My Shadow | Marigold V | Summary | Questions and Answers

 

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English | Marigold Book V

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In this post, you will find the summary, questions and answers to the poem ‘My Shadow’, taken from the recently introduced English for JK UT students, Marigold Book V. Read the poem from the Textbook of English Marigold Book V of JK or download the same series from the ncert website.

 

Unit 3
Summary | Questions | Answers |

Poem 3. My Shadow (Robbert Louis Stevenson)

 

My Shadow

I have a little shadow that goes

in and out with me.

And what can be the use of him is

more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the

heels up to the head;

And I see him jump before me,

When I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way

he likes to grow

Not at all like proper children, which is

always very slow;

For he sometimes shoots up taller like an

India-rubber ball,

And he sometimes gets so little that

There's none of him at all.

One morning, very early, before the

sun I was up,

I rose and found the shining dew

on every buttercup;

But my lazy little shadow, like an

arrant sleepyhead.

Had stayed at home behind me and was

Fast asleep in bed.

(Robert Louis Stevenson)

 

New Words

India-rubber ball: a ball that can bounce very high

buttercup: a yellow flower

arrant: bad

arrant sleepyhead: completely inattentive

 

Short Summary

"My Shadow" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a delightful poem that explores the playful and inseparable relationship between a child and their shadow. The poem describes how the speaker's shadow is a constant companion, mimicking their every move, whether big or small. The child is fascinated by the versatility of the shadow, which can be short or tall depending on the time of day or the position of the sun.

Stevenson captures the innocence and curiosity of childhood as the speaker imagines the shadow as a separate entity with its thoughts and actions. Despite its silent and unobtrusive nature, the shadow is portrayed as a loyal and entertaining friend, making the mundane activities of life more enjoyable. The poem celebrates the magic and wonder of the simple act of observing one's shadow and the imaginative world it can create for a child.

 

Let’s Read

Question 1. Who do you think your shadow looks like?

Answer:

My shadow looks like me.

 

Question 2. Why do you think your shadow jumps into bed before you can?

Answer:

My shadow jumps into bed before I jump because it stands in front of me.

 

Question 3. What time of the day do you think it is when your shadow is the tallest? Why?

Ø  Morning

Ø  Afternoon

Ø  Night

Answer:

My shadow is tallest in the morning because in the morning the sun is far away from me.

 

Question 4. Read the lines from the poem and answer the following.

 

He is very, very like me.

From the heels up to the head!

 

(i) Who does ‘he’ refer to?

Answer: ‘He’ refers to the shadow.

 

(ii) Who does me refer to?

Answer: ‘Me’ refers to the poet or narrator.

 

(iii) Why are he and me alike?

Answer: He and me are alike because ‘he’ is the shadow of ‘me’.

 

Let’s Write

 

1. Fill in the blanks using one of the words given in brackets.

(i) Where is the child ________ parents have come to school? (who/whose/which)

(ii) I saw many houses ________ were quite spacious. (which/whose/who).

(iii) Mathematics, ________ is my favourite subject, is so interesting. (who/which/that)

(iv) The poem ________ you read out, is so lovely. (whose/which/that)

(v) I know the street ________ he lives on. (whose/ that/which)

(vi) I like reading books ________ have pictures in it. (that/who/which)

(vii) The old lady _______________ I met in your house is my neighbour. (whom / that/which)

 

Answer:

(i) Where is the child whose parents have come to school? (who/whose/which)

(ii) I saw many houses which were quite spacious. (which/whose/who).

(iii) Mathematics, that is my favourite subject, is so interesting. (who/which/that)

(iv) The poem that you read out, is so lovely. (whose/which/that)

(v) I know the street which he lives on. (whose/ that/which)

(vi) I like reading books that have pictures in it. (that/who/which)

(vii) The old lady whom I met in your house is my neighbour. (whom / that/which)