Chapter 12 

                                              Hurt No Living Thing


1. Have you ever visited a zoo? Describe your experience.

Answer: Yes, I have visited a zoo. I saw many animals like lions, tigers, elephants, and peacocks. I enjoyed watching them, learning about their habits, and understood the importance of protecting animals in their natural habitat.


2. Have you ever seen anybody teasing or hurting animals? How did you feel?

Answer: Yes, once I saw some children teasing a stray dog. I felt very sad and angry because hurting animals is cruel. This made me realize that we should always treat animals kindly.


3. How do you feel if someone hurts you?

Answer: If someone hurts me, I feel sad, upset, and sometimes angry. This teaches me that hurting others, including animals, is painful and wrong.


4. What is the main message of the poem “Hurt No Living Thing”?

Answer: The main message of the poem is that we should never hurt any living creature, no matter how small or harmless, and always treat all life with kindness and care.


5. Which creatures are mentioned in the poem that we should not hurt?

Answer:The poem mentions ladybirds, butterflies, moths, crickets, grasshoppers, gnats, beetles, and harmless worms as examples of living things that should not be hurt.


6. What quality of the cricket is highlighted in the poem?

Answer: The cricket is described as chirping cheerily, showing that it is a happy and lively creature that should not be harmed.


7. What does the poet mean by “moth with dusty wing”?

Answer: It means a moth with wings covered with dust. The poet uses it to show that even tiny and seemingly insignificant creatures deserve care and should not be hurt.


8. According to the poem, why should we not hurt any living thing?

Answer: We should not hurt any living thing because all creatures, big or small, are part of nature and deserve respect and compassion.


9. What lesson about kindness can we learn from this poem?

Answer: The poem teaches us empathy and compassion, showing that we should always be gentle and considerate toward animals and insects.


10. What is the meaning of “hurt” in the poem?

Answer: “Hurt” means to cause pain, injury, or suffering to any living creature.


11. What does “cheerily” mean in the poem?

Answer: “Cheerily” means happily or joyfully, describing the way the cricket sings.


12. What does “leap” mean in the poem?

Answer: “Leap” means to jump or spring, as in the way grasshoppers move.


13. What does “dusty” mean in the poem?

Answer: “Dusty” means covered with dust, used to describe the wings of the moth.


14. Why does the poet include both tiny and harmless creatures in the poem?

Answer: The poet includes tiny creatures like gnats and worms to show that even small and harmless beings deserve care and protection.


15. What does the poet mean by “nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat”?

Answer: The poet emphasizes that even small insects and fat beetles, often ignored, should not be harmed.


16. Why should we not hurt worms according to the poem?

Answer: Worms are harmless creatures, and hurting them is unnecessary and cruel. They are useful in nature and deserve protection.


17. What human quality is reflected in the poem?

Answer: The poem reflects the human qualities of sensitivity, kindness, and respect for life.


18. How can this poem help children develop values?

Answer: The poem teaches empathy, kindness, and moral responsibility, helping children understand the importance of treating all living beings with care.


19. How are insects and small animals shown as important in the poem?

Answer: Even small creatures like ladybirds and crickets are part of the ecosystem, and the poem shows that they have a right to live safely without being harmed.


20. What is the tone of the poem?

Answer: The tone of the poem is gentle, caring, and instructive, encouraging kindness toward all living things.


21. What lesson about sensitivity can we learn from the poem?

Answer: We learn to be sensitive to the feelings and well-being of all creatures, avoiding harm and showing compassion.


22. Why does the poet address the reader directly using “Hurt no living thing”?

Answer: The direct address makes the advice personal and memorable, emphasizing that everyone should follow it.


23. What message does the poem give about human responsibility toward nature?

Answer: Humans have a responsibility to protect and care for all living beings, showing respect and compassion in nature.


24. What feeling do you get when you read the poem?

Answer: The poem makes me feel thoughtful, compassionate, and careful about how I treat animals and insects.


25. Why is the cricket described as “chirping cheerily”?

Answer: It shows that even small creatures enjoy life, and their happiness should not be disturbed by human cruelty.


26. What is the significance of including both insects and worms in the poem?

Answer: Including insects and worms shows that all living beings, visible or tiny, are valuable and should not be harmed.


27. How does the poet create an image of lively nature in the poem?

Answer: The poet uses words like chirping, leaping, dancing, creeping to show that nature is full of active, living creatures.


28. What does the poem teach about cruelty toward animals?

Answer: It teaches that cruelty is wrong and that we should act with gentleness and kindness toward every living being.


29. How can children follow the advice given in the poem?

Answer: Children can follow the advice by not hurting insects, birds, or animals, and treating all living things gently.


30. What does the poet ask us to value through the poem?

Answer: The poet asks us to value all life, no matter how small, and to treat every living creature with care and respect.


31. How are ladybirds described in the poem?

Answer: Ladybirds are mentioned as creatures that should not be hurt, emphasizing that even tiny insects are important.


32. What is the meaning of “harmless worms that creep”?

Answer: It refers to worms that move slowly and are harmless, showing that even such small creatures deserve protection.


33. Give examples of creatures mentioned in the poem that fly.

Answer: Examples include ladybirds, butterflies, and moths, which are flying insects that should not be harmed.


34. What is the poet’s attitude toward insects?

Answer: The poet has a caring, gentle, and protective attitude, encouraging kindness toward all living beings.


35. Why does the poet use the word “dusty” for the moth’s wing?

Answer: To show that even imperfect or small creatures have value and deserve care and protection.


36. What human value is highlighted in this poem?

Answer: The poem highlights sensitivity, empathy, kindness, and respect for all living beings.


37. How does the poem suggest humans should live in harmony with nature?

Answer: Humans should avoid harming creatures, be gentle, and respect all living beings, promoting harmony with nature.


38. How can the poem help develop moral values in children?

Answer: The poem teaches compassion and moral responsibility, encouraging children to treat all living things with care.


39. What does “nor grasshoppers so light of leap” indicate?

Answer: It indicates that even tiny creatures that jump lightly deserve care and should not be harmed.


40. Summarize the moral of the poem in one sentence.

Answer: The moral of the poem is: We should never hurt any living creature and must treat all life with kindness and respect.

Answer by Mrinmoee