Poem Text & Bengali Meaning (বঙ্গানুবাদ)
About the Poet - Katherine Pyle
Katherine Pyle (1863–1938) was an American artist, poet, and children's author born in Wilmington, Delaware. Her first major success came in 1898 with The Counterpane Fairy. Over her distinguished career, she wrote more than 30 books and illustrated works by other authors. Her writing often carried themes of courage, imagination, and self-discovery for young readers.
Word Nest (শব্দ ভান্ডার)
| English Word | Meaning in English | Bengali Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tranquil | quiet and peaceful | শান্ত, প্রশান্ত |
| stirred | moved slightly | নড়ে উঠল, আন্দোলিত |
| flight | act of flying | উড়ান, ওড়া |
| whirling | moving around quickly in a circle | ঘূর্ণায়মান, ঘুরপাক খাওয়া |
| breeze | a gentle wind | মৃদু বাতাস, হাওয়া |
| trembling | shaking slightly due to fear or excitement | কাঁপছে, থরথর করছে |
| steadily | in a regular and continuous way | স্থিরভাবে, অবিচলিতভাবে |
| thrilled | feeling very excited and happy | রোমাঞ্চিত, শিহরিত |
Activity Solutions
Activity 1 Tick (✓) the correct alternative:
Answer: (ii) fly
(b) The big kite told the small kite to
Answer: (i) try
(c) While flying the little kite was filled with
Answer: (ii) pride
(d) The boys looked like small
Answer: (iii) spots
Activity 2 Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(b) The little kite's paper stirred at the sight.
(c) The little kite smiled with the big kite side by side.
(d) The little kite and the big kite rested high in the quiet air.
Activity 3 Answer the following question:
Answer: When the little kite saw the big kite rising confidently towards the tranquil sky, it inspired him. The sight of the big kite flying freely made the little kite's paper stir with a desire to fly too.
Activity 4 Fill in the following chart with information from the text:
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| (a) The kite was afraid to fly. | He thought he would fall if he tried to fly. |
| (b) The big kite flew towards the tranquil sky. | The little kite grew braver. |
| (c) The little kite sailed with the big kite side by side. | The little kite was thrilled with pride. |
| (d) The boys were far below on the ground. | The boys looked like small spots moving round. |
Activity 5 Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
Answer: The big kite told the little kite to try to fly. He warned him that if he did not try, he would never learn to fly at all.
(b) How did the little kite prepare himself for flight?
Answer: The little kite's paper stirred at the sight of the big kite flying. Then, trembling with fear but gathering courage, he shook himself free and began his flight. At first he whirled around frightened, then he grew braver and rose up through the air alone.
(c) Whom did the kites get as companions high up in the quiet air?
Answer: High up in the quiet air, the kites got only the birds and the clouds as their companions.
(d) "Oh, how happy I am"—Why did the little kite feel so?
Answer: The little kite felt extremely happy because he had successfully overcome his fear of flying. He was flying high in the sky alongside the big kite, feeling proud of himself because he had been brave and had tried.
Activity 6(a) Fill in the blanks with suitable articles:
(ii) Iron is a useful metal.
(iii) I waited at the station for an hour.
(iv) She is a European.
Activity 6(b) Tick (✓) the appropriate form of the given verbs in brackets:
(ii) Each of the children has arrived.
(iii) The mother and her child are going to the market.
(iv) Esha as well as her sister is taking part in the school sports.
Activity 7(a) Add a prefix or a suffix to the following words to form opposites:
| Word | Opposite |
|---|---|
| learn | unlearn |
| steadily | unsteadily |
| rest | unrest |
| cloud | cloudless |
| happy | unhappy |
Activity 7(b) Make meaningful sentences of your own with the following words:
frightened: The little puppy was frightened by the loud thunder.
sailed: The paper boat sailed smoothly across the pond.
brave: The brave firefighter saved the child from the burning building.
Activity 8(a) Read the paragraph carefully and fill in the following chart with information from the passage:
Last summer, four of us went to Arun's aunt's place in the Sunderbans. They were my friends—Sumit and Arun and his younger brother, Barun. Sumit, Arun and I study in class X and Barun is two years younger to us. We began the journey on Monday. We travelled by bus and then by boat. We stayed there for three days. We visited the bird sanctuary. We returned on Thursday evening at 7.30pm.
| Details | Answer |
|---|---|
| (a) number of people | Four |
| (b) names of the people | The narrator, Sumit, Arun, and Barun |
| (c) destination | Arun's aunt's place in the Sunderbans |
| (d) duration of the trip | Three days (Monday to Thursday) |
| (e) vehicles used | Bus and boat |
| (f) places visited | The bird sanctuary |
Activity 8(b) Write a dialogue between two sisters, where the elder sister is encouraging the younger one to read out a patriotic poem in her school on Independence Day:
Elder Sister (Riya): Didi, I heard your school is celebrating Independence Day with a cultural programme. Are you participating in anything?
Younger Sister (Piya): No, Didi. I feel very nervous to go on stage. Everyone will look at me.
Riya: Oh, you shouldn't be afraid! Remember the little kite from your poem? He was scared too, but he tried and flew so high!
Piya: But what if I forget the lines? I will feel so ashamed.
Riya: You have a beautiful voice, Piya. And reciting a patriotic poem on Independence Day is such an honour. It shows your love for our country. I will help you practise every evening. You just need to be brave and try!
Piya: Will you really help me practise, Didi?
Riya: Of course! We will practise together until you feel completely confident. Just imagine how proud Ma and Baba will be when they see you on stage.
Piya: (smiling) Alright, Didi. I will try. Please teach me a nice patriotic poem.
Riya: That's my brave little sister! Let's start right now. I know the perfect poem for you.
Summary & Moral of the Poem
Summary: This beautiful poem by Katherine Pyle tells the story of a little kite who is too afraid to fly. He watches the big kite soar confidently into the sky and believes he will fall if he tries. The big kite encourages him to at least attempt. Inspired by the sight, the little kite gathers courage, shakes himself free, and after some initial fear and trembling, rises steadily into the sky. Soon, he is flying side by side with the big kite, thrilled with pride and joy. He realizes that his happiness is entirely the result of being brave and trying.
Moral: The poem teaches us the valuable lesson that courage and effort are the keys to overcoming fear and achieving success. We must try, even when we are afraid, because only by trying can we discover our true potential.
Let's Talk: Someone Who Inspired You
Tell the class about someone who has inspired you to participate in either a swimming competition or a school drama.
Sample Answer (School Drama): My elder cousin, Rohit, inspired me to participate in my school drama. Last year, I was very shy and refused to audition for the annual play. Rohit shared his own story of how he overcame stage fright during his first performance. He told me, "Fear is natural, but it disappears the moment you step on stage." He helped me practise my dialogues every day after school. When I finally performed on stage and heard the applause, I felt exactly like the little kite—thrilled with pride. Today, acting is my favourite hobby, all because Rohit encouraged me to be brave and try.
Let's Work Together: Imagine Yourself as a Kite
Now, imagine yourself to be a kite that has gone high up in the sky. Tell the class your feelings as you soar high up in the sky.
Sample Expression: Oh, what a wonderful feeling this is! I am a beautiful kite soaring high above the world. The gentle breeze carries me higher and higher. Below me, the houses look like tiny toy blocks, the trees like green dots, and the people like ants moving slowly. The sky is my playground now—so vast, so blue, so peaceful. Fluffy white clouds float past me like soft cotton. A flock of birds flies alongside me, chirping as if to welcome me. I feel free, fearless, and full of joy. I remember when I was afraid to even flutter, but now I dance with the wind. I am proud of myself for being brave and trying. This is the happiest moment of my life!