Chapter 11
What's in the Mailbox?
1. Who comes to deliver letters in the poem, and what is his role?
Answer: The postman comes to deliver letters in the poem. His role is to bring letters, parcels, and sometimes money orders to people. He makes sure that communication reaches every home.
2. What does the postman usually bring, and for whom?
Answer: Most of the time, the postman brings two or three letters. These letters are usually for the child’s mother or father, and none of the letters are addressed to the child in the beginning.
3. How does the child feel when the postman delivers letters only to the parents?
Answer: The child feels unhappy and left out when the postman brings letters only for the parents. The child wishes to receive letters too and feels a little sad seeing others get letters while he does not.
4. What decision does the child make to get letters for himself?
Answer: The child decides to write letters to his friends. By sending letters, he hopes his friends will write back, and then he will receive letters in return.
5. Why is the mailbox important in the poem?
Answer: The mailbox is important because it is the place where letters are dropped and collected. It connects people who are far apart and helps in sharing feelings, news, and messages.
6. What does the word “never” in the poem indicate about the letters?
Answer: The word “never” indicates that initially the child does not receive any letters at all. It emphasizes the child’s feeling of being left out before he decides to write letters himself.
7. How does writing letters change the child’s experience with the mailbox?
Answer: Writing letters changes the child’s experience because he begins to receive letters from his friends. This makes him happy and gives him a sense of participation in communication.
8. What feelings does the child have before writing letters?
Answer: Before writing letters, the child feels sad, lonely, and a little neglected because he does not receive any letters while everyone else does.
9. How does the child plan to make friends respond to him?
Answer: The child plans to make friends respond by sending them letters first. He hopes that after receiving his letters, his friends will write back, and he will get letters too.
10. Why is receiving letters from friends important to the child?
Answer: Receiving letters from friends is important because it gives the child happiness and a sense of being connected. It also allows the child to share thoughts and experiences with others.
11. What role does the mailbox play in communication according to the poem?
Answer: The mailbox acts as a bridge for communication. It allows people to send and receive letters, making it possible to share feelings, ideas, and messages even when they are far apart.
12. What does the child hope to achieve by writing letters?
Answer: The child hopes to achieve the joy of receiving letters and the excitement of exchanging messages with friends. It also gives him the chance to make friends communicate with him regularly.
13. How does the poem show the child’s imagination and initiative?
Answer: The poem shows the child’s imagination and initiative because he does not just wait for letters; he decides to take action by writing letters to his friends. This shows his creativity and willingness to participate.
14. What is the meaning of the word “get” in the poem?
Answer: In the poem, the word “get” means to receive something. The child wants to get letters, meaning he wants letters to be delivered to him in return for the letters he sends.
15. How does the child feel about sending letters to friends?
Answer: The child feels excited and hopeful about sending letters. He believes that writing letters will help him receive letters in return and make him happy.
16. How does the poem show the importance of communication?
Answer: The poem shows that communication is important for sharing feelings and staying connected. Even small letters can bring joy and build friendships.
17. Why do you think the child’s parents get letters more often than him?
Answer: The child’s parents likely get letters more often because they are adults, perhaps receiving bills, invitations, or official communication, whereas the child is young and does not usually receive letters.
18. How does the child’s plan reflect problem-solving skills?
Answer: The child’s plan reflects problem-solving skills because he identifies why he is unhappy (not receiving letters) and finds a solution (writing letters to friends) to improve his situation.
19. What is the child’s attitude toward waiting for letters?
Answer: Initially, the child feels impatient and sad about waiting for letters. However, he takes a proactive approach by deciding to write letters, showing a positive and determined attitude.
20. How does the postman contribute to the story’s plot?
Answer: The postman is a key character who initiates the story’s conflict. By delivering letters to parents and not the child, he indirectly motivates the child to take action and write letters.
21. What lesson can be learned from the poem?
Answer: The lesson is that taking initiative can solve problems. If you want something, you should act instead of waiting passively. Writing letters helped the child feel included.
22. How does the child imagine the letters from friends?
Answer: The child imagines the letters from friends as something exciting and joyful. He looks forward to reading them and feeling connected to his friends.
23. Why is the child’s plan likely to succeed?
Answer: The plan is likely to succeed because friends generally respond to letters, and by sending letters first, the child ensures he will receive letters in return.
24. How does the poem reflect the child’s emotions?
Answer: The poem reflects emotions like loneliness, hope, excitement, and joy. At first, the child is sad, but he becomes hopeful and happy after planning to write letters.
25. How do letters act as a means of friendship in the poem?
Answer: Letters act as a means of friendship by allowing children to share messages, greetings, and stories with one another, strengthening their bond even if they are apart.
26. What is the significance of the postman bringing multiple letters?
Answer: It shows that communication is continuous and that letters are an important part of daily life. It also highlights that initially, the child is left out, which drives the story forward.
27. Why does the child want letters so badly?
Answer: The child wants letters to feel included and to have a way to communicate with friends. It also gives him happiness and a sense of belonging.
28. How does the poem describe the mailbox?
Answer: The poem mentions the mailbox as the place where letters are received and collected. It is essential for communication and connects people over distance.
29. What kind of letters does the child expect from his friends?
Answer: The child expects friendly letters, likely containing stories, greetings, or drawings. He looks forward to personal messages that show friendship.
30. How does the poem end regarding the child’s plan?
Answer: The poem ends on a hopeful note, with the child planning to write letters so that he will also receive letters and experience the joy of exchanging messages.
31. What emotions are portrayed in the lines “But never one for me”?
Answer: The lines show sadness, loneliness, and a sense of being left out. The child feels disappointed and wishes to be included in receiving letters.
32. How does writing letters empower the child?
Answer: Writing letters empowers the child because it gives him control over his communication. Instead of waiting passively, he creates an opportunity to receive letters and engage with friends.
33. What does the poem teach about patience and action?
Answer: The poem teaches that while waiting patiently is important, taking action is equally necessary. The child’s decision to write letters shows that effort leads to results.
34. How can children relate to the feelings of the child in the poem?
Answer: Children can relate to feelings of being left out or wanting attention. The poem shows that taking initiative can help them feel included and happy.
35. What message does the poem give about friendship?
Answer: The poem emphasizes that friendship involves communication and sharing. Writing and exchanging letters strengthen bonds between friends.
36. How does the child plan to make the mailbox more exciting for himself?
Answer: By writing letters and receiving replies, the child plans to make the mailbox a source of joy and excitement, transforming it from a place of disappointment to happiness.
37. How is the postman important for connecting people?
Answer: The postman is essential because he delivers letters that connect people who are not in the same place, helping maintain relationships and communication.
38. How does the poem highlight the joy of sending and receiving letters?
Answer: The poem highlights joy by showing the child’s excitement at the idea of receiving letters and the happiness it brings when communication is shared with friends.
39. How does the child’s plan reflect creativity?
Answer: The child’s plan reflects creativity because he thinks of a way to solve his problem using letters, imagining that friends will respond and bring him happiness.
40. Summarize the main idea of the poem in one sentence.
Answer:The main idea of the poem is that by taking initiative, such as writing letters to friends, a child can find happiness and connection, even if he initially feels left out.
Answer by Mrinmoee
