Class 7 English – Chapter 1 (Prose + Poem) Three Questions (Prose by Leo Tolstoy) The Squirrel (Poem by Mildred Bowers Armstrong)
🌟 Introduction
The NCERT Class 7 English textbook Honeycomb is designed to help students develop their language skills while also learning valuable lessons about life. Each chapter tells a story or shares a poem that inspires, educates, and entertains young minds.
The first prose lesson, “Three Questions”, is adapted from a short story by the famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy. It teaches us about wisdom, kindness, and the importance of living in the present moment.
The first poem, “The Squirrel,” is a light, descriptive piece by Mildred Bowers Armstrong, which captures the playful nature of a squirrel in a fun and simple way.
Let’s now dive deep into both works, exploring their meanings, themes, characters, and morals.
📝 Part A – Prose: Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy
📖 Story Overview
The story revolves around a king who believes that if he finds answers to three important questions, he will never fail in anything he undertakes.
The three questions are:
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What is the right time to begin any action?
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Who is the most important person to work with?
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What is the most important thing to do?
The king announces a reward for anyone who can give correct answers. Scholars, wise men, and people come forward with different suggestions, but none satisfy the king.
At last, the king decides to consult a hermit (a wise saint). The hermit does not give direct answers. Instead, he makes the king experience situations that reveal the answers naturally.
Through an incident involving a wounded man whom the king saves, the king finally realizes the truth.
🧑🤝🧑 Main Characters
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The King
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Curious and thoughtful.
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Wants wisdom and perfection in ruling his kingdom.
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Learns humility and kindness through experience.
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The Hermit
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Wise, simple man who lives in a forest hut.
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Does not give answers directly but lets the king discover them through real-life events.
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The Bearded Man (the enemy)
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Once an enemy of the king.
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Plans to kill the king but is wounded instead.
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When the king saves him, he turns into a loyal friend.
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📌 Detailed Summary (In Simple Language)
The king wanted to know the answers to his three questions because he believed they would help him succeed in everything.
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He asked many people: some said the right time was to plan beforehand, others said it was to act immediately, and some said it was to consult wise men or magicians.
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For the second question, answers varied: the most important person was the king himself, or doctors, or soldiers, or priests.
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For the third, answers included science, fighting, prayer, or good deeds.
But the king was unsatisfied.
So, he went to see a hermit known for his wisdom. The hermit lived a very simple life, wore ordinary clothes, and dug the ground for his garden. The king approached him and asked the three questions.
The hermit only listened silently and continued digging. The king, tired of waiting, offered to help dig. They spent hours together.
Suddenly, a wounded man came running, bleeding heavily. The king and hermit tended to his wounds and nursed him back to life. The next day, the man admitted he had planned to kill the king but was instead saved by him. He became the king’s friend.
At that moment, the hermit finally revealed the answers:
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The most important time is now, because it is the only time we have control over.
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The most important person is the one you are with at the moment, because you don’t know what the future holds.
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The most important action is to do good for the person near you, because that is the true purpose of life.
🌿 Themes
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Wisdom comes from experience, not from books alone.
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Living in the present is the key to happiness.
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Kindness and service are the greatest duties.
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Even enemies can become friends through compassion.
💡 Morals & Life Lessons
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Do not worry too much about the future. Focus on the present.
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Respect every person you meet. At that moment, they are the most important.
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Service to others is the noblest action.
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True wisdom comes through humility and helping others.
🧩 Word Meanings (Glossary for Students)
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Hermit – A person who lives alone in simplicity, often for spiritual reasons.
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Council – A group of advisors.
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Shrieked – Cried loudly in fear or pain.
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Forlorn – Sad, lonely.
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Reconciled – Became friendly again.
🔎 Literary Devices in Three Questions
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Allegory – The story symbolizes the importance of present actions.
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Irony – The enemy becomes a friend when the king saves him.
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Moral storytelling – Teaches life lessons through events.
🐿 Part B – Poem: The Squirrel by Mildred Bowers Armstrong
📖 Poem Overview
This is a short, descriptive poem about a squirrel. The poet observes the squirrel’s physical features, playful movements, and lively behavior.
The poem uses simple language but carries deep appreciation for nature.
🐿 Line-by-Line Explanation
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“He wore a question mark for tail,”
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The squirrel’s bushy tail is curled like a question mark.
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“An overcoat of gray,”
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The squirrel’s body is covered in soft gray fur, like an overcoat.
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“He sat up straight to eat a nut,”
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Describes the squirrel’s habit of sitting upright while nibbling on nuts.
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“He liked to tease and play.”
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Shows the mischievous and playful nature of the squirrel.
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“And if we ran around his tree, / He went the other way.”
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The poet highlights the squirrel’s quick reflexes and playful avoidance of humans.
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🌿 Themes
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Joy of nature – Even small creatures like squirrels are full of energy and beauty.
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Playfulness – The poem celebrates the liveliness of animals.
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Observation – Encourages us to notice little details in nature.
💡 Poetic Devices
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Metaphor – Tail compared to a “question mark.”
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Personification – Squirrel is given human traits like teasing and playing.
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Imagery – Creates a visual picture of the squirrel’s behavior.
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Rhyme – The poem follows a rhythmic flow that makes it musical.
🎯 Life Lesson
The poem reminds us to find joy in small, everyday moments. Just as the squirrel plays happily without worry, we too should enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
🌟 Conclusion (For Blog Readers)
The first chapter of Class 7 English brings two very different yet complementary lessons:
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In Three Questions, Leo Tolstoy teaches us the value of the present, the importance of people around us, and the nobility of kindness.
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In The Squirrel, Mildred Bowers Armstrong reminds us that beauty lies in the little things in nature, and playfulness adds charm to life.
Together, they help young learners not only improve their English but also develop empathy, observation, and wisdom.
