Chapter 15
THE BLIND BEGGAR
1. Where does the narrator see the beggar every day, and why is this significant?
Answer:The narrator sees the beggar standing beside the temple gate every morning while going to school. This is significant because it shows the beggar’s routine and the fact that he relies on the kindness of strangers for survival.
2. What does the beggar do with his bowl, and why?
Answer:The beggar clanks his begging bowl and cries loudly to ask people for help. He does this to make himself heard and attract attention from passersby, as he cannot see them due to his blindness.
3. Why must the narrator not mock the beggar’s cry?
Answer:The narrator must not mock the beggar’s cry because the beggar has no friends or support to keep him clean and tidy. Mocking him would be cruel, as he is already vulnerable and helpless.
4. How does the poem describe the beggar’s living situation?
Answer:The beggar has nowhere to live and always sits in the same place near the temple gate. This description emphasizes his poverty, helplessness, and dependence on others for food and support.
5. What physical limitation does the beggar have, and how does it affect him?
Answer:The beggar is blind and cannot see the city domes, the clear blue sky, or the people around him, including the narrator. This limitation makes him entirely dependent on his voice to communicate and attract attention.
6. Despite his blindness, what does the poem suggest about the beggar’s relationship with God?
Answer:The poem suggests that God loves the beggar as much as He loves the narrator. This conveys that physical limitations or poverty do not reduce a person’s value in the eyes of God.
7. How is the beggar’s voice described in the poem?
Answer:The beggar’s voice is described as hoarse and loud. Although it may sound rough, it is his only means of communication and survival, emphasizing his determination to be heard.
8. Why does the poet say the beggar has no friends to keep him tidy?
Answer:The beggar has no friends to take care of him because he is poor, homeless, and blind. This highlights his vulnerability and the need for compassion from society.
9. What does the word ‘clanks’ mean in the context of the poem?
Answer:‘Clanks’ refers to the loud sound the beggar makes by hitting his begging bowl. It emphasizes the effort he makes to attract attention despite his physical limitations.
10. Why is it important not to mock someone like the blind beggar?
Answer:It is important not to mock him because he is helpless and vulnerable. Laughing at him would show cruelty and lack of empathy, while compassion would help him survive with dignity.
11. How does the poet convey the beggar’s routine in the city?
Answer:The poet conveys the beggar’s routine by mentioning that he always sits in the same place near the temple gate, showing consistency in his daily struggle for survival.
12. What is implied by the beggar not being able to see the city domes?
Answer:It implies that he misses out on the beauty and structure of the world around him, highlighting the limitations caused by his blindness.
13. How does the poet show sympathy for the beggar?
Answer:The poet shows sympathy by describing his poverty, blindness, and the lack of friends to help him, and by reminding readers that God still loves him.
14. What moral lesson does the poem teach?
Answer:The poem teaches the moral lesson of empathy and compassion. We should not mock or ridicule those who are less fortunate, as they too have value and deserve respect.
15. How does the poet describe the beggar’s cry?
Answer:The poet describes the beggar’s cry as hoarse and loud, indicating his desperation and the effort he makes to survive.
16. What does the poem reveal about society’s attitude towards beggars?
Answer:The poem subtly shows that beggars are often ignored or mocked by society, but it urges readers to recognize their humanity and treat them with kindness.
17. Why does the poet mention that the beggar has no friends?
Answer:The poet mentions this to emphasize the beggar’s isolation and dependence on the charity of strangers, highlighting the need for social compassion.
18. How does the word ‘hoarse’ describe the beggar’s voice?
Answer:‘Hoarse’ describes a rough, harsh, and strained voice, suggesting that the beggar’s continuous crying for help has affected his voice.
19. What can we learn from the beggar’s persistence?
Answer:We learn that even in difficult circumstances, persistence and determination are important for survival. The beggar continues to clank his bowl and ask for help despite his blindness.
20. How does the poem reflect the beggar’s dependence on others?
Answer:The poem reflects this dependence through the beggar’s reliance on his voice and the kindness of strangers to provide him with food and support.
21. Why does the poet emphasize that God loves the beggar?
Answer:The poet emphasizes this to show that every human being has worth and dignity, regardless of their physical or social limitations.
22. What emotions does the beggar evoke in the narrator?
Answer:The beggar evokes feelings of sympathy, compassion, and a sense of moral responsibility in the narrator.
23. What does the word ‘tidy’ mean in the context of the poem?
Answer:‘Tidy’ means neat and clean. The beggar is not tidy because he has no friends to help him, reflecting his challenging circumstances.
24. How does the poet use the temple gate as a setting?
Answer:The temple gate is used to show a public place where the beggar seeks help and where the narrator observes him, symbolizing both exposure and vulnerability.
25. How does the beggar’s blindness affect his daily life?
Answer:His blindness prevents him from seeing the city, the sky, or people approaching him, making him dependent on sound and human kindness for survival.
26. Why does the poet use the phrase ‘God loves that poor old beggar man’?
Answer:The poet uses this phrase to highlight the equality of all human beings in the eyes of God, emphasizing moral and spiritual dignity.
27. What does the poem teach about judging people by appearance?
Answer:The poem teaches that judging people by appearance is wrong, as the beggar may seem helpless but has inherent value and deserves compassion.
28. How is the beggar described physically in the poem?
Answer:The beggar is described as blind, hoarse-voiced, and untidy, highlighting his struggles and physical limitations.
29. What is the significance of the beggar clanking his bowl?
Answer:Clanking his bowl is significant as it is his way of communicating with the world and requesting help, showing his resourcefulness despite his blindness.
30. How does the poem convey the contrast between the narrator and the beggar?
Answer:The contrast is conveyed through their abilities: the narrator can see and move freely, while the beggar is blind, isolated, and dependent on others for survival.
31. What feeling does the word ‘mock’ indicate?
Answer:The word ‘mock’ indicates ridicule or making fun of someone, which the narrator is warned not to do with the beggar.
32. Why does the poet describe the beggar as having ‘no friends to keep him good and tidy’?
Answer:This description emphasizes the beggar’s loneliness and neglect, showing the harsh reality of his life and evoking sympathy.
33. How does the poet create empathy for the beggar?
Answer:Empathy is created by highlighting his blindness, poverty, isolation, and the unfairness of society, while reminding readers that he is loved by God.
34. How is the beggar’s voice an essential tool for survival?
Answer:His voice is essential because, being blind, he cannot rely on sight. His loud cries and clanking bowl attract attention and help him receive aid from passersby.
35. What lesson about humanity can we learn from the beggar’s life?
Answer:We learn to treat all people with respect, kindness, and empathy, understanding that every life has value, regardless of physical or social limitations.
36. What does the poet mean by ‘he has nowhere to live’?
Answer:It means the beggar is homeless and lives a precarious life dependent on charity and public generosity.
37. How does the poet show that the beggar’s life is difficult?
Answer:The poet shows this by describing his blindness, hoarse voice, untidy appearance, lack of friends, and dependence on begging for survival.
38. How is God’s love portrayed in the poem?
Answer:God’s love is portrayed as equal for everyone, including the beggar, implying that spiritual worth is not determined by material wealth or physical ability.
39. What can children learn from the narrator’s observation of the beggar?
Answer:Children can learn empathy, compassion, and respect for those less fortunate, and that they should never mock or ridicule anyone.
40. Summarize the main theme of the poem in a few sentences.
Answer:The poem highlights the life of a blind, poor beggar, emphasizing his struggles, dependence on others, and society’s attitude towards him. It teaches empathy, compassion, and respect for all, while reminding readers that God loves everyone equally, regardless of their circumstances.
Answer by Mrinmoee
