CBSE Revision Notes

The Ball Poem Summary Class 10 English

This poem, by John Berriman, is about losing something that you love, and learning to grow up. It is about a little boy, who, for the first time in his young life, is learning what it is like to experience grief at the loss of a much beloved possession-his ball.

To us, the loss of a ball is of minor consequence, and our reaction to it is to say ‘O there are other balls’. But to a little boy, this is not so. A dime, another ball, is worthless. Money is external; it cannot buy back our love, nor replace the things that we love: the things that really matter. Please refer The Ball Poem Summary

How to Tell Wild Animals Summary Class 10 English

If by chance you go to any forest in the East and if a huge terrible animal comes to you and if it roars loudly and if you are dying then you will come to know that it is an Asian Lion. If a wild animal with black stripes on yellow hide welcomes you and eats you then this simple rule will teach you that it is a Bengal tiger.

When strolling if you see whose hide is covered with spots and it jumps at you and starts eating you then you understand that it is a leopard. There will be no use of shouting with pain because it will continuously eat you. If you are just walking around in your yard and an animal meets you and it hugs you tightly then believe that it is a bear. Please refer How to Tell Wild Animals Summary for more revision notes.

A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Class 10 English

This poem contrasts a tiger when it is in its natural habitat and when it is imprisoned in a zoo. On a starry night, the poet sees a tiger in a zoo. The tiger moves slowly up and down in his cage. He is full of rage but is quiet in his helplessness. The poet is moved to pity for the tiger. He says that the tiger should have been in the jungle.

He should have been moving quietly in the shadows near some water hole, and waiting for a plump deer to pass that way. But sadly he is locked behind bars in a concrete cell. He does not take any notice of the visitors and is looking at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes. Now he has to be content with merely looking at the stars .He is no longer free to move in his natural habitat and look at the brilliant stars from there . Please refer A Tiger in the Zoo Summary for more revision notes.

Fire and Ice Summary Class 10 English

The poet talks about the two different beliefs regarding end of this world. He says that he is in the favour of those who say this world will end in fire as he has seen the effect and result of uncontrolled and unending desires. He finds the human desires same as fire in its nature. On the other hand, the second belief tells that ice is sufficient for destroying this world and the poet compares the nature of ice with hatred. As ice can make a part of body numb with its prolonged contact like hatred can also give numbness to our mind and thoughts and make us insensitive and cruel. Please refer Fire and Ice Summary for more revision notes.

Dust of Snow Summary Class 10 English

The poet is upset and sitting under the hemlock tree. Suddenly a crow sitting on the tree shakes the tree and the fine particles of snow from tree falls on the poet. The soft and cold touch of snow changes the poet’s mood from sad to happy. He starts feeling soothed and refresh. In this way a simple moment proves to be very significant and saves rest of the day of poet from being wasted and held in regret. Please refer Dust of Snow Summary for more revision notes.

CBSE Notes for The Proposal Summary – Chapter 11

It is Chubukov’s house. Lomov enters . Chubukov meets him. Chubukov is extremely happy to meet him. He asks him to sit down. He also asks him where he is going in the evening dress.
Lomov tells him that he has come to see him with a request. He wants to say but gets excited. Chubukov feels that he has come to borrow money. Lomov starts speaking. But he talks of this thing or that thing. At last he says that he has come to ask Natalya’s hand. Chubukov is greatly excited to hear it.

Chubukov embraces and kisses Lomov for it. He says that he always wanted that. Lomov asks him if he should think that he gives his consent. Chubukov okays it. He tells him that Natalya also is in love with him. Please referThe Proposal Summary for more revision notes.

CBSE Notes for The Sermon at Benares Summary – Chapter 10

Sermon is a religious talk delivered by a prophet or Saint. Here we have the journey of Goutam Buddha from prince hood to his saintly life. He left the palace at the age of 25, after seeing the sufferings of the world, to seek enlightenment. He wandered for seven years, here and there, and under a peepal tree at Bodhgaya he got it. His first sermon was delivered at Benaras as it was considered to be the holiest place because of the river Ganga. Please refer The Sermon at Benares Summary for more revision notes.

CBSE Notes for Madam Rides the Bus Summary – Chapter 9

This is a sensitive story of an eight year old girl’s first bus journey into the world outside her village .The girl Valli, at a very tender age, tries to understand the mystery of life and death. The outside world for Valli is charming and fascinating but mysterious. She longs to experience it by herself. The talks of the village people about the town added fuel to the fire. She decides to go to the town all by herself without anybody’s support. She asked the bus conductor to take her to the town .She herself paid her fare.

She wanted to devour everything with her eyes. She saw the canal, palm tree, grass land, distant mountain and the blue sky. She also saw great stretch of green field as far as the eye could see. She was overjoyed when she saw a cow running with her raised tail on the road ahead of the bus. While returning she noticed that the body of the same cow was crushed and bled. Please refer Madam Rides the Bus Summary for more revision notes.

CBSE Notes for Mijbil the Otter Summary – Chapter 8

In this story the author Gavin Maxwell tells us about his pet. After the death of the dog, he thought to have another pet. Early in 1956 he travelled to Southern Iraq. He saw there some Arab people having an otter. Then, he also thought of having an otter. He told this to his friend. His mail was due; therefore, with a friend he went to Basra to receive his mail. His friend collected his mail and went away. After he had left, he received a sack in which there was something.

The sack was for the narrator and there was an otter in it. The narrator christened it, Mijbil. First the otter slept on the floor but soon he entered the bed till the servant bought tea. When it went to bathroom it plunged and rolled in the bath tub joyfully. The narrator was extremely surprised when he found it struggling with the water tap. It had learnt how to turn on the tap. It spent most of its time playing with the rubber ball and marbles. Please refer Mijbil the Otter Summary for more revision notes.

CBSE Notes for Glimpses of India Summary – Chapter 7

The lesson begins with how narrator’s elders often recall the time when Goa was under the rule of the Portuguese. They talk how the importance of bakers is still maintained in their villages even after the Portuguese have left. They are known as ‘Paders’ in Goa. The mixers, moulders and their time-tested furnaces continue to serve the people of Goa with their famous bread loaves.

It is possible that the original ones may not exist, but their profession is being continued by their sons. The thud of their bamboo stick can still be heard in some parts of the village. The same jingling thud would wake the narrator and his friends during their childhood days who would go running to him without brushing or washing their mouth properly. Please refer Glimpses of India Summary for more revision notes.