3.1. Life is a Journey

A1. Matching

Look at the columns in the following table, one describing the stages of a journey and the other, stages of life. Discuss with your partner and match them.

Journey LifeBeginning of a journey Death/passing awayStations / stops in a journey Pains/sufferings/illnessProblems / obstacles in a journey Childhood / adolescenceReaching the final destination Birth of a person

A2. Future careersLook at the following diagram of a railway line, Point out the stations and different routes; you would like to follow in future. Discuss with your partner the reason why you would like to follow that route.

DiagramVocational courses

8th Std. 9th Std. 10th Std. Diplomas Arts / Commerce / Science

Reading support:Pay attention to

Sound Pronunciation Speed Rhyming words pauses

A3. ListenListen to the poem and find out which of the following lines sum up the idea of the poem:

a) Trip to a hill resortb) Peace of lifec) Enjoyments and sufferings in lifed) Life as a journey to eternity

A.4. Listen again

Listen to the poem again. This time your teacher will ask any one of you to read the poem. After listening state if the following statements are true or false.

1. According to the poet life is a journey without any halt.2. All travelers have same paths and similar journey.3. According to the poet for some people the journey is quicker and for some

slower.4. At the end of life’s journey we get punishment.5. According to the poet the reward of life’s journey is ever lasting peace.

A5. MatchingLook at the columns of words and their meanings. Match them:

A B1. Pause a. way or track that is built or made by action of people

walking.2. Path b. achieve something.3. Claim c. thing that you are given because you have done something

good.4. Reward d. period of time during which somebody stops doing

something.

Poem Life is a Journey

Life is but a stopping place.A pause in what’s to be.

A resting place along the road,to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys,Different paths along the way,

We all were meant to learn some things,but never meant to say…..

Our destination is a place,far greater than we know.

For some the journey’s quicker,for some the journey’s slow.

And when the journey finally ends,We’ll claim a great reward,

And find an everlasting peace,

together with the Lord.

A6. Rhyming wordsLook at the last word of each line and frame a pair of the words that have a similar sound at the end. Discuss:

Pattern of rhyming words Line in which they occur Effect created Read the lines with rhythm.

Glossary

Eternity: life continuing without end after deathDestination: Place to which somebody/something is going or being sent.

A7. Read Go through the poem gain and answer the following questions after discussing with your friends:

1. Where does life go to?2. What is our goal of life?3. When do we find everlasting peace?4. What are we expected to do in our life?5. What is a quicker and slower journey?6. What is suggested through the idea ‘journey finally ends’?7. How far do you agree with the poet’s idea of journey of life?8. Do you agree with the poet’s views on the life style of the people? Why?

A.8. Reality of lifeGo through the poem quickly and find out the realities or facts of life as viewed by the poet. For example:

1. We cannot stop but have to continue2. _____________________________ 3. ______________________________ 4. ______________________________

A9. Life is like ________You can very well compare human life with something that you see around. Prepare a Poster on Life. Develop the following or think of any other comparison.Life is like a cloth.

Life Similarity with cloth AdviceFull of good and woof and warp of threads ______ bad experiences some threads are of silver ______

and some are dark. ______A.10. Complete itNow read the poem and complete the following by choosing the most appropriate alternative from those given below:

1. The title of the poem suggests that life is a ____ i. Destination ii. Halting place iii. travel

2. The poet says that all have to follow ____i. one wayii. different pathsiii. two way problems

3. According to the poet some have _____i. quicker journeyii. Slower journeyiii. Sometimes quicker and sometimes slower.

A11. RepetitionFind out the words that are repeated throughout the poem. Discuss with your partner the following points:

Words repeated Number of repetitions: Reason for repeating: Effect of repeating: Place of occurrence.

A12. AntithesisRead the poem and find out the opposite ideas brought together in one and the same sentence. Discuss:

Ideas that are opposite. Effect of bringing them together Share your feelings regarding these ideas Any other points

A13. Say it pleasantly Look at the last stanza of the poem.

What is the poet talking about here?

Does he talk about that directly? If no, why differently?

This device is known as Euphemism.

A14. Comparison:Look at the title of the poem and discuss with your partner on the following points:

What is compared with what? Is it direct or indirect? What are the similarities? What is the effect? Name the figure of speech:

A15. Expansion of Ideas:For some the journey is quicker

For some the journey is slowDiscuss with your partners and write a paragraph or two on the thoughts expressed in these lines. Make use of the following points:

Preparation: *find out the implied meaning *think over the meaning * seek justification for it and its significance.

*explain the figurative language*collect examples from real life

Presentation: *prepare a rough draft *use proper connectors

*arrange the points in order *begin and end pleasantly*reverse your draft again and again

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