Chapter- 16 The Mountain and the Squirrel
1. Who are the two speakers in the poem?
Answer: The mountain and the squirrel.
2. What happened between the mountain and the squirrel?
Answer: They had a quarrel.
3. What did the mountain call the squirrel?
Answer: The mountain called the squirrel a “little prig.”
4. Who is ‘Bun’ in the poem?
Answer: Bun is the squirrel.
5. How does the squirrel respond to the mountain?
Answer: The squirrel responds politely but confidently.
6. What does the squirrel admit about the mountain?
Answer: The squirrel admits that the mountain is very big.
7. What does the squirrel say is necessary to make a year and a sphere?
Answer: All sorts of things and weather are necessary.
8. What does the squirrel say about occupying his place?
Answer: He says it is no disgrace to occupy his own place.
9. Does the squirrel feel inferior to the mountain?
Answer: No, the squirrel feels self-respect and confidence.
10. What does the squirrel say about size?
Answer: If the squirrel is not as large as the mountain, the mountain is not as small as the squirrel.
11. What quality does the squirrel say he has more than the mountain?
Answer: He is more active (spry).
12. What skill of the squirrel does the mountain admire?
Answer: The mountain admires the pretty squirrel track.
13. What does the line “Talents differ” mean?
Answer: Everyone has differenbt abilities.
14. What work can the mountain do that the squirrel cannot?
Answer: The mountain can carry forests on its back.
15. What work can the squirrel do that the mountain cannot?
Answer: The squirrel can crack a nut.
16. What is the main theme of the poem?
Answer: Equality and respect for different talents.
17. What lesson does the poem teach us?
Answer: Everyone is important in their own way.
18. Why should we not feel proud of our strengths?
Answer: Because others also have unique abilities.
19. What poetic device is used by giving human qualities to animals?
Answer: Personification.
20. Is the poem humorous or serious?
Answer: The poem is light-hearted but meaningful.
21. What does the poem say about nature?
Answer: Nature needs diversity to be complete.
22. Why is the mountain wrong to insult the squirrel?
Answer: Because size does not decide importance.
23. How does the squirrel show wisdom?
Answer: By accepting differences and valuing all roles.
24. What is the tone of the squirrel’s reply?
Answer: Calm, confident, and wise.
25. What does “sphere” symbolize in the poem?
Answer: It symbolizes the world or universe.
26. Who wrote the poem?
Answer: Ralph Waldo Emerson.
27. What values does the poem promote?
Answer: Tolerance, humility, and self-respect.
28. How is the poem relevant to human life?
Answer: Like nature, society needs people with different talents.
29. Do you think both are important? Why?
Answer: Yes, because each has a unique role.
30. What is the central message of the poem?
Answer: No one is superior; everyone matters.
Answer by Dimpee Bora
