Gifts of Grace is an inspiring chapter in the Class 9 English NCERT syllabus that highlights the values of kindness, gratitude, and selfless service. Through an engaging narrative, the lesson teaches students the importance of compassion and how small acts of generosity can make a significant difference in people’s lives. The chapter encourages readers to appreciate the gifts of nature, human relationships, and the grace that comes from helping others.
Gifts of Grace Class 9 NCERT Solutions
Reflect and Respond
I. Given below are four riddles. Read and identify who these people are.
1. In furrows deep, secrets I sow,
As time passes,
I watch them grow.
Who am I? ____________
Answer: Farmer
2. From wheel to kiln, my skill is born,
Step by step, an art takes form.
Who am I? ____________
Answer: Potter
3. I lay foundations, brick by brick,
To build a house, it’s me you pick.
Who am I? ____________
Answer: Mason (Bricklayer)
4. I work with pots, pans, and spice,
Creating dishes that taste so nice.
Who am I? ____________
Answer: Cook (Chef)
II. What is the role and relevance of the people you identified in the riddles. How do they contribute to the society? Discuss with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
- Bamboo Craftsman: Makes useful items from bamboo, such as baskets, furniture, and decorative objects.
- Potter: Creates pots, vases, and other clay items used in homes and for decoration.
- Weaver: Produces cloth and fabrics that are used for making clothes and household items.
- Woodcarver: Makes beautiful wooden objects, furniture, and decorative pieces.
Check Your Understanding
Based on your understanding of the poem, state whether the following statements are true or false. Also, rectify the false statements.
1. The poem highlights the skilled work of craftspeople.
Answer: True
2. The poet shares that musicians express emotions through their instruments.
Answer: True
3. The carpenters in the poem are admired for their logical work.
Answer: False
4. The electricians in the poem are recognised for their crucial role in lighting up lives.
Answer: True
5. The poem pays homage to shoemakers who manufacture quality footwear.
Answer: True
6. The poem celebrates the patriotism of the people of Bharat.
Answer: False
7. The poet feels that each vocation deserves to be respected.
Answer: True
II. Let us appreciate the poem.
1. Rhyme Scheme and Lineation
(i)Does the poem strictly adhere to a rhyme scheme, or is it in free verse?
Answer: The poem is written in free verse. It does not follow any fixed rhyme scheme.
(ii) What is the impact of the varying length of lines in the poem?
Answer: The different line lengths make the poem sound natural. The poem highlights different vocations and their importance in our lives.
(iii) What is the pattern in the structure of most lines of the poem?
Answer: In the poem most of the lines begin with “I hear”, which is followed by a description of a worker and his/her work.
2. Speaker
(i)Who appears to be the speaker, and what is her/his role here?
Answer: In the poem the speaker is a poet. The poet observes different workers and appreciates their skills and contributions to society.
3. Tone and Mood
(i)Fill in the blanks with suitable options from the box given below.
A. The tone is __ and __, depicting a sense of admiration and respect for the artisans and craftspersons.
Answer: reverential, sympathetic
B. There is a _____________mood throughout the poem, capturing the vibrancy and richness of cultural traditions and skills.
Answer: celebratory
4. Imagery
(i)Select any two descriptions from the poem that evoke visual images.
Answer: The two descriptions from the poem that evoke visual images are
- The carpenter is shaping wood.
- The weaver is weaving cloth on a loom.
- The shoemaker is making footwear.
- The electrician is lighting homes.
(ii) Fill in the blanks with suitable phrases. The poem includes auditory imagery through mentions of artisans with lutes, ___, and ___, emphasising the sounds associated with each vocation.
Answer: drums, flutes
5. Metaphor
(i)State whether the following sentence is true or false.
The mention of ‘delicious singing’ of the cook is a metaphor because it implies that the quality of the singing is so enjoyable or pleasing that it can be equated to the experience of tasting something delicious.
Answer: True
6. Personification
(i)Select the line that tells us that the poet personifies vocations by attributing human-like qualities to them.
Answer: “I hear Bharat celebrating the varied vocations I hear!”
Here, the Bharat is given the human quality of celebrating.
7. Repetition
(i)Why might the poet have begun and ended with the same line—‘I hear Bharat celebrating, the varied vocations I hear! ’?
Answer: The repetition emphasises the main idea of the poem, which tells that every vocation is important for celebration and respect.
8. Alliteration
(i)Identify two examples of alliteration from the poem.
Answer: The two examples of alliteration from the poem are
- Varied vocations
- Delicious singing
9. Symbolism
(i)Each vocation in the poem symbolises something more than just a job. What does it symbolise?
Answer: The vocation in the poem symbolises more than just a job. The vocations symbolise are
- Hard work
- Skill and creativity
- Dignity of labour
- Contribution to society
- India’s rich cultural heritage and diversity
Critical Reflection
I. read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The shoemakers are affirming the quality of their work for the feet that walk, dance, run, jump, and return home. The delicious singing of the cook, or the rhythm of the designer and mason, each celebrating what belongs to them and to none else,
1. The poet says that the shoemakers ‘affirm’ the quality of their work. What does ‘affirm’ refer to here?
- (i)to make adjustments in
- (ii) to declare with confidence
- (iii) to label the goods
- (iv) to justify the efforts
Answer: (ii) to declare with confidence
2. What do quality shoes help with, according to the poet?
Answer: The quality of shoes helps the people to walk, run, jump and dance comfortably and safely.
3. What does ‘return home’ symbolise besides the literal act of returning?
Answer: It sumbolises comfort, belonging, safety and reaching one’s destination successfully.
4. Identify the phrase that tells us that every worker’s contribution is distinct.
Answer: “each celebrating what belongs to them and to no one else”
5. Complete the following with suitable words. … For the feet that walk, dance, run, jump, and return home, ‘home’ refers to _.
Answer: ‘…for the feet that walk, dance, run, jump, and return home’ refers to the different activities and journeys of people in daily life.
II Answer the following questions.
1. Why does the poet say, ‘I hear Bharat celebrating, the varied vocations I hear’?
Answer: The poet says this because the people from different professions work hard and contribute to society. Their skills make Bharat vibrant and successful.
2. What does the electrician ‘humming’ while getting ready for work suggest?
Answer: The electrician “humming” suggests enthusiasm, happiness and pride in his work.
3. Explain the significance of the line, ‘The voice of their vocation is the voice of their identity.’
Answer: The line means that the profession reflects who they are. Their skills, work and dedication become an important part of their identity.
4. Do you think the role of all the people belonging to different vocations is important in our daily lives? Support your answer with a reason.
Answer: Yes, every vocation is important. We depend on different workers every day, like framers who grow food, teachers who educate us, doctors who keep us healthy and electricians who provide power.
5. Why is the poet celebrating all the vocations in the poem? Explain by giving examples from your context.
Answer: The poet celebrates all vocations because every profession contributes to society. In our surrounding area, farmers produce food, teachers help students learn, shopkeepers provide daily necessities and sanitation workers keep the environment clean. All of them deserve respect and appreciation.
6. How does the poet use sensory imagery to bring out the beauty of everyday work?
Answer: The poet uses sound imagery through humming, singing and musical instruments and visual imagery through the description of workers performing their tasks. These images help the reader to see and hear the beauty in ordinary work and appreciate the skills of different workers.
Vocabulary in Context
People of different vocations are being described in the poem. Match the vocations given in the box below with the descriptions that follow.
1. A person who studies or grows garden plants: _
Answer: Horticulturist
2. A trained female community health worker: __
Answer: ASHA Worker
3. A producer of raw silk: _
Answer: Sericulturist
4. A person whose job is making or selling sweets and chocolates: _
Answer: Confectioner
5. A metalworker who specialises in working with precious metals: _
Answer: Goldsmith
6. A person who fuses materials together: _
Answer: Welder
II Identify the word from Column 2 that is not the synonym of the words given in Column 1.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| myriad | (i) countable, innumerable, numerous, abundant |
| hues | (ii) shades, tints, drawing, colour |
| precision | (iii) exactness, accuracy, correctness, calculation |
| varied | (iv) assorted, diverse, uniform, different |
| delicious | (v) mouth-watering, inedible, tasty, flavourful |
Listen and Respond
You will listen to two friends, a boy and a girl, discussing the occupations of their parents. As you listen, answer the following question in two to three words only.
What does the boy use to understand the details of the tools?
Answer: Toy cars
II. You will listen to the girl and the boy once again. As you listen, answer the questions by selecting the correct option.
1. The girl is __ about taking food for her mother at the factory.
- (i)happy
- (ii) boastful
- (iii) unsure
Answer: (i) happy
2. The boy thinks that the job of the girl’s mother carries a lot of __.
- (i)luck
- (ii) risk
- (iii) responsibility
Answer: (iii) responsibility
3. The girl __ why the boy is good at science exhibitions.
- (i)wonders
- (ii) questions
- (iii) realises
Answer: (iii) realises
4. The girl shares her __ about joining the weekend discussion on tools.
- (i)doubts
- (ii) wish
- (iii) ideas
Answer: (ii) wish
Speaking Activity
The poet speaks of several occupations in the poem. Create groups of five. Allot the role of any five vocations that the poet talks about. Each student in the group will represent one vocation.
Each student speaks for 1–2 minutes about their vocation—who they are, what they do, where they work, what kind of experiences they have at work, what problems they face and a message for all.
Answer:
1. Carpenter
Hello everyone. I am a carpenter.
My work is to make furniture using wood; I can make tables, chairs, doors and cupboards. I work in workshops, construction sites and homes. My work required patience, skill and creativity. Sometimes I face some challenges working with heavy materials and sharp tools safely. I feel proud when people use my product. My message is respect all the workers because every job helps society. Thank you.
2. Electrician
Hello everyone. I am an electrician.
I repair electrical work in schools, homes, factories and offices. My work is to provide light and power to the people. Electricity can be dangerous, so I am always careful. I have worked in different conditions and during the emergencies. I feel very happy when I help others. My message is: Always follow the safety rules and value the work of an electrician. Thank you.
3. Shoemaker
Hello everyone. I am a shoemaker.
I make and repair the shoes, footwear and sandals. I work in a shoe store or in a workshop. Good shoes help the people to run, walk, dance and work comfortably. My job requires hard work and attention. Sometimes it is difficult to meet the customer needs. I am proud that my work helps others. My message is ‘No work is small; every profession is important.’ Thank you.
4. Cook
Hello everyone. I am a cook.
I make food for the people in homes, restaurants and hotels. My job is to make tasty and healthy food. I start my work early, and I work for long hours. I always maintain cleanliness and hygiene. When I make food, it makes me happy. People enjoyed the food which I have prepared. My message is healthy food and hard work go hand in hand. Thank you.
5. Musician
Hello everyone. I am a musician.
I play musical instruments and create beautiful music. I perform in cultural events and perform at concerts and celebrations. Music brings peace, joy and entertainment to people. I practise many hours to improve my skills. Sometimes performing before a large audience can be challenging. I love sharing my music with others. My message is: Follow your passion and keep practising to achieve success. Thank you.
Writing Task
I. Your school will be organising a ‘Career Mela’ in which students are to be made familiar with the different career options. Complete the poster for the event given below.
Answer:
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