Std 9 English chapters › Unit 4 · Question Answers ↓ · Take the lesson test ↓
In short: The poet says that true success is not wealth or fame but laughing often, earning respect and affection, seeing beauty, finding the best in others and leaving the world a little better.
(खरे यश म्हणजे संपत्ती किंवा प्रसिद्धी नव्हे, तर नेहमी हसणे, आदर व प्रेम मिळवणे, सौंदर्य पाहणे, इतरांमधील चांगले शोधणे आणि जग थोडे अधिक चांगले करून जाणे, असे कवी सांगतो.)
- Type: Poem (free verse)
- Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Speaker: The poet, defining true success
- Unit: 4
Summary in English
According to the poet, success means to laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to bear the betrayal of false friends.
It means to appreciate beauty and to find the best in others. It means leaving the world a bit better than we found it, whether by raising a healthy child, growing a garden patch or improving a social condition.
Finally, the poet says that if even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, you have succeeded.
मराठीत सारांश (Summary in Marathi)
कवीच्या मते यश म्हणजे नेहमी आणि मनमोकळे हसणे; बुद्धिमान लोकांचा आदर आणि मुलांचे प्रेम मिळवणे; प्रामाणिक टीकाकारांची प्रशंसा मिळवणे आणि खोट्या मित्रांचा विश्वासघात सहन करणे.
यश म्हणजे सौंदर्याचे कौतुक करणे आणि इतरांमधील चांगुलपणा शोधणे. निरोगी मूल वाढवून, बागेचा छोटा तुकडा फुलवून किंवा समाजातील एखादी परिस्थिती सुधारून जग थोडे अधिक चांगले करून जाणे म्हणजे यश.
शेवटी कवी म्हणतो, तुम्ही जगलात म्हणून एखाद्या जीवाला जरी थोडे सुखाने श्वास घेता आला, तरी तुम्ही यशस्वी झालात.
Theme and Message (मध्यवर्ती कल्पना)
True success is measured by kindness, relationships and the good we do for others, not by money or fame.
खरे यश पैसा किंवा प्रसिद्धीने नव्हे, तर दयाळूपणा, नातेसंबंध आणि आपण इतरांसाठी केलेल्या चांगुलपणाने मोजले जाते.
Figures of Speech (अलंकार)
- Free verse (मुक्तछंद): the poem has no regular rhyme or equal lines.
- Antithesis (विरोधाभास): 'appreciation of honest critics' and 'betrayal of false friends'.
- Repetition (पुनरावृत्ती): the 'to …' infinitive is repeated at the start of the lines.
Useful Words (शब्दार्थ)
| Word | मराठी अर्थ | Use it in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| affection | प्रेम, माया | The grandmother's affection made us happy. |
| appreciation | कौतुक, प्रशंसा | Her work won the appreciation of all. |
| endure | सहन करणे | We must endure hard times with patience. |
| betrayal | विश्वासघात | His betrayal hurt his friend deeply. |
| redeemed | सुधारलेला | The new school redeemed the poor village. |
For the Exam (परीक्षेसाठी)
- This poem is an example of free verse. Compare it with ‘Walk a little slower’, which has rhyme and regular stanzas.
- List the ‘to’ infinitives: to laugh, to win, to earn, to appreciate, to find, to leave, to know.
4.1 What is Success?: English Workshop Question Answers
Every English Workshop activity for this poem, as games. Score points, earn stars and challenge a friend on WhatsApp! (खेळा, गुण मिळवा आणि मित्रांना आव्हान द्या!)
🤔 Think as you read
How many sentences are there in the poem?
Answer: After the question in the title, a long list of ‘to …’ phrases builds up to ‘This is to have succeeded.’
What type of friend betrays a friend?
Answer: We must endure the betrayal of false friends.
Which line shows that a parent, a gardener and a social reformer are all successful?
Answer: A healthy child (parent), a garden patch (gardener), a better society (reformer).
Q1. Tick the correct alternative
👉 Tap one.
(i) The poet says that success is ___.
Answer: A happy, cheerful life is the first sign of success.
(ii) The poet wants us to ___.
Answer: Success is not money, but honest praise.
(iii) The poet wants us to appreciate ___.
Answer: ‘To appreciate beauty.’
(iv) The poet wants us to leave the world a bit ___.
Answer: Leave the world a little better than you found it.
Q2. Compare with ‘Walk a little slower’
🧩 Answer Yes or No for each poem.
Structure of the poems
A poem with no fixed rhyme, rhythm or line length is called ___.
Answer: ‘What is Success?’ is in free verse. (मुक्तछंद.)
Q4. ‘To’ infinitives
🎯 Tap each ‘to’ infinitive and what it goes with in the poem.
Infinitive ↔ object in the poem
Answer key
to laugh, to win, to earn, to endure, to appreciate, to find, to leave, to know, to have succeeded
Warm-up 2. What does success mean to …?
🎯 Tap a person and what success means to him or her.
Different people, different success
Q3, Q5 and Q6. Think and write
✍️ Q3. A truly successful person around you. Try, then compare
My grandmother is truly successful. She laughs often, all the children in our lane love her, and she always finds something good in everyone. She has planted a small garden behind our house and helps poor women in the village learn tailoring. Many lives are easier because of her.
✍️ Q5. Three things that make the world better. Try, then compare
- Planting trees and keeping our surroundings clean.
- Helping someone in need without expecting anything in return.
- Speaking kindly and respecting people of every background.
✍️ Q6. How can you help someone facing difficulties?
An old neighbour who lives alone finds it hard to buy groceries and medicines. I can visit her twice a week, bring what she needs from the market, read the newspaper to her and simply talk to her so that she does not feel lonely.
Q7. Interview questions
✍️ Prepare questions for (a) an author and (b) a social worker. Try, then compare
(a) A famous author: When did you start writing? What inspires your stories? Which of your books is closest to your heart? How do you deal with writer’s block? What advice would you give young writers?
(b) A social worker: What made you choose social work? What problems do you work on in our area? What has been your biggest challenge? How can students help? What keeps you motivated?
Think and Write (विचार करा, लिहा)
- Think of one person around you who is successful in the poet's sense. Write why.
- What three things can you do to leave the world a bit better?
- Prepare five interview questions for a well-known social worker in your area.
Online test · 15 questions
4.1 What is Success ?: Lesson Test
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