Lesson 12: Someone

(i) The door was (b) small.

(ii) The poet looked (c) to left and right.

(iii) The busy beetle was tap-tapping in the (a) wall.

(iv) The cricket was (b) whistling.

(a) Someone came knocking at the poet's wee, small door.

(b) There was no stirring in the still, dark night.

(c) The poet heard the screech-owl's call from the forest.

(d) The poet did not know who came knocking.

I think the "someone" who came knocking was not a person, but the subtle sounds of nature at night. The poet only hears a beetle, an owl, and a cricket, suggesting that these natural noises created the illusion of a knock, making the "someone" a mysterious presence of the natural world itself.

(a) After hearing the knocking, the poet listened, opened the door, and looked to the left and right.

(b) The night was still and dark, with no movement or stirring.

(c) The insects mentioned in the poem are the beetle and the cricket.

(d) The poet uses the expression 'at all' thrice to emphasize his complete and utter uncertainty. It highlights the mystery and his inability to identify the source of the knocking, reinforcing the mysterious atmosphere of the poem.

(i) The Mayor will be going to Pune next week.

(ii) By next December, we will have stayed here for three years.

(iii) Perhaps they will visit Dooars later.

(iv) The boy has been watching television since morning.

(i) to speak to his teacher - Noun Phrase (Infinitive Phrase)

(ii) At this moment - Adverb Phrase

(iii) To do well in the competition - Noun Phrase (Infinitive Phrase)

(iv) made of wood - Adjective Phrase

(i) as soon as she saw the strange man - Adverb Clause

(ii) who was carrying a child - Adjective Clause

(iii) wherever he goes - Adverb Clause

(iv) that it would not rain today - Noun Clause

(i) The World Cup in cricket was won by India recently.

(ii) English was being taught by the teacher.

(iii) A beautiful song is being sung by Rani.

(iv) The rooftops of the houses were blown away by the wind.

(i) wee: The mouse hid in a wee crack in the wall.

(ii) stirring: Not a leaf was stirring in the silent forest.

(iii) busy: The bees were busy collecting nectar from the flowers.

(iv) dewdrops: The morning grass sparkled with tiny dewdrops.

A Night in the Forest

Last month, I spent a night in a forest guest house. The moon was full, casting silvery shadows through the trees. It was magical but also a little eerie. I couldn't sleep much because the forest was alive with sounds. I heard the constant chirping of crickets, the hooting of a distant owl, and the rustling of leaves as small animals moved about. Once, a sudden howl of a jackal made me jump. Though a bit scary, it was an unforgettable experience of being so close to nature's nightlife.

An Owl's Tale

As the sun sets, my world awakens. From my home high in the old banyan tree, I watch the moon cast a silver glow. This is my time. With a silent flap of my powerful wings, I glide through the cool night air. My sharp eyes can spot the tiniest mouse scurrying in the fields below. I love the symphony of the night – the crickets' song, the rustle of leaves. While others sleep, I am the watchful king of this dark, beautiful kingdom, free and alive under the stars.