বুঝতে পারছি না তুমি কেন কেঁদেই চলেছ! তুমি খুশি হতে পারো না কেন? সুখী রাজকুমার কখনো নতুন জিনিসের জন্য কাঁদে না।

Swallow: It’s much too cold here. All my friends have left for warm Egypt. I too must fly. But tonight I will rest in this unknown town. The shelter between the feet of this golden statue looks good enough.

সোয়ালো: এখানে বড্ড ঠান্ডা। আমার সব বন্ধুরা উষ্ণ মিশরের উদ্দেশ্যে রওনা দিয়েছে। আমাকেও উড়ে যেতে হবে। কিন্তু আজ রাতে আমি এই অজানা শহরে বিশ্রাম নেব। এই সোনার মূর্তির পায়ের মাঝের আশ্রয়টি যথেষ্ট ভালো বলে মনে হচ্ছে।

Statue: I’m the Happy Prince. I spent my life in a palace. Now I am dead, and a statue. I stand in the middle of this town. I can see the poor people and all the ugly things in my land.

মূর্তি: আমি সুখী রাজকুমার। আমি আমার জীবন এক প্রাসাদে কাটিয়েছি। এখন আমি মৃত, এবং একটি মূর্তি। আমি এই শহরের মাঝখানে দাঁড়িয়ে আছি। আমি আমার দেশের গরীব মানুষ এবং সমস্ত কুৎসিত জিনিস দেখতে পাই।

Statue: My feet are fixed here. I cannot move. Please help me, little Swallow. There is a poor house in a little street. A woman is making a dress… her son is suffering from fever. Swallow, take the ruby from my sword-hilt and give it to her.

মূর্তি: আমার পা এখানে বাঁধা। আমি নড়তে পারি না। দয়া করে আমাকে সাহায্য করো, ছোট্ট সোয়ালো। একটি ছোট রাস্তায় একটি গরীবের বাড়ি আছে। একজন মহিলা একটি পোশাক তৈরি করছেন… তার ছেলে জ্বরে ভুগছে। সোয়ালো, আমার তলোয়ারের বাঁট থেকে চুনিটি নিয়ে তাকে দাও।

Swallow: It’s a cold night. But strange, I am feeling warm.

সোয়ালো: এটি একটি ঠান্ডা রাত। কিন্তু অদ্ভুত, আমার গরম লাগছে।

Statue: That happens when you do something good to help someone.

মূর্তি: যখন তুমি কাউকে সাহায্য করার জন্য ভালো কিছু করো তখন এমনটাই হয়।

Swallow: You are blind now, so I must stay with you always. But it’s too cold here. I’m not going to Egypt! I’m going to the house of the brother of Sleep. The cold has got me. I’m dying!

সোয়ালো: তুমি এখন অন্ধ, তাই আমাকে সবসময় তোমার সাথে থাকতে হবে। কিন্তু এখানে খুব ঠান্ডা। আমি মিশরে যাচ্ছি না! আমি ঘুমের ভাইয়ের বাড়িতে যাচ্ছি। ঠান্ডা আমাকে কাবু করে ফেলেছে। আমি মারা যাচ্ছি!

Mayor: A dead bird at the feet of the statue of the Happy Prince! That’s very bad. We must make a new law. No bird can die in the town square, or near the Happy Prince.

মেয়র: সুখী রাজকুমারের মূর্তির পায়ে একটি মরা পাখি! এটা খুবই খারাপ। আমাদের একটি নতুন আইন তৈরি করতে হবে। শহরের চত্বরে বা সুখী রাজকুমারের কাছে কোনো পাখি মরতে পারবে না।

Angel: Forever will the Swallow sing from now in my garden. May the Happy Prince live in my city of gold forever!

দেবদূত: এখন থেকে সোয়ালো আমার বাগানে চিরকাল গান গাইবে। সুখী রাজকুমার আমার সোনার শহরে চিরকাল বেঁচে থাকুক!

Day 4: Summer Friends Class VIII | English | Butterfly Memory in Marble ONLINE EXAM

WBBSE Blossoms VIII - Summer Friends Activities

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Lesson: Summer Friends

Class: VIII | Subject: Blossoms VIII

📝 Part I: The Poem - Summer Friends

Activity 1: Tick the correct alternative

(i) The swallow comes to the poet in… Summer.
(ii) Many young friends follow the behaviour of the… Swallow.
(iii) The sparrow accompanies the poet in times of… Snow and frost.
(iv) The poet wants a friend who will be like… The sparrow.

Activity 2: Complete the sentences

(a) The swallow chirps for weeks together when the weather is fine and warm.

(b) In a cold day the swallow will fly away.

(d) The poet wishes for a bird that will sing in frost and love in sorrow.

Activity 3: Why do you think the swallow leaves the poet during the winter season?

The swallow is a summer bird that enjoys warmth and fine weather. It cannot endure the dreary days of snow and frost, which is why it leaves for warmer regions when winter arrives.

Activity 4: Who/What, Does What, When?

Who	Does what	When
The Swallow	Chirping his notes	When the weather is fine and warm
The Sparrow	Clings closer to Man	In dreary days of snow and frost
Old friends	Their hearts never narrow	Although in life they are separated
A true friend	Will greet the poet	Even if the poet has mischance

Activity 5: Answer the questions

(a) What does the swallow do in summer?
In summer, the swallow perches in chimneys and chirps its notes for weeks together when the weather is fine and warm.

(b) How is a “gay young friend” similar to the swallow?
A "gay young friend" is similar to the swallow because both are fair-weather companions who stay during happy, bright times but leave when life becomes difficult or "cold."

(c) Whom does the poet like—the swallow or the sparrow? Give reasons.
The poet likes the sparrow. The reason is that the sparrow stays close to man even during the dreary days of frost and sorrow, unlike the swallow which flies away at the first sign of winter.

Activity 6(b): Change the following sentences from Direct to Indirect Speech

(i) The sailor told us that there would be a storm.

(ii) The teacher asked the student if he/she had come to school the previous day.

(iii) My grandfather wished that I might live long.

🎭 Part II: The Play - The Happy Prince

Activity 1: Rearrange the sentences in the correct order

The Happy Prince lived in the wonderful palace of Sans-Souci.
The town built the statue of the Happy Prince.
All the friends of the Swallow had left for warm Egypt.
The Swallow took shelter beneath the statue of the Happy Prince.
The woman’s son was suffering from fever.
The Happy Prince asked the Swallow to take the ruby out of his sword – hilt.

Activity 2: Complete the sentences

(a) The young mother told her child not to cry because the Happy Prince never cries for new things.

(b) The Swallow took shelter beneath the statue because it was a cold night and the shelter between the feet of the golden statue looked good enough.

(d) The statue of the Happy Prince could see the poor people and all the ugly things in his land.

Activity 4: Write 'T' for True and 'F' for False

(a) The Swallow didn’t want to help the Happy Prince. — False

(b) The Happy Prince wanted to leave for Egypt. — False

(d) The girl in the Town Square had no shoes. — True

Activity 6: Cause and Effect Chart

Cause	Effect
The Swallow gave her the sapphire.	The little girl was happy.
The Happy Prince was blind and needed help.	Though it was cold, the Swallow stayed on with the Happy Prince.
The Swallow told the Happy Prince that it saw many unhappy and unfed people.	The Happy Prince asked the Swallow to take all the gold from his body and give it to the poor.
The statue had lost all its gold and gems.	The Mayor didn’t find the statue beautiful anymore.

Activity 9: Find the Antonyms (Opposite words) from the text

Forever × Never / Temporarily

Enters × Exits / Leaves

Aloud × Silently / Softly

Beautiful × Ugly

✍️ Creative Writing

Activity 8(a): A Farmer and a Snake (Story)

One cold winter morning, a farmer found a snake lying almost dead with cold. Taking pity on the creature, he brought it home and placed it near the hearth to warm it. Soon, the snake regained its life. However, true to its nature, the snake was about to bite the farmer’s little son. Seeing this, the farmer immediately realized his mistake and chased the ungrateful snake away with a stick.
Moral: Kindness shown to the wicked is never rewarded.

Day 5: Summer Friends Class VIII | English | Butterfly Memory in Marble Activities Revision + Mistake Analysis Active Recall / Teaching Leave a Reply

Revision: Summer Friends

Class VIII | Blossoms | Lesson Analysis & Quick Review

Mistake Analysis: Common Pitfalls

Common Mistake	Correct Conceptual Understanding
Confusing the Swallow with a loyal friend.	The Swallow is a "summer bird" (fair-weather friend) who leaves when it gets cold. The Sparrow is the loyal one who stays during winter.
Misinterpreting "gay young friend."	In this context, "gay" means cheerful or happy. It refers to friends who are only around during happy, prosperous times.
Thinking "crost" means being angry.	"Crost" is an old poetic form of "crossed." It means even if life's paths are separated or difficult, true friends remain close at heart.
Mixing up Adjective and Noun Clauses.	If the clause describes a noun (e.g., "a ring which has a yellow handle"), it is an Adjective Clause. If it acts as an object (e.g., "I expect that I shall get a prize"), it is a Noun Clause.

Power Revision Summary

The Two Birds (Symbolism)

• The Swallow: Represents "Summer Friends." They stay when weather is "fine and warm" (good times) but fly away in "cold wintry days" (hard times).
• The Sparrow: Represents "True/Old Friends." They "cling closer" during "snow and frost" (adversity) and their hearts never "narrow."

Poet's Desire

• The poet wants a friend who will "sing in frost" and "love in sorrow."
• A true friend greets you tomorrow regardless of today's "mischance" (bad luck).

Grammar: Clauses

• Noun Clause: Functions as a noun (e.g., "I expect that...").
• Adjective Clause: Qualifies a noun/pronoun (e.g., "The place where I was born").
• Adverb Clause: Modifies a verb/adjective (e.g., "When I was younger, I used to...").

Key Vocabulary

• Dreary: Dull/Depressing (used for winter days).
• Narrow: Here, it means becoming less loving or less generous.
• Chirping: The short, high-pitched sound of birds.

Exam Tip: In Activity 4 (Who/What), remember that the Swallow is linked to "fine weather" while the Sparrow is linked to "snow and frost." Don't swap them!

Active Recall Toolkit - Summer Friends

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Active Recall Toolkit

Lesson: Summer Friends | Class VIII Blossoms

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Active Recall

1. Blind Questions (Memory Test)

1. Which bird is referred to as the "summer bird" in the poem?

2. Where does the Swallow chirp his notes for weeks together?

3. Under what weather conditions does the Swallow stay with the poet?

4. What does the Swallow do when a "cold wintry day" arrives?

5. Who follows the behavior of the Swallow according to the poet?

6. Which bird clings closer to Man during "dreary days of snow and frost"?

7. What happens to the hearts of "old friends" even if they are "crost" in life?

8. What kind of friend does the poet specifically ask for?

9. What will the true friend do during "frost" and "sorrow"?

10. How will the true friend greet the poet "to-morrow" despite today's mischance?

11. Identify the clause type in: "I expect that I shall get a prize."

12. Identify the clause type in: "I have a ring which has a yellow handle."

13. Identify the clause type in: "When I was younger, I used to fly kites."

14. What is the antonym of "beautiful" as suggested in the text activities?

15. In the poem, what does the word "narrow" refer to regarding friends' hearts?

2. The Feynman Method (Explain to a 5-Year-Old)

"The Core Concept: True Friendship vs. Fair-weather Friendship"

The Script:

"Imagine you have two bird friends. One is a Swallow. He only likes to play when it's sunny and warm. But as soon as it gets cold and snowy, he flies away and leaves you alone! He is like a friend who only stays when things are fun."

"The other bird is a Sparrow. Even when it's freezing cold and everything is covered in ice, he stays right next to you. He doesn't care if it's a bad day; he loves you anyway. The poet says we should look for friends who are like the Sparrow—people who stay with us when we are sad or having a hard time, not just when we are happy."

3. Spaced Repetition Schedule

Day 1: Recall

• Poem lines & Bengali meaning.
• Key Vocabulary: Chirping, Dreary, Cling, Mischance.
• Activity 1 & 2 (Tick & Complete).

Day 3: Deep Dive

• Comparison: Swallow vs. Sparrow behaviors.
• Grammar: Identifying Noun, Adjective, and Adverb Clauses.
• Activity 5 (Short Answers).

Day 7: Mastery

• Theme analysis: What makes a "true friend"?
• Indirect Speech conversion (Activity 6b).
• Writing practice: Farmer and the Snake story.