The Squirrel – Class 7 English NCERT Solutions
Explore the solutions for “The Squirrel,” Class 7 English NCERT. This delightful poem teaches children about the playful nature of squirrels and how poets use creative language to describe simple things in nature. The poem helps students understand descriptive writing and encourages them to observe small animals in their surroundings.
Summary of the Poem in English
The poem “The Squirrel” is a short and sweet description of a squirrel’s appearance and behavior. The poet describes how a squirrel sits on the ground eating a nut. The squirrel has a gray coat and a tail that looks like a question mark. The poem captures the playful nature of the squirrel, showing how it teases people by running away in the opposite direction when they try to get close to it.
कविता का सारांश हिंदी में
कविता “द स्क्वैरल” एक गिलहरी के रूप और व्यवहार का एक छोटा और मधुर वर्णन है। कवि वर्णन करता है कि कैसे एक गिलहरी जमीन पर बैठकर मेवा खा रही है। गिलहरी की भूरी कोट जैसी फर है और उसकी पूंछ प्रश्नवाचक चिह्न की तरह दिखती है। कविता गिलहरी के शरारती स्वभाव को दर्शाती है, यह दिखाते हुए कि जब लोग उसके पास जाने की कोशिश करते हैं तो वह विपरीत दिशा में भाग जाती है।
Word Meanings
| Sl | English Word | Hindi Meaning | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squirrel | गिलहरी | A small rodent with a long bushy tail |
| 2 | Overcoat | ओवरकोट | A warm coat worn over other clothes |
| 3 | Gray | धूसर | Color between black and white |
| 4 | Tease | छेड़ना | To annoy someone playfully |
| 5 | Nut | मेवा | A fruit with a hard shell |
| 6 | Wore | पहना हुआ | To have on one’s body |
| 7 | Straight | सीधा | Without a curve or bend |
| 8 | Around | चारों ओर | On every side of |
| 9 | Play | खेलना | To engage in activity for enjoyment |
| 10 | Description | वर्णन | A spoken or written account |
| 11 | Question mark | प्रश्न चिह्न | The symbol (?) |
| 12 | Ground | जमीन | The solid surface of the earth |
| 13 | Tree | पेड़ | A tall plant with a trunk and branches |
| 14 | Other | दूसरा | Different from the one mentioned |
| 15 | Way | रास्ता | A path, route, or direction |
Working with the Poem
1. Why does the poet say the squirrel “wore a question mark for tail”? Draw a squirrel, or find a picture of a squirrel sitting on the ground. How would you describe its tail?
The poet uses a creative comparison to describe the squirrel’s tail. When a squirrel sits on the ground, its tail curves upward and then bends at the tip, creating a shape that looks very similar to a question mark (?). This is a beautiful example of poetic imagery where the poet compares a natural feature to something we see in our daily life. If you observe a squirrel carefully, you’ll notice that its tail often takes this curved shape, especially when the squirrel is sitting still and eating something. The bushy, curved tail not only looks like a question mark but also helps the squirrel maintain balance and keeps it warm.
2. Do we usually say that an animal ‘wears’ a tail? What do we say? (Think: Does an animal wear a coat? Consult a dictionary if you like, and find out how ‘wear’ is used in different ways.)
No, in regular English, we don’t say an animal ‘wears’ a tail. Instead, we say an animal ‘has’ a tail because a tail is a natural body part, not something that can be put on or taken off. However, in this poem, the poet uses the word ‘wore’ creatively to:
- Create an image of the squirrel being dressed up, like a person wearing clothes
- Connect it with the next line where the poet mentions the squirrel’s “overcoat of gray”
- Make the description more interesting and imaginative for young readers
3. “He liked to tease and play”. Who is teasing whom? How?
In this line, it’s actually the squirrel who is teasing the people (possibly children) who try to get close to it. The squirrel shows its playful nature by:
- Running away when people try to get near it
- Going in the opposite direction when someone runs around its tree
- Making it into a fun game of chase